Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/126

Contact: Alan Sinclair, Lead Commissioner – Older People Joint Commissioning Tel: (01865) 323665

Report by Deputy Director, Adult Social Care (CA11).

Public consultation took place from 1st June to 31st October 2012 in Tier 2 and Tier 3 services providing day opportunities for older people and people with a physical disability.

In Tier 2 services, which are provided by small and medium sized voluntary sector organisations in small local venues such as village halls or community centres, the proposal is to introduce daily transport charges of £5 for a return journey.

In Tier 3 services, which are the 8 larger resource centres providing support to people with higher needs (7 of which are run by the County Council internal service and 1 by Leonard Cheshire in Witney), the proposals are:

1.  To increase the attendance charge (from £4.18 per day to £15.00 per day) for a 5 hour     day (10am-3pm).

2.  To introduce the option of a 3 hour day for £9, (11am to 2pm)

3.  To increase the transport charge from 82p to £5 for a daily return journey

4.  An offer of additional subsidised services to support health & wellbeing such as basic foot care, massage and seated exercise classes.

The report provides details of the consultation that took place, who took part, stakeholder feedback, comments and suggestions .

The report gives a financial summary of the implications of the proposals.

The report sets out recommendations for consideration and approval with regards to the proposed increases of charges.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposals set out in paragraphs 53 and 54.

Cabinet considered a report that provided details of the consultation that took place on day opportunities and the transport charging model; it included who took part, stakeholder feedback, comments and suggestions . The report gave a financial summary of the implications of the proposals and set out recommendations with regards to the proposed increases of charges.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services, expressed her great disappointment at the proposals which dealt with the most vulnerable people. The health & wellbeing centres and day centres provided a real feeling of community with companionship, skills training, and health and wellbeing benefits. She highlighted the Social and Community Impact assessment which noted concerns with rising prices. The prices people would pay would be higher as they did not include lunch and there would be a reduced 3 hour day which was disappointing.

Councillor Fatemian, introduced the report and stressed his total, resolute and unwavering commitment to day care services. He was in no way considering privatisation over the course of the Service & Resource Plan. The most vulnerable people received support through personal budgets and anyone struggling should contact the Social & Community Services Directorate. He accepted that any price increase needed to be carefully considered but pointed out that the charges had not been increased for so long that he could find no record of any increase. Councillor Fatemian referred to the extensive consultation process thanking all those that took part. There was a good response rate and over two thirds of respondents said that they would continue to attend and a majority would not reduce the numbers of times they attended. He added that even with the increase in charges there was a 50% subsidy for attendance and 75% for transport. He had taken on board requests to phase the increase.

During discussion Cabinet noted the impressive number of respondents and that the consultation had highlighted how valuable these services were. People had recognised the need for increases but had been afraid of it going up immediately and this fear had been addressed.

Councillor Carter commented on the need to monitor centres that were within Oxfordshire but administered outside to ensure that there was some degree of comparability.  

RESOLVED:             to approve the proposals set out in paragraphs 53 and 54 of the report.