Issue - meetings

The partnership has reviewed Oxfordshire Supporting People Strategy in 2010-11 with a view to set strategic and financial objectives for the programme in 2011-2016. Outcomes of this review are presented in the Supporting People Strategy for 2011-16 attached at SP5

This strategy, once approved by the Commissioning Body, would be used to inform further discussions with key stakeholders and to guide the partnership through the programme wide review proposed in the annual plan for 2011-12.  

A paper is attached at SP5a reminding the Commissioning Body of the requirements in the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the contents of the annual plan.

The Core Strategy Group at its meeting on 2 March discussed a draft Annual Plan 2011-12. Officers recommended a list of major projects for 2011-12 attached at SP5b and a budget proposing the amount to be spent on each primary client group (SP5c).

There will be a paper setting out further details about this budget SP5d

The papers setting out the budget and explaining the rationale for its composition are being finalised and will be circulated separately, in advance of the meeting.

The Core Strategy Group RECOMMENDS that the Commissioning Body approves the Supporting People strategy 2011-16 and Annual Plan 2011-12.

During discussion of the Strategy members expressed the view that the document was rather long and could focus more on positioning for the future.

It was suggested that there needed to be some statement in the Strategy of the relationship of the Supporting People Programme to the Health & Wellbeing Board. Some concern was expressed at future arrangements for supporting people and the fear that the role of District Councils could be reduced or phased out. It was noted that any statement on governance would also need to take account of the changes to the NHS and the introduction of GP Commissioning and need to engage with GP Consortia.

In revising the Strategy in the light of comments it was suggested that it would be useful to keep firmly in mind the role and purpose of the Strategy. It needed to focus on the delivery of vital services at a time of very reduced funding. It needed to set out priorities and the delivery of those priorities by the resources available. It was therefore suggested that a shorter tighter document focussing on the battleplan and direction of travel was needed. Celebration of achievements should be dealt with separately. There should be a section on future governance.

The Commissioning Body considered the implications of delaying approval of the Strategy and agreed that the current Strategy be used as an indication of direction of travel until the new Strategy was agreed.

During discussion of the Annual Plan various views were expressed over the way in which the changes necessary to the programme budgets should be set. The Options set out were considered and following lengthy debate support was given to the principle of a 2% reduction from each service but amended taking into account the ability of individual services to achieve the saving. Negotiation of the figures should be based on 3 principles –transparency, efficiencies (not translating into reduction of services) and support for the strategic direction of travel. There was an understanding that where more can be gained that this be reinvested in the priorities (identified as mental health, generic and floating services.) Offender services were also mentioned.

It was AGREED:-     that

(a) the Supporting People Strategy 2011-16 be redrafted taking account of the comments today and that there be further informal discussion with a view to the Strategy being submitted to the meeting on 17 June for formal approval; (b) in the meantime the existing Strategy continue to be applied as the direction of travel for the Supporting People Programme;

 (c) consideration be given to the appropriate method of celebrating the achievements of the existing Strategy,

 (d) approval be given to the budget for the Annual Plan 2011-12 as set out in Annex 2 on the understanding that the individual budget headings were indicative and that movement was expected  based on continuing work by officers based on the principles and priorities identified by the Supporting People Commissioning Body;

 (e) that a position update be submitted to the next meeting.