Agenda item

A request has been received to call in the decision for scrutiny.

The following Councillors have requested the decision be called in for

scrutiny:

Cllr Liz Brighouse
Cllr Larry Sanders
Cllr Richard Stevens
Cllr Val Smith
Cllr John Sanders
Cllr John Tanner
Cllr Roy Darke
Cllr Saj Malik
Cllr Sarah Hutchinson
Cllr Susanna Pressel

The Cabinet decision was:

"RESOLVED to:     

(a) Note the outcome of consultation with staff and Service User groups, and agree the changes to original proposals set out in para 7 above

(b) Agree that the internal Home Support Service will cease to operate by April 2012, subject to satisfactory reprovision arrangements set out in paras 10-13 and any other necessary actions required to maintain continuity of service

(c) Request a progress report from the Director of Social and Community Services to Adult Services Scrutiny Committee in December 2011."

The reasons given in the call-in request are:

We request that the decision taken by the Cabinet on 19th April to end the Internal Home Support Service be considered by the Adult Services Scrutiny Committee so that they can consider whether or not there has been adequate consideration of alternative ways of delivering this service and to agree protocols for monitoring the provision of Home Support in the future.

A copy of the report to Cabinet (CA8) is attached.

The Scrutiny Committee had before it the report of the Director for Social and Community Services to Cabinet on 19 April 2011 together with the draft minutes of that meeting.  The Committee agreed to consider the two parts of the call in separately.

Part 1 of the Call in (adequate consideration of alternative ways of delivering this service)

Councillor Sanders spoke in support of the call in being referred back to Cabinet for further consideration.  He summarised his concerns as the future needs had not been considered – Cabinet’s decision was based on past needs and with major changes in adult social care there were too many unknowns and therefore longer timescales were required.

Councillor Stevens also spoke in support of the call in.  He was concerned that the one page Option Appraisal (Annex 2 of the Cabinet paper) was too brief, that there was not enough evidence to rule out options, that Option C,D and E were analysed from an anti TUPE point of view and that Social Enterprise had not been fully explored.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Adult Services confirmed that he was satisfied that Cabinet had had all the relevant information and that the decision had been based on that information. He believed that the decision was sound.

The Director for Social and Community Services explained the context for the decision; details of the work that had been undertaken as part of the optional appraisal and reminded the Scrutiny Committee of the Cabinet paper of 21 December (copies were made available to this Committee). 

Following debate by the Committee of the issues raised Councillor Stratford proposed that the Committee agree they have no material concerns over the Cabinet decision.

RESOLVED:                        (8 votes to 2 ) not to refer the decision back to Cabinet as the Committee had no material concerns about the decision.

Part 2 of the Call in (agree protocols for monitoring the provision of Home Support in the future)

Councillor Stevens spoke in support of the call in being referred back to Cabinet for further consideration.  He asked for more detail as to how and when monitoring would be undertaken.

The Director for Social and Community Services provided an overview of the monitoring arrangements that were already in place.  The Cabinet Member reminded members that an update report was due to this Committee in December and that a standing item could be included for future meetings. The Director for Social and Community Services responding to suggestions from the Chairman has to ways in which the monitoring information could be verified welcomed the possible involvement of LINks.

Councillor Seale confirmed the Committee would return to this subject at regular intervals and that the Director would provide updates through his regular Director’s briefing to this Committee.

Councillor Seale proposed that the Committee agree they have no material concerns over the Cabinet decision and it was:

RESOLVED:                        (8 votes to 2 ) not to refer the decision back to Cabinet as the Committee had no material concerns about the decision.