Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Mackness (Corporate Services) and Rupert Turpin (Business Management).  

The record of the meeting held on 4 August 2015 was agreed and signed by the Leader as correct.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report provided details of the joint Intermediate Care and Reablement Strategy between the Council and NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (Medway CCG). This Strategy set out how Medway intended to commission and redesign Intermediate Care and Reablement Services to meet the needs of Medway residents. It outlined the principles that would guide development and implementation of the strategic direction and also set out aims and objectives, and plans for delivery.

A set of high level aims had been developed that described what the Intermediate Care Model would deliver for Medway. These aims aligned closely with the Department of Health guidance ‘Intermediate Care - Half Way Home’:

·           Support people at home where safe to do so

·           Maximise independent living

·           Promote faster recovery from illness

·           Minimise admissions to Long Term Residential Care

·           Facilitate a timely discharge from hospital

·           Provide effective alternatives to hospital admissions

·           Ensure a skilled intermediate care workforce.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been completed as part of the development phase of the work as set out in Appendix 3 to the report. This showed the strategy to be a positive proposal for change for Medway communities.

Details of the consultation undertaken on the draft Strategy was set out in paragraph 7 of the report. Details of consideration of the matter by the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee were set out in paragraph 8 of the report. In addition, the Strategy would also be considered by the Medway CCG Governing Body on 26 August 2015 and the Health and Wellbeing Board on 15 September 2015.

Reasons:

Commissioners from Health and Adult Social Care have worked with the key partners involved in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Background:

This report provided details of the consultation and the development towards the Medway Children’s and Young People Emotional Wellbeing Strategy 2015-2018 which paid regard to what had emerged in national policy since 2011, including a raft of new strategy, policy and guidance published in March 2015 with a particular focus on the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people, including the role of schools, colleges and the delivery of earlier help.  Parity of esteem between mental health and physical health in the delivery of health services had been highlighted in several recent national policies as detailed in the report.

It was noted that the Council had lacked an overall Strategy for children and young people and that a report had been presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board on 21 January 2015, setting out the plan to develop a comprehensive Strategy. The report provided detailed information on the method of consultation and the key messages arising from the consultation, as set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the report.

The report noted that should a substantial change in the reconfiguration of services be considered through the delivery of this strategy, this would require an Equality Impact Assessment and formal consultation.

The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 21 July 2015 and its comments were set out in paragraph 8 of the report.

Reasons:

The Children’s and Young People Emotional Wellbeing Strategy sets out the key elements of the strategic framework for taking action to improve the emotional health and wellbeing support for Children and Young people in Medway. This will be delivered by implementing a comprehensive offer across the whole system, including education, health and social care.

The document responds to consultation with stakeholders across Medway during May and June 2015.

Background:

This report provided details of proposals to commence consultation on making changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS). The report noted that on 8 July 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Summer Budget announced a number of welfare reforms and that early indications at a national level suggested these reforms would increase the cost of the CTRS by around £200 to £250 per affected claim. As such, officers’ calculations suggested the increase in cost in Medway would be approximately £350,000 based on 1,752 working age claimants who were in employment and whose income exceeded their applicable amounts.

The report provided details of various options for Members’ consideration together with advice and analysis regarding the method of consultation, the potential impact on collection rates of a reduction in the discount, enhancing extended payments and initial work towards the Diversity Impact Assessment.

Reasons:

Changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme are a matter for Full Council, however, Cabinet recommended the amended scheme on 25 August 2015 to allow a full twelve weeks consultation in advance of Council in January 2016.

Background:

This report detailed the revenue budget forecasts as at the end of June 2015. The report also highlighted the major financial risks remaining in respect of the 2015/2016 General Fund revenue budget. 

It was noted that the latest round of monitoring returns, after agreed management action predicted a potential overspend of £4.7 million. Further management action plans were being formulated by directorate management teams and it was anticipated that this figure would be mitigated further as the year progressed.

Reasons:

Cabinet has the responsibility to ensure effective budgetary control to contain expenditure within the approved limits set by Council.

Background:

This report detailed the capital monitoring forecasts as at the end of June 2015.

The approved capital programme for 2015/16 and future years was £121.3million, representing both brought forward schemes and new approvals. The report consolidated the capital monitoring undertaken by each directorate and this was summarised in the appendix, which detailed the individual schemes and their financial position.

The report noted that the capital receipt requirement underpinning the three year programme stood at £7.4m, however, current estimates of receipts over the same period suggested a shortfall against this requirement of approximately £3.0m.  In addition to this, it was estimated that the building repairs and maintenance fund required an injection of funding, estimated at between £1.0m and £2.0m to deliver essential works, including circa £400,000 of dilapidations at the Compass Centre. It was proposed to re-profile the current programme over the longer term in anticipation of additional grant and other funding streams in the future.

Reasons:

Cabinet has the responsibility to ensure effective budgetary control to contain expenditure within the approved limits set by Council.

Background:

This report summarised the performance of the Council’s Key Measures of Success for April-June (Quarter 1) 2015/16 as set out in the Council Plan.

The report and accompanying appendix included progress reports on performance against 32 Key Measures of Success and 26 Key Projects. It also included feedback from the Council’s customers using GovMetric, a customer satisfaction measurement at the point of contact (phone, web and face to face). The performance results and associated service comments were set out under each of Medway’s four key priorities and two values.

The report highlighted the following:

Key measures of success:

·                    70% (21 out of 30) were on target.

·                    10% (3 out of 30) were just below target

·                    20% (6 out of 30) were significantly below target.

GovMetric

·                    80% (8,442 ratings) of customers who contacted us rated their experience as good

·                    91% of phone contacts rated their experience as good

·                    76% of face to face contacts rated their experience as good

·                    55% of web contacts rated their experience as good.

It was noted that the report would be considered by the four Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Reasons:

Regular monitoring of performance by management and Members is best practice and ensures achievement of corporate objectives.

Background:

This report presented information on vacancies that officers had requested approval to commence recruitment for, following the process agreed by Cabinet on 7 January 2003 (decision number 9/2003).

Details of the posts were set out within Appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons:

The posts presented to Cabinet will support the efficient running of the Council.