Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Leader referred those present to agenda Item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting and asked that those present reviewed and noted the information contained therein.

None.

None.

Report of the Chief Executive seeking approval for consultation with residents, carers and other stakeholders on the proposal to close Osborne Grove Nursing Home.

The Leader noted the report, which sought approval to enter into consultation around a proposal to close Osborne Grove Nursing Home.

Councillor Connor raised concerns that the consultation was based only on one option, namely to close the nursing home. Cllr Connor enquired whether an option to implement a temporary closure could be included, with the option to retain use of the site as in-borough nursing home provision, at a later juncture if it was required. In response, it was noted that there was a common law duty on the Council to consult with stakeholders; however the Director of Adult Social Services was putting forward this course of action as part of the statutory functions of their role. The Leader acknowledged the need to set out a range of options but advised that given the severity of the situation the primary concern had to be the quality of care offered to patients. The intention would then be to comeback with a range of follow up options. The Leader also acknowledged that there were questions around nursing home capacity both within Haringey and also sub-regionally.

Officers emphasised that no decision had been made yet on the future of the facility but stated that the consultation was effectively a binary choice between closing and not closing the service. Cabinet would then have the final decision on the outcome of the proposals. The Leader advised that significant resources had been put into bolstering the management and service delivery at Osborne Grove and that there was always an option to retain use of the facility if, for instance, a further CQC inspection reported significant improvements in care standards.

Cllr Connor sought assurances around where patients would go if the site was closed and when that information would be available to patients and their families. Officers advised that they would be speaking to patents and their families on an individual basis and would seek their input as to what type of provision they would like receive. Officers also reiterated that each patent affected would receive a further reassessment of need in the eventuality that the nursing home was closed. Officers acknowledged that there would be further conversations taking place with patents independent of the consultation outcome and advised that this was normal practice given that peoples’ needs change over time.

RESOLVED

I.        To approve for consultation with residents, carers and other stakeholders the proposal to close Osborne Grove Nursing Home.

II.        To agree that a report on the findings of the consultation and the proposed recommendation be brought back to Cabinet for a decision.

Reasons for decision

In November 2015 a decision was taken by Cabinet to retain Osborne Grove as a

nursing and residential provision and develop additional reablement and intermediate

care provision on site in partnership with the NHS. The site comprises a 32-bedded

nursing unit, with a day centre space and a large car-park in Stroud Green.

Since this decision was taken the home has been subject to a local authority led  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

Report of the Assistant Director Commissioning seeking Permission to consult on proposals for Meals on Wheels

The Leader noted the report, which sought approval to enter into consultation around a proposal to end the subsidy for meals on wheels.

Cllr Connor noted that the report set out that one proposal was around providing service users with kitchen appliances, frozen meals and accompanying home care, if required. Cllr Connor suggested that this could involve a significant initial outlay and enquired whether there was any expectation that that would happen. In response, officers advised that there were a number of options set out in the report and that these would be evaluated as part of the consultation process.

RESOLVED

I.        To approve consultation with service users, carers and other stakeholders the proposalto end the subsidy for meals on wheels.

II.        To agree that a report on the findings of the consultation and the proposed recommendation be brought back to Cabinet for a decision.

Reasons for decision

In delivering the Corporate Plan, the Council aims to enable all adults to lead healthy, long and fulfilling lives through a strong emphasis on promoting independence, personalisation and choice and control. The current arrangements for meals on wheels, in which a subsidy is paid by the Council for each meal delivered through a contract with an external supplier, are taken up by approximately 110 users each month. The proposals set out in this paper would offer greater choice to residents in need of support to access a daily hot meal, whilst enabling the Council to make savings and to build a more sustainable community offer to more residents.

There has been no increase in client contributions to the service since 2012/13 and the contribution has only increased by 20p from £3.20 to £3.40 since 2010. Costs of the meal overall have increased, however, with a standard meal now costing £7.60 and the Council pays at least £4 towards every meal, costing over £140,000 each year. In addition, the number of users accessing the service has reduced from over 300 in 2011 to only around 110 users now. The Council is keen to hear from stakeholders directly, through consultation, their views of the current service, of the proposed new offer and of the implications of removal of subsidy for them.

 Alternative options considered

Significant work has been undertaken to explore an alternative offer to replace the current arrangements and this is set out in more detail in Section 6. Continuing with the current arrangements has been considered but rejected as the payment of the subsidy is not sustainable and only a limited number of users benefit from a hot meal. Given that neither the Care Act nor preceding legislation require meals to be subsidised or the cost of food to be met by the Council, consideration was given to withdrawing the subsidy whilst not building community based alternatives. This, however, was rejected as the development of a strong, community offer supports independence and meets the wider Council aspirations to build a stronger community in the borough.

Over 50% of London  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Report of the Director of Adult Social Services, seeking approval for consultation with service users, carers and other stakeholders on the proposalto decrease the disability related expenditure.

The Leader noted the report, which sought approval to enter into consultation around a proposal to decrease the disability related expenditure disregard to 40% (£22.04) by 2019/20.

Officers outlined that Haringey currently operated a 65% (£35.82) Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) disregard and this policy has remained the same since 2011. Other authorities had reduced the DRE; ranging is from a flat rate of £10.00, to a rate of 35% (£19.00). The Mid-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) proposal for Adult Services was to operate a DRE of 40%, (£22.04 per week) by 2019/20 to deliver £328k savings.

Councillor Connor questioned whether the recommendation proposed through the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel meeting around increasing the implementation period from 3 to 5 years had been considered. The Leader advised that a whole range of options had been considered and emphasised that even with a 40% DRE disregard rate, Haringey would be offering one of the highest rates of any London Borough. In response to a follow up question, officers advised that they had undertaken an extensive benchmarking exercise and they were not aware of any hidden benefits being offered by other boroughs to offset a lower rate.

RESOLVED

I.        To approve for consultation with service users, carers and other stakeholders the proposalto decrease the disability related expenditure disregard to 40% (£22.04) by 2019/20.

II.        To agree that a report on the findings of the consultation and the proposed recommendation be brought back to Cabinet for a decision.

Reasons for decision

            Haringey currently operates a 65% (£35.82) disregard and this policy has remained the same since 2011. Other authorities have reduced the DRE and the range is from a flat rate of £10.00 to a rate of 35% (£19.00).

            The MTFS proposal for P2 agreed by Cabinet on 14^th February 2017 is to operate a DRE of 40%, (£22.04 per week) by 2019/20. Therefore the proposal seeks to bring the disregard for DRE more in line with other London Boroughs and will seek to deliver £328k savings.

            The reduction will result in an increase in charges for service users who are currently making a contribution and have a DRE disregard included in their financial assessments.  In addition, when DRE reduces to 40%, this will result in some service users of working age, who are currently assessed not to contribute, having to make a small contribution. 

Alternative options considered

             The options available to the service are limited, due to the scale of the financial reductions required, however the proposal will ensure compliance with our statutory responsibilities and we are committed to the continued delivery of high quality service provision that supports the needs of the people we support. 

An additional option is not to make the budget savings agreed in the Medium Term Financial Plan; however this would result in serious financial gap of £328,000, which would jeopardise the sustainability of services in the future.

Report of the Director of Adult Social Servicesseeking approval  on the proposal to enter into framework agreements for the provision of disabled adaptations works.

The Leader noted the report, which sought approval to enter into framework agreements for the provision of disabled adaptations works.

Councillor Connor raised concerns with the minimal number of Occupational Therapists available at a community care level and highlighted that this could cause delays in the process. In response, officers acknowledged these concerns and advised that consideration would be given to how this could be mitigated.

RESOLVED

I.        That the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Culture approve the proposal to enter into framework agreements for the provision of disabled adaptations works with Keepmoat Regeneration Ltd, Richwell Construction Ltd, Effectable Construction Services and The AD Construction Group as allowed under Contract Standing Order (CSO) 16.02, for a period of two years with the option to extend the framework agreements for a further two years on an annual basis subject to satisfactory performance of the suppliers.

Reasons for decision

 The intention is for the proposed framework agreement to:

·         Deliver value for money through a competitively procured schedule of rates, with scope for good economies of scale with the suppliers and the council working together to achieve cost reductions and continuous improvement;

·         Provide four specialist adaptations suppliers to allow for a responsive service with good capacity;

·         Ensure consistency and continuity over the term of the agreement;

·         Allow for suppliers to be assessed on quality as well as cost to ensure a high standard of work and customer service; and

·         Ensure delivery of housing adaptations in the shortest possible time.

·         Ensure that through the term of the contract Value for Money is reflected in all commitments;

·         Guarantee that the framework and call-offs issued under it are all fully compliant with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Alternative options considered

             The options set out below have been considered by the Head of Adaptations Service and Strategic Procurement.

            The options were considered in detail against the various project objectives.

 It was concluded that Option D was the preferred option.

            Of significance, the adaptations works are classified as works under Schedule 2 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The anticipated value of spend under the framework agreement  over the next four years is over the EU threshold value for works and is therefore within the scope of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and subject to a full EU wide compliant procurement route.

 Option A – Tender work in batches

            This would mean continuing with the current arrangement whereby the work is competitively tendered in batches which is both very time consuming and a lengthy process for already stretched internal resources.

            The existing arrangement was only a short term expedient to maintain continuity in the provision of services pending the development of a  more lasting solution that fully complied with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 which is necessary given the projected value of the work over the next four years which is in excess of the EU threshold for works.

Option B - Access an existing Adaptations Framework operated by other public sector bodies.

            While this option might  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

To consider any new items of unrestricted urgent business admitted under

agenda item 2.

N/A

The following item is likely to be the subject of a motion to exclude the press

and public from the meeting as it contains exempt information, as defined

under Paragraph 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

That the press and public be excluded from the reminder of the meeting as the items contained exempt information, as defined under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider exempt information in relation to agenda item 7.

The Leader noted the exempt section of the report.

To consider any new items of exempt urgent business admitted under agenda

item 2 above.

N/A