Agenda and draft minutes

None received.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business.  Late items will be considered under the agenda items where they appear.  New items will be dealt with at item 7 below.

None received.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

None received.

To provide a brief background on the origin of the service based transport scrutiny review.

Members were given a brief background to the review of service based transport in adult social care.  Members heard that centralised transport provision through the Ashley Road depot was not flexible enough to meet the needs of service users at day care centres.  The development of service based transport would provide more localised control over passenger transport services as vehicles would be managed and coordinated by respective day centre managers.

Although service based transport became operational in adult social care since April 2007, it was noted that the transport service was still adapting to the needs of service users at respective day care services.  It was noted that some of the anticipated benefits of service based transport, such as more male support workers, more flexible use of staff throughout services and reduced transport times have begun to be felt within the service (though these have yet to be fully evaluated).  Similarly, it was noted that services were looking to improve operational effectiveness, such as how vehicles are used at weekends.

Members indicated that it would be helpful to view original documentation relating to the adult social care services opting out of centralised passenger services as this will be important in assessing whether it has met its intended objectives. 

Agreed: Original documentation to be circulated to Members at the next meeting.

Members were keen to understand how the review related to broader issues within community transport provision such as the operation of TaxiCard and Dial-a-Ride and the recent development of Haringey Community Transport.  It was noted that the Greater London Assembly have recently initiated a London wide review of these services which may inform local transport policy and service development.

Agreed: Members agreed that a feasibility study for a scrutiny review of borough wide community transport services in Haringey should be considered following the completion of this review and reflected in the recommendations. 

To agree the terms of reference, objectives and proposed methods for the scrutiny review.

Members discussed the draft scoping report and made a number of amendments to the proposed objectives, methods and structure of Panel meetings.

Terms of reference:

§         Objectives for the review should be streamlined and relate to project objectives contained in the original documentation.

§         Objectives should incorporate an assessment of how service based transport may contribute to the development of other passenger transport services in the borough (i.e. what has been learnt from this development which may inform provision in other services).

§         Objectives should reflect the degree to which service based transport supports sustainable transport aspirations and other broader environmental objectives within the Council.

Agreed: Revised objectives to be circulated to Panel Members for approval before the next meeting.

Review methods

§         Members indicated that more use should be made of survey methods to ascertain the views of staff, carers and service users (where appropriate).  Further qualitative data collection may be used to follow up standardised surveys.

§         Members indicated that they would like to learn more about how passenger transport services were provided in social services elsewhere.  A more systematic analysis of how passenger transport was provided in neighbouring boroughs as well as examples of best practice should be incorporated in to the review.

Agreed: Review of social service passenger transport provision in other boroughs to be collated and presented to Members.

Service Visits

§         Members confirmed that they would like to visit a number of day services to assess passenger transport services provided to service users.  Possible venues identified included The Haven, The Grange (older people) and Ermine Road (Learning Disabilities).

Agreed: Venues, dates, times and schedules to be confirmed with Members and respective services.

Structure of Panel Meetings

§         Members agreed with the proposed timing and schedules of Panel Meetings.  It was anticipated that the review will be completed by November 2008.

§         It was suggested that the Panel meeting to be held on the 15^th October should take place within the community so as to allow service users, staff and other community representatives to attend.  Given is central location, the Winkfield Road Resource Centre was suggested as the most appropriate venue.  Services to advertise and promote the meeting among service users. 

Agreed: Future dates of Panel meetings were agreed as:

Wednesday 10^th September     17.00 – 19.00

Wednesday 15^th October          10.00 – 12.30

Thursday 30^th October               17.00 – 19.00.

Agreed: Members agreed the scoping report subject to amendments identified above.  A final version to be circulated at the next meeting.

To agree future dates for panel meetings and visits that Panel Members wish to undertake.

To be agreed.

None.