Agenda item

To review and discuss draft recommendations from the Scrutiny Panels.

 

TO FOLLOW

Vice-Chair, Councillor Connor, took the chair during this item

 

Received tabled copies of the draft minutes of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel, Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel and the Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Panel meetings which each considered their individual areas of the Medium Term Financial Plan.

 

a.         Recommendations of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel – 11 December 2014

 

            i.          Priority 2, Item 11 – New Pathways for Older People (p.148)

 

(A)      The Haven

 

The Committee listened to a member of the public express their frustration at the amount of IT expenditure proposed in comparison to the proposed closure of the Haven Day Centre, which provided much needed support to the elderly and their carers.

 

Committee members expressed their support for the Haven and were concerned about the removal of professional services and leaving these services  to be delivered by volunteers.

                       

(B)       The Haynes

 

The Vice-Chair reported that prior to the meeting the she had received a response to the budget proposals from The Haynes Relatives Support Group.  The Group’s response was provided in writing, including the following points:

·         People with dementia were fully dependent on others for all their needs 24/7, could not be left along, had a progressive disease with their needs increasing over time, were very vulnerable, need stability, familiarity, minimal change, stimulation and protection and for their carers to be well and healthy.

·         The Haynes Day Care Centre was a Centre of Excellence, providing care for people with dementia at an advanced stage.  Proposals would mean that this would be difficult to sustain.

·         Day care centres provided stimulation, social contact, emotional, physical support, range of activities and specialist expert care by experienced skilled staff – these helped people with dementia, and their carers, to stay healthier and independent longer.

·         Day care was a preventative service both for the cared for, and their carers, helped to extend staying at home and in the community.  In the absence of such services, carers suffered serious ill-health over extended periods often needing hospital stays.

·         Day Care made financial sense.  Carers wanted to delay the need for more costly residential and nursing care for loved ones or hospital admissions and to stay healthier themselves, day care was necessary to achieve these aims.  Day care costs also much less than care at home.  The Group had submitted  estimates of increased costs to the Council in 2011, and we felt they were still valid.

·         The planned consultation was inadequate.

 

The Committee noted that the concerns raised by The Haynes Relatives Support Group were not reflected in the proposals.

 

RESOLVED to recommend that, before moving forward with the proposals, Adult Services clarify the  proposals, including more detail about consultation, how respite services would be provided if closures went ahead and how specialist dementia services would be provided.

 

ii.         Priority 2, Item 13 – New Pathways for People with Learning Disabilities – Day Opportunities (p.150)

 

The Committee heard from a Member of the Autism Working Group including that:

·         Staff had built relationships with service users and an increase in challenging behaviour from people with autism dealing with change could be expected.

·         Mental health issues were likely to arise in people with complex needs as a result of changing these services and the service users will be more socially isolated.

·         The Autism Group felt it had not been consulted properly.

 

Committee members echoed the concerns expressed above and added that the LA would be liable if vulnerable people were managed by inadequately trained staff.

 

Clerk’s note: The Chair, Cllr Bull, left the meeting briefly and returned (20:52-20:55hrs)

 

                        iii.        Priority 2 – Public Health – Health Improvement

 

Ms Denny emphasised the need for Children’s Health Services to act on the increase of the spread of head lice in schools.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations and comments of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel be amended and agreed as discussed by the Committee, and listed in the table attached to these minutes.

Clerk’s note: Cllr Adje, left the meeting between 20:52-20:55hrs

 

b.         Recommendations of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel – 15 December 2014

 

i.          Priority 1, Reference 2 – Services for Young People including Young Offenders

 

The Committee heard from a local resident who expressed that the cuts to youth services would cost more in the long run, the consultation document on the Council’s website was inaccurate in stating that the youth service was not utilised and that this should be amended.  It was also recommended that further engagement, particularly with young people, was required including more appropriate information to be provided.

           

RESOLVED to recommend to the Cabinet that the proposal in Priority 1, reference 2, be reassessed as high risk.

 

ii.         Priority 1, Reference 3 – Public Health, Children and Young People

 

The Vice-Chair expressed concern that pupil premium funding, provided to schools, was being used to address health inequalities rather than to support vulnerable children.

 

iii.        Priority 1, Reference 4 – Impact of Early Help

 

In response to questions it was confirmed that the anticipated reduction in the number of families requiring intervention had not occurred.  A report on troubled families would be circulated to the Committee.

Action: Interim Director of Children’s Services

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations and comments of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel be agreed as discussed by the Committee, and listed in the table attached to these minutes.

 

c.         Recommendations of the Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Panel – 10 December 2014

 

Priority 3,  Item 39 – Direct Services

 

The Chair, Cllr Bull, requested to be included on the site visit to Wolves Lane Nursery Site.

Action: Rob Mack

 

RESOLVED to agree the recommendations of the Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Panel.

 

21:58hrs The Committee RESOLVED to suspend standing orders (Part 4, Section B, Committee Procedure Rules 18) to continue the meeting beyond 10pm to enable the business in hand to be concluded.

 

d.         Recommendations of the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel – 10 December 2014

 

i.          Priority 5 – Item 63 – Homes for Haringey (HfH) Repairs

 

In response to questioning the Committee was informed that this proposal meant that HfH would not spend large amounts of money repairing homes of very elderly residents as their properties were often vacated soon after.

 

ii.         Priority 5  – Item 66 – Homes for Haringey (HfH) Repairs

 

RESOLVED to recommend that the proposals for the Right to Buy should be extended to empty street properties.

 

RESOLVED to agree the comments and recommendations of the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel, subject to the amendments and comments above.