Present at the meeting
- Councillor K Cunliffe (Cabinet Champion)(In the Chair)
- Councillor R M Bleakley
- Councillor N A Bradbury
- Councillor G M Bretherton
- Councillor M A Dewhurst
- Councillor G W Fairhurst
- Councillor Mrs S J Greensmith
- Councillor R T Splaine
- Councillor J Talbot
- Mr P Halsall (Co-opted Member)
- Mr A Kendrick (Co-opted Member)
10 Apologies for absence: Councillors Mrs S Dewhurst, K W McManus and Mrs J M Peet, and Mrs E J Berry, Mrs M Burgess and Mr S Oliver (Co-opted Members).
11 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 27 May 2008 were approved as a correct record.
12 Direct payments and personal budgets: Allocation of social care budgets to individuals: The Panel considered a report and received a presentation from the Director of Adult Services, briefing Members on the progress in allocating personal budgets, in line with the ‘Putting People First’ concordat and Transforming Social Care Local Authority circular.
A service user receiving direct payments attended the meeting for this item, together with her Personal Assistant. She explained to Members the circumstances leading up to her decision several years ago to opt for direct payments and the benefits she had found through having control over how her funds were spent and some of the issues that had arisen.
Members asked questions, to which the Director of Adult Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
13 Wigan and Leigh Housing: Older persons housing and support review programme of improvement: The Panel considered a report, which had been considered by the Community Protection Panel (minute 25 refers), on Wigan and Leigh’s older persons housing and support service improvement review. The report set out a wider vision of housing and housing related services to older people and looked to develop an approach, which would ensure the sustainability of its sheltered housing service.
Members asked questions, to which the Director of Adult Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
14 Adult Services budget monitoring 2008/09: The Panel considered a report on the budget monitoring position for Adult Services after the first two months of 2008/09 and commenting on the budgetary issues that would need to be addressed during the year. The report outlined the significant underlying budgetary pressures, which were mainly attributable to the costs of services provided to clients moving through from Children’s to Adults Services at 18 years of age (known as ‘transition costs’).
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
15 Adult Services improvement plan: The Panel considered a report on the current Adult Services improvement plan. The focus of the improvement plan was on modernising in-house, building-based services to ensure that they provided value for money in a competitive environment, were fit for purpose and attractive to those people who wished to purchase support from their personal budgets.
Members expressed concern regarding the consultation process for and the impact of proposals for Tunstall House to become an employment hub. They asked for further information about any changes to Fourways, when they were available.
Members asked questions, to which the Director of Adult Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
16 Performance monitoring report: The Panel considered a report from the Director of Adult Services on the year end performance for 2007/08.
Members asked questions, to which the Director of Adult Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
17 Risk management register 2008/09 – Adult Services: The Panel considered a report from the Director of Adult Services on the key risks facing the Adult Services Department as set out in the risk management register 2008/09.
Members asked questions, to which the Director of Adult Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
18 Attendance management: The Panel considered a report from the Director of Adult Services on attendance management arrangements within Adult Services on sickness absence levels 2007/08.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
19 Review of Advisory Panels and Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees: The Panel considered a joint report and received a presentation from the Service Director - Borough Solicitor, which sought Members’ views on a proposed review of the roles of the Advisory Panels and the Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees, which would come into effect for the Municipal Year 2009/10.
The Cabinet had considered the report at minute 36.
Members asked questions and made comments on the report, as follows:-
- membership of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Audit Governance and Improvement Review Committee and the proposed Scrutiny Committees;
- the scope of the Adult Health and Well-being Committee appeared large;
- the chairmanship of the Scrutiny Committees;
- there was a risk of breaking the link between portfolio holders and back-bench Councillors, which it was considered may affect the development of policy and suggestions of ways this could be avoided where discussed; and
- an enquiry was made regarding the cost of implementing the proposals.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
20 Questions by Members: There were none.
