Present at the meeting:
- Councillor K Cunliffe (Cabinet Champion)(In the Chair)
- Councillor R M Bleakley
- Councillor S Dawber
- Councillor Mrs S J Greensmith
- Councillor J Talbot
- Mr A Kendrick (Co-opted Member)
- Mr S Oliver (Co-opted Member)
By invitation:
- Mr J Marshall, Assistant Director, Commissioning of Mental Health Services, Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust (ALWPCT) (for agenda item 7)
- Mrs C Brennan (Over 50s Forum)
33 Welcome new Member: The Cabinet Champion, on behalf of the Panel, extended a warm welcome to Councillor S Dawber, a new Member of the Panel.
34 Apologies for absence: Councillors G M Bretherton, M A Dewhurst, Mrs S Dewhurst, G W Fairhurst, K W McManus, Mrs J M Peet, R T Splaine and Mrs M Burgess and Mr P Halsall (Co-opted Members).
35 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 16 September 2008 were approved as a correct record.
36 Exclusion of the public - section 100a Local Government Act 1972: Resolved: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Adult Services Panel discusses the following items for the reasons set out below:-
| Agenda Item No. |
Title of report |
Minute No. |
Description of exempt information by reference to the paragraph number in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 |
| E1 |
Care Home Fees |
44 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) |
37 Support for carers: The Panel considered a report and received a presentation from the Director of Adult Services, briefing Members on the new National Carers’ Strategy, the Strategy for the Borough, and the plans for a new Carers’ Centre. The Panel also viewed a film which showed an example a person with Alzheimer’s Disease and his carer. The film illustrated the benefits they had received from having an individual personalised budget to meet the needs of the service user and his carer.
Two carers attended the meeting for this item. They explained to Members how they had been involved with the new developments and what was like being a carer In Wigan. The Panel were given examples of caring for carers which ranged from respite care, to enjoying leisure facilities, such as, aromatherapy classes.
Members asked questions, to which the two carers and the officers present responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted, and thanks the carers for attending the presentation.
38 Access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities: The Panel considered a report from Mr J Marshall, Assistant Director, Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust (ALWPCT), which had been referred from their Board, regarding an independent enquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities. The inquiry had focused on the inability of people with a learning disability and their carers to receive appropriate standards of care. This was the first occasion that the Adult Services Panel had received a report from the ALWPCT Board. This report will also be considered by the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board.
Members asked questions, to which Mr Marshall responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
39 Adult Services budget monitoring 2008/09: The Panel considered a report, on the budget monitoring position for Adult Services after the first 6 months of 2008-09 and commenting on the budgetary issues that needed to be addressed during the year. The budget monitoring position showed an overall overspend of £618,000 against budget profile. The overall projected ongoing budgetary pressure facing the department was £970,000, after the introduction of a spending freeze on non-essential supplies and services.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
40 Homecare services update: The Panel considered a report on homecare services in response the Unison survey which sought the views of their members on the outcome of the tendering of Homecare services and the subsequent implementation of award of contracts to private providers in January 2008. All Members of the Council had received a copy of the survey and a response from the Director of Adult Services. This process had involved the transfer of approximately 400 employees who had previously been employed by Wigan Council.
Members asked questions and expressed concerns, to which the Director of Adult Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
41 Adult Services Service Plan 2008-09 to 2010/11: The Panel considered a report on the context and work programme of the Adult Services Department during 2008/09. The service plan described the work programme for the Adult Services Department as the means of the delivering on its local and national priorities.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
42 Minutes of Single Commissioning Agency (SCA) – Joint Shadow Board, 28 August 2008: The Panel considered the minutes of the SCA held on 28 August 2008.
The Chairman informed the Panel that, at his request, to obviate delay, the SCA had agreed that the draft minutes of the SCA would be submitted to the Adult Services Panel for information prior to their ratification by the Board.
Agreed: The Panel accepts the minutes of the SCA dated 28 August 2008.
(Councillor K Cunliffe declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in the above item because his wife is employed by The 5 Boroughs Partnership).
43 Questions by Members at Panel meetings: There were none.
44 Care Home Fees: The Panel considered a report which would be submitted to Cabinet on 14 November 2008. The report advised Members on the potential requirement to pay care home additional fees.
Members asked questions to which the Director of Adult Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
45 Decisions authorised by the Director of Adult Services under Chief Officers Delegated Powers: There were none.
