To receive any apologies for absence and notification of any substitute members.

No apologies were received.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman also announced that item 10, NHS Bedfordshire – Care Quality Commission Performance Rating, would be taken before item 9, Local Involvement Network (LINk) Update, to allow officers to attend another meeting.

To receive petitions in accordance with the scheme of public participation set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Council’s Constitution.

The Chairman reported that no petitions had been received.

This is an opportunity for questions, statements and deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure set out in Section A4 of the Council’s Constitution.

No public questions, statements or deputations were put to the Committee.

To consider proposals, if any, to deal with any item likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 prior to the exclusion of the press and public.

None of the agenda items were considered to contain exempt information.

To consider any matter referred to the Committee in relation to the call-in of a decision.

No call-ins had been received by the Committee.

To consider any matter referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

There were no requested items.

The Committee will consider a report from NHS Bedfordshire on Performance Indicators from 2008/2009 focusing on areas for improvement.

The Committee received and considered a report setting out the performance indicators for 2008/09 from NHS Bedfordshire. The Care Quality Commission had assessed Bedfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) as being fair in regard to the quality of commissioning, the quality of financial management and national priorities; the Trust had been assessed as having fully met Core Standards and as having almost met existing commitments.

The Assistant Chief Executive of NHS Bedfordshire reported that the PCT had been disappointed to have the Commissioning of Services assessed as fair rather than good, and that this had largely been due to problems with data being entered correctly.

The Committee noted that NHS Bedfordshire works closely with partners such as the hospitals and ambulance trust who provide services, but NHS Bedfordshire remains accountable for those services and is expected to commission high quality services for users.

The report and discussion focussed on areas that had been deemed to be either under achieved, failed or where compliance was not met. NHS Bedfordshire was on target to achieve all of these areas other than:

• Responding to Category B 999 calls within 18 minutes

Members were advised that the PCT will not achieve this target and that this target was virtually impossible for most Trusts to achieve, particularly in rural areas of the region.  Nicola Bell informed the Committee that the PCT was currently involved in a piece of work focussing on the response times to Cat B calls made from residents living in rural areas.  Ms. Bell informed the Committee that the results from this work would be made available to the Committee if they so wished. 

• Providing reperfusion treatment within 60 minutes.

Members were informed that recording performance in this area was difficult to measure due to the current period being treated as a cross over year.  It was also mentioned that treatments were being administered locally and not always in a hospital setting.

• Teenage conception rates

Members were informed that the PCT will not achieve this target during 2010 / 2011, but that this is a priority for the period 2010 / 2011

• Commissioning Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health (CaMHS)

Members were informed that the PCT were in the process of re-commissioning the community services in schools with a particular emphasis on the use of Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT).  Although underachieving this target, the PCT assured the Committee that  the current and future work should ensure that CaMHS exceeds the target for 2010 /2011

• NHS Staff satisfaction

Andrew Morgan, Chief Executive of NHS Bedfordshire, informed the Committee that the poor rating attributed to the staff satisfaction survey was felt to reflect staff concerns about the transition of certain services away from NHS Bedfordshire as well as access to training and development opportunities.

• C04b – Safe use of Medical devices

Members were informed that the medical devices referred to in this performance measure ranged form syringe drivers to walking aids.  Assurances were offered to Members for the period 2010 /2011, the CQC were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.

The Committee will receive an update from Bedfordshire LINk on local health matters influencing link activity as defined by the Health and Social Care Act 2001.

(attached)

The Committee considered a report detailing the recent work of Bedfordshire Local Involvement Network (LINk). In addition to the work detailed in the report Mr Smith reported that LINk was researching ways to be more effective in social care.

Members thanked Mr Smith for the valuable work undertaken by Bedfordshire LINk.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Committee will receive an outline presentation focusing on the Draft Homelessness Strategy for 2010 – 2014.

(to follow)

The Committee received a presentation (attached) setting out the Draft Homelessness Strategy. Central Bedfordshire Council was required to review homelessness in its area and publish a Homelessness Strategy, based on the review, every five years.

The draft strategy addressed the current situation in Central Bedfordshire, setting out ten strategic priorities, six being specific priorities and four being cross cutting priorities as set out below.

Specific Priorities

• Harmonise housing options services across Central Bedfordshire
• Respond effectively to the recession, focussing on financial inclusion
• Work with young people aged 16-24 to meet their needs more effectively
• Embed the Think Family approach within all homelessness prevention activity and broader interventions to sustain families in permanent, settled, accommodation.
• Strengthen safeguarding practice for vulnerable adults and children across all aspects of housing options and homelessness prevention.
• Investigate the particular problems and pathway journeys that are experienced by people with complex needs.

Cross-cutting priorities

• Strengthen equalities practice across all areas of the service
• Make best use of private sector accommodation
• Sharing awareness and working in partnership with the community and between partner agencies.
• Tenancy sustainment.

The Committee noted that much work was being done to harmonise the service across Central Bedfordshire. Staff from the Council and Aragon Housing Association were working hard to ensure that uncertainty over future provision in Central Bedfordshire did not affect service users.

The Assistant Director of Housing agreed to report to the committee with comparative data from other local authorities at a later date

RESOLVED:

The Committee will receive a report about the proposed revision of the eligibility policy for adult social care services and to gain approval for a consultation process.

(to follow)

The Committee considered a report setting out the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for Fair Access to Care Services. Members noted that partner organisations had been closely involved in drawing up the draft policy and that public consultation had been carried out. The Director of Social Care, Health and Housing reminded Members that the eligibility criteria covered a wide spectrum of needs and that Free Personal Care (if introduced) would be a sub-set within the eligibility criteria.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the report and Fair Access to Care Services: Eligibility Criteria for Adult Social Care Draft Policy.

The Committee will receive a report about the plans to review the policy on charging for non-residential social care services.

(to follow)

The Committee received and discussed a report about the plans to review the policy on charging for non-residential social care services. Tim Hoyle, Head of Business Systems clarified for Members that this did not include residential care services, which were governed by separate legislation.

The report explained that council’s were allowed (but not obliged) to charge for non-residential social care services; subject to certain conditions. Currently Central Bedfordshire was not collecting the amounts of revenue that would normally be expected in a similar demographic area for those services, it was proposed that the Council should develop a new policy which would address this issue and be able to accommodate the changing needs of the community and legislative change.

As part of the review the possible income for services would be considered against the cost of assessing, administering and collecting the revenue; for example charging minimal amounts for transport to and from day-centre may raise less revenue than it costs to administer.

Due to the complexity of the proposed policy, Julie Ogley, Director of Social Care, Health and Housing suggested that a Task Force be established to allow Members to consider the full range of options for development as well as allowing Members to consider how best to contribute to the public consultation.

Members noted the proposed timescale for the development of the policy and public consultation and requested that a Task Force be established to allow them to consider how best to perform the consultation.

RESOLVED:

1. That the report be noted.
2. That a Member Task Force be established consider the full range of policy options and to contribute to the public consultation process.

The Committee will receive Q3 Budget information for the Social Care, Health and Housing Directorate.

(attached)

The Committee received a report setting out the directorate’s financial position at the end of December 2009 and the forecast for the end of the financial year. Members noted that while an overspend was projected, the extent of the overspend had been significantly reduced and congratulated the directorate on this.

The Committee noted that a number of actions and lines of enquiry were being proposed to further reduce the overspend.

In response to questions about areas of risk, the Committee was advised that Central Bedfordshire had inherited a number of contractual issues from the former Bedfordshire County Council which could take some time to resolve and that there was a risk that hospitals could levy a fine to the local authority if discharge from hospital was held up by the lack of a suitable placement.

Members were advised that the next budget report to the Committee would also show the financial recovery plan.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the budget projections and report.

The Committee will receive Q3 Performance information for the Social Care, Health and Housing Directorate.

(attached)

The Committee considered the Quarter 3 performance report. It was noted that while performance under national indicator 130 (Clients receiving self directed support) was still not met, progress was being made and that a number of people had received personal budgets, with more being processed. It was also noted that performance under national indicator 135 (carers receiving assessment or review) had been affected by data collection issues, which had now been addressed and an improvement could be expected.

RESOLVED:

That the committee notes the Quarter 3 performance report.

The Committee will consider the revised programme of items for 2009/ 10.

(attached)

Members considered the Committee’s work programme, it was noted that the following items also needed to be considered

• NHS Premises – Estates strategy
• Introduction to Tenants Service Authority
• The Healthy Community Strategy

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the above changes, the work programme be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 8 April 2010 starting at 10:00am.

8 April 2010 starting at 10:00am.