Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr WJ Wearing, Mr W Clark, Mr A Connell and Miss D Garton.  Dr S Haraldsen was substitute for Miss D Garton.

To report and note changes to the membership of the Board.

Ms C Driver was no longer a member of the Committee.

Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises

1          Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

2          Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3          Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority

(a)     Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

            (b)     Which has not been fully discharged.

4          Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority.

5          Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer. 

6          Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge)

            (a)     The landlord is the authority; and

            (b)     The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial interest.

7          Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

(a)     That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the area of the authority; and

(b)     Either –

         (i)        The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

         (ii)       If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

In addition, you must also disclose other non-pecuniary interests set out in the Code of Conduct where these have not already been registered.

Note

A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners).

There were no disclosures of interest.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED, that the press and public not be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Advisory Board – Adults held on 5 January 2023 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED,that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 January 2023 be agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

To receive a presentation by Executive Director – People.

The Assistant Director (Deputy DAS) gave a presentation on the Adult Social Care Position & Local Government Reorganisation Transition this combined agenda item 6 Adult Social Care Position and agenda item 7 LGR Transition which included the following areas:-

·      Focus upon final preparation and assurance for ending well (ASC Operations, Provider Services, Contracts & Commissioning)

·      Final preparation and assurance around disaggregation and transitioning to two new authorities

·      Stabilising Adult Social Care Services and the Challenges Ahead

A member commented on the Safeguard risk and if it was possible that the risk may be further reduced in time.

The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults remarked that systems were in place to further reduce the risk in time.

A member noted that unsustainable Adult Social Care demand was outstripping capacity and was that in specific areas or across Adult Social Care and what were the factors.

The Assistant Director (Deputy DAS) remarked that it was across Adult Social Care and the single biggest factor was workforce.

A member commented how were the private sector responding to respite facilities.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services noted that she was not aware that the independent sector had declined anyone respite care and that Cumbria Care had opened up facilities for respite care.

A discussion took place about future CQC inspections and the Assistant Director (Deputy DAS) remarked that a self-assessment process had been undertaken and that any inspection will be specifically about Adult Social Care.

A member commented on staffing levels and if there would be an increase in staff numbers.

The Assistant Director (Deputy DAS) remarked that in the transition process managers portfolio had been increased but over a smaller geographical area but there were no additional roles.

A member raised what would happen when family circumstances would cross boundaries.

The Assistant Director (Deputy DAS) noted it would not have a significant impact, this situation currently takes places with neighbouring authorities.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director (Deputy DAS) for her presentation and commented that he felt pride about the work done.

To consider a report by Executive Director – People (copy enclosed).

The Strategic Policy and Scrutiny Adviser presented the report and drew out the key topics :-

·      Adult Social Care Position

·      Quality Assurance Within Provider Services

·      Workforce

·      Discharge Arrangements

·      Shared Outcome Frameworks

·      CQC Assurance

·      Carers

·      Safeguarding Adults at risk from abuse and neglect

A round table discussion took place with everyone in agreement with these items added to the list :-

·      Structure of Adult Social Care

·      New Models of Care

·      Extra Care Housing

To consider a report by Executive Director – People (copy enclosed).

The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults presented a report providing an update and analysis of adult safeguarding activity in the third quarter of 2022/23, briefing members on progress against key areas of performance relating to ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’, providing a benchmark against other local authorities and describing actions planned to strengthen and consolidate improvements in adult safeguarding in Cumbria through the Safeguarding Adults Board.

During the question and answer session that followed, a member remarked that it should be seen as a success that cases are picked up and queried if new members would receive specific Safeguarding Adults training.

The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults commented that training had been commissioned specifically for members.

The Chair thanked the Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults for his report.

To note this is the last meeting of the Committee in the life of Cumbria County Council.

It was noted that this was the last meeting of the Scrutiny Advisory Board – Adults in the life of Cumbria County Council.

The Executive Director – People thanked the members for their support, challenge and discussion that they had provided and thanked the Chair for his commitment and support.

Members commented that the Chair had provided exemplary support and commitment to all members on the Board.

The Chair thanked members and officers for their hard work and dedication and noted that he wanted to be able to ask questions to support the people of Cumbria.