Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2024

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 28 November 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the following:

·       Minute Item 2 – Declarations of Interest- Councillor Karl Wardlaw’s declaration being amended to correctly read “Item 5 – Update on Stepping Hill Foundation Trust as an employee of the Trust.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

There were no call-in items to consider.

To receive an update on the estates/funding situation at Stepping Hill Foundation Trust.

The Chair informed the Committee that an email communication had been circulated to members in advance of the meeting informing the Committee that there would be no update from the Trust at this meeting. It was noted that a representative from the Trust has been invited to the next meeting on 6 March 2025 to provide an update.

It was commented that the hospital had recently undergone a rebuild of its emergency department and that it would have been helpful to have received an update on this directly from the Trust.

The Chair requested that the Trust be asked to provide an update to the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Assistant Director for Governance be requested to ask the Trust for an update regarding the recent rebuild of its emergency department and that it be circulated to the Committee.

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With the approval of the Committee the order of the agenda was amended to consider Item 7 – ‘Learning Disability Strategy’ as the next item on the agenda.

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To consider a report of the Director for Adult Social Care.

The report provides details relating to the strategy which has been co-produced with partners and represents a five strategy to promote the health, wellbeing and independence of people with learning disabilities within the borough and give people choice and control over their own lives.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on and to note the report.

Officer contact: - Emma Bowe | emma.bowe@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the strategy which had been co-produced with partners and represented five strategies to promote the health, wellbeing and independence of people with learning disabilities within the borough and give people choice and control over their own lives.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

James Duckett (Co-Chairman Learning Disability Partnership Board) was invited to address the Committee on the lived experiences with learning disabilities.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the ‘easy to read’ version of the strategy and how clear and accessible it was to read.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the next steps of the strategy. It was noted that a 12 month action plan would be produced as there would be ongoing challenges for the Council and its partners in helping to provide appropriate support to those with learning disabilities across a number of areas.

·       It was commented that with the Local Plan in development, how would Adult Social Care help to influence the plan for appropriate housing. It was highlighted that work was being undertaken with housing providers and Council officers to provide appropriate housing through the demographic data available.

·       There was a suggestion for collaboration with the procurement team’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) system to help provide employment opportunities for those with learning disabilities when procuring for services.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care.

The report outlines how the programme fits into the context of the wider change proposals, budget setting and the in-year financial position and provides more details following the November scrutiny committees on how this programme fits into the wider context of the Scrutiny Committees budget.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and comment on the report.

Officer contact: Gill Lawton on Tel: 0161 474 3014 or by email at gill.lawton@stockport.gov.uk   

The Director for Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining how the programme fits into the context of the wider change proposals, budget setting and the in-year financial position and provided more details following the November scrutiny committees on how this programme fits into the wider context of the Scrutiny Committees budget.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       There was a recognition of the difficult financial position for social care which had to be addressed.

·       It was noted that one of the comments from the consultation on fairer charging was regarding the purpose of the funding from the levy. Clarity was sought in relation to how the levy helped provide for the cost of the service. It was noted that without the precept, the situation would be even more difficult in providing social care services. The precept and its increase of around 2% each year would help to meet the challenges from increases in service demands and inflationary cost pressures from care providers.

·       Clarification was sought regarding how arrangements were made for an individual’s own care and how this was supported. It was noted that the Care Act 2014 required early prevention services to be provided by the Council and a number of early intervention services were provided to residents. These included advice and support facilities to help people to be independent as long as possible and to avoid any escalation in their care needs.

·       There was a question regarding the confidence in the deliverability of the £750,000 in savings outlined from managing the external care market. It was noted that officers were working closely with the integrated care board and locality team in order to ensure value for money was provided for the care purchased from providers and that this was appropriate for those residents.

·       There was a question on the use of artificial intelligence and how this could be quantified in terms of the impact on service delivery. It was noted that this was a positive opportunity but it needed to be treated with some caution at this early stage. It was noted that the focus was to use this opportunity to reduce the effect of wait times and to help provide a more responsive service.

·       The work done on the savings achieved was noted and it was asked how  deliverable the proposed changes were. In reply, it was noted that the use of resources was kept under close review and that the use of technology was key to reduce the burden on financial resources.

·       On the ‘fairer charging’ proposal from April 2025, it was asked whether the financial assessments for individuals would be completed from 1 April 2025. It was highlighted that that those affected from the removal of the subsidy from the national framework, would receive a financial assessment in that timeframe and resources were being arranged to provide for this. It was stressed however that charging for individuals would not take place until they had undergone a financial assessment and that further support would be provided by the Council for residents in this process.

·       It was noted that the key decision points for the proposals would be the Cabinet meeting on 4 February 2025 and then the Budget Council meeting on 27 February, and those residents affected would be provided with information packs on the proposals for charging during this process.

·       It was further asked whether these proposals could be phased in to help those affected. It was noted that all options had been considered but the financial challenge was pressing and therefore urgent action was required.

·       It was noted that the funding allocation was disappointing and it was asked how this could affect future year budgets. It was highlighted that if the same calculation was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report from the Director of Public Health.

The purpose of the report is to provide a summary of the current position for the provision of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the report.

Officer contact: Sarah Clarke | sarah.clarke@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated), providing a summary of the current position for the provision of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Stockport.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

Tracey Blackmore (the founder of Defibulous) was also in attendance.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members noted the excellent work of the charity on the installation of defibrillators across the borough.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the lifespan of the pads and batteries used and how the expiry dates would affect the machines installed. It was highlighted that the charity couldn’t takeover the units installed as they were sometimes owned by private individuals and organisations. It was highlighted that it was important to have ‘guardians’ for the machines to ensure they were maintained correctly.

·       It was noted that the Council would be promoting ‘Healthy Heart Month’ and would share the promotional material with the Committee following the meeting.

·       Ward Members had an important role in encouraging the installation of more defibrillator units across the borough.

·       It was commented that there was a need for the units to be accessible 24/7 and for the units not to be in locations that were inaccessible such as locked buildings.

·       Members enquired about what was needed for the Council to support with the maintenance of the facilities. In response, it was noted that the promotion of defibrillators in workplaces and businesses could play a key role in making the machines more readily available.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance.

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Caleb Harris 0161 474 3229 or email: caleb.harris@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

Members enquired about the ‘Market Sustainability Plan & Market Position Statement’ report that was due to be submitted to the next meeting. In response, it was noted that it was a plan that had to be completed in adult social care about how the council were going to manage the market and were going to make sure we had enough care available for residents.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.