Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the apologies of Councillor Kataria and Appointed Members Catherine Hobbs and Rob Sanders.  The Committee also noted that following receipt of the temporary resignation of Councillor Kataria from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, the Director of Legal and Governance, acting under delegated powers, had appointed Councillor McEwing to replace him for the purposes of the meeting.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 11th October, 2018 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the 11^th October, 2018 Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Committee considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Care regarding the consultation on the future use of Glen Lee and Holcroft House residential homes. 

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care was in attendance and addressed the meeting.  Representations were also received from Councillor Morrell, Claire Ransom (Unison), Sue Atkins (Trade Unionists and Socialist Coalition) and Michael Marx (Socialist Party).

RESOLVED:

i)  That occupancy data for Glen Lee and Holcroft House, over a 5 year period, was circulated to the Committee.

ii)  That the Market Position Statement was shared with the Committee.

iii)  That information was provided to the Committee enabling a comparison to be made between the current cost to the Authority of agency staff employed within the residential homes and the costs associated with previous providers.

iv)  That the detailed options analysis on the various proposals being considered was circulated to the Committee.

v)  That the Council’s Absence Management Policy was circulated to the Committee.

vi)  That officers consult with representatives from Liverpool City Council and Monmouthshire County Council to develop understanding of their operating model and recent decisions to develop new residential care homes for people with dementia.

vii)  That officers undertake further research to ascertain the average cost of an external placement in neighbouring local authorities that do not have their own residential dementia care homes.

viii)  That the Committee are provided with the following, over a 10 year period, broken down annually:

•  The overspend against the residential care budget

•  The sickness days lost per FTE employee, by residential care home. 

The Committee considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Homes and Culture detailing the Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2018-2023. 

The Cabinet Member for Homes and Culture was in attendance and addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

i)  That the Cabinet Member considers including within the Strategy explicit reference to effective multi-agency working to improve early intervention.

ii)  That, whilst recognising the current data difficulties, the Cabinet Member gives consideration to including targets within the Strategy, or commits to including targets when the data concerns were addressed. 

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance requesting that the Committee consider and approve the terms of reference for a scrutiny inquiry looking at reducing domestic abuse and preventing people from becoming perpetrators of domestic abuse in Southampton.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Legal and Governance requesting that the Committee agree the terms of reference for a scrutiny inquiry looking at reducing domestic abuse and preventing people from becoming perpetrators of domestic abuse in Southampton. 

RESOLVED:

(i)  that the draft terms of reference for the scrutiny inquiry be approved; and

(ii)  that authority be delegated to the Director of Legal and Governance, in consultation with the Chair of the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel, to finalise the inquiry plan.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Legal and Governance detailing the actions of the Executive and monitoring progress of the recommendations of the Committee.

To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential report and appendix to the following Item

Confidential report and appendix contain information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Category 3, 5 and 7A of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.  If the content of this report were to be treated as a public document it would reveal information that is both commercially sensitive and detrimental to the business affairs of the Council. 

RESOLVED to move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential report and appendix to the following Item.

Confidential report and appendix contain information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Category 3, 5 and 7A of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.  If the content of this report were to be treated as a public document it would reveal information that is both commercially sensitive and detrimental to the business affairs of the Council. 

Confidential report of the Service Director, Digital and Business Operations updating the Committee on developments with regards to the Strategic Services Partnership.

The Committee considered the confidential report of the Service Director, Digital and Business Operation updating the Committee on the Strategic Services Partnership. 

RESOLVED that, to enable comparisons to be made moving forward, the current cost model within the Strategic Services Partnership contract was circulated to the Committee.