To respond to the Adult Social Care and Strategic Housing Scrutiny Committee review of Carers’ Services in Herefordshire.

Cabinet received a report on the scrutiny review of the support to carers in Herefordshire and was reminded of the need for more joint partnership working in social care and health, particularly in light of the number of older people living in the county and of those retiring to the county.

Cabinet noted that this had been a detailed review but was concerned with the time lines in the action plan as the review had taken place in the autumn of 2009, but was only now coming before Cabinet for discussion and there had been some changes since the review with new legislation coming into place.

The Children’s Services Scrutiny Chairman was invited to speak and he stated he was pleased that most of the recommendations from the review were being accepted but reiterated the request for representation to be made to the Minister of State for Pensions regarding the financial loss suffered by carers once they reached pensionable age.  Cabinet was advised this was not an issue for the authority to take up but something to be dealt with through the Local Government Association.

RESOLVED:

               THAT:

               (a)     the scrutiny review of support for carers in Herefordshire be noted;

               (b)    the executive’s response to the recommendations (see Appendix 1 to the report) be approved; and

               (c)     an updated report be presented to the Cabinet Member in the autumn to reflect recent changes in legislation.