To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor GA Vaughan-Powell.

To receive details of any Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

None.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2013.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on  were signed and approved as a correct record.

To consider suggestions from members of the public on issues the Committee could scrutinise in the future.

(There will be no discussion of the issue at the time when the matter is raised.  Consideration will be given to whether it should form part of the Committee’s work programme when compared with other competing priorities.)

There were no suggestions.

To note questions received from the public and the items to which they relate.

(Questions are welcomed for consideration at a Scrutiny Committee meeting so long as the question is directly related to an item listed on the agenda.  If you have a question you would like to ask then please submit it no later than two working days before the meeting to the Committee Officer.  This will help to ensure that an answer can be provided at the meeting). 

There were no questions.

To receive a presentation on the proposed Adult Wellbeing Transformation programme 2014/15 and to outline the key focus areas.

The Committee received a presentation on the Adult Social Care Transformation Plan.  During the presentation, the Corporate Transformation Project Manager highlighted the following areas:

·         The main areas for focus for 2014 to 2017 which were demand reduction, targeted support, management of the provider market and increased integration.

·         Planned cost reductions in Adult Wellbeing.

·         That the Information Transformation Fund would help the Council manage the provider market and would increase the pace of change.

·         That there was a cap of £72k had been brought in by Central Government in order to protect the savings of care users and that once this had been met, the Council would be in a position to assess the needs of the service user.  The Corporate Transformation Project Manager went on to say that consideration was being given to an on-line retail model of care that would allow families to have interactive and timely procurement of care packages for their relatives.

In reply to a question from a Member, she said that the pre-payment card for service users was being utilised by 509 people, and that the three pence transaction costs associated with the cards were funded by the Council.  Use of the cards would provide a reduction in the budgets associated with direct payments, a saving of £250k, together with better control of those payments on an on-going basis.   The Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing) added that meetings had taken place with service users over the previous few weeks, and personal budgets were an issue that had been regularly raised. Direct payments were not mandatory for service users, and the pre-payment cards were intended as an additional option to provide help for service users. 

The Corporate Transformation Project Manager went on to highlight:

·         The proposed governance structure for Adult Social Care for 2014/15, which included the Adult Wellbeing Transformation Programme Board, into which the four main focus areas would report.

·         The risks and interdependencies for the Programme in the coming year.  These included issues concerning the Care and Support Bill, guidance around which was still awaited from the Department.

The Chairman thanked her for her presentation, and asked that un updated report be provided to the Meeting in April.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To receive a report on the Public Health Core Offer.

The Committee noted a report on the Public Health Core Offer. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted

To receive a response on the Task & Finish Review Group report from the Executive and an Action Plan.

The Committee received a report on the Executive’s response and action plan in respect of the report of the Task and Finish Group onAdult Social Care - Next Stage Integration (Phase 1).  During the ensuing discussion, the following issues were raised:

·         That it could be beneficial for the Committee to look at the way that the Council and the Executive undertook consultation exercises.

·         In reply to a question from a Member, it was noted that the overhaul of the Integrated Community Equipment Store was underway. The joined up working of which this was a part would be of benefit to all parties involved.

·         That a GP triage at the Hospital A&E unit was being seriously considered.

·         The Chairman of Healthwatch added that the public had made it clear that they would like to see 8am to 8pm seven day a week GP service coverage in the County.  It was costly and an inefficient use of available resources for people to go to A&E; more effort should be made to direct patients to the appropriate service. 

·         The interim Chief Operating Officer of the Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (HCCG) concurred, and said that joint working in this area was of great importance.   The HCCG had an Urgent Care Lead who was tasked to address these issues, and all partners were looking at how to better manage the system.  Education was the key, in order to help both staff and patients understand the messages that were being given.

RESOLVED: 

That

a)    The Committee note the Executive response and contents of the action; and;

b)    the Committee receive an updated report in six months.

To consider the Committees Work Programme.

The Committee noted its Work Programme.