Meeting documents

Councillor Crossley welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair(person) drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the Agenda

There were no declarations of interest made.

There was none.

The following people asked questions and received a verbal response, or were promised a written response within 5 days. Details of the questions and responses are contained in the attached document.

There were none.

On a motion from Councillor O'Flaherty, seconded by Councillor Dawson, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd October 2002 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(person).

Councillor Tapper introduced this report by explaining that she was satisfied that all the issues in section 4 of the report had been addressed (section 4 covered the Secretary of State's announcement of 23^rd July 2002, the consultation process, comments of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel, personnel implications and legal issues including the Human Rights Act.) She ran through some of the reasons for pursuing this course of action, as set out in the report.

Councillor Tapper also thanked the residents, staff, Trade Unions, officers and anyone else involved with this for their patience and positive co-operation during this period of uncertainty.

Councillor Inker commented that the Labour group had hoped for a seamless provision for elderly people when this had come to a Council a year ago, and felt that this paper broadly reflected that. He also welcomed the partnership with the Primary Care Trust; however, he hoped that this option would receive a full risk assessment. He expressed some concern over the capital funding; and over residents insecurity, and hoped that it would remain a priority to minimise disruption to them, as much as possible.

Councillor Perry stressed the need for the local Members and wider community of Midsomer Norton to be kept fully informed of the timing and location of options for a new site to replace Greenacres.

Councillor Reakes applauded the excellent consultation that had taken place.

Councillor Pritchard, Convenor of the Housing, Social Services & Community Safety Overview and Scrutiny Panel presented the Panel's conclusions from their consideration of this issue on 22^nd October 2002. These were set out in Appendix 15 to the report.

Councillor Tapper responded to some of the comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel, and then from Executive colleagues.

Before moving to the vote, Councillor Crossley asked each member of the Executive to confirm they had read the report and all its appendices, including the exempt appendix. Each Member confirmed they had.

On a motion from Councillor Tapper, seconded by Councillor Dawson, it was

RESOLVED to agree that;

(1) A mix of Registered Care Home beds and Extracare Units (within a Sheltered Housing complex) is the appropriate "new build" option to meet the future support needs of vulnerable older people in Bath and North East Somerset;

(2) One hundred and eighty supported care beds (as set out in the July 12^th 2002 Council Executive EPH Re-Provision report) on three sites (Registered Care 105 and Extracare 75) in the format suggested in (1) (above) across the Authority is appropriate for the future support needs of vulnerable older people in Bath and North East Somerset;

(3) Providing support for older people across the social and nursing care spectrum in the above building option in conjunction with Primary Care Trust colleagues is the preferred way forward for Bath and North East Somerset to provide for the future support needs of its vulnerable older people;

(4) The three sites across Bath and North East Somerset upon which to develop the "new build" options outlined in (1) above should be Bath (Carrswood), Keynsham (Hawthorne House) and Midsomer Norton either on Greenacres House site or, if available, another more appropriate site in Midsomer Norton;

(5) Greenacres House be closed as soon as all its residents have been found suitable alternative accommodation;

(6) Officers explore the benefits and dis-benefits of Greenacres House being demolished as soon as possible after its formal closure, and the Executive Member decide on the final arrangements based on the most economical option;

(7) The Executive Member decide on the final arrangements for meeting nursing needs depending on the outcome of discussions with the Primary Care Trust and National Care Standards Commission;

(8) Officers are authorised to start the more detailed planning including discussions with Registered Social Landlords to explore additional funding opportunities. The outcome of these discussions to be reported to the Executive Member and included in the draft Financial Plan in January, if necessary;

(9) As a separate exercise, Officers explore with PCT colleagues the need for, and financial viability of, providing Extracare facilities in the Chew Valley area; and

(10) This report, with any additional background information, be referred to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Panel for further consideration of new information.

Councillor O'Flaherty introduced this item and thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Panel for their feedback. On her motion, and seconded by Councillor Dawson, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To approve the Local Cultural Strategy for Bath & North East Somerset;

(2) To endorse the proposal to establish a Local Cultural Partnership;

(3) To recommend that the Local Cultural Partnership reports directly to the Local Strategic Partnership; and

(4) To recommend the Local Cultural Strategy to full Council for adoption. Implementation of any proposals would proceed following full cost and business case analysis and approval by the Executive, and full Council if necessary.

Councillor Todd introduced this report, explaining that this was the first year the Executive had led this process of reviewing the Council's 3-year Financial Plan. On her motion, seconded by Councillor Dawson, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To approve the Financial Plan Review Consultation paper (Appendix 1 to the report) for public consultation;

(2) To authorise the Executive Member for Resources Planning and Support Services to make presentational improvements to the Consultation document and to lead the public consultation exercise;

(3) To refer the Consultation document and the Technical annex (Appendix 2 to the report) to the Resources and Customer Service Overview and Scrutiny Panel to seek their comment; and

(4) To note that the comments of that Panel, and the public consultation, will be fed into the Draft Financial Plan to be considered by the Executive in January 2003.

Councillor Dawson introduced this report and invited Councillor Wood, as Convenor of the Corporate Issues and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Panel, to address the Executive. He presented the conclusions from their meeting of 28^th October 2002 which had been circulated to the meeting.

Councillor Dawson invited Members to consider any initiatives which might be appropriate for future use of potential Performance Reward Grants, which would be received if the Council meets its "stretch" targets.

On a motion from Councillor Dawson, seconded by Councillor Metcalfe, it was

RESOLVED

(1) That the Executive approves the theme areas, project summaries, indicators, areas for freedoms/flexibilities and funding bids set out in Appendix One of the report, as the basis for opening negotiations with the Government on a Local PSA beginning 18^th November 2002;

(2) That the Executive requests officers to prepare detailed negotiating and supporting documentation, as required by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), based on these proposals, and this documentation be agreed by the Council Leader and Portfolio Holder for Customer Satisfaction, Best Value, and E-Government;

(3) That a report setting out the outcomes of the PSA negotiations be prepared for the Executive on 5^th February 2003 for recommendation to Council as part of the Financial Plan on 20^th February 2003; and

(4) That PSA pump-priming funds and any Unsupported Credit Approval (UCA) bids be integrated into the Service and Budget Planning process

On a motion from Councillor Crossley, seconded by Councillor Metcalfe, it was

RESOLVED to note the report.

On a motion from Councillor Crossley, seconded by Councillor Metcalfe, it was

RESOLVED to note the report.

On a motion from Councillor Crossley, seconded by Councillor Metcalfe, it was

RESOLVED to note the report.