Issue - meetings

This report presents the Council’s Organisational Plan 2019/20 to the Select Committee for consideration and feedback as part of the Council’s operational planning and budget development process.

The[MD1]  Director for Partnership & Corporate Services introduced this report to the Select Committee. He explained that the Organisational Plan forms an important part of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s strategic planning framework.

He stated that it was well recognised that a high percentage of the Council’s budget is used within Adult Care, Health and Wellbeing

He said that the plan outlines the draft budget savings proposals where appropriate, which will be proposed as part of the budget setting process for the Council 2019 – 20 budgets which will be considered by the Cabinet and Council at their meetings in February.

He explained that the Organisational Plan for the first time introduces the Council’s new Core Service Offer and its 3 new priorities. He added that a core services offer is the best service offer we can deliver based on the resources currently available to us.

The Corporate Director added that the majority of figures within appendix 2 were contained within the previous year’s budget.

Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency commented that although savings have been identified, the Adult Care budget was due to increase by £4.1m due to demand / demographic pressure.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson said that she appreciated the budget parameters the Council were working within and asked for further information regarding the review all social care packages and the possibility of in-house care provision.

The Acting Director for Integrated Health and Care Commissioning replied that positive negotiations had taken place with regard to care packages.

Councillor Jackson asked if there was adequate support in place to enable residents to live longer in the community.

The Acting Director for Integrated Health and Care Commissioning replied that one of the Council’s aims is to reduce the numbers of people placed in care homes and to support residents to stay at home / use the reablement service.

Councillor Jackson asked if there were enough care places available within the Council.

The Acting Director for Integrated Health and Care Commissioning replied that a review of home care services was ongoing.

Councillor Jackson commented that she would like to see communications to the public improve, primarily the elderly.

The Acting Director for Integrated Health and Care Commissioning replied that they were working on this issue with Virgin Care and that a process was beginning that would see a number of Care Navigators in place to assist with communications to the public.

The Corporate Director added that a great deal of information was available on the Wellbeing Options website (http://www.wellbeingoptions.co.uk/). He said that the site provides information about local care providers, services and activities, along with links to other useful websites and resources.

The Director for Partnership & Corporate Services said that recently there had been an increased involvement from the voluntary sector, including a group called Compassionate Communities B&NES.

Councillor Jackson asked if the Council had considered lending money to small family run residential homes for them to make adaptions / enhance their site provision.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70

This report presents the Council’s Organisational Plan 2019/20 to the Panel for consideration and feedback as part of the Council’s operational planning and budget development process.

The Director for Partnership & Corporate Services introduced this report to the Panel. He explained that the Organisational Plan forms an important part of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s strategic planning framework.

He added that the plan translates the Council’s strategy and vision for the future into a more detailed annual Organisational Plan, setting its key activities and projects for the Council to achieve this.

He said that the plan outlines the draft budget savings proposals where appropriate, which will be proposed as part of the budget setting process for the Council 2019 – 20 budgets which will be considered by the Cabinet and Council at their meetings in February.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what is the total Children & Young People budget, what was the percentage overspend last year and to what extent are we going to be within budget this year.

The Corporate Director replied that they have a budget of £25.3m, they were overspent by 5% on the budget last year and are currently 9% overspent on the budget for this current year.

Councillor Hardman asked if this figure could be accommodated in the current year and in the budget going forward.

Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency replied that these figures were largely due to the number children in care within B&NES which was currently 191. He said that the Council is in a position to deal with this having received a Government grant under the care envelope and if necessary the revenue contingency reserves and has made budgetary provision within the proposals for next year.

Councillor Hardman asked how the Youth Connect Services redesign is progressing and to what extent has the Youth Services staff mutual progressed.

The Corporate Director replied that the proposal had received support in principle from the Cabinet at the end of October 2018, that the due diligence process was still ongoing and that further meetings were due this week, so he was optimistic that it would be concluded shortly.

Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People added that the sources of funding need to be secure as the contract is due to be for five years to enable a degree of stability for those concerned.

Councillor Hardman asked if the Council would commission services from the Staff Mutual.

The Corporate Director replied that they would.

Councillor Matt Cochrane asked if the figure of £3m was the true cost of supporting the 21 children with the most complex needs in 2018-19.

The Corporate Director replied that it was as there are a number of young people that have expensive placements.

Councillor Charles Gerrish added that a number of these placements are outside of B&NES.

Councillor Cochrane asked if the site of the Bath Studio School were to be used for further SEND provision would that potentially lead to families moving to the area to use it and has that happened historically.

Councillor Gerrish replied that he was aware of families that have moved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54

A report is attached that presents the Council’s Organisational Plan 2019/20 to the Panel for consideration and feedback as part of the Council’s operational planning and budget development process.

David Trethewey, Director of Partnerships and Corporate Services introduced the report.

Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency, Martin Shields, Corporate Director, and Mandy Bishop, Director of Environmental Services, were also present to answer questions.

Panel members asked the following questions and made the following points:

Councillor Anketell Jones asked, regarding the Organisational Plan, what the critical point was if the amount in the pound spent on adult and children services kept on rising. The Director of Partnerships and Corporate Services explained that there is no categorical answer but that a Fair Funding Review was in place.

Regarding the Core Offer (page 61), Councillor Evans referred to the middle section and stated that he was concerned that safety was becoming the only criteria regarding roads rather than travel. The Director of Partnerships and Corporate Services explained that the Council has resources for core delivery but it can still influence others to affect results.

Councillor Anketell Jones asked about the PREVENT agenda and the Director of Partnerships and Corporate Services explained that the Council would continue to work with partners and the community.

Councillor Samuel stated that the Council had a long way to go to make it’s online services more transactional which would lead to huge savings. He added that the One Stop Shop is not a comprehensive service and the current website is not fit for purpose. The Director of Partnerships and Corporate Services responded by explaining that there is a proposal in the digital transformation plan a move to a transactional service around parking and a new website is being worked on. Councillor Bull raised an equalities issue with transactional services by stating that not all people have access to or can use online services. Councillor Hale sought assurance that we never move away from the human voice on the phone system. The Director of Partnerships and Corporate Services stated that this would be considered in the roll out of services and residents access needs would be assessed but could not give an ongoing assurance regarding the phone system. Councillor Hale stated that an automated phone system would be a backwards step. Councillor Symonds gave an example that there were 650 members of Dial a Ride in his area and only 50 have access to email so many would have problems accessing the Council if any services were online only.

Councillor Samuel asked why the parking strategy (page 63) was marked as high risk. Mandy Bishop, Director of Environmental Services explained that this will now be reassessed as medium risk.

In response to a query from Councillor Neil Butters regarding parking income, Martin Shields, Corporate Director explained that the income can be used to support the highway (for example safe routes to schools).

Councillor Bull noted the large savings that were predicted from ‘Getting from A to B’, the officer confirmed this and added that the savings will be mainly in 2020/21.

Regarding a query about pothole repairs, the Director of Environmental Services explained some permanent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62

This report presents the Council’s Organisational Plan 2019/20 to the Panel for consideration and feedback as part of the Council’s operational planning and budget development process.

The Director for Partnership & Corporate Services introduced this report to the Panel. He explained that the Organisational Plan is an annual plan, which has been aligned with the budget planning process. He said that the Organisational Plan for the first time introduces the Council’s new Core Service Offer and its 3 new priorities.

(1) Protect and Care for our most vulnerable

(2) Nurture residents health, safety and wellbeing

(3) Provide ways for everyone in the community to reach their full potential.

He stated that in essence, a core services offer is the best service offer we can deliver based on the resources currently available to us.

He said that the plan outlines the draft budget savings proposals where appropriate, which will be proposed as part of the budget setting process for the Council 2019 – 20 budgets which will be considered by the Cabinet and Council at their meetings in February. He added that the plan also outlines the Emerging Capital Bids for 2019/20 that will be proposed as part of the budget setting process to be considered at the same meetings.

Councillor Liz Richardson queried whether the figures relating to supporting the 21 children with the most complex needs were necessary (P.34) in the plan.

Councillor Charles Gerrish replied that the figure is there to illustrate the costs associated with this type of support and that he felt it gives the public a better understanding of how resources are used.

Councillor Richardson asked if the proposal to remove the non-domestic rate exemption for listed buildings would affect local village halls (P.38).

Councillor Gerrish replied that it would not as they would not be classed as empty.

Councillor Richardson commented that she would have like to have seen Planning Services recognised on the list of examples on P.38/39.

Councillor Barry Macrae asked if manufacturers, alongside the public, will be encouraged to reduce waste and stop over-packaging items.

Councillor Gerrish replied that this was recognised as a national issue and that the Council has been lobbying through the LGA on this subject.

The Corporate Director added that the Council had responded to a recent Government consultation paper regarding managing waste.

Councillor Rob Appleyard commented that he was concerned at the time taken to assess and meet the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. He also wished to raise the issue of the support given to Fostering / Adoption families when a diagnosis of this nature is recognised.

Councillor Gerrish replied this was more a matter for the Children & Young People Panel, but said that he was aware of the need to increase the speed in which Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs) are carried out. He added that he felt that local Councils were not funded appropriately following the SEND reforms.

The Chairman queried the language used within the Organisational Plan, such as ‘Offer’ and ‘Nurture’. He asked if a list of statutory services could be provided.

The Director for Partnership & Corporate Services replied that this was open to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42