Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 5.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

The Director of Adult Social Care had sent her apologies to the Panel.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest, (as defined in Part 4.4 Appendix B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Michael Auton declared an other interest with regard to agenda item 10 (Adult Social Care Improvement Plan - Progress Update) as through his work with Community Catalysts he works with many people involved in Adult Social Care.

Cindy Carter addressed the Panel with regard to the current budget proposals, a copy of the statement can be found as an online appendix to these minutes, on the Panel’s Minute Book and a summary is set out below.

“I recognise that the Council is operating in a challenging financial and operational environment, and I appreciate the difficult decisions adult social care faces. The current consultation proposes achieving savings through future recommissioning of learning disability services and through Care Act reviews with a stronger focus on cost-effectiveness. While these are described as efficiency measures, for people with learning disabilities—especially those with profound and complex needs—they have real consequences for how care is commissioned, reviewed, and delivered.

For people like my son, care is not optional or flexible. It relies on stable providers, skilled staff, and consistent, trusted support. Cost-driven changes can reduce staffing levels, lower skill mixes, disrupt continuity, or destabilise providers. These are not abstract concerns: they can lead to safeguarding risks, deterioration in health, loss of skills, and more restrictive support rather than greater independence.

A key concern is timing. I would welcome reassurance from the Committee on how outcomes for people with learning disabilities will be protected when the recommissioning framework is not yet in place. 

People with learning disabilities are a protected group under the Equality Act. Small changes in commissioning or review practices can have disproportionately large impacts, so careful mitigation is essential as proposals develop.

Co-production is a statutory requirement under the Care Act 2014. At present, there has been limited meaningful involvement of people with learning

disabilities, their families, or Court-appointed deputies. Strengthening engagement would help ensure decisions reflect how services work in practice, supporting continuity and stability for those most affected.

There are positive local examples to build on. The commissioning of respite provision at Newton House has shown the value of co-production, user choice, and continuity of care. I encourage the Council and the Committee to apply these lessons to the recommissioning of supported living services, so future models are shaped by lived experience and deliver the stability, quality, and outcomes that matter most to individuals and families.”

Alan Carter addressed the Panel with regard to the current budget proposals, a copy of the statement can be found as an online appendix to these minutes, on the Panel’s Minute Book and a summary is set out below.

“I am here as a Dad and as Court of Protection appointed Joint and Several Deputy for my son, who has a profound learning disability and complex health care needs. He lives in supported living and relies on commissioned care and support to meet his needs safely and lawfully.

The Committee will be considering proposed local authority budget proposals, which include changes affecting people with learning disabilities through care package reviews and the recommissioning of services.

We are seeing challenges between B&NES Council and BSW ICB in determining which organisation is responsible for meeting assessed needs under the Care Act. These are not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.

The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Services addressed the Panel and highlighted the following points from her update.

Community Support Contract Awards

Following robust mobilisation and smooth transition, six Community Support Service contracts went live on 1st January 2026.

Two further Community Support Service tenders have concluded under the new Procurement Act 2023 using the Light Touch Regime for above-threshold social care contracts in December 2025. These two contracts will commence in April 2026, with mobilisation and implementation activity now underway to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of support for residents across Bath and North East Somerset.

This concludes the recommissioning of the Community Support Service contracts undertaken in 2025.

Newton House update

Adult Social Care staff have continued to work with families who access care and support at Newton House to shape the future design of respite services. To date, they have held three dedicated sessions focused on service development and defining what "good" looks like for both families and individuals using the provision.

In parallel, we have engaged with our procurement and legal teams to explore the flexibilities within the Procurement Act 2023 and identify viable routes to market. In line with our statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 and the Procurement Act 2023, the Council has carefully considered the option of a direct award for respite provision at Newton House, utilising the User Choice provision. This approach reflects the expressed preferences of families and it addresses the critical need to ensure continuity of care for vulnerable adults and their carers.

The option to make a direct award for 5 plus 2 years under the User Choice provisions was not available under the previous procurement legislation and has only become possible with the flexibilities introduced by the Procurement Act 2023.

Families were informed about this development on 6th January via email, followed by a meeting on 13th January for commissioners to explain the details to the families.

Robust quality assurance processes will be embedded, and there is a shared commitment to maintaining family involvement throughout all stages of the commissioning process.

We are firmly committed to ensuring there is no gap in service provision from 1st October (when the current arrangement ends), guaranteeing continuous support for all individuals and families relying on respite care at Newton House.

Councillor Born thanked all involved, especially the parents and carers.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she welcomed the good news relating to Newton House and praised all parties for their part in the process undertaken. She asked what lessons have been learnt so that a similar situation does not occur again in the future.

Councillor Born said that there was a recognition now to work more collaboratively with those in receipt of services prior to making a decision about any potential changes.

Councillor Hardman referred to the subject of Adult Regulated Services and asked what was needed for the Community Resource Centres to achieve a ‘Good’ rating from the CQC.

The Assistant Director for Adult Regulated Services & Governance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

This report will present the draft revenue budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2026/27.

The Executive Director – People introduced the report to the Panel and highlighted the following points.

·  The Council’s 2026/27 Budget and Council Tax proposal will be considered by Cabinet on 12th February 2026 and presented to Council for approval on 24th February 2026.

·  To deliver a balanced budget in 2026/27 savings and income generation plans total £7.49m, with income and savings to find of £32.05m in the following four years covering 2027/28 to 2030/21. The Council has a good track record of delivering proposed savings, in relation to the Cabinet Portfolio’s being Scrutinised by this Panel there are savings and income generation plans of £3.20m.

·  The proposals for savings and income generation for this Panel’s attention are outlined in Annex 1. Growth and pressures to bring to this Panel’s attention are outlined in Annex 2.

He stated that it has been a tough process so far as both services are demand led. He said that the Council was committed to maintaining delivery of its high standard services.

He explained that the public consultation on the current budget proposals was to conclude later in the day.

Councillor Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Services said that the Liberal Democrat administration has a history of committing investment into Adult Social Care whilst also seeking potential savings where possible.

She confirmed that contract inflation (£2.6m) and funding of demographic growth (£2m) would form part of the Adult Social Care budget for 2026/27.

She reminded the Panel that Adult Social Care accounts for the largest proportion of the Council’s budget and that they continue to be committed to delivering quality services that are also value for money.

Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services stated that the pressure on the service currently was enormous as demand continues to outstrip resources. He said that he was proud of the support that the Liberal Democrat administration has given to the service over many years.

He explained that the finance of the service is monitored every two weeks and that very good quality of services are in place.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if the increase in family reunifications and step down from residential placements had been achieved for the current year as this was a highlighted area also for this proposed incoming budget.

The Director of Children's Services & Education replied that the figures for 2025/26 had already been achieved and was based on 10 children being able to return to their homes. She added that this outcome has resulted in achieving a saving of around £500,000 in this financial year.

Councillor Hardman asked if in order to achieve the £300,000 saving associated with transitions into Adult Social Care a dedicated team was required to be recruited.

The Assistant Director for Operations & Safeguarding replied that there is already a transitions team in place within Adult Social Care and that they seek to begin conversations with young people about this process from the age of 16 onwards.

She added that part of this proposal will look at whether  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

This report will outline the progress that has been made towards the ASC Improvement Plan alongside key activity that the ASC Leadership Team is undertaking to enable sustainable improvement since the last report to Panel in September 2025.

This report was deferred until the April 2026 meeting of the Panel.

The report informs the Panel about the number and type of complaints and related feedback, including compliments, received between April 2024 and March 2025.

This report was deferred until the April 2026 meeting of the Panel.

The Panel will receive an update from the B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) on current issues.

Lucy Baker, Director of Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence, Children and Young People and the Combined Place Team, BSW ICB introduced the report to the Panel and highlighted the following areas.

·  Restructure within the ICB continues and a period of assessing voluntary redundancy is ongoing. A commitment had been made to retaining a dedicated B&NES Place Director.

·  During the first full weekend of 2026, each of the region’s hospital emergency departments saw a surge in people attending, with the Royal United Hospital in Bath seeing 881 people between Friday 2nd and Sunday 4th January.

·  An additional 20 beds have been commissioned at St Martins Hospital in Bath to provide further community capacity between the end of December and the end of March. These beds are now open with good patient flow and clear clinical admission criteria.

·  A number of paediatric acute respiratory illness hubs are now up and running across BSW and are helping to provide additional community-based care, while also giving families with poorly children an alternative to hospital. As of Thursday 18th December, a total of 242 children and young people had been seen in one of the new hubs, which will remain in place until the end of February.

Councillor Paul Crossley referred to the uptake of the flu vaccine among health and care workers and said he maintained his view that these figures were still too low and asked if it was known why and whether staff were still being encouraged to be vaccinated.

Lucy Baker replied that figures for the RUH (61%) were above the national (46%) and said that it does continue to be promoted. She said that she would seek what information could be obtained from acute providers.

Councillor Joanna Wright stated that she was still awaiting a response from the ICB from questions relating to abortion and contraception figures.

Lucy Baker replied that she was aware that a response has been sought and would aim for it to be provided at the next meeting.

Councillor David Harding asked for assurance that rural areas would also be included in the proposed work of the Mobile Dental Clinics.

Lucy Baker replied that the aim will be to provide access to services where it is currently difficult to access. She added that the procurement process for the Clinics was just beginning.

Councillor Onkar Saini referred to the new mental health inpatient unit for people with a learning disability and/or autism and asked if staff have been recruited for the unit.

Lucy Baker replied that all posts have been recruited by AWP, including a dedicated outreach team.

Councillor Liz Hardman commented that the NHS capacity update was welcome and asked if the points mentioned in the update would continue after February.

Lucy Baker replied that the additional beds at St Martins Hospital would remain in place until the end of March, the paediatric respiratory hubs would continue until after February half term and that Hospital at Home would continue with its increased capacity.

Councillor Lesley  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel. Any suggestions for further items or amendments to the current programme will be logged and scheduled in consultation with the Panel’s Chair and supporting officers.

Councillor Joanna Wright asked when the Panel would be updated on the previously mentioned cross-Panel issues, such as School Streets and Home to School Transport.

The Chair replied that it remains her intention to discuss this further at the next meeting of the Chairs & Vice-Chairs of all three Panels.

The Panel reviewed the workplan, noting items to be brought forward, including:

·  Procurement processes for both Adult Social Care and Public Health

·  ASC Joint Funding Process

·  Coproduction between the Council and the ICB

·  Results of the South West Good Food Local Benchmarking Exercise

·  Academy Management – Update on schools and their partnership / MAT

·  EHCP Update

·  Annual SACRE Report

The Panel RESOLVED to note their current workplan and these proposals for future updates / reports.

Before the meeting closed the Chair took the opportunity to thank Becky Reynolds, Director of Public Health & Prevention for all her work for the Council as this had been her final Panel meeting before retirement.