Agenda item

Becky Brooks, Director, 3SG addressed the Panel. A copy of her statement will be attached as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary is set out below.

‘On behalf of the Third Sector in B&NES, and as the Director of 3SG, which supports 250 charities across the area, I would like to update the Panel on the re-procurement of Community Contracts from the sector's perspective.

At the beginning of this year, we were told that there would be no 'cliff edge' in funding - and that the Council would work in collaboration with us as valued partners. Whilst I am grateful for the effort that has been made in opening up conversations with myself in the last month or so, until last week, the Sector was largely in the dark about timelines and as far as I am aware, has had little interaction in terms of collaboration or consultation. The Sector still doesn't know what cuts are coming and where - and this has created huge anxiety, uncertainty and difficulty in making plans for the future.

We are yet to see the outcomes of the Community Services review, despite having asked for it over several months - this is disappointing, because it would be helpful to know where cuts will fall, and to understand the Council's thinking. We hoped there would be an open dialogue around this piece of work, and as far as I am aware, this has not been the case, as was promised by Cllr Mark Elliott at the beginning of this year. If this review is in another format, which I have been told that it is, we would still like to see it, where commercial sensitivities allow.

Whilst I appreciate that the Council has had a busy and pressured time with Adult Social Care coming back in house and now a CQC inspection, the Third Sector desperately needs the Council to start communicating more effectively, trusting it as equal partners to deliver services. Real change is needed for the future of procurement in B&NES and in January, we were asking for that brave and bold piece of work to be done.

I would like to direct members' attention to the recent Council tender in Swindon, in which the Swindon Carers' Centre, supporting residents for over 25 years, had to withdraw, because the ask was completely unachievable for the money offered. It also meant the charity would need to close as a result of losing such a large contract. I cannot imagine what B&NES would look like without its Carers' Centre, and I am genuinely concerned that this scenario could play out with other charities in B&NES. Who picks up services then?

As of last week we received confirmation that market engagement events are likely to take place at the end of September and early October. It is unlikely that would-be providers will go into procurement until the end of the year and that temporary contracts are likely going to be needed to sustain services. Whilst this creates more uncertainty for the Sector, I hope that commissioners use this time to listen and engage with the Sector in a more open way.

Members of this Panel hopefully know of B&NES' Community Wellbeing Hub - an example of where tearing up the rule book and cross sector collaboration has seen proven prevention results and is held up as good practice nationally.

We need to rekindle that pandemic spirit - to move away from transactional relationships, with an emphasis on co-production and trust on both sides and exploring the art of the possible. Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) has managed to do some really interesting work in this space and we urge B&NES Council to look at its brave neighbours who recognise that ultimately we all have to evolve our systems to thrive in future. And that is what B&NES deserves - a strong, thriving Third Sector providing sustainable, exemplary services for residents.’

Kevin Burnett said that he was disappointed to hear these comments as he believed that the Council were due, before the summer, to look at the services involved alongside the third sector. He asked what the next steps should be.

Becky Brooks replied that they would like to have a period of engagement with the Council over the next few weeks as work on this issue should not be carried out behind closed doors.

Councillor Robin Moss said that it was worrying that talks between the third sector and the Council had not been taking place as promised. He asked if there was any update on the budget situation as £802,000 was planned to be saved from within this service area over a now two year period.

Becky Brooks said that it was disappointing to have lost so much time since the original budget decision had been announced and that the sector are willing to do what is necessary to enable ongoing provision. She added though that they need to understand the challenges they might face in order to provide the best outcomes for residents.

The Chair commented that in his role as Chair of the Corporate PDS Panel Councillor Moss could monitor the progress of the budget plans.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that considering the number of services and providers involved the lack of consultation was a concern. She added that the prospect of interim contracts was not satisfactory.

Kate Morton, Chair of B&NES 3SG said that the staff involved need to know the precise situation regarding their contracts.

Councillor Joanna Wright said that she was confused as the Panel had been told previously that talks between the Council and third sector were taking place. She added that it was important that our residents are not failed due to the lack of consultation and that she understood the stance being taken by the sector from a business point of view.

Councillor Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Services said that she appreciated that this is a difficult time for our Community Partners and that the budget decision was never an easy one to make.

She stated that a full review of services was being carried out and that recommissioning would commence on the conclusion of that, with potentially a smaller budget.

She explained that the budget savings were now due to phased over two years, £401,000 each year, and that his would be from within the whole of the Adult Social Care budget.

She said that there is still an intention to work with the sector with two workshops planned to take place in September / October. She added that the knowledge that the providers can give is valuable.

She said that at this point that interim contracts were still likely to be needed and that the Council will seek to provide the best outcomes for the public and the sector.

Kevin Burnett asked why the review was being carried out in isolation without the providers being involved.

The Director of Adult Social Care said that she was sorry to hear that the sector were currently unhappy with the present situation and that she would make attempts to turn it around.

She stated that a baseline assessment of all provision was being carried out to enable an agreement to be reached on the levels of funding that would be required. She added that a budget for this year has been agreed with Councillor Mark Elliott, Cabinet Member for Resources.

She explained that they were in the process of outlining the models of commissioning required.

She apologised again and said she would take up the matter with the Executive Director – Operations to assure that the sector are involved in future discussions.

The Chair said that she would like the Panel to be updated on this issue at least by November. She asked for clarity on whether £802,000 was being withdrawn from the budget within this year.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that £401,000 was to be removed from across the Adult Social Care budget this year and the next.

Councillor Wright said that the Cabinet Member for Adult Services should provide leadership on this matter and asked what she was able to do.

Councillor Born replied that she was willing to speak with all parties on this matter.

Councillor Moss stated that if the £802,000 savings from the overall Adult Social Care budget were planned to be taken over two years then this needs to seen in the quarterly financial returns of the Council.

He added that he expected the 2025/26 budget discussions to begin in November 2024. He said that in January 2024 this decision had been highlighted as the most important to address and that there were lots to be proud of that the sector provides.

He stated that he believed that the Panel minutes from 10^th June 2024 were not an accurate record given what the Panel have heard today from the sector.

Councillor Onkar Saini asked what steps were being taken to ensure that services continue.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that the sector had not been in receipt of any uplift payment for the past 10 years and that this was an area of risk that they were analysing. She added that the Risk Assessment could be shared in November.

Councillor Saini asked if the Needs Assessment would address the issues of Housing and Mental Health.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that they have a responsibility under the Care Act on these issues and that they do carry out work on prevention in relation to Mental Health.

The Chair asked if a timescale could be given for the next steps that are planned to be taken.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that she would hope to have a timeline in place in November after speaking and agreeing one with third sector colleagues.

The Chair asked if the Care Quality Commission (CQC) were due to meet with any representatives from 3SG during their visit later in the week.

Kate Morton replied that some sector representatives were due to them during the week.

Councillor Wright stated that there should be no further drift on this matter and said that the Panel should be updated on progress prior to November.

The Chair said that she would follow this up on behalf of the Panel.

Becky Brooks commented that she was disappointed not to be involved in the baseline assessment and that the workshops were not a forum in which an open dialogue could take place. She added that the sector could find it difficult if they are told to work within a certain model and asked for an opportunity to be able to share their knowledge.

Rosie Phillips, Chief Executive, DHI asked where the Housing & Homelessness Review sits within this process and asked if the review outcomes could be shared. She added that third sector workers involved in this area should have at least been consulted as part of the review.

The Chair replied that she believed that the issue of housing is within the remit of the Climate Emergency & Sustainability PDS Panel.

The Chair asked that when the Panel is updated in relation to the budget for Adult Social Care that they also receive an update on the proposed savings for this year within Children’s Services.

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked Becky Brooks for her statement and for other third sector colleagues for their contributions to the discussion.