Agenda item

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.

Statutory Services

We are approaching the one year anniversary of the transfer of ASC statutory services back to B&NES Council. In order to minimise disruption, no changes were made to services at the point of transfer but managers have been working with practitioners over the past year to review and revise operational practices and to improve training and development.

Adult Regulated Services

As part of our continual improvement journey, an organisation called Care for Quality has been invited to undertake another round of mock inspections of services in late April/early May and the CQC action plan continues to be reviewed with the management team on a monthly basis.

Community Partners - Community support related to adult social care

Responsibility for commissioning these services transferred from HCRG to B&NES council on April 1^st 2025. The council has worked with community partners to complete due diligence processes and negotiate bridging contracts and grant funding agreements for 2025/26. Most of these contracts and agreements have been issued for signature and several have been signed by providers. A small number of contracts are in the final stage of negotiations, aiming to finalise as soon as agreements have been reached.

Finance

Adult Social Care is projecting delivery of its savings targets for 2024/5 and a break-even position at year end. This is particularly noteworthy given the increased activity and complexity the service has faced, especially in Mental Health (MH), Older Persons (OP), and Learning Disabilities (LD). Congratulations to all involved as this will ensure that the service starts the new financial year from a position of strength.

Public Health

·  New public health contracts - The new public health contracts for Drug and Alcohol Services (Turning Point), Wellness services (Everyone Health) and Public Health Nursing Services (HCRG Care Group) began on 1st April 2025.

·  Health protection issue in K&A Canal, Widcombe - The health protection team have recently responded to concerns from members of the public about an apparent mass poisoning of fish in Widcombe Section of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

·  Leisure Services - Summer opening hours have started at Royal Victoria Park Golf with the course now open 7 days per week for Foot Golf (12 holes) and pitch and putt golf (currently 9 holes but due to increase to 18 once Green treatments are completed). Progress is also being made on the Adventure Golf Course at Dragonfly Leisure centre in Midsomer Norton with the course due to open later this month.

Councillor Liz Hardman referred to the Carer’s Strategy and asked that if amendments are to be made to it they should be shared with the Panel.

The Director of Adult Social Care agreed and said that some fantastic co-production had taken place, and that the delivery plan was ongoing.

The Chair suggested that an update be provided to the Panel as part of their June meeting.

Councillor Hardman asked why the commissioning of Community Partner services had been brought back in house.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that it had always been the intention to do so and that they have worked with 3SG on this matter. She added that it was hoped that the move could lead to increased funding opportunities.

Becky Brooks, 3SG added that the situation remains challenging as they had unfortunately lost a couple of charities recently. She added that a slight disconnect remains in place and she felt that more could be done to protect local services.

Councillor Hardman asked if the previously mentioned £802,000 savings had been cancelled.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that there had been no increase to the savings required and that £401,000 had been achieved in the last year. She added that more time might be required to achieve the remaining £401,000 savings.

The Chair asked Becky Brooks if she had considered making a statement to the Corporate PDS Panel regarding local procurement.

Becky Brooks replied that she had not, but said she had raised the issue with the Leader of the Council, Councillor Kevin Guy.

Councillor Alison Born commented that she believed that the Council’s Constitution Working Group were due to discuss this issue in the coming months.

Councillor Paul Crossley referred to the ‘Smoke free grant to local authorities’ and asked if the funding of £216,000 could also be used to help stop people from vaping.

The Director of Public Health & Prevention replied that she believed it should but would check for definite.

Councillor Crossley asked if an update on Leisure Services in the Chew Valley area could be provided to the Panel.

Councillor Alison Born replied that she would respond to this point in due course following the meeting.

Councillor Lesley Mansell noted the work undertaken to transfer ASC Statutory Services back in house and wanted to acknowledge the achievement of all involved. She also welcomed the savings made on the use of agency staff within Adult Regulated Services.

She asked how much the mock CQC inspections would cost the Council.

She asked what the expected income was from the new golf course facilities.

She referred to the Somer Valley Links project and called for a Radstock to Writhlington bus service to be put in place.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that the spend on agency staff was now substantially lower and that they have been able to recruit good quality staff and were more optimistic now about being able to retain them.

She said that the cost of the mock CQC inspections were not a lot and were an important part of reviewing their processes as they cannot self-regulate themselves.

The Director of Public Health & Prevention replied that income of around £3,000 was expected from the opening of the golf course and added that since its introduction Foot Golf had proved to be incredibly popular.

Councillor Alison Born commented that believed that the subject of bus services was as a matter for WECA.

The Chair asked for any initial comment on how the new public health contract for Drug and Alcohol Services, now provided by Turning Point, was being received.

The Director of Public Health & Prevention replied that it was early days, but was aware that to aid mobilisation Turning Point had drawn on some of their national staff. She added that mobilisation meetings were taking place twice a week and that they had received assurances of the venues being used by them. She stated that she was not aware of any complaints.

The Chair asked if it was felt that there was enough access to swimming provision across B&NES.

The Director of Public Health & Prevention replied that there is enough provision in place.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for her update on behalf of the Panel.