Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received for the meeting.

No declarations of interests were made.

[For approval]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting]

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

[To approve a draft budget and savings proposals for the basis for consultation

Cllr Andrew Johnson presented the report which identified additional savings proposals for 2016/17 and future years in accordance with the strategy set out in the Budget 2015/16 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2015/16 to 2018/19 report, approved by Full Council in March 2015. The savings proposals and base budget revisions had been further developed in recent months having initially been reported to Cabinet in July 2015.  Approval was requested to use the budget and savings proposals as the basis for consultation.

Resolved:

1.    That the Savings, Redesign and Income Generation proposals amounting to £14.1 million in 2016/17 proceed to the formal consultation and scrutiny stages of the budget process.

2.    That the Financial Transactions and Base Budget Revisions totalling a net reduction of £7.1 million in 2016/17 be incorporated into the 2016/17 draft budget.

3.    That the adjustments to the 2016/17 July Budget projections, totalling £2.049 million, as detailed in Appendix C to the report, be incorporated into the 2016/17 draft budget.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance to approve the final budget consultation arrangements.

5.    That authority be delegated to the responsible Cabinet Member and the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the responsible Director and the Director of Finance to implement financial transactions, base budget revisions, efficiencies and income generating opportunities at the earliest opportunity where the proposal is not reliant on the outcome of formal budget consultation.

6.    That it be noted that because the future remains extremely uncertain a full update to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2016/17 – 2018/19 would  only be conducted once the Spending Review and the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement have been announced, on 25 November and mid-December 2015 respectively.

7.    That it be noted that a review of the anticipated assumptions and projections built into the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2016/17 – 2018/19 had been undertaken following the Government Summer Budget 2015 announcement  which indicated that there would be some additional cost pressures and potential further cuts to grant, in addition to reviewing existing assumptions concerning the successful delivery of significant levels of challenging savings. This had resulted in the savings target for 2016/17 being revised upwards from £22.0 million to £24.0 million. It is important to note, that this new savings target for 2016/17 still includes a prudent uplift of £5.2 million due to the extremely uncertain times within which the Council is operating.

8.    That it be noted that when identifying savings proposals key focus continues to be placed upon the Council’s strategic approach to addressing the projected budget deficit, which is to: manage demand for core services by using early intervention to help families in trouble live unsupported and independent lives; improve educational attainment and skills, and to encourage enterprise and business and private sector employment and to stimulate economic activity through capital investment.

9.    That it be noted that due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

[To receive the Board’s Annual Report]

Cllr Elias Mattu presented the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Adults Board’s (WSAB) Annual Report 2014/15 and Executive Summary.  The report aimed to inform Cabinet of safeguarding activity during 2014/15 and presented the progress made against the priorities for 2013/16. The Annual Report is agreed by the WSAB and provided an overview of how partners had discharged their safeguarding responsibilities over the preceding year.

Cllr Elias Mattu placed on record his thanks and appreciation to the WSAB and Alan Coe, its Independent Chair for the way he had moved the Board forward considerably over the last twelve months.

Resolved:

1. That the report be received in order to ensure a clear understanding in relation to the work of Wolverhampton Safeguarding Adult Board over the last year.

2. That the range of work that is taking place to safeguard adults in Wolverhampton, and the continued challenges, developments and achievements in this critical area of work be noted.

[To approve the Single Market Position Statement that will be used to support ongoing dialogue with providers to develop the market]

Cllr Elias Mattu presented a report on the Single Market Position Statement for Adult Services. The aim of the document was to open a dialogue with the wider community stakeholders by providing them with the current picture of care and support delivery, including demand and finance. Similarly, adding in the projection for the future in terms of expected demand, finance and the changes to the commissioning and purchasing market.  The document also included potential opportunities for developments in the market and any particularly innovative ideas that the Council wants to encourage.

Resolved:

1. That the Single Market Position Statement for Adult Services be approved so that it can be used to support on-going dialogue with providers to develop the market.

2. That the production, following discussions with the stakeholders/providers, of the ‘appropriate format(s) and distribution of the Market Position Statement be approved.

[To approve consultations on proposed changes to the Mental Health Recovery House Recovery Team]

Cllr Elias Mattu presented a report on a proposal to undertake consultation on proposed changes to The Mental Health Recovery House / Recovery Team.

The Recovery House service had been delivered in partnership with the health service since 2000 as a four bedded crisis house.  It offered urgent and planned interventions for people who are experiencing either an acute mental health episode or are in recovery, and or /are in need of a period of assessment, re-ablement or respite.

Resolved:

That a three month service user, stakeholder, public and staff consultation regarding the proposed changes to The Mental Health Recovery House / Recovery Team be approved.

[To consider the outcomes of the consultations]

Cllr Elias Mattu presented the report on the outcome of consultations on the future options for: the Support Plus day service currently delivered from a number of sites across the City; Oxley Day Centre; Pathways to work service at Bushbury woodcraft centre in Steele Drive; and the Adult Short breaks services delivered from two sites within the City.

In presenting the report Cllr Mattu assured Cabinet that under the proposals service users locating to new venues would continue to be supported by their current staff.

Resolved:

1.    That the All Age Disability in house provider decommissions the service at Oxley Day Centre and provides the services across the city in community venues, which would improve outcomes for individuals.

2.    That the Oxley Day Centre site including Oxley Moor House be declared surplus to the People Directorate’s requirements and appropriated to the Corporate Landlord to manage as surplus assets and to deal with the progression of their future use / disposal.

3.    That the All Age Disability In House Provider Service relinquish its lease with Corporate Landlord for the use of the Pathways to work Site in Steele Drive, Bushbury.

4.    That the Adult short breaks services delivered at Ernest Bold and Swan Bank sites be merged and delivered from the council owned Ernest site.

5.    That it be noted that the service re-design detailed within would  deliver savings of £563,000

[To receive the annual report]

Cllr Val Gibson presented the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board’s (WSCB) Annual Report 2014/15 and Executive Summary. The Annual Report had been agreed by the WSCB and provided an overview of how partners have discharged their safeguarding responsibilities over the preceding year.

Cllr Val Gibson placed on record her thanks and appreciation to the WSCB and Alan Coe, its Independent Chair for the way he had moved the Board forward considerably over the last twelve months.

Resolved:

1.    That the report be received in order to ensure a clear understanding in relation to the work of Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board over the last year.

2.    That the range of work that is taking place to safeguard children in Wolverhampton, and the continued challenges, developments and achievements in this critical area of work be noted..

3.    That it be noted that this report is a draft. The Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report was agreed in principal by the Board on 16 September 2015 as partners wished to make further amendments’ these amendments are to be submitted by 18 October 2015 and final sign-off by the Chair on 5 October 2015.

[To adopt the local Youth Justice Plan]

Cllr Val Gibson presented the report on the local Youth Justice Plan previously approved by the Youth Offending Team (YOT) Management Board. The plan set out how Youth Justice services are provided and resourced in Wolverhampton which has a strong track record of delivery and improvement against government targets. Underpinning the plan was an action plan which was regularly reviewed and monitored by the YOT Management Board. 

Resolved:

1. That the local Youth Justice Plan previously approved by the Youth Offending Team  Management Board be formally approve and adopted.

2. That the progress and ongoing challenges in delivering Youth Justice interventions in the current economic climate be noted.

[To approve consultations on the draft strategy]

Cllr Val Gibson presented the report on a draft Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Strategy. The strategy highlighted the good practice already achieved in co-production with families and young people by the Council, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and other partners during the local implementation of the SEND code of practice. It also highlighted the challenges emerging in the city and areas for further development.  It was proposed that the draft strategy be the basis of consultation with wider stakeholders.

Resolved:

            That the draft Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Strategy be approved for a three month period of consultation. This would enable all key stakeholders to have active involvement in shaping the final strategy.

[To approve proposals to change the fees and allowances structure]

Cllr Val Gibson presented the proposal to change the fees and allowances structures paid to approved Wolverhampton foster carers including Family and Friends (Connected persons) carers who care for Wolverhampton Looked After Children.  The proposal aimed to ensure that the Council retained and recruited sufficient foster carers to meet the needs of the looked after children in the city and to compete more effectively with Independent Foster Care Agencies.

Resolved:

1. That the proposed new fostering fee and allowance structure be approved.

2.    That the Council wide incentives be supported and be progressed via the Corporate Parenting Strategy group.

3.    That it be noted that this is item had been considered as pre-decision scrutiny and would therefore not be available to call-in.

4.    That the feedback from Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel be noted.

[To comment on the monitoring report]

Cllr John Reynolds presented the report on progress in the second year of the Council’s joint Sustainability Implementation Plan and Climate Local Action Plan.

Resolved:

1.    That the Council’s Sustainability Implementation Plan monitoring and Climate Local Wolverhampton progress report for 2014/15 be received and noted.

2.    That the projects and actions in the draft Sustainability Implementation Plan programme for 2015/16 be noted.

3.    That the report be approved for publication, and authority be delegated to the Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Group to approve, firstly, a final version of the monitoring and progress report and, secondly, amendments to the 2015/16 programme as projects and actions develop.

[To approve consultations on the draft local strategy]

Cllr Steve Evans presented the report that sought approval to carry out public consultation on the draft Local Strategy for Flood Risk Management in the Black Country and its associated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).  This was a statutory requirement of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Resolved:

1.    That consultation on the Local Strategy for Flood Risk Management in the Black Country be carried out with the public, other flood risk management authorities and others with an interest.

2.    That a further report is made in due course on the outcome of the consultation and to consider approval of the Local Strategy for Flood Risk Management in the Black Country.