Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2020, be agreed as a correct record.

None.

Councillor Jo Cooper declared a personal interest and non-pecuniary by virtue of the fact that she is employed by the Royal Free NHS London Foundation Trust.

Councillor Anne Clarke declared a personal interest and non-pecuniary by virtue of the fact that she is a Trustee of the Childs Hill Foodbank.

Councillor Golnar Bokaei declared a personal interest and non-pecuniary by virtue of the fact that she is a Trustee of Barnet Refugee Services.

Councillor Saria Don declared a personal interest and non-pecuniary by virtue of the fact that she is employed by Dillion Care Limited

None.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Paul Edwards introduced the Member’s Item.  

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Anne Clarke introduced the Member’s Item.  

Comments and further actions agreed:

Councillor Paul Edward’s Item

The Chairman proposed that as there was a Member Briefing session relating to mental health scheduled for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

None.

The Chairman introduced the report which sought the Committee’s approval for (i) the revenue savings proposals brought forward and service pressure identified, and (ii) the changes to Fees and Charges, for the budgets within its remit.

A Business Planning report was approved by Policy and Resources Committee on 24th September 2020 outlining the council’s updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to 2024/25 and the future financial challenges facing the council. 

With regards to the Fairer Contribution Policy fees and charges, the Chairman clarified that only those who could afford to pay would be asked to contribute and that their income and expenses would be taken into account – this would provide a safeguard for those individuals.    

With regards to the Mental Health review, paragraph 2.6.6 refers, the Director for Adults and Health clarified that the 100k referred to a saving that had not been achieved this financial year and was therefore being rolled over to be achieved in the next financial year. At present any unachieved savings were being funded through the additional COVID-19 monies given by central government to local government.

One of reasons the council changed its MTFS direction this year was due to the unpredictability of the future caused by the pandemic. Therefore, the focus was on next year as opposed to looking at the 4 years in detail, pursuant to a decision taken by Policy and Resources.

Following the consideration and discussion of this item, a separate vote was taken on recommendations 1 and 2.

Upon being put to the vote recommendation 1 as set out in the report was declared carried. The vote was recorded as follows:

Upon being put to the vote recommendation 2 as set out in the report was declared carried. The vote was recorded as follows:

RESOLVED –

1.     That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee consider the MTFS proposals that relate to the committee as set out in Appendix A after having considered the initial equalities impacts and refer these recommendations to Policy and Resources Committee for decision.

2.     That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee consider and approve the proposed new and changed Fees and Charges for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix B and refer these recommendations to Policy and Resources Committee for decision.

3.     That Committee note the risks associated with these savings proposals. These risks relate both to impact on services and residents and deliverability of savings

The Chairman introduced the report which provided a thematic overview of performance for Q2 2020/21 focusing on the activities to deliver both the corporate and committee priorities in the Adults and Safeguarding Recovery and Delivery Plan. It also set out the challenges faced within the COVID-19 context.

With regards to supporting the VCS, Barnet along with the Barnet Together Partnership set up a fund for the VCS. The council released £50k in funding administered through the council’s grants programme which was for sustainability funding into the sector and particularly aimed at some of the micro organisations. There was also £75k match funded for the COVID-19 community response fund, making that £150k released into the sector, plus central government funding which was released separately.

With regards to the COVID-19 vaccines the Executive Director for Adults and Health, explained that the council along with the other 4 councils in North Central London (NCL) was working with its Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the North London ICS on both roll out of the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccines. Local authority staff were also working with the NHS on the delivery programme that related to both (i) the strategic planning and (ii) the requirement around estates to ensure there’d be places for people to go to get vaccinated. Work was also underway with the CCG around plans on how to get the COVID vaccine to care homes so both residents and care workers could be vaccinated. There would also be a roving service to reach those who were housebound and unable to get to a vaccination centre.

The Executive Director agreed to include in the next quarterly performance report information on the progress of rolling out the vaccine in the social care sector [Action]

Following the consideration and discussion of this item the Committee;

RESOLVED –

The Committee reviewed the performance, budget and risk information for Q2 2020/21 and made no referrals to Policy and Resources Committee or Financial Performance and Contracts Committee.

The Chairman provided a brief introduction to the report which gave an overview of compliments and complaints received, and performance in responding to adult social care complaints.

resolved -

1.     That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee noted the Annual Complaints Report 2019-2020 and approved the report for publication.

The Chairman provided a brief introduction toreport the which informed the Committee of the approach of engaging in soft market testing, including entering a formal dialogue with Your Choice (Barnet) Ltd (YCB), in relation to the provision of care and support services at Stagg House Extra Care Scheme.

RESOLVED –

1. That the Committee noted that the Council will engage in soft market testing, including entering into a formal dialogue with Your Choice (Barnet) Ltd (YCB), in relation to the provision of care and support services at Stagg House Extra Care Scheme.

2. That, following the soft market testing, the Executive Director for Adults and Health will progress the commissioning of the provision of care and support services at Stagg House Extra Care Scheme.

The Committee noted the work programme.

None.