Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Paul Edwards, Chair of the Adults and Safeguarding Committee welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Adults and Safeguarding Committee held on 13 October 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from:

-        Councillor Laithe Jajeh  

-        Councillor Liron Velleman, who was substituted by Councillor Gill Sargeant, and

-        Councillor Lucy Wakeley, who was substituted by Councillor Caroline Stock.

None.

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The Committee noted the submitted Public Questions and Public Comment which were circulated prior to the meeting.

The Chair provided verbal responses to all Public Questions. Supplementary questions were raised by the speakers in relation to their submitted question and these were responded to verbally by the Chair and Officers.

The Committee welcomed the report which sets out the Engagement and Co-production Strategy and Charter for adult social care for the Committee’s approval. The Chair invited Ella Goschalk, Strategic Transformation and Engagement Manager to present and summarise the report.

Following a query from Members, the Committee also heard from Alan Kummer, resident member of the steering group who provided feedback to the Committee about the variety of engagement exercises undertaken.

In response to a query from the Committee about the engagement exercises and the number of people involvement with the engagement, it was agreed that Officers provide Members of the Committee with an update. (Action)

The Committee noted that an update report on the implementation of the action plan will be reported back to the Committee on an annual basis. 

Councillor Wardle moved a motion which was seconded and agreed by the Committee to include an additional recommendation to read:

That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee agree to review the effectiveness of the Engagement and Co-Production Strategy and Charter.

It was therefore RESOLVED that:

1.     The Adults and Safeguarding Committee approved the draft Engagement and Co-Production Strategy and Charter for adult social care.

2.     The Adults and Safeguarding Committee noted that an annual report on engagement and co-production will be presented to Committee each year.

3.     The Adults and Safeguarding Committee agreed to review the effectiveness of the Engagement and Co-Production Strategy and Charter.

The Committee noted the annual report which provides an overview of the management of and performance in responding to adult social care complaints.

In reference to section 1.3 of the report, the Committee raised a query regarding lessons learnt and applied. The Executive Director for Adults and Health, Dawn Wakeling informed Members about the process for identifying improvements and reviewing feedback in order to make practical changes to policy and training where applicable.

It was RESOLVED that the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approved the Annual Complaints Report 2021-2022 for publication.

The Committee noted the Business Planning 2023-2027 report which sets out the revenue savings and proposals.

It was RESOLVED:

1.     That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee considered the MTFS proposals that relate to the committee as set out in paragraph 1.2.6.3 and Appendix A after having considered the initial equalities impacts and referred these recommendations to Policy and Resources Committee for decision.

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

3.     That the Committee agreed the proposals set out in paragraph 1.2.5.1.

4.     That the Committee agreed to delegate to the Executive Director Communities, Adults and Health in consultation with the Chair of the Adults and Safeguarding Committee, to make any amendments to the savings detailed in paragraph 1.2.6.3 and Appendix A before they are recommended to Policy & Resources Committee to form part of the overall MTFS.

*Votes were recorded as follows:

For – 7
Against – 0
Abstained – 3

Dawn Wakeling, Executive Director for Adults & Health presented the report which provides an overview of performance for Q2 2022/23.

In response to a query about the variance of the revenue outturn for Leisure, it was noted that there were impacts due to the pandemic period during which leisure centres were closed.

It was RESOLVED that the Adults and Safeguarding Committee reviewed the progress, performance, finance and risk information for Q2 2022/23 and made any referrals to Policy and Resources Committee in accordance with the terms of reference of this Committee, as it decides appropriate.

The Committee noted the standing item on the agenda which sets out the future items due to be reported to the Committee during 2022-23. The Committee agreed to include an update from Barnet Mencap to the Forward Work Programme at the meeting on 13 March 2023 and a report on the initiatives funded by the Administration’s reserve funding commitment.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the Forward Work Programme 2022-23.

None.