Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded that at the start of the meeting they should declare any known interests in any matter to be considered, and also during the meeting if it becomes apparent that they have an interest in the matters being discussed.

            The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th April 2011.

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th April 2011 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

See explanatory note below.  Please phone the Committee Officer whose name and number appears at the top of this agenda if you need further guidance.

            No public questions were asked under Standing Order 28.  

            The Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council submitted a joint report concerning an organisational restructuring change to ensure that the Council was able to meet the statutory requirement to have an appointed Director of Adult Social Services.

            The Chief Executive explained that there was a statutory requirement under the Children’s Act 2004 for a local authority to appoint an officer, to be known as the Director of Adult Social Services, for the purposes of its social services functions, and that following the appointment of the existing Acting Director of Adult Social Care to the post of Chief Executive designate of the new Social Enterprise providing adult social care to residents of the Borough, there was now a requirement to transfer the statutory responsibilities to another Council employed officer. He was of the view that, in the interim, and pending the adoption by the Council of a new Operating Model in July 2011, the Group Director, Children should be designated as the Director of Adult Social Services in addition to his current role. He confirmed that this proposal was in accordance with statutory requirements, reflected practice in other authorities and that the Care Quality Commission had raised no objections. He advised that discussions had taken place with the Group Director and the senior managers affected who were confident that sufficient capacity existed to perform both the existing and proposed roles without any detrimental effects on either service.

            Resolved – That the Special Committee, on behalf of the Council: -

o       Approves, with effect from the 1^st July 2011, the transfer of the statutory Chief Officer post and accountabilities of Director of Adult Social Services to the existing Group Director, Children;

 and

o       Authorises the Director of Law and Democratic Services to make any necessary changes to the Council’s Constitution to recognise the organisational change referred to in (1) above.

The Director of Law and Democratic Services submitted a report concerning proposed changes and appointments to Committees and other Council bodies for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2011/12.

Resolved – (1) That Councillor Peter Heaton-Jones be removed from the membership of the Equalities Advisory Forum.

(2) That Councillor Fionuala Foley be appointed to serve as a deputy to Councillor Ray Fisher on the Swindon Fostering Panel.

(3) That Councillor Ray Fisher be appointed to serve as a deputy to Councillor Fionuala Foley on the Swindon Adoption Panel.

(4) That Councillor Andrew Bennett be appointed as the Council’s representative to serve on the steering group being formed by Viridor Credits Environmental Company.

(5) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services be requested to make the necessary changes to the Council’s Committee Composition List.