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. No declarations were made at this time.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2021.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2021 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

See explanatory note on the agenda frontsheet. Please contact the Committee Officer whose details appear at the top of this agenda if you need further guidance.

During Covid-19, questions must be submitted by 3.00pm two days before the meeting.

There were no questions submitted under this item.

The Committee considered a report introducing decisions arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 3^rd March 2021.

Minute 58. Budget Management (March)

Councillors David Renard (Leader of the Council) and Russell Holland (Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills) responded to questions put by Councillors Jim Grant, Jane Milner-Barry, Timothy Swinyard and the Chair on the following matters:

·        The debt charges incurred by the Council (relating to matters such as the Housing Revenue Account and investment expenditure in the commercialisation programme), and whether this is accounted for on the leaflet enclosed with the Council Tax bills which details spend on infrastructure.

·        An explanation as to when the leaflet was printed and made available to Members, which will be provided to the Committee subsequent to the meeting.

·        The financial outlook for Swindon Borough Council given the Chancellor's budget announcement of a projected £16b of public sector cuts.

·        The long-term, national approach required to addressing the challenges being faced by local government on the increased cost pressures arising out of Adult Social Care.

·        How Swindon has not historically fared well under formula grant funding due to its higher employment rates, but it has benefitted from investment through the Local Enterprise Partnership, the New Homes Bonus and the Town Funds bid.

·        The possibility of additional funding being made available by government to provide for future increases on the demands for Adult Social Care and Children’s Services.

·        That the 14p cost per household for the leaflets is for producing the booklet, with no additional costs being incurred from distribution.

·        Whether the reduction of government funding to local authorities should be reflected in the leaflet.

·        How there had been an increase to Council Tax of 3% for the cost of Adult Social Care, and the anticipated announcement on a Social Care White Paper later in the year.

·        The impact from the government announcement on the path for coming out of lockdown to the Council’s budget projections, the analysis of which will be included in future Cabinet reports.

Resolved – (1) That Minute 58 of the Cabinet be noted.

(2) That information requested by members during the course of the Committee’s consideration of this item be forwarded to them via the Committee Clerk.

Minute 59. Capital Programme Update 3^rd Quarter

Councillor Holland responded to questions put by the Chair on the following matters:

·        The opportunities available (via routes such as penalty clauses in the contracts for example) to claim funds back for the delays on the work at Mead Way from the organisations involved.

·        The potential of using Covid-19 funding to contribute to the costs for Mead Way with the pandemic having led to some of the delays and overspend on the project.

·        The lessons learnt from the first tranche of grant funding for cycling provision in the Town Centre and Old Town and how these are being applied to the current tranche process.

Resolved – That Minute 59 of the Cabinet be noted.

Minute 60. Swindon Road Safety Strategy

Councillors Maureen  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Councillor Brian Ford (Cabinet Member for Adults and Health) was in attendance and presented to the Committee a report summarising progress and performance in respect of the key objectives of his role, which are to:

·        Provide strategic and political leadership for the provision of Adult Social Care.

·        To work with other Cabinet Members to Manage Demand within the portfolio.

·        Ensure the strategic framework is in place to deliver:

a.      Adults’ safeguarding

b.     Services for those with learning difficulties

c.      Joint working with health

d.     Public health services

The Cabinet Member is responsible for securing the following Vision Pledges:

·        Pledge 12: Work with partners to promote healthy lifestyles for the population of Swindon.

·        Pledge 18: Deliver a borough-wide approach to increase the impact of volunteering, enabling more people to be active in supporting vulnerable people.

·        Pledge 19: Ensure that more people and their carers are supported to live as independently as possible and reduce the length of time people need to spend in residential care. This will be achieved through work with the Clinical Commissioning Group and GP surgeries to help people with long term health and social care needs to manage their health effectively with support from community groups and multi-disciplinary teams.

·        Pledge 23: Ensure that Swindon’s vulnerable adults are safeguarded and protected.

·        Pledge 24: Increase the number of organisations in Swindon working to achieve   ‘Dementia Friendly’ Town Status for Swindon and ensure annual accreditation.

The Cabinet Member also has delegated responsibility for:

·        Adult Services (older people, people with a learning disability, physical disabilities and mental health).

·        Adult Voluntary Sector Contracts.

·        Implementation of Care Act 2014.

·        Adult Local Safeguarding Board.

·        Public Health – including health promotion and health and wellbeing services.

·        Supported Housing.

·        Learning Disability Partnership Board.

·        Maintaining links between the Council and partner organisations in the Health Services.

·        Oversight of Better Care Fund and integration with ASC and CCG Funding.

·        Mental Health Champion - The Local Authority Mental Health Challenge.

Councillor Ford introduced his report and highlighted the following points:

• The current challenges being faced on care packages, physical and sensory support and mental health due to ongoing cost pressures relating to Covid-19. Councillor Ford advised that these should be addressed as strength-based practices are embedded and people become healthier, stronger and less reliant on formal care services.
• That the Public Health Team has been fundamental to the prevention, containment and management of Covid-19 outbreaks in Swindon, and also continues to provide support to council colleagues, those in education settings, health and care settings, businesses and the community.
• How Borough officers have been working with NHS partners to promote the vaccination uptake, particularly in BAME communities.
• The two safeguarding adult reviews undertaken, with the learning on improvements required across the adult safeguarding system having been shared with partners.
• Priorities for the coming year, which include improving the quality of safeguarding practices so that adults with care and support needs experience better outcomes.
• The successful launch of a local contact tracing service in Swindon in August 2020, which was showcased  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

The Chair gave a verbal update on the work of this Task Group, and started by thanking those who attended its first meeting on 16^th February 2021. He advised that it had been agreed at that meeting that members required additional time to consider and understand the large number of complex documentation that had been sent out. The Chair confirmed that another meeting has therefore been timetabled for 18^th March 2021 for members to discuss the documentation, interview those who had not been able to attend the first meeting, and to also re-interview those who had attended the first meeting if deemed necessary.

The Chair responded to questions put by Councillors Jim Grant and Steve Weisinger on the following matters:

·        That the report presented to Resources and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1^st March 2021 regarding an investigation as to the impact of Covid-19 on Leisure and the Oasis had not negated the need for a second meeting of this Task Group.

·        That Members would be invited to consider possible interviewees for the Task Group meeting on 18^th March 2021 and advise the Clerk accordingly subsequent to this meeting.

The Committee considered and noted the report of the Scrutiny Officer, which set out the topics considered by it during the 2020/2021 Municipal Year.

The Committee received an updated report advising on the status of outstanding issues and Member requests for information.

Resolved – That the report on the status of outstanding issues and member requests for information be noted.