Agenda and draft minutes
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Contact: Ross Pike or Andrew Spragg
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Colin Kemp, Graham Ellwood, Mike Goodman, Fiona White, Ernest Mallett, Richard Walsh and Daniel Jenkins.
David Ivison acted as a substitute for Colin Kemp. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
Recommendation: That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information under the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
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CALL-IN: CONTINUING HEALTH CARE TEAM INVEST TO SAVE BID - 4 SEPTEMBER 2013
Purpose of report: Scrutiny of Services and Budgets
To scrutinise the Invest to Save applications for the Continuing Health Care Team approved by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Decisions on 4 September 2013.
Confidential - not for publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972
Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Sarah Mitchell, Strategic Director for Adult Social Care Sheila Little, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Director for Business Services Neill Moore, Senior Principal Accountant Sue Lewry-Jones, Chief Internal Auditor
Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Nick Harrison, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee was informed that the Continuing Health Care team provided an essential role in mitigating cost to Surrey County Council by ensuring people accessed the appropriate care pathways. It was highlighted that there were a number of cases under review and that the cost of these was significant enough to justify the expenditure on a Continuing Health Care team. The Committee heard that one of the proposed outcomes of the Care Bill would be closer working together between the NHS and Adult Social Care about which organisation funds care pathways. This would enable the work of the Continuing Health Care team to cease, as it would be embedded in processes elsewhere.
2. The Committee queried when it was likely that there would no longer be a requirement for the Continuing Health Care team. Officers explained that there was a challenge in the spread of responsibility across the different Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), but also commented that the Care Bill would potentially clarify matters in relation to the funding of care.
3. The Committee was told that the cost of the team was not included in the base budget as the income generated by the team’s work resolving complex cases did not always come back within the financial year.
4. Officers outlined that any bid for money from the invest to save fund had an obligation to repay the amount borrowed over a specified number of years. This requirement had been introduced since the beginning of the 2012/13 financial year. This repayment was built into the Directorate’s base budget and reflected in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). The view was expressed by officers that this requirement to repay had seen a reduction in the number of bids the fund was receiving.
5. The Committee was informed that the invest to save fund was overseen by an Investment Panel. This had been set up in 2010 as a direct response to an external audit on governance arrangements in relation to capital investment. It was highlighted that the panel did not approve or decide anything, but ensured that each business case in relation to an invest to save bid is subject to robust challenge before going to decision. The Committee was informed that there was work being undertaken to review the membership and processes in relation to the Investment Panel, with a view to widening its membership to include heads of services.
6. Members raised the question of why the Investment Panel had not met in person to discuss the two invest to save bids. It was clarified by officers that the challenge had been undertaken electronically, as it had been more pragmatic ... view the full minutes text for item 49/13 |
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CALL-IN: STAFFING AND SYSTEMS INVEST TO SAVE BID - 4 SEPTEMBER 2013
Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Sarah Mitchell, Strategic Director for Adult Social Care Sheila Little, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Director for Business Services Neill Moore, Senior Principal Accountant Sue Lewry-Jones, Chief Internal Auditor
Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Nick Harrison, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee was informed that the Invest to Save bid for Staffing and Systems had been made at the same time as the Continuing Health Care bid, and had followed the same process when being examined by the Investment panel (see minute item 49/13 for further information). It had been necessary to do so in order to ensure that statutory staff consultations were carried out in order that changes could be implemented to meet savings within the financial year.
2. The Committee was informed that the Invest to Save bid would enable a ‘model office’ to be implemented, leading to changes in sourcing and administrative teams within the Directorate. This would enable a greater efficiency. In order to support this work the Cabinet Member had agreed to allocate a team focusing on reconciling direct payment backlogs. It was intended that this would be operational for two years, and would help consolidate office functions. It was further highlighted that this team’s work would ensure that a Direct Payment pre-charge credit card could be implemented. Officers expressed confidence that the introduction of an electronic card would enable savings to be made.
3. The Committee queried when it was anticipated that the Directorate would see a saving as a result of the bid. It was clarified that the arrangement was that the year-on-year saving made would be used to pay off the money drawn from the Invest to Save fund, with the Directorate seeing a direct saving in 2020 when the money will have been fully repaid. It was clarified that the saving would be visible in terms of the virements between the Directorate and the Invest to Save fund, this would be visible through the standard budget reporting procedures to Cabinet. The Committee was informed that if this investment was not showing savings within the agreed timeframes then the work would cease.
Recommendations:
a) That the Committee endorses the proposal and review of the Investment Panel, which it is hoped will strengthen its role.
b) That the Audit & Governance Panel review the new structure, membership and procedures of the Investment Panel, and report to Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee on their findings.
Action by: Chairman of Audit & Governance Panel/ Chairman of Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee
c) That officers ensure that decision trails are mapped and recorded accurately within minutes and papers.
Action by: Adult Social Care
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
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PUBLICITY FOR PART TWO ITEMS
To consider whether the item considered under Part 2 of the agenda should be made available to the Press and public. Minutes: Recommendation:
That non-exempt information relating to items considered in part 2 of the meeting may be made available to the press and the public, as appropriate.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 24 October 2013 at 10.30am. Minutes: The Committee noted that the next meeting of the Adult Social Care Select Committee would be on 24 October 2013 at 10am |