Agenda and minutes

Councillor T Watkins declared an interest in the Frailty Service referred to in the Business Case for Proposal 4, as a family member had recently been a service user.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 5^th and 19^th November 2019 were approved as a true and accurate record.

Attendees:

-        Chris Humphrey, Interim Strategic Director - People

-        Meirion Rushworth - Head of Finance

-        Sarah Morgan – Chief Education Officer

-        Clare Watts – Senior Finance Business Partner

The Interim Strategic Director – People offered the apologies of the Head of Children and Young People Services to the Committee, as she was unable to attend this meeting.

Adult and Community Services

Proposal 1 - AS2021/04 – Reduction in Day Opportunities Budget

The Interim Strategic Director - People reported that the proposed £100k savings were an underspend, as a result of the number of people who attended the Day Opportunities service reducing. A range of activities was offered over a week, but some in the community rather than in one base, so provision and staffing required had been adjusted accordingly.

Members asked the following:

·      A Member stated that the underspend figure of £100k was significant and queried where this figure came from and asked about partnerships with the Health and Voluntary Sector.

     The Interim Strategic Director - People advised that the Mental Health Day Service at Brynglas had reduced from 5 days to 3 days. The Service was being provided in a different way by providing support in the community and by working closely with the Health Board and agencies such as MIND and Growing Spaces.  Any vacancies had also been held.

·      A Member queried how placing more services in third sector organisations could be sustained, given the reduction in the funding / budgets some of the organisations were facing.

     The Interim Strategic Director - People explained that some of those partners had been successful in drawing down funding from other sources, and they had worked closely with the organisations to redesign services, as they had secure funding.  Whilst the organisations had been involved in the development, funding continued to be a challenge for Local authorities and the Third Sector and it was recognised that there were no guarantees for future resilience.

Proposal 2 - AS2021/05 - Telecare Service

The Interim Strategic Director - People explained that work upon reconfiguring the service had been underway for a while.  Previously mainly in-house, the service was now provided in partnership with Monmouthshire Council to install equipment and Caerphilly Council to monitor calls.  The Service was in the process of withdrawing from the previous service contract with Worcester Telecare and had also been able to draw down funding from the  Integrated Care Fund and draw down equipment upon demand, so it didn’t become out of date.  The cost of the Service had been standardised so service users were billed the same charge and received the same level of service, which had made the running costs of the service more sustainable and it was a better service.

Members asked the following:

·      A Member asked if there an increase in cost to the user and what use was being made of new technology.

     The Interim Strategic Director - People explained that the price had been fixed in between the price of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.