Agenda and minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 23 June 2015.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive on 23 June 2015 together with the accompanying decision records be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

The Executive considered the reports submitted on the items listed below and the decisions taken are recorded in the decision sheets attached to these minutes and summarised below:

To inform the Executive of changes to regulations on charging for Adult Social Care services introduced by the Care Act and seek approval to options on which to consult.

The Executive were informed that due to recent changes in government guidelines part of the recommendations were no longer required.  These include:

2.2. 7.  That the Council amends its policy to allow it to charge a fee to self funder in care home settings, in readiness for a change in regulations; and

2.4       That the Executive note the changes to the Means Test proposed by the Government as part of the Funding Reforms phase of the Care Act.

Therefore the Executive RESOLVED that

1          The changes in regulations on charging for Adult Social Care services introduced by the Care Act be noted.

2          The following options for charging should be consulted on:

i)          That the Council continues to charge for Residential and Nursing care on the basis of the detailed regulations set out in the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide

ii)         That the Council changes its policy on the financial assessment of couples to be compliant with the Care Act, and the interim arrangements for people who are adversely affected by this change.

iii)         That the Council charges interest on Universal Deferred Payments at the rate set by the Department of Health

iv)        That the Council charges interest on discretionary Deferred Payments at the maximum rate set by the Department of Health

v)         That the Council charges administration fees for setting up, and managing, a Universal Deferred Payment that meets the cost of that work

vi)        That the Council charges a fee to self funders in community based settings for setting up care arrangements that fully recovers the cost of that work.

The proposed Consultation document is given in Appendix 1, and a set of proposed questions in Appendix 2 to the report.

3          It be agreed not to introduce charges for Carers Services at this time.

To consider the approach to procuring housing related support services for older people.

RESOLVED that

1          Subject to consultation:

i)              A contract be let to procure a housing related support service assessment;

ii)             A contract be let to procure housing related support services on a floating / peripatetic basis;

iii)            That the specification of housing related services be reviewed;

iv)           That consultation takes places to inform the approach to the above procurement.

To consider a review of the Local Council Tax Benefit Scheme (LCTBS) and agree which elements of the scheme should be the subject of consultation..

RESOLVED that

1          It be agreed to review the Local Council Tax Benefit Scheme (LCTBS) for working age households including the following key elements:

1.1       That working age households will receive a maximum of 80% of LCTBS support to help pay their Council Tax liability.

1.2       That working age households income disregards will be increased so that they get to keep more of their income such that:

i)              a single person disregard will increase from £5 a week to £10;

ii)             a couple from £10 to £15 a week;

iii)            a single parent from £25 to £30 a week.

1.3       That self employed income is taken as minimum wage at 35 hours a week from 12 months after the customer for LCTB becomes self employed;

1.4       That child maintenance should be taken into account when calculating household income;

1.5       That a transition scheme will be established for households who face financial hardship due to changes implemented following the review of the scheme;

1.6       That subject to the elements agreed above a consultation programme takes place so as to inform the LCTBS to be implemented for 2016/17;

1.7       To note that it may be necessary to revise the LCTBS in line with the roll out of Universal Credit (UC).

To note the Capital Programme 2014/15 outturn and actions arising therefrom.

RESOLVED that

1          The outturn capital expenditure and in particular the key variances identified in paragraph 5.5 of the report be noted.

2          The carry forward of £27.951m from the 2014/15 capital programme to 2015/16 including £1.300m relating to projects approved in 2013/14 be approved (see paragraph 5.6).

3          The financing of capital expenditure as shown in Table 2 to the report be noted.

4          Amendments to the 2015/16 Schools Programme as agreed by the Education Capital Programme Board, outlined in Annex F to the report be approved.

To note the revenue expenditure outturn for 2014.15 and approve the actions arising therefrom.

RESOLVED that

1          The outturn expenditure for 2014/15, subject to audit, of £85.801m, which represents an under spend of -£3.771m compared with the approved budget be noted.

2          The budget carry forwards of £0.202m be noted (see paragraph 5.9 and Annexe C to the report).

3          The Treasury Management performance in 2014/15 as set out in Annexe B to the report be recommended to Council.

4          The earmarked reserves as set out in Annexe D to the report be approved.

5          The virements relating to the 2014/15 budget between £0.050m and £0.100m be approved and recommend those that are over £0.100m for approval by Council (see Annexe E).

To note the work of the Bracknell Forest Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board during 2014-2015.

RESOLVED that the Bracknell Forest Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board Annual Report be noted.

To consider the following motion:

That pursuant to Regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) Regulations 2012, members of the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of items 12 and 13 which involves the likely disclosure of exempt information under the following category of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

(3)        Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

(NB:     No representations have been received in relation to the notice published pursuant to Regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) Regulations 2012.)

RESOLVED that pursuant to Regulation 21 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) Regulations 2000, members of the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of items 12 and 13 which involves the likely disclosure of exempt information under the following category of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

(3)        Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority).

To provide an update to the Executive on the work commissioned from the Children’s Social Care (CSC) Programme Board and overseen by the Member Reference Group on proactive recommendations for the recruitment and retention of CSC social workers.

RESOLVED that

1          The work undertaken by the Children’s Social Care Management Board in developing options for permanent solutions to address the long term shortage of experienced and qualified Social Workers directly employed by the council be noted.

2          Option 1, which will require an overall budget increase of £1.2m to facilitate the recommendations to increase staffing and improve remuneration be agreed.

3          The values statement at Appendix D which endorses our commitment to staff both in terms of day to day support, investing in their training and ongoing development and also valuing their contribution be endorsed.

4          The Council continue to actively seek out new opportunities that fit with our ambitions to further develop, attract and retain high quality staff to Children, Young People & Learning.

RECOMMENDED that:

5          Full Council approve a new 2015-16 capital budget of £0.1m to introduce Blackberries and Tablets, or other appropriate mobile devices in Children’s Social Care to improve efficiency.

6          Employment Committee, to provide more attractive pay and conditions, is invited to approve, the market premium payments to relevant staff, at estimated full year cost of £0.262m; and the extension of the golden handcuff payments to at least 2018 at an estimated full year cost of £0.163m from 2017-18.

To ask the Executive to grant permission to make an offer to purchase a property to provide emergency temporary accommodation for homeless households.

RESOLVED that

1          The Chief Officer: Property be endorsed to make an offer to purchase the freehold interest of the property in question and adjoining land.

2          The Director of Adult Social Care, Health and Housing, Executive Member Adult Social Care, Health and Housing and Executive Member Transformation and Finance and the Borough Treasurer be delegated the authority to agree the detail of the offer to be made and to enter into contract .

3          Subject to the offer being accepted, refer to full Council on the 16th September 2015 to agree a supplementary capital estimate reflecting the agreed purchase price and ancillary costs.