Agenda and minutes

Apologies were submitted on behalf of Councillor Inman.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 August 2012.

On the motion of Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Hall, it was

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 23 August 2012 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To receive verbally from members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council's code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.  This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

No interests were declared at this stage.

To hear any questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

In accordance with Council procedure rule 10, the following question was received from Councillor Batty, addressed to the Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission:

“Could we please have full disclosure on the information pertaining to the sale of land at the former Stoke Road Boys’ Club? Particularly, can we please have the final net figures in respect of the capital receipt to include discounts, re-imbursement of fees or reductions, for ground abnormals”.

Members were disappointed to hear that a response to this question had not been finalised, and it was agreed that the response would be sent to Members the following day and reported to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Commission.

Members will receive a presentation.

Members received a presentation on Welfare Reform which introduced the principle of Universal Credit, changes to council tax benefit, the benefit cap, under occupancy, the Social Fund, Personal Independence Payments, and what HBBC were doing to help.

Councillor Bessant arrived at 7.10pm.

Members were concerned about the changes and about the huge affect that this would have on some sections of the community, particularly those who would be affected by more than one of the changes. It was felt that it was crucial to review the anti-poverty strategy in light of these changes.

With regard to direct payments, concern was expressed that whilst older people could still have direct payments, younger people could not, regardless of whether they struggled to look after their own affairs and perhaps had no experience of having to do so.

It was unanimously

RECOMMENDED – the presentation be provided to the Executive.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

The Scrutiny Commission was presented with the new Culture and Sport Strategy 2012-2017 and achievements in appendix A to the report were highlighted. Current projects were noted as promoting positive mental health, enhancing economic development opportunities, reducing health inequalities and maximising sporting opportunities, particularly arising from the legacy of London 2012.

Concern was expressed that activities in the rural areas were not included in the strategy, and it was requested that this be included in future.

A Member highlighted other pieces of positive work including the new Youth for You scheme, the creation of a healthy eating cook book, National Play Day, the Youth Games, and the continuation of valuable Safeguarding work.

In response to a Member’s question it was stated that there was still a demand for more football pitches and that it was intended to create more as part of the sustainable urban extensions.

It was moved by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hall and

RESOLVED – the report be endorsed and achievements be acknowledged.

Final report with recommendations attached.

Members were presented with the final report for the review of Care for People with Dementia and the recommendations of the review as agreed at the previous meeting. It was requested that a press release be made to highlight the work of the Commission on this review.

It was requested that the recommendations include the need for GPs to diagnose dementia sooner and to ask what GPs were doing to increase the chances of early diagnosis.

It was suggested that recommendations 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 were within the remit of the Health & Wellbeing Board, which were due to meet the following day, and it was therefore agreed that these recommendations would be reported to them.

RECOMMENDED –

(i)         training of frontline staff on the issues surrounding dementia be extended (from wardens of sheltered housing schemes) to as many frontline staff as possible and consideration be given to extending this to all staff on a ‘bronze’, ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ basis;

(ii)        the Council undertakes to do as much awareness-raising as possible to ‘take the fear out of dementia’;

(iii)       the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) be asked to raise through the Health and Wellbeing Board the need to ensure that a Dementia Advice pack is prominent in all public buildings and on the Council’s website;

(iv)       a database of support groups be collated, publicised on the Council’s website and used by Customer Services and other frontline officers in their interactions with carers and those concerned about Dementia;

(v)        the Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission writes to GPs to understand their approach to diagnosis including how they intend to improve the rate of early diagnosis;

(vi)       people be encouraged to seek the support of their GP at an early stage to seek an early diagnosis;

(vii)      the work of the Commission be passed to the “Changing Minds” group to support them in their work to help people suffering with Dementia;

(viii)      the importance of assistive technology which is crucial to support people with dementia be acknowledged and endorsed and communicated to the County Council.

Draft work programme attached, completed with some items agreed at the previous meeting. This document will continue to be updated as further items are confirmed.

The following additions to the work programme were discussed or comments on existing items made as follows:

• Town centre (next meeting);
• Leisure Centre (next meeting);
• Council tax benefit reduction;
• Review of anti poverty strategy;
• Impact of viability issues on the housing numbers trajectory;
• Recommendations of the Barwell & Earl Shilton Scrutiny Group.

Copy of the Forward Plan for * to * attached.

Members were informed that due to the new Executive Arrangements which had come into force, the Forward Plan was currently being reviewed as 28 days’ notice now had to be given if a key or private decision was to be taken by the Executive.

Draft notes of the meeting on 14 August attached for information only.

Following the request at a previous meeting, the Scrutiny Commission received the notes of the Renewable Energy Task & Finish Group, for information only. It was noted that this group had been set up by Council and was not part of the Overview & Scrutiny function.