Issue - meetings

Miss M Goldsmith, FSC Finance Business Partner, was in attendance for this item, with Mr Thomas-Sam.

1.         Mr Thomas-Sam introduced the report, which had been updated since last seen by the former Adult Social Care and Public Health Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee (POSC) on 30 March 2012, to take account of the comments made by POSC Members at that meeting. He emphasised that change will be very closely monitored, with a further update report being made to this Committee in November 2012. He and Miss Goldsmith and Mr Ireland answered questions of detail, explaining the following:-        

a)         Members had asked for an indication of the level of income loss which might result from the change.  Estimates had been made and are included in the report, but work is still ongoing to identify the numbers of users and assess their eligibility, so it is not yet possible to determine the accuracy of those estimates;

b)         Members were assured that, if the removal of some users from charging were to cause a shortfall in income, this would not impact on the level of charges made to other services users; and

c)         the assessment process includes a full benefits check to ensure that clients are making optimum use of the benefits which are available to them.

2.         RESOLVED that the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Public Health, to amend the charging policy for home care and other non-residential services, as previously approved under decision 11/01645, be endorsed.