Agenda and minutes

The Director of Governance and Law reported apologies from Mr Bond, Mr Harman, Mr McKenna, Mr Scobie, Mrs Stockell and Mr Terry.

(1)          Mr Cowan declared an interest in that both he and his wife were KCC foster carers.

(2)          Mr Clark declared an interest in item 8 (Dependent Carers’ Allowance) as he had two young children and stated that he would be withdrawing from the meeting when that item was considered.

(3)          Mrs Whittle declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in item 8 –Dependent Carers’ Allowance) and stated that she would be withdrawing from the meeting when that item was considered.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2015 be approved as a correct record subject to “£” being deleted from the last sentence in paragraph (20) of minute no 41.

(a)                  The Chairman’s Long Service Award for Members

(1)          The Vice-Chairman presented a long service award to the Chairman.

(b)                  Emma Mitchell

(2)          The Chairman introduced Ms Emma Mitchell who joined KCC at the end of September as Director, Strategic Business Development and Intelligence. 

(3)          Ms Mitchell was invited to introduce herself and briefly set out her role.

(4)          Royal Tunbridge Wells Heritage, Cultural & Learning Hub  -  Heritage Lottery Fund support

(5)          The Chairman stated that he was pleased to announce that the Cultural Hub, which was a partnership project between Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council had been successful in its stage one bid for Heritage Lottery Fund support.

(6)          Mr Hill was invited to speak and commended this project, which would bring together the museum, art gallery, library and adult education into a new cultural hub in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells.

(d)       Democratic Services Officer of the Year – Theresa Grayell.

(7)          The Chairman announced that Miss Theresa Grayell had been awarded Democratic Services Officer of the Year by the Association of Democratic Services Officers, which represented governance officers from local authorities across the Country.

(8)          Miss Grayell was presented with her award by the Chairman.

(e)       LGC Investment Award for the best performing local authority pension fund in property in 2014/15

(9)          The Chairman congratulated the Superannuation Fund Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Scholes and officers on the Kent Pension Fund winning the LGC Investment Award for the best performing local authority pension fund in property in 2014/15, 89 other funds were considered for this award. 

(10)       The Chairman explained that the Fund had around £600m invested in property with £450m of that invested in direct UK property managed by DTZ Investors and with KCC Finance acting as client.  The award was on display at the meeting.

(d)       Petition - Dorothy Lucy Centre, Maidstone

(11)       The Chairman invited Mr Clark to present a petition relating to the proposed closure of the Dorothy Lucy Centre, Maidstone. 

(e)       Petition - Kiln Court, Faversham

(12)     The Chairman invited the Vice Chairman to present a petition relating to the proposed closure ofKiln Court, Faversham. 

(13)     The Chairman then invited Mr Gibbens, the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, to approach the dais to collect the petitions and to ensure that they are responded to in accordance with the Petition Scheme.

(f)        Kent youth flag for the ‘Magna Carta Foundation of Liberty’ event

(14) The chairman displayed the flag designed by young people in Kent, which had been flown at two events in Parliament Square between 15 - 22 May 2015 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the Montfort Parliament of 1265

(g)     The Year So Far 

(15)     The Chairman introduced a PowerPoint slide show which illustrated some of the events which he and the Vice-Charman had attended since the previous meeting of the County Council.   

(h)     Carols

(16)   The Chairman invited all Members to join him for carols from the Maidstone  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 1.17(4), six questions were put and the answers given at the meeting.  These were available online with the papers for this meeting.

(1)          The Chairman stated that he had agreed to the Leader being allowed extra time to present his update but that the time for the Leader to reply would be reduced.

(2)          The Leader updated the Council on discussions with the Home Office in the support of asylum seekers in Kent, the implications of the Autumn Statement/the Spending Review for Kent County Council and on the amendments to the Cities and Devolution Bill

(3)          In relation to the Home Office negotiations in support of unaccompanied asylum seeking young people, he reported that the grant to support the various differing age categories had been increased substantially. In this financial year, £5.2 million of extra grant had been allocated.  He expressed his gratitude for the work of Home Office officials and the Immigration Minister, Mr Brokenshire, MP, to achieve this positive outcome.   Discussions with the Home Office were continuing including, for the next financial year, issues relating to the 18-plus care leavers. Mr Carter stated that there was a need to keep within the current grant allocation, particularly in relation to the accommodation strategy and commissioning the appropriate support for these young people.

(4)           Mr Carter reminded the Council that the Immigration Minister had increased the grants for unaccompanied asylum seekers in an endeavour to encourage more authorities across the country to voluntarily take on full responsibility for many of Kent’s asylum seeking youngsters. The take up had had been slow and, therefore, the regulations under the immigration bill would enable the Home Secretary to direct the dispersal of unaccompanied minors out of Kent into other parts of the country. After much lobbying, Government had accepted that Kent could no longer continue to shoulder the full responsibility of care for these 1400 young people.

(5)          Mr Carter made reference to the autumn statement and the importance of the detail; for example, he welcomed an increase in the better care fund, outside of health service money, to a total cost of £1.5 billion per annum.  However, this would be partially funded through the changes in the new homes bonus funding and he understood that this additional money would not be available until the financial year 2017/18. The new homes bonus was not new money from Government; it was redistributed from the revenue support grant pot. Also those with planning responsibilities, i.e. unitary, Metropolitan and London boroughs would benefit at the expense of counties.

(6)          Mr Carter welcomed the option in the autumn statement to raise an additional 2% precept to help fund the adult social care demand-led pressures. He referred to the impact of the living wage on social care. Kent was at a disadvantage compared to London and Surrey due to having a lower wage economy in parts of the county. Counties had a much greater proportion of elderly people, particularly over 75, living within their communities; however, London boroughs currently received four times the amount of funding that Kent received within their revenue support grant.  It was essential that care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

(1)          The Chairman referred to the additional information on the Independent Persons which had been circulated to all Members.

(2)          Mr Cooke moved and Mr Carter seconded the following motion:

“The County Council is invited to approve the establishment of and Terms of Reference for the Statutory Officer Independent Panel, together with the necessary amendments to the Constitution as set out in Sections 5 and 6 above.”

(3)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(4)          RESOLVED that the establishment of and Terms of Reference for the Statutory Officer Independent Panel, together with the necessary amendments to the Constitution as set out in Sections 5 and 6 in the report, be approved.

(1)          Mr Cooke moved and Mrs Allen seconded the following motion:

 “The County Council is asked to agree the rewording of the Dependent Carers’ Allowance paragraph in the Members’ Allowance Scheme as set out in paragraph 3 (2) above.”

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)          RESOLVED that the rewording of the Dependent Carers’ Allowance paragraph in the Members’ Allowance Scheme as set out in paragraph 3 (2) of the report be approved. 

(Mrs Whittle and Mr Clark, in accordance with the interests that they had declared earlier in the meeting, withdrew from the meeting for the consideration and determination of this item).

(1)          Mr Carter moved and Mr Cooke seconded the following motion

“The County Council is asked to approve the establishment of a new senior level role in the Social Care Health and Wellbeing Directorate.”

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote

(3)          RESOLVED that the establishment of a new senior level role in the Social Care Health and Wellbeing Directorate be approved

(1)          Mr Oakford moved and Mrs Whittle seconded the following motion:

“County Council is asked to:

applaud the Select Committee’s work for producing an instructive and timely report;

recognise the contribution of the witnesses who provided evidence and the officers who supported the Select Committee’s work;

endorse the report and its recommendations.”

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)          RESOLVED that the Select Committee’s work to produce an instructive and timely report be applauded, the contribution of the witnesses who provided evidence and the officers who supported the Select Committee’s work be recognised and the report and its recommendations be endorsed.

(1)          Mr Gough moved and Mr Gibbens seconded the following motion:

“That the County Council is asked to agree that the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board has fulfilled its responsibilities under its Terms of Reference and to note the comments made by Members on the issues identified in the report for further consideration.”

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote

(3)          RESOLVED that the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board has fulfilled its responsibilities under its Terms of Reference and that the comments made by Members on the issues identified in the report be noted for further consideration.

(1)             Mr Carter moved and Mr Cooke seconded the following motion:

“a)  Note the changes being made to the business planning arrangements which will require directorates to better identify the pipeline of future strategic commissioning decisions.

b)  Agree to reform executive member governance arrangements so that it better fits the strategic commissioning cycle, including:

            i) The creation of a Strategic Commissioning Board through the merger of the existing Transformation Advisory Group (TAG) and the Procurement Board (PB).

            ii) The creation of a Budget & Performance Board through the merger of existing Budget Programme Board (BPB) and the existing Performance & Evaluation Board (PEB).

c)  Agree to the continuation of the Commissioning Advisory Board (CAB) as a vehicle for  non-executive member engagement on strategic commissioning for a further 12 month period

d)  Note the need for Cabinet Committees operating arrangements to change to ensure their role in the strategic commissioning cycle is secured and effective, and the engagement with Chairman of Cabinet Committee to consider options

e)  Note the work undertaken and ongoing to ensure that there are clear roles, responsibilities and accountability to support strategic commissioning approach through: 

 i) Better demarcating those officers with accountability for strategic commissioning of services and those responsible for the operational delivery of KCC services. 

            ii) Ensuring that opportunities for joint / integrated commissioning and service design with partners are optimised.”

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)          RESOLVED that:

a)  the changes being made to the business planning arrangements which will require directorates to better identify the pipeline of future strategic commissioning decisions be noted.

b)  the reform of executive member governance arrangements to better fit the strategic commissioning cycle be agreed, including:

            i) the creation of a Strategic Commissioning Board through the merger of the existing Transformation Advisory Group (TAG) and the Procurement Board (PB).

            ii) the creation of a Budget & Performance Board through the merger of existing Budget Programme Board (BPB) and the existing Performance & Evaluation Board (PEB).

c)  the continuation of the Commissioning Advisory Board (CAB) as a vehicle for non-executive member engagement on strategic commissioning for a further 12 month period be agreed

d)  the need for Cabinet Committees operating arrangements to change to ensure their role in the strategic commissioning cycle is secured and effective, and the engagement with Chairmen of Cabinet Committees to consider options be noted

e)  the work undertaken be noted and ongoing to ensure that there are clear roles, responsibilities and accountability to support strategic commissioning approach through 

 i) better demarcating those officers with accountability for strategic commissioning of services and those responsible for the operational delivery of KCC services. 

            ii) ensuring that opportunities for joint / integrated commissioning and service design with partners are optimised.

Retaining and recruiting GPs

Dr Eddy will propose and Ms Harrison will second.

“This Council is increasingly concerned by the problem of retaining and recruiting GPs in Kent and calls on Government to address the situation as a matter of urgency by:

1. Improving funding to practices which are prepared to accept for retraining those GPs returning to practise after absence for childcare or work overseas;

2. Reducing the burdens of bureaucracy on GPS; and

3. Increasing the opportunities for training practice nurses to support GPs."

Retaining and recruiting GPs

(1)          Dr Eddy moved and Ms Harrison seconded the following motion:

“This Council is increasingly concerned by the problem of retaining and recruiting GPs in Kent and calls on Government to address the situation as a matter of urgency by:

1. Improving funding to practices which are prepared to accept for retraining those GPs returning to practise after absence for childcare or work overseas;

2. Reducing the burdens of bureaucracy on GPs; and

3. Increasing the opportunities for training practice nurses to support GPs."

(2)           Mr Gough moved and Mr Gibbens seconded the following amendment:

“This Council is increasingly concerned by the problem of retaining and recruiting GPs in Kent and calls on Government to support the work underway in Kent to address the situation as a matter of urgency, and to ensure best use of resources across the sector by:

1. Improving support to practices which are prepared to accept for retraining those GPs returning to practise after absence for childcare or work overseas;

2. Reducing the burdens of bureaucracy on GPs, and others across health and social care;

3. Increasing the opportunities for training practice nurses to support GPs; and  

4. Supporting Kent in reforming primary care so it is a sector of health and care that GPs and other staff groups wish to work in and which could be used as a model for elsewhere in the NHS .”

(3)           Dr Eddy, with the agreement of his seconder, incorporated the amendment into his motion.

(4)          The motion, as amended, was agreed without a formal vote.

(5)       RESOLVED that this Council is increasingly concerned by the problem of retaining and recruiting GPs in Kent and calls on Government to support the work underway in Kent to address the situation as a matter of urgency and to ensure best use of resources across the sector by:

            1. Improving support to practices which are prepared to accept for retraining those GPs returning to practise after absence for childcare or work overseas;

2. Reducing the burdens of bureaucracy on GPs, and others across health and social care;

            3. Increasing the opportunities for training practice nurses to support GPs; and  

            4. Supporting Kent in reforming primary care so it is a sector of health and care that GPs and other staff groups wish to work in and which could be used as a model for elsewhere in the NHS.