Agenda and minutes

Noted.

a) Core Strategy Development Group 17 November 2009 and matters arising

b) Commissioning Body 13 October 2009 and matters arising

(a)        The Minutes of the meeting of the Commissioning Body held on 13 October 2009 were agreed as a true record.  Matters arising were dealt with as appropriate.

(b)        The Commissioning Body noted the Minutes of the meeting of the Core Strategy Development Group held on 17 November 2009.

Thursday 18 March 2010

Thursday 24 June 2010

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Thursday 16 December 2010

(All meetings will be held at Session House, County Hall, Maidstone and commence at 2.00pm)

The Commissioning Body agreed its meeting dates for 2010 as follows:-

Thursday, 18 March

Thursday, 24 June

Tuesday, 12 October

Thursday, 16 December

All meetings will be held at Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone and commence at 2.00 pm.

– Report by Mrs A Slaven, Director of Youth and Community Support Services)

(i)           This report provided information on the current budgetary position of the Supporting People Programme for the year 2009/10.

(ii)     The current forecast position for this year is that the Programme will spend £2,668k more than it received in grant.  This reflected a variance in the figure reported to the Commissioning Body in September 2009 and was due to some variances in contract values following the termination of a service and the completion of the work to remove block subsidy contracts, and consequently cap them. Claire Martin confirmed that because there were a number of uncertainties as to what the budget allocation maybe for 2011/12, and beyond, work was already in progress to try and plan for any possible reductions.

(iii)    Following discussion, the Commissioning Body agreed the contents of the report.

Report by Mrs A Slaven, Director of Youth and Community Support Services)

(i)                 This report provided data on all aspects of Performance Management within the Kent Supporting People Programme.  During the course of discussion, Kevin Prior assured the meeting that a lack of data sets from St Andrews had not impaired the Programme’s ability to monitor activity.

(ii)       The Commissioning Body noted the contents of the report.

- report by Mrs A Slaven, Director of Youth and Community Support Services

(i)                 The report set out the on-going links and areas of joint working between Kent Adult Social Services and Supporting People in relation to Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.

(ii)        Mr Mike Angell, the County Council’s Deputy Cabinet Spokesman for Adult Social Services said having the right links and procedures in place was a high priority for the Council and Angela Slaven emphasised this by outlining the work undertaken to ensure that as far as possible the protocols and procedures which were in place reflected all that was regarded as being best practice.  Claire Martin said the Programme was also working with the Kent Partnership: Safer and Stronger Communities Group, the Multi-Agency Public Protection Agreement, and the Joint Policy and Planning Board (Housing) to put in place a protocol to safeguard vulnerable adults and children who are placed in bed and breakfast accommodation.  The possibility of an officer being employed to monitor that protocol was also being examined. Mr Steve Oborne also spoke about the collaborative work which Canterbury City Council was undertaking in partnership with the County Council and others.

(iv)       The report concluded by saying that there are on-going links between KASS, CFE, the Kent districts and boroughs and Supporting People in relation to safeguarding, and ensuring that health and safety is secured and enhanced. Whilst the actions described in the report offered as much of a safeguard as possible to vulnerable adults and children it had to be recognised that no matter what processes and procedures are put in place the possibility of an incident taking place was ever present.

(– report by Mrs Angela Slaven – Director of Youth and Community Support Services, Communities Directorate)

(i)         In September 2009 the Supporting People Programme transferred to the Communities Directorate within KCC. This report therefore highlighted the importance of the on-going links between Kent Adult Social Services and Supporting People and set out areas of joint working.

(ii)   During the course of discussion Mr Angell spoke about a number of policies and initiatives including Kent’s Policy Framework for Later Life.  The main thrust of this initiative was to enable and maintain the opportunity for older people to live independently in their own homes as an alternative to residential or nursing care.  He also spoke about the future housing needs for older people and as part of this KCC was looking at the possibility of working with housing partners to bring to Kent a model of housing provision based on having an ‘Older Person’s Village’.  The Council was also looking at other housing options which older people could select as their circumstances change.

(iii)             Following discussion the Commissioning Body noted the report.

( – report by Mrs Angela Slaven – Director of Youth and Community Support Services, Communities Directorate)

(i)         This report presented the first draft of the Kent Supporting People Strategy 2010-15 and provided details of the objectives and strategic priorities over the next five years.  The final draft of the strategy would be presented to the Commissioning Body in March 2010 for decision. It would be accompanied by a commissioning plan based on the agreed strategic objectives and actions and the strategic review of investment.

(ii)                During the course of discussion Members of the Commissioning Body spoke about the need for there to be better publicity around the role and activities undertaken by the Supporting People Programme. This would have the  purpose of explaining in more detail not only to potential recipients but also the wider public what it is the Supporting People Programme does and what it can offer in terms of providing help to those in who are in particular need of housing support.  It was also said more needed to be done to ensure that the limited resources available are targeted at Kent residents and that the Kent Programme should not, as far as is possible, support people who have been placed ‘out of County’ who should be supported either by the placing authority or under an agreed reciprocal arrangement.

(iii)                   Following further discussion the Commissioning Body noted the contents of the report and subject to the comments made during the course of discussion agreed the Supporting People team should commence formal consultation on the draft strategy.

( - report by Mrs Angela Slaven – Director of Youth and Community Support Services, Communities Directorate)

(i)        This report provided a summary of the strategic review of Home Improvement Agencies and what key issues will need to be examined.

(ii)        During the course of discussion it was said that there seemed to be a relatively short space of time in which to give views on what was a substantial piece of work.  Claire Martin said one of the principle objectives of the review was to reach a point where there are shared specifications and joint service delivery.

(iii)       In agreeing to the undertaking of the review, the Commissioning Body noted there would be an update to its meeting in March 2010.

(Item 12 - report by Mrs Angela Slaven – Director of Youth and Community Support Services, Communities Directorate)

(i)         The report highlighted an emerging need for increased floating support provision for people with housing related support needs arising from substance misuse and those at risk of domestic abuse.  The Commissioning Body was asked to consider three options as follows:

(i)                  Option 1 – Take no further action

The Commissioning Body may choose to accept the imbalance and increase in waiting times and decide no action is necessary.

(ii)                Option 2 – Approve an increase in capacity of specific services to meet existing demand across Kent.

The Commissioning Body may decide to commission increased provision for the named client groups across Kent and reduce waiting times for all in those groups.

(iii)              Option 3 – Approve an increase in capacity of specific services in east Kent only.

The Commissioning Body could decide to commission an expansion in capacity of provision for these client groups only in the east of the county.

(ii)               During the course of discussion the view was put that given the discussions around priorities and the likelihood of a reduction in budget now was not the right time to be considering allocating some £800k for this purpose.  The view was expressed that if there was a perceived need for support related to substance misuse or domestic violence then should not those needs be reflected in the Five Year Strategy.

(iii)             In response it was said that savings through efficiency could only be used once and if not used then the money could be recouped and therefore lost altogether.  Also the funding required could be offset against the current under spend and efficiencies gained by contractual action already undertaken during 2009/10.  Efficiencies currently ran at £422,111.  Although further efficiencies were due to be put in place in the remaining months of this financial year, they were difficult to quantify at present. The residue could though be met within the under spend which was referenced in the Supporting People budget report (Item 5).

(iv)              Also any temporary expansion would be made within the current contracting period only. As such the expansion was not intended to supersede the proposals made as part of the Supporting People Five-Year Strategy 2010-15, which was based on a strategic review of investment.

(v)                Following further discussion the Commissioning Body agreed to Option 2 as detailed in the report, namely in order to meet existing demand across Kent, to approve an increase in capacity of specific services by providing at an estimated cost of £804k increased floating support provision for people with housing related support needs arising from substance misuse and those at risk of domestic abuse.

A report will be submitted to the next meeting on the issue of establishing a clearing house and the appointment of an officer to oversee the protocol being developed for vulnerable adults who are placed in bed and breakfast accommodation.