Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and notification of any substitutes present.

(1)       Members were asked to note that Mr Oakford had taken over from Mrs Whittle as Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services from 2 June 2014 which had created a vacancy on the Committee.  For this meeting the vacancy was being substituted by Mrs Stockell.

(2)       Mr Brookbank and Mr Maddison had both sent apologies and were substituted by Mr Parry and Ms Cribbon respectively.

To receive any declarations of interest made by Members in relation to any matter on the agenda.  Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which their interest refers and the nature of the interest being declared.

(1)       Ms Cribbon declared an interest in Item B1, Gravesham Social Education Centre (GSEC) as the Chairman of Gravesham Borough Council’s Planning Committee and as the local County Member who had written in response to the consultation.

(2)       Mr Parry declared an interest in Item B2, Medway Integrated Substance Misuse Service.  As the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee he had, along with the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, been party to agreeing the use of the urgency procedure.

The Chairman stated at this point that it was his intention to take items B2 and C1 together in Part 2 of the meeting to allow Members to debate the matter fully.  He asked if Members were agreeable to this and it was agreed that, after item B1, the meeting would go into closed session.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing and to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member on the proposed decision contained therein.

(1)       The Cabinet Committee received a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing which contained an update on the refurbishment of the Gravesend Social Education Centre (GSEC) building and further development of community opportunities for the consideration of the Committee.  Mark Walker, Assistant Director, Learning Disability – West Kent, and Gina Walton, Change Implementation Officer, were in attendance to introduce the report and in particular referred to the following:

(2)       In 2013 a feasibility study was carried out to consider how best to provide services for people with Learning Disabilities in the Gravesham area.  As part of this review the Good Day Programme (GDP) looked at modernising in house day services to ensure they were delivered in a more flexible and community based way.  GDP aimed to overcome people with learning disabilities feeling isolated and segregated and process centre planning was one way of doing this.  Take up of the GDP had been better in West Kent than in East Kent.

(3)       The modernisations at GSEC also provided an opportunity to link into New Ways of Working (NWoW) as the lease on Joynes House, Gravesend was due to expire and new office accommodation was required for the Community Learning Disability Team.  The placement of this team within GSEC would ensure an improved, more community based service for GSEC service users and realise leasehold savings from Joynes House in the longer term.  As well as co-locating services at the GSEC site options for a community hub within the Gravesend area were being explored.

(4)       The Cabinet Member had held cross-party briefings with Members in January 2014 and a formal consultation took place with CSEC service users, carers and staff following these briefings.  Responses to the consultation were positive with people glad that the building was being retained and money was going to be spent on it. 

(5)       The total budget available for construct, refurbishment and furniture and equipment was £800k, the Good Day Programme contribution was £500k and NWoW was £300k.

(6)       The contract was ready to be signed and it was expected that construction would commence in late June 2014 and be completed by the end of January 2015.

(7)       In response to questions raised and comments made the Committee received the following further information from officers:

(8)       The tender had been project managed by NWoW and four suitable contractors had tendered.  Harpers had been identified as the winner and the contract was with Legal.

(9)       The GDP contribution came from ring fenced money being reinvested from changes to in house services which had been agreed several years ago.  The NWoW contribution would be money invested in GSEC rather than rent and rates for Joynes House.

(10)    Concerns about parking and mature trees had been addressed with a proposed reconfiguration of the car park.  One option included off-site parking in local car parks close to the site while a second option with changes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The Committee resolved that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing and to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member on the proposed decision to award a contract for provision of substance misuse services in Medway.

(1)       The Cabinet Committee received a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing which contained detailed information that the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health had considered prior to making the decision. 

(2)       Mark Lobban, Director of Strategic Commissioning, introduced the report and answered Members’ questions.

(3)       RESOLVED that the information be noted and that Members endorse the Cabinet Member to make the decision.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing containing information exempt from publication relating to the contract award to be discussed at Item B2.