Agenda item

Ms P Watson, Commissioning Manager for Learning Disability, was in attendance for this item, with Ms Southern.

1.         Ms Southern introduced the report and responded to comments and questions from Members.  The following points were highlighted:-

a)         the same consultation process had been followed and the same service model used as for recent similar reviews in Maidstone and Ashford. A range of engagement methods had been used, and feedback had shown that the approach taken had been appreciated by consultees;

b)         a bid from East Kent Mencap, outlined in the report, had been received on the very last day of consultation.  Ms Southern confirmed that, although it had been proposed that this bid should not be pursued at this time, further work and negotiation around the bid has not been ruled out. As the bid had arrived very late in the process, she had not had the opportunity to explore it as thoroughly as she would need to under the KCC’s procurement rules;

c)         as a Thanet Member, Mr M J Jarvis said he had attended consultation meetings but had not been aware of the Mencap bid.  He supported further exploration of the bid as no other alternative proposal had come forward. The importance of early local Member involvement was highlighted and Mr Gibbens undertook to ensure that all local Members were fully involved before he takes the decision;

d)         some service users who are currently eligible for free transport will continue to receive transport, although some may incur a charge, depending on the overall package of services they receive and which of these other services are charged;

e)         direct payments offer service users a choice of how they wish to access services, and it is not possible to guarantee that any given proportion of users will continue to choose KCC services.  Where take-up of these services declines, and they become less cost-effective to deliver to a smaller audience, the KCC will still need to continue to offer services to those who have chosen them and depend on them;  and

f)          as in Ashford and Maidstone, the new service delivery model in Thanet will be subject to a ongoing evaluation process, and progress reports will be made after six months and twelve months.

2.         Members expressed concern that the decision which the Cabinet Member was being asked to take precluded any further work on and negotiation of the East Kent Mencap bid.  Mr S J G Koowaree suggested an additional recommendation to specify continued negotiation with East Kent Mencap. After discussion, this was not seconded or pursued as Mr Gibbens and Mr Ireland confirmed that they were confident that the report’s current recommendations, and the decision which the Cabinet Member will shortly be asked to take, did not preclude any further discussion or investigation of the bid put forward by East Kent Mencap.  Members welcomed this reassurance.

3.         RESOLVED that the information set out in the report, and the decision which the Cabinet Member will shortly be asked to take, be noted.