Cabinet Member decisions

Background:

KCC is delivering the construction of the new Barton Court Free School on the former Chaucer School site in Canterbury. The DfE has appointed KCC to act as the Local Delivery Agent (Responsible Body), with Gen2 acting as KCC’s Agent. As the Responsible Body, KCC will be the contracting authority for the purpose of delivering the scheme. The new school will be located on part of the former Chaucer School site, with the remainder allocated to the land disposal programme.

To approve the award of a building contract to Kier Construction Limited for the Barton Court Free School and delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services to finalise the contractual terms and enter into any necessary documentation.

Background Information:

Local authorities have had the ability to charge for residential care (under section 22 (1) of the National Assistance Act 1948) and for non-residential services (under section 17 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983) for a number of years, this is not a statutory requirement, but Kent County Council (KCC) utilised this ability for most non-residential services.

Statutory guidance on charging for residential and non-residential care and support under the Care Act 2014 section 14 is provided in theCare and Support Statutory Guidance. All previous guidance documents, such as theCharging for Residential Accommodation Guideand Fairer Charging Guidance came to an end on 1st April 2015, ceasing these powers and duties.

KCC exercised its power under Section 14 of The Care Act 2014 to continue to charge at the same rates and in the same ways from 1 April 2015 after the Care Act bill was passed.

KCC has been more generous with its charging policy since it began charging in 2002 and has not made any significant changes to its charging policy since 2011.  KCC has now had to review the subsidies that it provides to some people to ensure consistency, fairness and the best use of its funds to support all its Adult Social Care clients.

The project has been initiated to look to amend sections of KCC discretionary charging in the Non-Residential Charging Policy to align it with the government’s Department of Health’s (DoH) guidelines.

These changes will look to align KCC with a standard charging model employed by the DoH and several other local authorities.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health agrees to:

(i)            AMEND the Adult Social Care and Health Non-Residential Charging Policy to align with the Department of Health’s Minimum Income Guarantee Guidance; and

(ii)          DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health, or other nominated officer, to implement the decision

Background

This decision revises the rates payable and charges levied in relation to KCC provided services. It will enable the Council to raise funding, as required by Parliament, to help meet the cost of providing social care services to the people of Kent.

How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’ meets the strategic objective that older and vulnerable residents are safe and supported with choices to live independently.

Financial Implications: This decision revises the rates payable and charges levied. It will enable the Council to raise funding, as required by Parliament, to help meet the cost of providing social care services to the people of Kent.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health agrees to:

(i)            APPROVE the proposed changes to the rates payable and charges levied for adult services in 2020-21 as detailed in sections 2 and 3 of this report; and

(ii)          DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Health, or other nominated officer, to undertake the necessary actions to implement this decision.