Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received

There were no declarations of interest

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee held on Wednesday 22^nd January 2014.

Agreed as a correct record

The Chair welcomed Hugh Evans from North Staffordshire National Health Service to the meeting.

The Better Care Fund was a national initiative focussed on the co-ordination of service provision.  The key area was to provide people with better integrated care at home and better options through digitally based services.

The main area affecting the Borough Council related to the Disability Facilities Grant.  Central Government had directed that this needed to come under the Better Care Fund but would be administered in the same way and led by the Borough Council (up to the end of 2015).

There was some agreement to the general idea but Members noted that there were a lot of organisations involved.  There was also concern regarding the sign off process and Members questioned the future involvement of the Borough Council in this area of work

Officers stated that the Council was being asked to sign up to a direction of travel rather than a final plan and it was recognised that Borough Councils would have a role in the future development of the fund.

Members noted ‘pooling’ of resources would be difficult and hoped that this would be based on revenue and that resources would be directed to those areas where they were most required. 

Hugh Evans explained that the minimum amount in the Better Care Fund for each area was £16m, but Staffordshire was aiming at approximately £150m, this funding was not only from the Better Care Fund, but involved every local authority and Clinical Commissioning Groups looking at spending funds together.

RECOMMENDATION:- That Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council seeks assurances and further information on the future of Disability Facilities Grants and also the future involvement and role of District/Borough Councils in the Better Care Fund and also in terms of wider commissioning.

At the last meeting in January several questions were asked with regard to various indicators and some of the data in the Performance report.  The purpose of this item was to respond to any other outstanding questions with additional information or explanations.

The indicator relating to the percentage of food establishments which were broadly compliant with Good Hygiene Law was once again discussed by Members.  Members considered that no food establishment should fall below a ‘Satisfactory’ standard.

It was recognised that a lot of work had been carried out to increase the number of premises that were compliant and to assist those that required improvement. Additional information was requested for the next meeting regarding this indicator.

RECOMMENDED:- That the Head of Business Improvements, Central Services and Partnerships provide additional information to the next meeting in relation to the percentage of food establishments which were broadly compliant with Good Hygiene Law.

The Constitution Review Working Group submitted a number of recommendations to the Committee.

RECOMMENDED:- That Section 1.1 of the Employees’ Consultative Constitution and Function be amended as follows:

The Committee shall consist of fifteen Members, seven of whom (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Employer’s Side’) shall be appointed by the Borough Council and eight of whom (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Employees side’) shall be employees appointed by the recognised trade unions in accordance with paragraph 13.

A report was submitted in relation to holding a Portfolio Holder Question Time.  It is not proposed this becomes a standing item but could perhaps be held every six months at the discretion of the Chair.

RECOMMENDED: That the concept of Portfolio Holder Question Time at Scrutiny Committees be ratified in the Council’s Constitution.

An annual review of the work plan was discussed.

RECOMMENDED:- Keele Golf Course to be added as an agenda item to the next meeting to be held on Tuesday 17 June 2014