Issue - meetings

(Copy herewith)

2.1 Cabinet:

(a)   Noted the recommendations in the Overview & Scrutiny Panel’s report on Adult Social Care Facilities and confirmed that a copy of the report had been shared with Northamptonshire County Council, Daventry District Council and South Northants Council; and

(b)  Congratulated the task and finish group on a high quality and comprehensive report and thanked the group for the time and effort given to produce it.

Councillor Hibbert as the relevant Cabinet Member presented the report seeking approval of the recommendations of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The report on Adult Social Care Facilities was extensive.  It explored demand, need and current facilities, and had been shared with the other West Northamptonshire Councils and would be taken forward by the unitary council.

Councillor Hibbert advised that recommendation 4 in the original report relating to the hospital discharge scheme should state that Kettering learnt from Northampton’s experience rather than the other way round.  Northampton have had a dedicated housing officer working with the hospital since May 2015.

Councillor Stone was pleased to note the recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny but was concerned that there were elderly residents who were not known to social services and were socially isolated.  This had been made worse by the loss of day centres. Councillor Hibbert advised that Northampton Partnership Homes have strong connections with elderly tenants.  However, there could be scope for volunteers to make doorstep connections to enable the necessary referrals to be made.

The Leader expressed thanks to Overview and Scrutiny for the work carried out, and to officers for their responses.  Councillor Larratt echoed these congratulations and asked whether a report would be passed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of the new West Northamptonshire Council to ensure the work was continued and progress was not lost.  The Borough Secretary advised that he would brief officers to ensure this was done.

Information note: In view of the limited time before unitary, relevant costs from the implementation of the Overview and Scrutiny recommendations will not fall on NBC and will be an issue for the unitary council

RESOLVED:

2.1 Cabinet:

(a)   Noted the recommendations in the Overview & Scrutiny Panel’s report on Adult Social Care Facilities and confirmed that a copy of the report had been shared with Northamptonshire County Council, Daventry District Council and South Northants Council; and

(b)  Congratulated the task and finish group on a high quality and comprehensive report and thanked the group for the time and effort given to produce it.