Agenda and minutes

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Venue: Committee Room 'B' - The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston. View directions

Contact: Gary Halsall  Tel: (01772) 533419, Email:  gary.halsall@lancashire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

County Councillor T Aldridge replaced County Councillor J Hanson for this meeting only.

County Councillor M Skilling replaced County Councillor C Crompton for this meeting only.

1.

Disclosure of Personal and Prejudicial Interests

Members are asked to consider any Personal/Prejudicial Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

Minutes:

None were disclosed.

2.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 February 2012 pdf icon PDF 45 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That, the minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2012 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

3.

Lancashire Supporting People Programme pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Sarah McCarthy, Head of Supporting People Programme, to the meeting.

 

The Committee was informed that the Supporting People Programme was responsible for the planning, commissioning and procurement of housing related support services that would enable people to develop independent living skills. The success of which was dependent on effective partnership working between the County Council and other partners including; District Councils, Probation Service, Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Team and the Primary Care Trusts. Most of the services provided by the programme were on a short term basis – less than two years.

 

It was explained that housing related support services would assist people to:

 

·  Setup and maintain a home;

·  Develop domestic / life skills;

·  Develop social skills;

·  Manage finances and benefit claims;

·  Access other services;

·  Get involved in community activities;

·  Maintain their personal safety and security;

·  Find alternative accommodation;

·  Help find a job; and

·  Access education and training.

 

The following types of services were funded from the supporting people budget:

 

·  Supported housing projects;

·  Refuges for women at risk of domestic violence;

·  Sheltered accommodation with a scheme manager;

·  Home improvement agencies;

·  Community alarms; and

·  Floating or visiting support where support was flexible and could be delivered anywhere.

 

The Committee was also informed that services provided by the programme were preventative in nature and that social care eligibility criteria did not apply. The Committee noted that there was also no statutory duty to provide housing related services.

 

The Supporting People Programme was implemented by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) in 2003 where upon partnership arrangements were defined to ensure that Supporting People funding would contribute to a range of strategic agendas such as; community safety, housing, social care and health. Initially, funding was centrally managed until it was transferred into Area Based Grants and then on to the County Council as part of its mainstream funding in 2010. The Committee noted that the CLG had also implemented systems to record data which subsequently enabled the County Council to benchmark its services. Data regarding outcomes for people leaving short-term services was set out at appendix ‘A’ to the report.

 

Councillors were invited to ask questions and raise any comments in respect of the Lancashire Supporting People Programme, a summary of which is provided below:

 

·  One Councillor asked where other than the Scrutiny Committee did the supporting people programme obtain political input from. It was reported that the Commissioning Board would identify issues of a significant political nature that would require consultation with the Lancashire Chief Executive’s Group in advance of a decision being made. The Lancashire Chief Executive’s Group would then determine if any issues needed to be referred to the Lancashire Leaders Group.

·  Councillors were clear that the SPP was a large body of very important work. It was also very relevant to the safeguarding agenda.  Members of the overview and scrutiny committees, as well as the Executive and other elected members would wish to continue to advocate for this service.

·  There was strong support by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Rail Improvement Schemes - Report of the Task Group pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the final update report of the Rail Improvement Schemes Task Group which had reconvened in January 2012 to consider some outstanding issues.

 

County Councillor Sarah Fishwick, Chair of the Task Group attended the meeting to present the report.

 

The Committee was informed that the Task Group was keen to ensure that the schemes it had considered continued to be supported and promoted by the Council in accordance with its original priorities. In addition, the link between the economic development of Lancashire and the transport network was recognised as crucial, and the Task Group was therefore keen to see the rail improvement schemes continue to feature highly in the work of the Local Enterprise Partnership.

 

Councillor Fishwick endorsed the recommendations of the Task Group as set out in the report to the Committee.

 

Councillors raised a number of comments and questions, a summary of which is provided below:

 

·  In relation to the Kirkham and Wesham station, there was a query about whether any further work would be carried out as the station was not DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant.

·  The electrification of the Preston to Blackpool line was welcomed. However, one councillor pointed out that considerable work would need to be carried out on two bridges either side of Kirkham and that it had been estimated that the work combined with road closures would take some three to six months to complete. Concern was expressed that this would have a detrimental effect on businesses in Kirkham and Treales and it was therefore hoped that Network Rail would consider alternative methods of construction work to reduce the length of time it would take to carry out the work. Councillor Oades sought assurance from the Committee to ensure that any such road closures could be limited to a shorter time span and that the County Council look into the matter further. It was suggested that the minutes of this item be passed to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport for further consideration.

·  Councillors raised concern that the Skelmersdale link was not considered to be of a higher priority for the County Council to lead on as it was suggested that such a scheme would be an important aspect for the prosperity of the area.

·  Some disappointment was expressed that electrification of the Blackrod to West Coast Line and the Liverpool to Preston Line had not been included in the Task Group report.

·  One Councillor asked why a Lancashire Passenger Transport Executive had not been established as it was felt that such a body would be much more effective in co-ordinating public transport matters for the County. Councillors seemed keen to establish a passenger transport executive for Lancashire.

 

Resolved: That;

 

  i.  The schemes remain in the categories as originally agreed and that the positive progress to date be noted;

  ii.  Lancashire County Council continue to play an active role in the development and promotion of rail schemes in the County in accordance with the priorities set by the task group;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Task Group Updates pdf icon PDF 55 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received an update on current task groups and their proposed completion dates.

 

Resolved: That, the update on existing task groups be noted.

6.

Recent and Forthcoming Decisions pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Minutes:

The committee had been given the opportunity to view and consider recent relevant decisions made and also forthcoming decisions including those set out in the current Forward Plan.

 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

7.

Workplan 2010/11 pdf icon PDF 54 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The workplan for the committee was presented for noting and comments. The Chair gave an outline of the work to be carried out by the Committee over the coming months including the additional work agreed earlier in the meeting.

 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

8.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee will be held on 13 April at 10am at the County Hall, Preston.

Minutes:

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee will be held on 13 April 2012 at 10:00am at County Hall, Preston.