Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

No pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests were disclosed.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th February 2018 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Gabby Nelson, Head of Core Business Systems, presented a report providing an update on the Service Governance and Performance Monitoring of the County Council's strategic partnership with BT Lancashire Services.  The report covered April 2017 to February 2018.

Further information providing a more comprehensive measurement of service delivery was provided at Appendix 'A'. 

The Payroll and Recruitment Service had been restructured in February 2018, providing more integration and flexibility.  The restructure had enabled a recurring saving of £174k per annum with effect from 2018/19.  It was reported that all contractual and non-contractual performance targets had been met between April 2018 and February 2018. 

It was reported that, in 2017, 99.7% of the Disclosure and Barring Service

forms had been processed within 48 hours, which was well ahead of the 75% key performance indicators.  A new system for Disclosure and Barring Checks would be implemented from July 2018 which would reduce application processing time by 50%, negate errors and improve security.

The Improved Management Information and Reduction of Overpayments enabled more robust and detailed monitoring of service activity, specifically around overpayments and payments on account.  As a result of this, both the volumes and values of overpayments were forecast to reduce by around 30% from 2016/17 to 2017/18.

The Committee noted that 86% of County Council staff felt the Recruitment Service exceeded expectations or was good.

In relation to Information and Communications Technology Services, it was reported that all contractual performance targets were being met. 

The Committee noted that the County Council had not been affected by the global cybercrime ransomware attack in May 2017, largely due to the significant investments in Security Systems and products, the effective security measures put in place by ICT services to protect the County Council's network and services, and through the co-ordinated response by staff as details of the attack began to emerge.  A letter from NHS England had been received thanking County Council for their assistance with the cyber attack, which was set out at Appendix 'B' with the agenda papers.

It was reported that the new ICT portal was simpler to use and that incidents/requests submitted through the portal were prioritised with dedicated resource ready to respond within 30 minutes.  Customer satisfaction had significantly improved and users no longer needed to wait in a telephony queue.  Over 95% of customers had rated the service as excellent or good, as opposed to around 50% over the past three years.

On the whole, the Asset Management System was running successfully, although there had been issues with the Highways Asset Management System (HAMS).  It was reported that there was a re-education programme ongoing for HAMS.

The new On Line Schools Admissions system had been very successful and the primary school offers had been sent out within the time agreed.  Implementation for the Early Help Module & Education, Health and Care Plans was planned for December 2018.  This would enable the County Council to deliver a complex, fully integrated system for children's services as we would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Ian Crabtree, Director of Adult Social Care Transformation, presented a report providing an overview of progress of the Transforming Care Programme for People with Learning Disabilities and Autism and the County Council's contribution to the programme.  An update was also provided on the funding position taken by the County Council in relation to discharges and progress on a pooled budget arrangement.

The Transforming Care Programme had originated from the abuse scandal at Winterbourne View in 2011, highlighted by the BBC Panorama programme.  The Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services supported the plan which publicly committed to a programme of a review of inappropriate and outmoded in-patient facilities, with the aim of establishing stronger support in the community.

It was reported that the discharge trajectory set by NHS England was 89.  There were 97 individuals in hospital as at February 2018; this was the first quarter where the trajectory had been markedly missed.  However, it should be noted that this was not a true reflection of the success of the programme, which had discharged 50 of the original cohort of 107 individuals who had been in hospital at the start of the programme in April 2016.  It was reported that no discharges had been held up due to the funding position taken by the County Council of no longer contributing to funding for those discharged from learning disabilities inpatient facilities, until there was clear, legally binding commitment from the NHS to fund the full lifetime cost of these services for those awaiting discharge through a newly developed pooled budget.

The Committee noted that the County Council were taking the lead on the Flexible Agreement framework which supported the Transforming Care Programme.  The aim of the framework was to improve the quality of the providers selected to support individuals who were previously in-patients, commission new models of care for individuals which created efficiencies by commissioning for more than one individual, alongside delivering quality care and support which focussed on developing individuals' independence and safe access to their community.

It was reported that medium secure environment placements were currently based at the Calderstones in Whalley, but that these would move to the Ashworth Hospital site in Maghull, although his may only happen in 2021.

Resolved:  That the Cabinet Committee note:

(i)  the progress on discharges of people with Learning Disabilities & Autism;

(ii)  the funding position taken by the County Council in relation to the non-funding of discharges; and

(iii)  the progress made so far in developing a pooled budget with partner

organisations for people with Learning Disabilities & Autism.

Ian Crabtree presented a report in response to questions about entry CR21 on the Quarter 4 Corporate Risk and Opportunity Register, which had been raised at the last Cabinet Committee meeting.  Papers in relation to the following were circulated to Committee Members:

• LCC Safeguarding Report for the quarter ending 31 March 2018 for the

Lancashire Adults Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub

• Delayed Transfers of Care Analysis – Lancashire February 2018

Details were provided to the Committee of the five broad approaches to managing excess or increasing demand across adult social care.

At the last Cabinet Committee meeting, concerns had been raised about the waiting times for assessments and reviews for safeguarding, hospital discharge and occupational therapy, and further information was provided to the Committee on these.

Safeguarding

In addition to the 28 social workers and four social care support officers, agreement to 6 agency staff (2 per area) being appointed was reached, on a temporary basis, to ensure elimination of backlogs and reduction in waiting times.  It was noted that there was no difficulty recruiting staff for the safeguarding teams. 

The criteria as to what was a safeguarding case, and what response was required, was made by the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub.  Details were provided to the Committee on the following 4 priorities:

• Priority 1 - To be allocated immediately as an urgent response is required
• Priority 2 - To be allocated within 24 hours
• Priority 3 - To be allocated within a 2 week period
• Priority 4 - To be allocated within a  4 to 6 week period

Generally, the response times were showing major improvement over the last few months, due to improved management grip and the additional temporary staffing.  However, it should be noted that there were, at times, significant weekly fluctuations, due to routine staff absences and/or unusual surges of new referrals.

Hospital Discharge

The Committee noted that substantial additional resources from the Improved Better Care Fund and significant redesign of the system for managing hospital discharge had been underway for several months in Lancashire.  Overall, there had been a gradual but sustained improvement in reducing delayed transfers of care over the last 6 months, with some short periods where problems escalated, due to flu outbreaks or severe weather.  The Committee noted that Preston and Chorley accounted for 60% of the delays and that this needed to improve

A query was raised about working with registered social landlords where individuals due to be discharged required adaptations to their home.  It was confirmed that the County Council held the funds for Disabled Facilities Grants and administered the scheme.  However, it was for the District Councils to work with the social landlords to discuss the best use for the grant funding for individuals.  It was the county council's responsibility to ensure that discharge was not delayed and that the funds were spent on what aids/adaptations were required.  It was reported that interim arrangements could be put in place whilst any adaptation work was being completed.  Ian Crabtree would provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Kieran Curran, Policy Manager, presented a report updating the Cabinet Committee on some of the more significant issues facing the County Council in the wake of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.  At the Cabinet Committee's meeting in September 2017, further information had been requested.

The Committee were updated on the following range of issues:

·  Impact on regional economic growth

·  Impact on inward migration

·  Impact on workforce

·  Impact on manufacturing

·  Impact on the National Health Service

·  Impact on European Union structural funding streams

·  Representation of local government in the withdrawal negotiations and beyond

·  Survey: a view from Leaders and Chief Executives

·  Devolution and regulatory powers

·  Impact on regulatory frameworks

It was reported that there was no significant progress in relation to regulatory issues and funding streams.  A query was raised about the tendering process.  The Committee noted that any future work around this would need to focus on the main regulatory impacts of procurement, Human Resources and waste.

The latest figures from the Purchase Managers Index showed that business activity in the North West was now growing faster than London and further information was provided to the Committee in relation to single market, free trade and no deal for the UKs Government regions.

In relation to the impact on workforce, it was reported that the Migration Advisory Committee had been commissioned by Government to consider the impacts of withdrawal on the United Kingdom labour market and aligning the United Kingdom's immigration system with a modern Industrial Strategy.  This report was due to go out for consultation later this year.

it was reported that a recent poll of members by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce revealed that, whilst a majority of respondents had never employed EU migrant workers, there were some concerns that employment restrictions would harm productivity and significantly increase labour costs.

The Chair wished to take up the offer of officers providing specific information in relation to potential or likely impacts on a range of issues of interest to the county council (including workforce recruitment and the likely effects of withdrawal on key industries in Lancashire), so Members could take up these issues with H.M. Government.

A further report would be presented to the Committee in September/October, proving more information and clarity, in addition to including the findings of the  Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry.  In addition, the risks/opportunities would be included in relation to the impact on regional economic growth.

Resolved:  That the Cabinet Committee note the report.

An item of Urgent Business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the minutes, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Members' intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Performance Improvement will be held on Wednesday 27^th June 2018 at 2.00pm in Committee Room B – The Diamond Jubilee Room.

The next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Performance Improvement would be held on Wednesday 27^th June 2018 at 2.00pm in Committee Room B – The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.