Agenda item

Report of the Leader of the Council, attached. 

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

 

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to questions. 

 

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1. 

 

1.  Door mats in Council Blocks

 

Question from Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Kaur 

 

Can the Cabinet Member confirm the Council’s zero tolerance approach to our tenants having door mats in all our Council blocks was a decision made by this Council and not a statutory requirement?

 

Answer

 

A variety of non-statutory measures have been made to ensure our Council homes are at the highest possible fire safety standards, which included the exclusion on all items (including doormats) in some communal areas and walkways.

During the review period of this policy it became apparent that a blanket approach to all council blocks types was not appropriate which has led to the creation of a more flexible approach. 

 

2.  Zero tolerance on door mats in Council blocks

 

Question from Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Kaur

 

Does the Cabinet Member accept the impact this policy has had on our tenants and residents?

 

Answer

 

Fire safety is a top priority for this council, and with that have comes many improvements; however, I empathise with all residents, including our tenants in our council homes, wanting to make where they live more homely and practical for them.

The majority of tenants I have been in contact with understand and accept the reasons why fire safety measures, including no items in communal area or walkways, have been made to their blocks. Some tenants have raised concerns with appropriate measures for their specific block types, which has formed part of the review process. 

 

3.  Managed Policy approach to door mats in Council blocks

 

Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Kaur

 

Will the Cabinet Member now adopt a “managed policy” approach to door mats across the City, which ensure fire safety is a top priority whilst balancing this with our tenants and residents provide in their community?

 

Answer

 

This Council has made enormous strides in ensuring our council homes are at the highest possible fire safety standards, as recognised by HFRS.

As I have mentioned to tenants directly and raised in this chamber previously, a review towards a more flexible approach has been on-going.

Once completed I will discuss with officers what our approach should be for each block type and we will inform tenants and members accordingly.

 

4. Pledge to build 1000 Council homes

 

Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Kaur

 

Can the Cabinet Member confirm how many of the pledge to build 1000 Council owned homes, made in summer 2018 and to be delivered in 5 years of that date, have been delivered or are in the pipeline?

 

Answer

 

Since summer 2018, 72 council owned homes have been delivered, 99 are under construction for completion in 2020 and subject to approval today a further 103 will be on site this year. 

So in total so far there have been 274 (over a quarter of the target) already delivered, underway or formally approved to proceed subject to this meeting.

I will be able to share with you later in the year the full programme which will be rolled out over the next few years to deliver to our target of 1000 homes by 2025.

 

5.  Adult Social Care charging increases

 

Councillor Houghton to Councillor Fielker

 

Given the Cabinet Member has personally stated the Adult Social Care financial and care assessments are not “up to scratch”, will she now scrap the proposed Adult Social Care charging increases?

 

Answer

 

The Adult Social Care service has commissioned a number of independent reviews into the delivery of the service. These have highlighted areas of practice that require improvement, including elements of how social care assessments are carried out and recorded. The reviews have not been critical of the way that financial assessments of clients’ finances are carried out and make no recommendations regarding financial assessments, beyond an over-arching recommendation to improve communication and engagement with carers.

Financial assessments are carried out using information provided by the client, and the responsibility to ensure this remains up to date sits with the client and/or their representative or Court-appointed deputy. This is made clear at the outset and every time a financial assessment is reviewed (at least annually).

An annual review is carried out in line with benefit changes every April, with any changes implemented in May. All clients with a contribution were written to in mid–April providing the information held about their finances, the calculation of how much they are required to contribute this year and advice about seeking help. The letter contained advice on how to obtain further information about contributions to care charges. For example, the “Your contribution explained” leaflet and an easy read guide are published on the council’s website and sent by post or email on request. 

The Cabinet Member’s criticism relates to the communication time-line for this year’s annual review notifications.

The Council is grateful for the representations made by some carers and their representatives, and taking these into account is writing again to all people who make a contribution towards the cost of their care to offer additional support where needed. Where contact has already been made, we have worked with people to make sure that the right allowance is being made for additional costs and expenses incurred by virtue of any disability and that any other factors are taken into account.

 

6. Increases in Adult Social Care charges

 

Councillor Houghton to Councillor Fielker

 

Does the Cabinet Member accept it is unfair to increase Adult Social Care charges to the City’s most vulnerable residents making them pay more for the Council’s own mistakes?

 

Answer

 

The changes to the Adult Social Care Charging policy are based on the Care Act 2014, associated regulations and statutory guidance. There is no question that Southampton City Council is charging vulnerable residents outside of this, in line with neighbouring local authorities. 

 

Financial assessments are conducted in line with The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014. These set out in detail how an individual’s income and benefits are assessed and define in law the Minimum Income Guarantee for those in receipt of non-residential care (which is set by the Department of Health and Social Care). The Minimum Income Guarantee has not been uplifted in line with living costs.

 

7.  Care and Financial Assessments

 

Councillor Houghton to Councillor Fielker

 

Can the Cabinet Member provide a timeline for improvements in the care and financial assessments so confidence can be restored in our system?

 

Answer

 

The Council has appointed a Principal Social Worker for Adults who took up her post on 17 June 2019. She is coordinating a training and professional development plan for staff in Adult Social Care with a focus on practice and improving care assessments. The LGA Peer Challenge identified the recruitment of the new Principal Social Worker as a strength and commented that the Council is on the right track in delivering a strengths and community based approach.

The Adult Social Care Improvement Programme is being reset to incorporate the findings of the Peer Challenge and other independent reviews. There will be a project focused on assessments, and improvements in care assessments are expected to be implemented over the next six months. The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTI) will carry out a further audit of adult social work cases in December 2019 to provide independent assurance on progress and these findings will be reported to the Council’s Governance Committee.

The Financial Assessment procedures are governed by national statutory regulations and therefore the Council is not in a position to amend them. Help is available for those clients who are not able to afford the charges levied towards their care at home and this help will be re-offered to all those whose contributions have increased.

 

8.  School results

 

Councillor J Baillie to Councillor Paffey

 

What would good results for Southampton’s schools look like this summer?

 

Answer

 

Southampton schools are working hard to meet the needs of all students and provide them with the education and training that will enable them to take their place in society and enter into the workforce undertaking roles that fully reflect their skills.

This aspiration goes beyond traditional measures of Progress and Attainment 8, and our ambition clearly reflects the priorities of the new Ofsted Framework and the Timpson report.

Secondary schools in Southampton are determined to offer an appropriate curriculum for all children, drawing on a range of GCSEs, BTECs or other qualifications which are appropriate to children’s skills and ambitions (but which can be overlooked in the EBacc suite of examinations).

Therefore in summary ‘Good Results’ will be for every child in the city to reach their full potential; we recognise and encourage traditional academic, vocational or a combination of routes as a way of achieving this for every young person.

 

9. Money for Special Schools

 

Councillor J Baillie to Councillor Paffey

 

Are there any changes you would like to make to the way the Council distributes money to its special schools?

 

Answer

 

Special schools receive £10k place funding per pupil – this is dictated by the DfE and cannot be changed. All pupils also attract what is called “top-up funding”. This varies depending on the specific school the child attends, and is based on historical arrangements. I would like to ensure this is as equitable as possible.

To this end, the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Service, alongside education finance partners have been working in co-production with the Southampton Special Schools to design a new scheme for allocating top-up funding. This will improve the current scheme by ensuring the top-up is determined by the individual needs of the pupil rather than the school they happen to attend. This will create a more equitable funding arrangement. Any changes will be managed through the minimum funding guarantee.

The new scheme is complete in its first draft and initial individual school assessments complete from an education perspective. My teams are now working with health colleagues to add a health provision section. The SEND and Educational Psychologists Service will then carry out moderation work in the autumn term so that, subject to any final tweaks, this can be implemented in the next financial year 2020/21.

10. Hedge cutting on public footpaths

 

Councillor S Galton to Councillor Rayment

 

Would you consider ensuring that all walking routes to schools are pro-actively kept trimmed of brambles and bushes to ensure people can walk safely and are encouraged to walk to school?

 

Answer

 

All SCC verges, encroachments and hedgerows are cut and maintained in each district on an annual programme.  Programmed work on hedgerows are not carried out between Feb – Aug to protect nesting birds and to stay legally compliant.

City Services responds to ad-hoc reports of overgrown brambles/hedges on a reactive basis if there are H&S issues identified, or obstructions on routes that justify careful cutting under the supervision of an Ecologist.

Many brambles/hedges and encroachments stem from private land and the Highways Service have delegated authority to serve notice on residents who allow their greenery to grow over and cause obstructions on footpaths and highways.  If the residents do not comply with the requirements of the notice, then City Services are instructed to carry out works in default.

11.  Councillor S Galton to Councillor Hammond (Councillor Leggett to respond)

 

Carbon Neutral City

 

What is your definition of a carbon neutral City for your pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030?

 

Answer

 

Our aspiration is for the city to be carbon neutral by 2030. This will be a challenge for partners across the city as well as the council. We will be looking for support and help from a variety of stakeholders including government, academics and experts to achieve this.

Carbon neutrality will be achieved by reducing our direct carbon footprint and offsetting residual carbon.

Work is already underway to determine how the council will contribute and we intend to present our initial proposals later this year in our first Action Plan. Through the Charter it is also intended to promote the wider delivery of similar actions by our partners.