Agenda item

To receive any requests for Deputations, Presentation of Petitions or Public Questions.

The following petitions have been received which under the Council’s Procedure Rules are qualifying petitions which must be debated at Council.  A position statement is attached for information relating to each petition.

(i)  Closure of Kentish Road Respite Centre for Carers of Adults with a Learning Disability containing 2223 signatures. 

(ii)  A Safer South East Road and Kathleen Road Junction containing 1820 signatures. 

(iii)  Support Southampton Schools against Making Cuts due to Funding Shortfall containing 1786 signatures.   

It was noted that no deputations or public questions had been received, however the following petitions had been received which under the Council’s Procedure Rules were qualifying petitions which must be debated at Council.

(i)  Closure of Kentish Road Respite Centre for Carers of Adults with a Learning Disability containing 2223 signatures.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.2 “Motions without Notice” the Mayor used his discretion to allow a motion in the name of Councillor Moulton and seconded by Councillor Hannides following recommendations from the Overview and Management Scrutiny Committee held on 14^th September 2017.

Motion to read:-

Ø  That the Cabinet Member remove the proposed closure date of 31 October and re-considers the timeframe for the closure of Kentish Road Respite Centre at a meeting of Cabinet;

Ø  That, to inform the proposed Cabinet decision, the report to Cabinet includes a re-assessment of the financial business case associated with the closure of Kentish Road Respite Service;

Ø  That, if Cabinet agree to postpone the closure, a communications and transition plan was developed and published to support the process;

Ø  That, if Cabinet agree to postpone the closure, the Cabinet Member ensures that every effort be made to adequately staff Kentish Road Respite Service whilst it remains open;

Ø  That the Cabinet Member clarifies and communicates to carers and service users the message about respite care at Kentish Road being available during weekends in October to those in the process of transitioning to alternative provision, or have not yet agreed an alternative provision;

Ø  That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee are provided with a briefing paper outlining the current position as it relates to the individuals that are still using Kentish Road, with regards to:

·  Completed and outstanding assessments;

·  Completed and outstanding care and support plans;

·  The number that have not received an offer of alternative provision;

·  The number that have accepted offers of alternative provision;

·  The number that have received an offer but have not reached agreement with the Council with regards to alternative provision;

It is recommended that, where practical, external validation was provided of the statistics requested and that the briefing paper provides Cabinet with an explanation of the stages that need to be followed from assessment to completing the transition.

Ø  That information clearly identifying the alternative respite provision available, including capacity and facilities, and the various needs that they are able to support is provided to Cabinet and the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and is circulated to the carers of individuals that use Kentish Road Respite Centre;

Ø  That the Cabinet Member circulates to the Members (not only Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee) the definition that Southampton City Council is working to, as it relates to the users of Kentish Road Respite Service, for the term ‘suitable alternative provision’;

Ø  That Cabinet and OSMC  are provided with:

·  A summary of the legal requirements placed on the Council with regards to engaging with service users and carers and ensuring that their views are taken into consideration.

·  An overview of the approach to engaging with service users and carers that the Council has employed as it relates to the proposed closure of Kentish Road Respite Service.

Ø  That a review of Weston Court is undertaken that explores the opportunities and potential of the site to deliver a respite service complete with facilities that enable service users to socialise;

Ø  That the Overview and Scrutiny Management  Committee is provided with the Administration’s current position with regards to the potential use of Weston Court as a facility to accommodate those recently discharged from hospital;

Ø  That, prior to the closure of the service, officers seek to facilitate the development of ‘friendship groups’ for Kentish Road service users;

Ø  That the Cabinet Member continues to discuss the future use of the Kentish Road facility with the charities that had expressed an interest in the service, and reports progress back to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the motion be approved.

The Council agreed to bring forward the question received on notice to the Executive item 5 on the Council agenda, in the name of Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Payne.

(ii)  A Safer South East Road and Kathleen Road Junction containing 1820 signatures.

The Council noted that since the petition the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and officers had met with petitioners and proposals for improvement had been developed, consulted upon and implementation scheduled.

(iii)  Support Southampton Schools against Making Cuts due to Funding Shortfall containing 1786 signatures.

The Council supported the campaign and agreed to write letters to the Education Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer to the effect of the petition.