ABERDEEN
CITY COUNCIL
To: Councillor Cormack, Convener; Councillor Malone, Vice-Convener; and Councillors Craig, Fletcher, Graham, Greig, Kiddie, June Lamond, Leslie, Pamela MacDonald, Milne, Kevin Stewart and Webster.
Town House,
ABERDEEN, 19th March, 2007
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
The Members of the COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE are requested to meet here in the Town House on TUESDAY, 27th MARCH, 2007 at 10.30am.
HAZEL SPALDING
HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
B U S I N E S S
MINUTES
* 1.1 Minute of Previous Meeting of 30th January 2007
* 1.2 Minute of Meeting of Voids Sub Group of 29th January 2007
* 1.3 Minute of Meeting of Social Work Commissioning Board of 10th January 2007
* 1.4 Minutes of Meetings of Mental Health Services Working Group of 26th June 2006 and 27th February 2007
MOTIONS
2.1 Notice of Motion by Councillor Allan, referred by Council on 28th February 2007
"That the appropriate Committee progress a policy allowing door entry systems and mutual repairs and maintenance work to be carried out in four in a block properties where there are Council and private tenants.”
* Background report by Head of Planning and Policy for Services to Adults
MOTIONS (Cont.)
2.2 Notice of Motion by Councillor Kiddie, referred by Council on 28th February 2007
"Aberdeen City Council agrees that the southern aspect to the city particularly visible to those arriving by rail could be greatly improved at relatively low cost by imaginatively snowceming properties at Girdleness Road, Torry. Council agrees to refer this matter to the appropriate Committee for investigation as part of the City Gateway programme."
* Background report by Head of Resources Development and Delivery
2.3 Notice of Motion by Councillor Kiddie, submitted directly to the Committee
"Aberdeen City Council agrees as a matter of urgency to investigate the circumstances of the withdrawal of advocacy services to people with learning disabilities and if necessary takes steps to ensure such people receive advocacy services as is their right under the terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2003."
* Background report by Head of Planning and Policy for Services to Adults
2.7 New Build Affordable Housing - Motion by Councillor Graham - Report by Head of Planning and Policy for Services to Adults (to follow)
QUESTIONS
3.1 Questions from Councillor Graham
(1) What policies/procedures does Aberdeen City Council have to ensure that it meets its legal obligations to ensure that a disabled person’s assessed needs are met, under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970? Please supply copy.
(2) What policies/procedures does Aberdeen City Council have to determine the circumstances in which PSHG grant applications for Adaptations for Disabled Persons will be approved and how they will be prioritised? Please supply copy.
(3) What policies/procedures do Aberdeen City Council have on the criteria to be used to determine that there are exceptional circumstances for setting PSHG approved expense above the £20,000 for adaptations for Disabled Persons? Please supply copy.
Questions from Councillor Graham (cont.)
(4) What policies do the Council have on “topping-up” grant applications for Adaptations for Disabled Persons, and how they will be prioritised? Please supply copy.
(5) What Councils have applied to the Scottish Executive to award grant costs for Adaptations for Disabled Persons above the £20,000 limit?
(6) How many grant applications for costs above the £20,000 limit for Adaptations for Disabled Persons have been awarded by the Scottish Executive?
(7) Why did Aberdeen City Council not take up the offer of a share of £13million additional funding from the Scottish Executive through the PSHG scheme made available to local authorities specifically for assistance to disabled people?
(8) How does the Council ensure that its administration of PSHG meets its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 sections 19 to 21 and section 49A?
(9) Why were Learning Disability Services suddenly included into Care at Home services, at such a late date, when originally Learning Disability Services were not initially felt to be a part of Care at Home services?
(10) Why were Inspire not informed about the £11.50 per hour reduced rate until October, 2006, with virtually no time to manage the change which took place on 1st January, 2007, and consequently caused a deficit for the organisation?
(11) How can the Council justify paying approximately £19 per hour for in-house services when they are asking Care Providers to provide the same service for £11.50 per hour? What are their plans for reducing the cost of these in-house services?
(12) How can quality be assured and best value demonstrated by Private Sector Providers who provide services at £11.50 due to the fact that they do not have the same terms and conditions as some Voluntary Sector Providers e.g. they do not always offer a pension, sick pay or adequate training?
(13) As the Care Commission and Scottish Social Services Council set standards, training and qualification levels, how can these be met in Care at Home Services within such financial constraints?
(14) How does the Council ensure that Care Commission and Scottish Social Services Council standards in training and qualification levels are being met and maintained by Private Sector Providers?
(15) Currently what organisations are receiving finance to undertake social care activities by Aberdeen City Council?
(16) What was the funding allocations and formulas for each organisation in financial years 2005/06 and 2006/7, 2007/08?
3.2 Questions from Councillor Allan
(1) What is the role of the Commissioning Team? Do they monitor Social Care contracts only?
(2) Does this Team manage the commissioning of all social work contracts?
(3) What legislation governs the Commissioning Team?
(4) Have the Team a programme of monitoring the performance of contract suppliers where a SLA is in place?
(5) Is the programme complete?
Questions from Councillor Allan (cont.)
(6) What plans do the Commissioning Team have to monitor performance where the Council has purchased services where a SLA is not in place?
(7) What powers or authority do the Team have to undertake performance monitoring where there is no SLA?
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
NEIGHBOURHOOD ISSUES
SHELTER AND ENVIRONMENT
* 5.1Future Use of Victoria House - Report by Head of Planning and Policy for Services to Adults
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
STRATEGIC ISSUES
GETTING INVOLVED
SHELTER
* 8.1 Temporary Homeless Accommodation - Report by Head of Shelter and Environment (Central Area)
* 8.2 2007/08 Housing Capital Expenditure Budget - Report by Head of Resources Development and Delivery
8.3 Pressured Area Status in Relation to Right to Buy - Report by Head of Planning and Policy for Services to Adults (to follow)
SHELTER (cont.)
8.4 Communities Scotland, Homelessness Improvement Plan Progress Report - Report by Head of Planning and Policy for Services to Adults (to follow)
* 8.5 Tenant Service Reviews - Report by Head of Planning and Policy for Services to Adults
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
9.1 Scale of Allowances Payable to Foster Carers and Associated Fees for Financial Year 2007/08 - Report by City Chamberlain (to follow)
9.2 Oakbank and Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools Fee Levels for Financial Year 2007/08 - Report by City Chamberlain (to follow)
9.3 Social Work Service and Budget Action Plan - Report by Chief Social Work Officer (to follow)
* 9.4 Social Work Service - Complaints Annual Report - Report by Chief Social Work Officer
PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES
* 10.1 Committee Business Statement
* 10.2 List of Motions
ITEMS THE COMMITTEE MAY WISH TO CONSIDER IN PRIVATE
* 11.1 Council House Sales - Delegated Powers - Report by Head of Shelter and Environment (Central Area)
* 11.2 Street Begging - Alternative Giving Scheme - Report by Head of Planning and Policy for Services to Adults
* circulated herewith
Should you require any further information about this agenda, please contact Martyn Orchard on 523097 or Mark Masson on 522989.
