Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Mary O'Connor.

None.

Were agreed as an accurate record.

All the items were considered in Part 1.

The Operational Finance Manager introduced the report.

The report set out the draft revenue budget and capital programme of Adult Social Care Group, Public Health , Housing General fund and Housing Revenue Account for2016/17, along with indicative projections for the next four years.

The Committee was informed that the Council continued to operate within the constraints of the Government's deficit reduction programme which had seen a reduction of £67m in central government funding since 2010/11.

Members were informed that the discussion on the budget proposals should be considered alongside the context of the Council's overall financial position. The revenue proposals have been developed to deliver a zero increase in Council Tax for 2016/17 and a projected reduction in Government Grants of £6m.

Officers provided an overview of the key financial issues for Adult Social Care, Public Health and the Housing General Fund and answered queries from the Committee.

With regards to future challenges for the Adult Social Group, it was noted that these stemmed from the following areas:

• Adult Social Care Demographic Pressures (303k increase from 2015/16) Transitional Children (£1,319k increase from 2015/16)
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) Transport (£520k decrease from 2015/16)
• Winterbourne View (no movement from 2015/16) Care Act new Burdens Funding (£736k decrease from 2015/16)
• Impact of Welfare Reform on Homelessness (£189k increase from 2015/16)

Having considered the budget proposals, the following comments were made to Cabinet:

The Committee noted the budget proposals and welcomed the work of the Council in this challenging area. In particular, the Committee noted that demand management and associated early intervention measures formed a key part of delivering future savings.

 The Committee acknowledged the Government had announced that authorities providing Social Care would be able to levy a precept on Council Tax of up to 2% in support of Adult Social Care but this had not been  reflected in the Council's draft budget.

The Committee were concerned about the high level of demand for Housing Needs services and the costs associated with Bed and Breakfast accommodation. However, it also welcomed the steps being taken across Council Departments and in conjunction with partners to monitor the numbers of empty properties and secure further accommodation at lower unit cost where possible.

The Committee welcomed new initiatives such as reablement in Adult Social Care and Supported Living through the Council's HRA programme to deliver savings whilst improving the quality of life for service users. The Committee expressed concern at the reduction in contingency provision for SEN transport but welcomed the steps being taken to increase the uptake in travel training and the use of travel budgets where appropriate.

The costs associated with transitional children were noted with the increased costs stemming from the complexity of the case load rather than increased volume.

The Committee also noted the role of the preventative agenda across Adult Social Care, Housing and Public Health remits in delivering savings and efficiencies.

Resolved

1.    That the budget projections contained in the report be noted and the comments made by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

The Director of Public Health introduced the report and answered questions from the Committee.

The following points were noted:

Obesity

• Over a third of all children leaving primary school are either overweight or obese (34.6% - Year 6 2014-15 NCMP)
• Local Authorities are responsible for improving the health of their population, which includes tackling obesity.
• Alongside commissioning of lifestyle weight management programmes for children and adults, other Council responsibilities include wider prevention programmes.
• Obesity is a major cause of illness and disability and places a significant burden on the social care system.
• After    hypertension (high blood pressure) obesity is the most common chronic condition             recorded by general practitioners in Hillingdon.
• Many types of psychosocial problems and psychiatric morbidities are also caused or complicated by excess weight.
• Children who are obese as teenagers are highly likely to remain obese into adulthood.
• In terms of cost, obesity has serious financial consequences for the NHS and the wider economy. The cost to the NHS in 2007 was estimated to be 5.1billion. An estimated 16 million days of sickness absence a year are attributable to obesity.
• To tackle obesity, the Council is working in 4 specific areas:

2.    Child Obesity Surveillance (NCMP)

3.    Weight loss programmes for those in need of support (tier 2 services)

4.    Working with partners e.g. schools, NHS and local businesses

·         Action on early years, to improve diet, nutrition, play and behaviour change support       for families before children reach Reception year. Early years settings e.g. nurseries            and children’s centres are a crucial element of this work and a detailed action plan is available.

·         An adult Weight Management Pilot - In 2015, a pilot weight management programme     was introduced and it is underway. The pilot operates a two pronged community          trial of two separate evidence based interventions for comparison of what works         better for Hillingdon residents. The pilot is due to run for 6 months, engage with 200       residents and inform a business case for the future commissioning of a tier two weight management programme.

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Sexual And Reproductive Heatlh & Wellbeing

• The Council is responsible for commissioning the majority of sexual health interventions and services as part of its wider public health responsibilities.
•  Sexual transmitted infections (STIs) represent an important public health issue in London which has the highest rate of acute STIs in England.
• In comparison with other London boroughs, Hillingdon has a relatively low rate of sexually transmitted infections.
•  Conception rates remain an area of policy interest.  The Government has retained the teenage conception rate (aged under 18 years) as one of its three sexual health indicators in its Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) and it is one of the national measures of progress in tackling child poverty.
•  The Sexual Health Outreach Team has an ongoing programme of targeted Condom Distribution and Emergency Hormonal Contraception awareness raising in the community including:

§   Fresher’s Week/Health Week at Uxbridge College, Hayes and Uxbridge sites;

§   Sexual Health Outreach Nurse/Team CNWL includes all of the above as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The Director of Public Health provided a verbal report on the issue of stroke.

Noting this overview, the Committee agreed to examine stroke, as their second review topic.

Resolved 

1. That the report be noted.
2. That the Committee examine stroke, focusing on prevention, in the remainder of the Council year.
3. That Officers be requested to investigate the feasibility of providing an update on 'combating loneliness' by the end of the Council year.

The Committee considered the latest version of the Forward Plan.

Resolved 

1. That the report be noted.

Reference was made to the work programme and timetable of meetings.

Resolved

1. The Committee noted the Work Programme 2015/16.