Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Michael Carr Amanda Scarce
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Apologies Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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Declarations of Interest and whipping arrangements Minutes: No declarations of interest of whipping arrangements were received. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Overview Board held on 1st June 2010 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record. |
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Worcestershire Older People's Strategy - Presentation Minutes: The Chairman of the Board welcomed Elaine Carolan, Lead Joint Commissioning Manager (Older People & Physical Disability Service, Worcestershire County Council) and Keith Hoare, Joint Commissioning Officer (Joint Commissioning Unit, Worcestershire County Council).
Ms. Carolan explained that Worcestershire County Council (WCC) had an Older People’s Strategy which came to an end in March 2010 and which would be replaced by 1st April 2011. The autumn budget review would be taken into account when developing the new Older People’s Strategy for Worcestershire, together with the recent white paper regarding primary care trusts. The Strategy looked at where the dementia care strategy, extra care housing strategy and other pieces of work would come together in order for people to clearly understand what would be on offer to them, with the aim of having one point of access for all services available.
Mr. Hoare informed Members that WCC were very keen for district councils to be involved in the development and delivery of the strategy. The Director for Policy, Performance and Partnerships had agreed to join the consultative group which was a stakeholder group leading on the strategy and also a smaller project group carrying out the more detailed work.
The strategy would cover the following:
The client group for the strategy was ultimately older people; however it would also include the providers of services for older people within the voluntary sector, private sector and within the statutory sector. It would also inform local members, as key decision makers around services and use of resources and commissioners within key organisations.
Statistical information was provided in respect of the expected increase in the number of residents aged 65+ and 85+ countywide, together with details of the increased number of residents who would suffer long term conditions and the growth in the number of residents diagnosed with dementia and living alone. The key issue was that more people would require care and support within the home in the county over the next 15-20 years and the pressures therefore would be on social care and support services, far more than on health services.
An issue, which would be important for districts to consider individually, was the lack of affordable housing of the appropriate type and size for the older people who wished to downsize within the local community. The provision of suitable housing for support workers to remain in the local area to provide the workforce that would be needed to allow older people to remain independent within their homes was also problematic.
The financial position at both national and local level was discussed in view of the announcements from Government on the expected spending review in autumn 2010. The strategy would be reviewed once WCC were aware of what funding would be available overall, following necessary savings. The strategy had been developed by reviewing ... view the full minutes text for item 16. |
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Planning Peer Review - Presentation from Improvement and Development Agency (I&DeA) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration which highlighted the key points emerging from the Spatial Planning Peer Review undertaken by I&DeA and the Planning Advisory Service. The presentation by Andrew Whitfield from I&DeA, would report on that review’s findings. The Head of Planning and Regeneration advised Members that the appendices to the report were a copy of the Peer Review, which included recommendations to the Council and the Peer Review Action Plan, which contained the recommendations from the Review together with comments on the recommendations and actions (which related to both officers and Members). She explained that everything within the action plan was included in the Service Plan for Planning and Regeneration.
Mr. Andrew Whitfield described the Peer Review process which had been completed in October 2009 and confirmed that the Council had requested the review to be carried out. Mr. Whitfield explained that I&DeA were now known as Local Government Improvement and Development (LGID). Mr. Whitfield confirmed that the team who had carried out the review included him as review manager, 2 professional planners, a representative from the Planning Advisory Service and an elected member peer. The report was finalised with the Council in March 2010. The report was very detailed and contained 18 recommendations and was structured around 5 themes:
Mr. Whitfield informed Members that the recent change in Government had had a big impact in what was within the report as Comprehensive Area Assessment had already been abolished and it was expected that Regional Spatial Strategies would be abolished shortly. The Regional Spatial Strategy was referenced within the report. There was, however, still an issue in respect of the need for housing and affordable housing which the Council needed to address.
Mr. Whitfield advised Members that his team were able to assist the Council in carrying through the recommendations by the offer of support around work for officer peers, development management, understanding viability and Member training, at no cost to the Council. The Executive Director for Planning, Regeneration, Regulation and Housing Services informed Members that if there were any specific areas of planning on which they felt more detailed training would be appropriate, then officers would facilitate this wherever possible.
The Board discussed the planning framework and the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration was asked about the integrity of the current planning framework in view of the fact that the new strategic plan was yet to be adopted. The Portfolio Holder confirmed to Members that the Council was able to use the Local Plan as adopted and that the Local Development Framework Working Party (LDF) was in the process of updating this for 2010/11. The Head of Planning and Regeneration also advised Members that several of the recommendations that had been made in the review related to a plan and policy framework for the district, and there was therefore a timetable ... view the full minutes text for item 17. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board considered the Forward Plan. Officers confirmed that the item on Garden Waste Services would be brought to the Overview Board meeting to be held on 31st August 2010. |
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Additional documents: Minutes: The Board considered the Work Programme for 2010/11. The Board were informed that a Steering Group had been set up following completion of the Community Involvement in the Democratic Process Task Group and it was agreed that a member of that Task Group should be involved in the Steering Group to ensure that the recommendations put forward were carried through.
After discussion Members agreed that the item on the Licensing Policy would now be considered as a separate item and that the Head of Services should be asked to provide an introductory report and presentation for consideration by the Board. Officers agreed to timetable this in to the Work Programme.
After further discussion it was
RESOLVED: (a) that the Work Programme be noted; (b) that a Local Food Task Group be established, to be chaired by Councillor L. J. Turner (the proposer); (c) that a Young People (including the Every Child Matters Strategy) Task Group be established, to be chaired by Councillor C. B. Taylor (the proposer); and (d) that officers send out letters of interest to Members with regard to the Task Groups referred to above and timetable the Task Groups into the Work Programme.
RECOMMENDED that the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services be asked to invite a member of the Community Involvement in Local Democracy Task Group to be involved in the steering group implementing the recommendations agreed by Cabinet. |
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To consider any other business, details of which have been notified to the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services prior to the commencement of the meeting and which the Chairman considers to be of so urgent a nature it cannot wait until the next meeting |