Issue - meetings

That:

1)        the budget monitoring position for the month ending 31 August 2018 be noted;

2)         the operational update for the period to 31 August 2018 be noted.

(Councillors Norman Jorgensen, Pauline Jorgensen, Philip Mirfin, Stuart Munro and Anthony Pollock declared personal interests in this item)

The Executive considered a report setting out the budget monitoring position and providing an operational update on the work of the Council Owned Companies for the period to 31 August 2018.

When introducing the report Councillor Munro reminded the meeting that the report covered both the housing companies and the adult care services company Optalis. 

In relation to the work of WHL Councillor Pauline Jorgensen updated the meeting on matters which had arisen since the report was written which included the fact that work had now started on the Tape Lane site and that in January 2019 Broadway House would be providing an extra 10 units of temporary accommodation.

With regard to Optalis Councillor Pollock informed Members that the company continued to receive “good” ratings when their services were inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC); which was an improvement on previous inspection ratings.  In addition staff turnover continued to be low, particularly compared to the national average, and had reduced by over half since the new Chief Executive had taken over.  The Chief Executive had also been responsible for promoting the company to other councils and improving its public perception which had been achieved in part by the publication of a number of articles in the national press.

The Leader of Council commended Optalis on their good CQC results and informed Members that she had been very impressed, during a recent visit to one of their care homes, with the care and activities they were providing and the pride that the staff had in working for Optalis; which had led to lower rates of sickness and higher rates of retention.

RESOLVED that:

1)        the budget monitoring position for the month ending 31 August 2018 be noted;

2)         the operational update for the period to 31 August 2018 be noted.