Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN

Contact: Madeleine Shopland  Principal Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was submitted from Councillor John Kaiser.

2.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 174 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 March 2017

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 March 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

With regards to the number of individuals with learning difficulties who were living with elderly parents within the Borough, Councillor Blumenthal commented that Officers had indicated that numbers were quite low.

3.

Declaration of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

4.

Public Question Time

To answer any public questions

 

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

 

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this committee.

 

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

5.

Member Question Time

To answer any member questions

Minutes:

There were no Member questions.

6.

West Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015-2016 and Wokingham Borough Council's (WBC) Adult Safeguarding Report 2015-2016 pdf icon PDF 207 KB

To receive the West Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015-2016 and Wokingham Borough Council's Adult Safeguarding Report 2015-2016.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the West Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015-2016 and Wokingham Borough Council’s Adult Safeguarding Report 2015-2016.

 

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

 

·         Key performance indicators and measures had been embedded to enable more accurate analysis and monitoring.

·         Members were informed that the implementation of the quality assurance frameworks had demonstrated a significant commitment from staff and leaders within the Council.  As a result of this, the Council had met the requirements of the Care Act 2014 and promoted the Making Safeguarding Personal agenda.

·         A full review had been undertaken by the Association of Directors for Adult Social Services in the form of a peer review.  The report had noted the innovation of the Council and its workforce.

·         The Committee was pleased to note that the strategic developments within the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding service had been cited as innovative in design.

·         The number of safeguarding concerns continued to increase year on year.  However, over half the concerns were raised by social care and health staff.  As in previous years, many of the enquiries related to people who were over 65 years old.  The most common locations where the alleged abuse took place were a person’s own home and a care home.  The majority of concluded enquiries involved a source of risk known to the individual in Reading and West Berkshire but the source of risk in Wokingham was social care support.

·         The priorities for Wokingham for 2016-17 were outlined.

·         Sarah O’Connor took the Committee through the West Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015-2016.

·         It was noted that the Board had commissioned two Safeguarding Adults Reviews.  Learning from these reviews had been delivered in all partner organisations.

·         Members considered the West Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board priorities for 2016-17.

·         Councillor Smith asked about the proportion of DOLs applications received for Wokingham for July 2015 being above the national average.  Sarah O’Connor commented that during that period a lot of proactive work had been undertaken with providers.

·         In response to a question from Councillor Blumenthal regarding safeguarding concerns and enquiries, Sarah O’Connor stated that the Council would not want to see a high transfer from the number of safeguarding concerns to safeguarding referrals/S42 enquiries.  At the point that a concern was raised assurance could often be given.  The transferal rates for Wokingham were similar to other neighbouring local authorities.

·         Councillor Jones noted that 1495 safeguarding concerns had been received in 2016-16 and 586 had transferred to safeguarding enquiries.  He went on to ask whether any of those concerns that had not escalated to safeguarding enquiries were ever relooked at.  Sarah O’Connor indicated that there was not a process or the capacity to do so.  Members were assured that the governance and operational systems in place ensured that it was possible to see if issues were being re-raised.

 

RESOLVED:  That the West Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015-2016 and Wokingham Borough Council’s Adult Safeguarding Report 2015-2016 be noted.

7.

Update on primary care facilities at the Arborfield SDL pdf icon PDF 277 KB

To receive an update on primary care facilities at the Arborfield Strategic Development Location.

Minutes:

Members received an update on primary care facilities at the Arborfield Strategic Development Location (SDL).

 

Dr Zylstra declared that he was a partner in the Finchampstead practice.

 

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

 

·         Mark Cupit, Assistant Director Delivery and Infrastructure explained that the Core Strategy 2010 had identified the four Strategic Development Locations (SDLs).  Berkshire West Primary Care Trust had advised that a new GP practice might be required.  Aborfield would be the largest of the four SDL’s at approximately 3500 new dwellings.

·         The Council had generated policy and S106s had been negotiated with developers.

·         Berkshire West PCT had been replaced and the way services delivered had changed.  Members were informed that the commissioning of the primary health services within the SDL would be via the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), with delivery by GPs on the traditional partnership model.

·         The CCG planned to address GP requirements via enhancement of existing surgeries at Lower Earley, Finchampstead and Swallowfield.  The CCG had bid for Estates Technology Infrastructure Funding and 66% of requirement had been awarded.  Katie Summers, Director of Operations, Wokingham CCG commented that some practices had taken out personal loans in order to complete the necessary works.

·         The Council had established an ongoing dialogue with the CCG.

·         Members were informed that the SDL S106 for Health was £865,812, which was awaited subject to commencements and triggers on site. Dialogue was in place with CCG for them to submit a bid for consideration by Members in respect of this S106 money. Any payment was likely to be subject to a legal agreement which would ensure retention or repayment of whatever facility was delivered through this process.

·         Mark Cupit explained that the Council had adopted the Community Infrastructure Levy from 6 April 2015.  Wokingham had one of the highest CIL levels in the country at £408 per m2.  100% of CIL was committed on known capital projects.  Members noted what CIL could be spent on.

·         Katie Summers, Director of Operations, Wokingham CCG provided an update on General Practice.

·         The Committee was informed that demand for GP appointments had increased by 15% and that on average patients saw their GP 6 times a year.  Members were told that on average a GP dealt with 100 patients a day if they were the duty doctor.

·         The GP workforce was stretched.  The number of those entering General Practice had decreased massively over the last ten years.  Locally, Wokingham Borough had a number of GPs due to retire.  Brookside Practice had had four GPs retire the previous year whilst another practice had had to advertise seven times to fill a vacancy.

·         Patients’ expectations had also increased. 

·         Larger, more resilient practices offering a greater range of services over extended hours were being developed.  The whole of the health and social care sector would be brought together based on neighbourhood clusters.

·         Members were updated on Primary Care Estates.  It was noted that ownership of GP premises and land varied.  The CCG did not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Healthwatch Wokingham Borough - Review of Extra Care Services pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To receive the Healthwatch Wokingham Borough - Review of Extra Care Services.

Minutes:

Nicola Strudley presented Healthwatch Wokingham Borough’s report reviewing Extra Care Services.

 

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

 

·         A number of factors had prompted Healthwatch Wokingham Borough to undertake a review of extra care facilities within the Borough, including the ageing population and an increase in loneliness.

·         Two new extra care schemes were due to open in the Borough.

·         Healthwatch Wokingham Borough, with the help of volunteer drivers, had undertaken a straw poll about whether people had given consideration as to where they would live if they were no longer able to live in their own homes.  95% of those who responded said that they had not.  This decision was often taken at a time of crisis.

·         Nicola Strudley commented that extra care meant different things to different people.  Healthwatch had produced a fact sheet to assist.

·         A Healthwatch Wokingham Borough project team had visited the three existing extra care facilities within the Borough, talking to residents and staff.

·         Nicola Strudley took Members through the common themes that had emerged.  She highlighted specific examples where residents had had issues with building design.  For example, one resident had been scared to use their shower because the grab rails had suction cups and they were unconvinced of their safety.  Another resident had an issue with bright sunlight streaming into their room during the middle of the day, making it necessary to move rooms. 

·         Darrell Gale expressed concerns regarding single aspects flats and the possibility of overheating in hot weather.  He went on to state that this should be taken into consideration when planning policies were next reviewed.

·         Nicola Strudley commented that although there were communal areas, they were not necessarily well used and that more could be done to encourage this.

·         Managing residents’ expectations had emerged as another theme.  Some residents and family members had not appreciated the differences between care home facilities and extra care facilities.

·         Some had raised transport links as a concern.  It was noted that Readibus collected from Alexandra Place at Woodley to take residents into Woodley Town Centre.  In the past residents had had around 4 hours to go shopping.  However, timetables had changed meaning that this time had been cut to 45 minutes.  Councillor Haines indicated that she would take the matter up with the Council’s representative on Readibus.

·         Councillor Blumenthal asked whether feedback on the report had been received.  Members were informed that the interim commissioner who had responsibility for extra care had been provided with a copy and had indicated that standards would be level across all extra care facilities within the Borough.

·         Councillor Haines questioned whether greater use could be made of the Council’s Activity Coordinator.

·         Councillor Soane asked about facilities for visiting family members.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Healthwatch Wokingham Borough report reviewing Extra Care Services be noted.

9.

Health consultations pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To note current health consultations.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the consultation regarding the availability of gluten-free foods on NHS prescription.

 

Councillor Jarvis expressed concern at the price of NHS prescriptions for gluten-free foods.

 

RESOLVED:  That the health consultation be noted.

 

10.

Forward Programme 2017-18 pdf icon PDF 179 KB

To consider the forward programme for the remainder of the 2017-18 municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the forward programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

 

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

 

·         Members requested an update on the GP alliance in 6 months’ time.

·         Councillor Soane asked if the Committee could visit the Fosters extra care facility prior to its opening to see the design and facilities available.

·         It was suggested that an update on dentistry, optometry and pharmacy provision in the Borough be requested from NHS England.

·         Councillor Haines reminded Members that as corporate parents they needed to consider what impact matters had on the Borough’s Looked After Children.

 

RESOLVED:  That the forward programme be noted.