Agenda item

Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (ACH/23/170), attached

(Councillor M Wrigley declared a personal interest by virtue of his membership of the Teignbridge District Council’s Executive in so far as this item related to the Homeless 18+ Prevention Fund consultation).

(Councillor J McInnes attended in accordance with 25 (1) and spoke to this item with the consent of the Committee and referred to the ongoing consultation exercise and notification of the proposals to all Members following the Council’s annual budget meeting).

The Committee considered the Report from the Chief Officer of Integrated Adult Social Care (Devon County Council) (ACH/23/170) on Integrated Adult Social Care current public consultations in regard to proposed changes to services in Devon in order to achieve the Council’s agreed Budget.

Information had been provided on 22 February 2023 to coincide with the launch of five (of the six) public consultations on the Council’s ‘Have your say | Help shape services across Devon’.

Information had also been provided to all Members on the 9 March when the sixth public consultation had been launched.

The Service had directly targeted communications to those who access the services included in the public consultations, their families, and representatives. The Service had also hosted a number of targeted engagement sessions to which Members had been invited.

The Report set out the six public consultations currently taking place in regard to: (i) Proposed closure of North Devon Link Mental Health and Wellbeing Service in Barnstaple, Bideford and Ilfracombe; (ii)  Cessation and reduction of buildings-based day services; (iii) Review of New Treetops and Pine Park House adult respite centres to reduce to a single centre; (iv) Homelessness 18+ prevention: cessation of contribution; (v) Carers contract – financial sustainability plan; and (vi) Wellbeing Exeter: Cessation of contribution.

Members’ questions and discussion points with the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care Officers, Deputy Director Integrated Adult Social Care Commissioning; Head of Adult Care Operations and Health and the Director of Legal and Democratic Services included:

·         the need for collation of data as part and in addition to the consultation process and need for up to date Impact Assessments relating to the proposals directly and indirectly and assessment of the wider costs across all sectors; and the need for emphasis on prevention of future potential problems and ultimately higher costs;

·         assurances by Officers that the needs of clients in regard to the North Devon Link Services; and Day Care respite services for example would continue to be subject to individual assessments and with options for alternative provision, as necessary;

·         confirmation by Officers that following the consultation and analysis of the results, reports would be made to this Committee prior to decision making by Cabinet;

·         confirmation by the Director of Legal and Democratic Services that the relevant statutory consultation arrangements and HR policies were in place for the County Council staff involved; and 

·         any future proposals would align with the Service’s vision and strategies and promote partnership working with other authorities and agencies, as appropriate.

It was MOVED by Councillor J Bailey, SECONDED by Councillor D Cox:

that this Committee

(a) calls for the current consultation to be paused;

(b) calls for (i) detailed costings of the present service and the proposed service and funding to be made available to the Scrutiny Committee which is to include risk of additional costs being passed to third parties including stakeholders; and (ii) a comprehensive consultation strategy setting out the Council's approach including full details of stakeholders and consultees, and how it will ensure it will effectively reach those who are affected, many of whom are vulnerable;

(c) calls for a full and meaningful, and properly costed, consultation of the proposals to be carried out once these points have been addressed.

The MOTION was put to the vote and declared LOST. 

Members noted that reports on the consultation outcomes and options would be made to the 13 June 2023 of this Committee prior to determination by the Cabinet.