Agenda item - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

(a)      Petitions: to receive any petitions presented by members of the public to the full Council or as notified for presentation at the meeting by the due of 26 January 2017;

i)             Don’t Cut the Youth Services Funding (Kate Barker) – Petition Referred from Council on 26 January 2017 (copy attached).

(b)      Written Questions: to receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 2 February 2017;

(c)      Deputations: to receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 2 February 2017.

(a)             Petitions

120.1    The Chair noted that the petition referred from Council in relation to the ‘Don’t Cut the Youth Service Funding’ would be considered together with Item 122 – Brighton & Hove Youth Services 2017/18 – Some Further Information.

(b)             Written Questions

120.2    The Chair noted there were seven public questions; he asked Lynne Shields to put her question to the Committee.

120.3    Lynne Shields asked: “Please can you inform us how the recommendations of the Fairness Commission are being implemented and what resources are being allocated to ensure that Brighton and Hove is fully accessible by 2020?”

120.4    The Chair replied: ““The Local Authority supports an age friendly city approach to improve the quality of life to improve the quality of life in the city and make the city in which to age. Brighton and Hove Age Friendly City Programme is led by public health in partnership with older people’s organisations. The programme uses the WHO framework to identify how to make the city accessible to and inclusive of older people. Information on what is happening in the city is discussed at quarterly workshops and age friendly approaches and solutions are identified and implemented where possible. Recent topics have included mental health, physical activity, falls prevention, sex and relationships.

“A key priority is to challenge the stigma around aging by presenting a positive profile of older people, their assets, issues and concerns. The programme is led by public health and is overseen by an Age Friendly City Steering Group with representatives from the public and voluntary sectors and older people. There is no specific budget however Public Health supports that work. This approach is support by a wide range of key agencies and service providers across the city as well as the older people’s engagement forums including the age friendly city forum via Age UK. We’ve gather a wide range of information and are discussing our findings with policy makers and service providers to identify new approaches and solutions to help reshape the city’s urban environment and services in line with age friendly approaches and principles. I’ve been given a full briefing on services to date which I will arrange to send to you following the committee.”

120.5    By way of a supplementary question Lynne Shields asked: “I understand there were 127 recommendations made and that the council has decided an order in which the recommendations will be dealt with. 15 have been identified initially and I think in the report it was actually identified as the first tranche. Is there a timescale built in to when you want to achieve these tranches to move forward?”

120.6    The Chair replied: “I would have to ask Councillor Emma Daniel to pick that up either at one of the Neighbourhood, Communities and Equalities committee meetings or directly to you in writing.”

120.7    The Chair asked John Cook to put his question to the Committee.

120.8    John Cook asked: “Please can we be given an assurance that every effort will be made for Tower House to continue as a public asset for all the people in Brighton and Hove and can the public be given an update on discussions with the interested voluntary sector provider?”

120.9    The Chair replied: “Since Health and Adult Social Services have stopped providing a day centre service from this building the department has had no further involvement in its future use. Property services are now engaged with the interested voluntary sector provider about its future use.”

120.10  By way of a supplementary question John Cook asked: “Will the council agree with me that without a community there’d be no politics?”

120.11  The Chair replied. “It’s a very broad and slightly rhetorical question but that you for coming today and posing it to us”

120.12  The Chair asked Colin Vincent to put his question to the Committee.

120.13  Colin Vincent asked: “Please can you explain how cutting finances to the adult social care, dementia and adult mental health facilities can possibly be acceptable particularly in relation to the 38,000 older people who reside in Brighton and Hove and in particular having regard to their effects on their welfare and health during this particular situation with all that’s happening in the health services locally?”

120.14  The Chair replied: “The £4.71 million cuts over the next four years relates to the community care budget meeting all client groups. The direction of travel for our assessment services over the next four years is to focus on prevention, effective information and signposting, and making the best use of community assets. It’s essential that we continue to protect our most vulnerable citizens and this budget has received significant service pressure funding in recognition of this. The saving associated with both Island Lodge and Wayfield Avenue are proposed through a refocusing of these services. Both provide vital short term services in the city for people with dementia and mental health needs and are jointly commissioned with the CCG but are in need of review. The services have changed over recent years as demand and complexity has grown and the commissioning arrangements need to reflect this. The social care precept will be used to ensure providers of social care services are in a position to pay the living way and stabilise the market.”

120.15  By way of a supplementary question Colin Vincent asked: “Could the council identify how much of the £4.7million cuts in social services affect those services provided directly or indirectly by the council which will impact on the delayed discharge situation at Brighton and Hove and Sussex Acute Hospital?”

120.16  The Chair replied. “I’d certainly be happy to have that information sent to you as soon as possible from officers.”

120.17  The Chair asked Nick Goslett to put his question to the Committee.

120.18  Nick Goslett asked: “Please can you explain why no equality impact assessment was undertaken prior to the proposal to cut community transport’s grant by £82,000 and why a service valued by older women in this city has been subject to such a swingeing 65% cut with no prior consideration of its impact on these users?”

120.19  The Chair replied: “Adult Social Care currently provides funding to community transport to subsidise the door to door shopping service named Easy Link. This is an historical arrangement which previously sat within the sustainable transport budget before being moved to Adult Social Care. The current contract ends on the 30 June 2017. An equality impact assessment was completed and this has since been updated ahead of budget council. When completing the EIA the needs of Adult Social Care clients have been taken into account which would include elderly and disabled people. At present there is work being undertaken with bus operators on increasing access to the commercial and supported bus network with accessible bus stops, talking bus stops, the helping hand scheme and discounts for carers traveling with and without those they care for. We also have good access to accessible licensed taxis within the city and when evidencing how we as a council meet our duties it is important that we look at all the different services we provide work on and not just the provision of one specific service. The council is also currently working with the CCG and University of Brighton to explore the potential for different models of transport services in the city that can support a range of vulnerable people in the future. The council also continues to commission a range of services across the city to reduce social isolation.”

120.20  By way of a supplementary question Nick Goslett asked: “What consultation was made with Community Transport prior to this proposal?”

120.21  The Chair replied. “I will ask officers to provide a full response to you in writing following the meeting”

120.22  The Chair noted that the remaining three public questions would be taken together with the items on the agenda that they related to.

120.23  The Chair noted there were no further items listed under Public Involvement.