Agenda item - Proposal to Discontinue Support for the Older People's Council (OPC)

Report of the Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law (copy attached).

RESOLVED - That the Committee agrees the proposal to discontinue BHCC support for the OPC from April 2018, in accordance with the staged process outlined in the report.

130.1    The Chair asked Penny Morley to put her question to the Committee.

130.2    Penny Morley asked: “Please can the council explain why no consultation prior to the decision at the leaders’ meeting was undertaken with the Older People’s Council nor any consultation what-so-ever undertaken with older people in the city about the proposed removal of their vote in clear breach of their own stated policy on communication?”

130.3    The Chair replied: “I would like to start by pointing out that we are not talking about disbanding the OPC or disenfranchising older people. The proposals are simply intended to put the OPC on a sustainable, self-sufficient basis. We’ve made transitional arrangements by delaying the withdrawal of funding by 1 year and as the report points out officers will support and facilitate the OPC accessing alternative sources of funding including support in making an application under the council’s annual grants programme as well as outside sources. The OPC was set up under different financial climate and as a responsible local authority we have a duty to review expenditure in the context of the prevailing financial challenges facing the council. The proposals will bring the OPC in line with most other community and voluntary organisations.

On the issue of consultation, we are not talking about closing older people’s homes or a reduction in services provided by the council. This related to the OPC itself, therefore there is no legal obligation to consult. Notwithstanding this we did review the position following the receipt of your representations. As a result the officer support that was due to be withdrawn as of the 1 April 2017 will instead be continued for a transitional phase in order to assist the OPC in establishing new arrangements.”

130.4    By way of a supplementary question Penny Morley asked: “Your own report identifies that members of the OPC including the chair have been informed of these proposals. How does making a decision without any discussion whatsoever with the people effected prior to the decision at the leader’s meeting fulfil your criteria for community engagement and consultation or meet your duties under the Equality Act 2010 given that age is a protected category?”

130.5    The Chair replied. “Your comments are noted. As I’ve said to you before I made you aware the day after I was made aware that this was a cut that was being brought forward so I have sort to involve and engage with you and the rest of the OPC in as open and transparent way as I can. I absolutely regret that we are being forced to make but as you see from the budget report later on, it’s part of £24 million of savings we have to make through the budget process. We are going to have to make many millions more in cuts over the next two years whilst our social care costs continue to increase. I do very much regret that this is a cut we are being forced to make obviously if we were to engage with you in further consultation I’m sure the outcome would be as expected; that you would not wish us to make this cut. We can provide a written response to your question about the Equality Act 2010”

130.6      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law in relation to Proposal to Discontinue Support for the Older People's Council (OPC). The report presented a proposal for the Council to discontinue the provision of administrative and financial support for the Brighton & Hove Older People’s Council (OPC), this in accordance with a staged process which will provide the OPC with the opportunity to investigate alternative sources of funding, if it wishes to do so. As the OPC was originally established by a Policy & Resources Committee (P&R) decision (in March 2001), any final decision to discontinue support will need to be taken by Policy Resources & Growth Committee (PR&G).

130.7      In response to Councillor Mac Cafferty it was explained that the budgeted figures were for full elections, and the Council had to assume the full costs even though this had not been the reality. The OPC would be able to look into the matter of electoral reform themselves during the transitional year. The OPC was not being disbanded, but instead treated like other community bodies in the city and being enabled to become self-supporting. Councillor Mac Cafferty stated his view that the OPC added value to discussion and processes in the Council.

130.8      Councillor G. Theobald stated that it was difficult to support expenditure given the scale of the budget savings proposed in the other reports on the agenda, he highlighted that concessions had been made to the OPC to ensure a transitional period.

130.9      Councillor A. Norman noted her support for the comments made by Councillor G. Theobald, but also expressed concern if no consultation had been undertaken with the OPC.

130.10   The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote. These were carried with 7 in support, 2 against and 1 abstention.

130.11   RESOLVED - That the Committee agrees the proposal to discontinue BHCC support for the OPC from April 2018, in accordance with the staged process outlined in the report.