Agenda and minutes

Members of the Executive and Corporate Management Team introduced themselves, followed by other Councillors present at the meeting.

County Councillor Michael Harrison declared two personal non prejudicial interests in regard to Agenda Item 4- Quarter 2 Performance Monitoring and Budget Report, both of which the Standards Committee had previously given him a dispensation for, enabling him to participate in, and vote at the meeting.  The first that he had relatives that worked in Health & Adult Services and secondly, as an employee of a Bank named in the report.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Melanie Carr of Democratic and Scrutiny Services and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Thursday 2 December 2021, three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:-

·            at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the Agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes);

·            when the relevant Agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the Agenda for this meeting.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

There were no public questions or statements.

Recommendations:

That Executive Members note:

a)     The latest position for the County Council’s 2021/22 Revenue Budget, as summarised in paragraph 2.1.2.

b)     The position on the GWB (paragraphs 2.4.1 to 2.4.3)

c)      The position on the ‘Strategic Capacity – Unallocated’ reserve (paragraphs 2.4.4 to 2.4.7)

d)     The funding set aside to explore the implications of the Resources and Waste Strategy as detailed in paragraph 2.2.14 above

e)     The position on the County Council’s Treasury Management activities during the second quarter of 2021/22

f)       Refer this report to the Audit Committee for their consideration as part of the overall monitoring arrangements for Treasury Management.

In addition, Executive Members are asked to recommend to the Chief Executive Officer that using his delegated powers, he:

g)     Approve the refreshed Capital Plan summarised at paragraph 4.2.3; and

h)     Agree that no action be taken at this stage to allocate any additional capital resources (paragraph 4.5.7)

Considered –

A joint report of the Chief Executive and Corporate Director - Strategic Resources, bringing together key aspects of the County Council’s performance on a quarterly basis.

County Councillor David Chance introduced the section on Quarter 2 performance, which provided an in-depth focus on ‘Every adult has a longer healthier and independent life’.  He drew attention to the strong performance and leadership across a range of areas, as detailed in the report, and provided an overview of the strengths and challenges in performance across all of the Council’s ambitions.  This highlighted:

·            The establishment of an Executive Implementation Board and team to oversee local government re-organisation, together with a number of focussed work streams;

·         Ofsted’s endorsement of the Authority’s Children’s’ Social Care Services, noting their further development;

·         A reduction in the number of children in care;

·         The joint work with District Councils to re-house Afghan refugees;

·         The continuing success of the YorBus pilot;

·         The below national average number of schools in the County with good and outstanding Ofsted reports;

·         An increase in volume of cyber attacks during the second quarter;

·         An increase house prices in rural areas, with a possible adverse effect on certain areas of the workforce, particularly in the hospitality and care sectors;

Specifically in regard to the ambition of ‘Every adult has a longer healthier and independent life’ County Councillor Michael Harrison confirmed that HAS was still firmly in the midst of the pandemic.  He also noted:

·           A 42% rise in the County Council’s assessment work as a result of the Government’s revised pathway put in place to cope with hospital discharges during the pandemic;

·           The fierce competition in the care labour market, resulting in high vacancy rates;

·           The level of provider failure and a high number of unsourced domiciliary packages requiring the Authority to act as a provider of last resort, and its impact on wider service delivery, particularly the delivery of respite and reablement services;

·           The requirement that care sector workers needed to be double vaccinated, resulting in the loss of 200 employees across the whole care sector in North Yorkshire (1% of the total);

Richard Webb, Corporate Director for Health & Adult Services noted there had a step change in adult social care since the re-opening of the economy in July 2021, with fierce competition in the labour market, in line with other areas of the country.  He confirmed those awaiting care were being triaged and supported, and drew attention to the significant recruitment campaign underway. Finally, he recorded his thanks to colleagues across Adult Social Care and Public Health, NHS colleagues, the CSOs, and the voluntary sector, for their continued efforts to respond through the ongoing pandemic.

Following a number of questions on healthy and independent living from Scrutiny Board Members, Richard Webb confirmed:

·         The current pathway for hospital discharges was introduced early in the first lockdown and for it to continue long term, it would require additional funding/resources in Adult Social Care;

·         The funding for the Stronger Communities team  ...  view the full minutes text for item 670.

Recommendation:

Executive Members are asked to note the contents of the report.

Considered:

County Councillor Andrew Lee introduced the Annual Report for 2020 and provided a brief overview on:

•        Progress on past recommendations and priorities

•        Health inequalities in North Yorkshire

•        North Yorkshire’s COVID-19 response

•        Protecting and Improving the health and wellbeing of the residents of North Yorkshire

•        North Yorkshire Public Health priorities for 2021- 2025

He also paid tribute to the previous Director of Public Health, Lincoln Sergeant and the previous Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, including sustainability and transformation plans - County Councillor Caroline Dickinson, who had both contributed to the report

Louise Wallace, Director of Public Health confirmed the report was cross-cutting to reflect the response to Covid and its wider effect on the whole County, and the depth and breadth of the work undertaken.  Finally she drew attention to the video linked to the report, and confirmed the next report would likely focus on the consequences of Covid.

County Councillor John Ennis suggested the move to a unitary would be a positive step for Public Health, through the bringing together of all the wider determinants on health under one roof.

County Councillor Caroline Dickinson commended the work on the report by all those involved and for the work of officers throughout the pandemic.

County Councillor Paul Haslam queried the governance measures around the priorities in the report and it was confirmed there were a range of metrics on the population, which would be used to measure and constantly review progress on the objectives, alongside feedback from the public.  In regard to smoking and other health-related activities, it was suggested that the provision of clear information and advice on the associated risks was the best way to achieve behavioural change and improve lifestyles.

The Leader thanked Louise Wallace for the report and it was

Resolved –

That the  Public Health Annual Report for 2020 be noted.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that Executive Members:

i.       Note the feedback report following the Peer Challenge, at Appendix 1;

ii.      Note that an action plan will be developed and monitored through Management Board and reported to Executive as required;

iii.     Remember all of the North Yorkshire residents who have lost their lives to Covid-19 and to publicly express the County Council’s condolences to their families and friends; and

iv.     Thank all North Yorkshire residents, including community, public and private sector partners and volunteers for all of their hard work over the past 22 months.

Considered: A report of the Corporate Director – Health and Adult Services, presenting the outcomes of the LGA Peer Challenge carried out in September 2021 and setting out a number of recommendation for Executive Members’ consideration.

County Councillor Michael Harrison introduced the report, confirming that the recommendations arising from the Peer Challenges would be worked through.

The Leader welcomed the opportunity the County Council had been given to participate in the peer challenge, and Richard Flinton thanked staff for their contributions.

On behalf of the County Council, Executive Members expressed their condolences to the families of friends of all of the North Yorkshire residents who had lost their lives to Covid-19.  They also recorded their thanks to all North Yorkshire residents, including community, public and private sector partners and volunteers for all of their hard work over the past 22 months.

Resolved – That:

i.       The feedback report following the Peer Challenge, at Appendix 1 be noted;

ii.      The development of an action plan be noted – to be monitored through Management Board and reported to Executive as required;

iii.     The County Council’s condolences to the families and friends of all the North Yorkshire residents who had lost their lives to Covid-19 be noted;

iv.     The thanks expressed to all North Yorkshire residents, including community, public and private sector partners and volunteers, for their hard work over the past 22 months be noted;

Recommendation(s) 

Executive Members are asked to note the contents of this report, and to recommend to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency delegated powers, he:

i.     Approve the proposed partnership arrangements and approaches to deliver the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy

ii.   Delegate to the Leader (as portfolio holder for safer communities) the authority to agree the Domestic Abuse Safer Accommodation Strategy

Considered:  A report of the Chief Executive Officer outlining the work undertaken so far to ensure North Yorkshire County Council complies with the new statutory obligations set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and its planned approach for a strategy on safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims, survivors and their families across North Yorkshire (and York).

Resolved –

Executive Members agreed to note the contents of the report, and to recommend to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency delegated powers, he:

i.     Approve the proposed partnership arrangements and approaches to deliver the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy

ii.   Delegate to the Leader (as portfolio holder for safer communities) the authority to agree the Domestic Abuse Safer Accommodation Strategy

Considered –

The Forward Plan for the period from 29 November 2020 to 30 November 2021 was presented, and it was noted that an additional Executive meeting had been added to the schedule for 8 March 2022.

Resolved -   That the Forward Plan be noted.