Decisions

Discharge to Assess with Reablement services are designed for hospital patients who are medically fit for discharge, but unable to immediately return home; it is a model recognised by NHS England as facilitating earlier discharge and/or reducing the number and length of delays in discharge from hospital for older people.

The key objectives delivered through Discharge to Assess are:

• Reduction of delayed transfers of care (DTOC) between health and social care;
• reduced level of dependency for as many customers as possible;
• ensuring that no long-term decisions concerning customers’ care needs are made in an acute setting

Contracts for the provision of Discharge to Assess with Reablement services were awarded in 2018, for an initial fixed term of 2-years with options to extend to a maximum of 5-years, through an EU Procurement exercise conducted following approval of Cabinet Decision AH01_17-18.

The initial contract term comes to an end on 31^st March 2020, an extension of 1 year has been requested by Adults Operations to support the Adults and Health Step-Up, Step-Down programme.

The Interim Executive Director Adults and Health (DASS) is asked to agree the extension of the existing contracts for 1 year. 

The Interim Executive Director Adults and Health has approved the extension of discharge to assess with reablement contracts listed in (1),(2) and (3) below, as detailed in 2.1 of this report, for a further 12 months until 31 March 2021.

(1)        Assured Care Services – The Heathers

(2)        Adelaide Healthcare Ltd – Bletchingley

(3)        Fulford Care Home

The report recommends a number of changes to the Constitution including the removal of the requirement for the Fire & Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee to have a business planning group, clarification of the voting rights of co-opted members, changing the name of the Pensions Panel to the Pensions Committee and changes to the terms of reference of the Health and Wellbeing Board, which were endorsed by the Governance Committee at its meeting on 20 May.

The decision has been taken by the Director of Law and Assurance in accordance with Standing Order 3.45, in consultation with the Chairman of the Council.

(1)        That the removal of the requirement for the Fire & Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee to have a BPG, as set out in Appendix A, be approved.

(2)        That the changes to the constitutions of the Health and Adult Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committees, as set out at Appendix A, be approved.

(3)        That the name of the Pensions Panel be changed to the ‘Pensions Committee’.

(4)        That the revised terms of reference for the West Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board, as set out in the Appendix B, be approved.

6.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) on a proposal by the Health and Wellbeing Board at its meeting on 30 January for changes to its constitution.

6.2     The Committee supported the proposed changes as necessary.

6.3     Resolved – That the revised terms of reference for the West Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be recommended to the County Council for inclusion in the County Council’s Constitution.

5.1        The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) on a number of minor changes to the Constitution.

5.2        The Committee supported the proposed changes as necessary.

5.3        Resolved –

(1)        That the County Council be recommended to approve the changes to Part 3 of the Constitution as set out in the report.

(2)        That County Council be recommended to approve the change of name of the Pension Panel to ‘Pensions Committee’.

4.1        The Committee considered a report by the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Change (copy appended to the signed minutes) on a proposal for a voluntary agreement to provide greater clarity on the relationship with Unison as a representative body for staff.

4.2        The Director of Human Resources and Organisational Change introduced the report, advising the proposal as key to good working relations with unions and staff and to pay negotiations and organisational change.  It would help rebuild the Council’s relationship with Unison and send a positive message to staff.

4.3        The Committee discussed the proposal, noting the context.  Suggesting a need for more time concerns were raised about:

·        the need for detail about the staff affected and Unison membership;

·        the implications of a ‘voluntary’ agreement.

·        The reasons for a move away from the current informal arrangements, and a fuller rationale for the proposal.

4.4        The Director of Human Resources and Organisational Change clarified that:

·        the proposed agreement is symbolic rather than significant;

·        Unison membership has increased recently;

·        either party may withdraw from the agreement at any time;

·        that the proposal would strengthen the bond with local Unison members and would demonstrate commitment from the Council to its staff.

4.5        Cllr Walsh and Cllr M Jones stated that to delay the proposal would send the wrong message to both staff and to Unison.

4.6        Cllr Bradbury, seconded by Cllr Marshall, proposed a decision on this report be deferred so that additional information can be brought to Governance Committee for consideration on 22 June 2020.  The proposal was agreed.

4.7        Resolved – That the decision on the proposal to enter into and maintain a recognition agreement with Unison to include recognition rights for employees on HAY; and Public Health/Agenda for Change grades be deferred until the Committee received a further report providing additional information.

3.1        The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) on plans for meetings during the current public health emergency, the new Standing Orders on Virtual Meetings and proposals for meetings to the end of July 2020.

3.2     The Director of Law and Assurance introduced the report, highlighting the reasons for the proposals, and welcoming comments from the Committee about the new Standing Orders, the proposals including options for managing the list of pending notices of motion for Council

3.3     The Committee agreed it would be sensible to cancel the June and July County Local Committee (CLC) meetings.  It was also agreed to engage members informally regarding decisions, to be carried out through urgent action procedures, on Traffic Regulation Orders and Community Initiative Funding, the latter of which should be focused towards organisations providing sustainable support to communities and filling in identified gaps in the Covid-19 emergency response.

3.4     The Committee discussed a concern raised by Cllr Walsh about the Council’s lack of video technology for meetings. Cllr Lanzer advised that the Council is exploring the feasibility of videoconferencing options but it will take time to ensure the system is robust, secure and compatible with current IT systems, and can be satisfactorily accessed by home-workers.  Video conferencing uses a significant proportion of network capacity, and this must not interfere with the needs of operational activities.  However, the Committee noted that it is hoped to use Skype video from June.

3.5     The Committee discussed proposals for future full Council meetings and agreed that the next scheduled meeting on 17 July should go ahead.  Time should be allowed for debate on the Council’s handling and response to the Covid-19 emergency, including lessons learned.

3.6     The Committee also discussed a request by Cllr Walsh and Cllr M Jones for an additional full Council in June 2020 to demonstrate democratic accountability and to provide opportunity for an early debate on the Council’s response to the public health crisis and its impact on the area.

3.7     Cllr Walsh and Cllr M Jones also raised concerns about the three minutes allocated for Scrutiny Chairmen and leaders of the minority groups to speak at the monthly Cabinet meeting as being insufficient to address such complex issues.  The Committee noted that Cabinet meetings are a decision-making forum and all recent formal decisions were debated at the relevant scrutiny committees.

3.8     The Committee acknowledged the additional capacity required from staff to manage virtual meetings and also thanked staff who have been redeployment across the Council to respond to the Covid-19 emergency.

3.9     The Committee agreed with proposals to suspend the current member development programme, but noted that there are plans for an event about the budget and capital programme planning.

3.10   Cllr Walsh, seconded by Cllr M Jones, proposed that a meeting of County Council be held in June 2020 for the specific purposes of considering the Council’s response to the Covid-19 emergency and to allow members to ask questions on that topic.  The proposal was lost.

3.11   Cllr M Jones, seconded by Cllr Walsh, proposed that the following amendment to Part 4, Section 1A of the Constitution – Standing Orders – Virtual Meetings:

‘For the duration of these Standing Orders, the provision in Paragraph 10 of Appendix 1 of the Scheme of delegation which permits the leaders of each of the large and medium minority groups of the Council to attend any meeting of the Cabinet and speak for up to three minutes on any item on the agenda, shall be replaced with the following provision:

The leaders of each of the large and medium minority groups shall be invited to attend any meeting of the Cabinet and speak on the agenda item relating to the national emergency for up to five minutes, to have the right to ask supplementary questions and to put propositions to the Cabinet for them to debate and vote on.’

The proposal was lost.

3.12     Resolved –

(1)        That the new Standing Orders on Virtual Meetings, as set out at Appendix A, be noted;

(2)        That changes to member meetings to the end of July 2020 be made including:

(a)   Non-urgent or non-time critical matters to be postponed or dealt with informally.

(b)   Member development sessions be paused with the exception of an event on the Council’s budget and capital programme planning, expected to take place in July 2020.

(c)    Cabinet meetings to continue to be held monthly for collective decision making and that Scrutiny Chairman and leaders of the main minority groups continue to be invited to attend and speak at these meetings.

(d)   Scrutiny Committees continue as scheduled to focus on key decision preview and the monitoring of important service improvement programmes.  Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee to be provided with updates on the impacts of Covid-19 through the Total Performance Monitor.

(e)   All County Local Committee meetings due to be held in June and July to be cancelled.  Members to be informally consulted about Traffic Regulation Orders and Community Initiative Funding, which will be determined via urgent action procedures.

(f)    That the next County Council meeting of 17 July 2020 take place and that arrangements be agreed at the meeting of Governance Committee on 22 June 2020.

(3)        That plans for member meetings be reviewed at the next Governance Committee meeting of 22 June 2020, including looking ahead to autumn 2020.

Gigabit Capable broadband is the next generation of connectivity, able to deliver speeds of 1Gb (1000Mb).  Following decision CAB13 19-20 in February 2020, the County Council’s Digital Infrastructure Team is working with partners, communities and suppliers to promote the Government Gigabit Voucher Scheme (GBVS) administered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Currently residents and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas can obtain up to £1,500 and £3,500 respectively towards the cost of a gigabit capable installation. Despite this there are still instances where the scheme is still not viable for residents and SME’s in some hardest to reach areas. The County Council therefore proposes to utilise the option to undertake a ‘top up’ to the GBVS scheme to increase the viability and attractiveness of the scheme in rural communities which include some of the hardest to reach and least commercially viable areas.  This involves working with residents, SMEs and suppliers to aggregate demand in rural eligible areas. This will include promotion of the scheme, community engagement and allocation of resources to overcome barriers faced by rural communities.

The Executive Director for Place Services has endorsed a bid for funding to the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport to enable the establishment of a Gigabit Voucher Top Up Scheme for West Sussex and to commit up to £2.85m from the Business Rates Retention Pilot to act as the investment of the West Sussex Councils.

The supply of de-icing salt and the provision of a gritter fleet is critical to ensuring the County Council can meet its statutory duty to maintain the highways and to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice. The contracts for these services were awarded in 2019 and are due to end. Contract extensions are required for winter 2020/21.

The contracts for a winter gritting fleet and winter de-icing salt supply were let on a two-year term, commencing 21 and 23 May 2019 respectively, each with the option for a twelve-month extension. (Decision ref H&I 01 19/20).

The Director of Highways, Transport and Planning has approved the extension of the winter gritting fleet and winter de-icing salt supply contracts each for a period of twelve months to expire May 2021 in accordance with the County Council’s Standing Orders on Procurement and Contracts.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of South Chichester County Local Committee and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to approve the following CIF Application:

·       Chichester Harbour Rotary Club, ‘Supporting survivors of domestic abuse’, £1,000.00 - towards purchasing white goods and other home appliances for re-located survivors of domestic abuse.  
www.spacehive.com/supporting-survivors-of-domestic-abuse

The Community Hubs Strategy aims to combine services ‘under one community roof’ for the benefit of our residents, safeguarding access to preventive services whilst making the best use of County Council assets to provide existing and new services in fewer, more cost-effective buildings.

This decision paper recommends the Executive Director Place services to award a contract to build a community hub in Worthing Library by integrating registration services, children and family and youth services into the hub following a comprehensive tender process.

This approach builds on the Cabinet Member decision taken in May 2019 (Reference report SSC01 19/20) to approve the allocation of £3.058m from the provision in the Capital Programme to deliver the Worthing Community Hub. This includes the commencement of the procurement for the fit out and maintenance works to the most economically advantageous bid in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders on Procurement and Contracts.

The Executive Director Place Services has approved:

1)   the award of the construction contract to deliver the Worthing Community Hub to Logan Construction Limited for a contract period of 6 months commencing from June 2020 at a value of £1,441,957; and

2)   reduce the provision in the Capital Programme to deliver the Worthing community hub by £661,711 in line with the variance between the pre-tender estimate for the construction works plus 5% construction contingency and Logan Construction Limited’s tender.

The County Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for all children who need a place.

Due to the significant condition and suitability issues the existing modular accommodation at Southwater Infant and Southwater Junior Schools is to be replaced with new accommodation. This will ensure the schools can continue to accommodate the demand for pupil places in the locality. The work has been divided into two elements and tendered as two separate contracts:-

Phase 1 – The Supply and Installation of Modular Units

Phase 2 – Enabling Works

In January 2020 the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills approved the allocation of additional monies from Section 106 funds to enable this replacement work to take place (decision reference ES07(19/20)).  As part of this decision the Cabinet Member also approved the delegation of authority to the Director of Property and Assets to award the contracts for the works.

In April 2020 the Director of Property and Assets approved the award of the construction contract for the Phase 1 works to supply and install the Modular Units (decision reference OKD04(20/21)).

A procurement process has now taken place and, following full financial and technical evaluation, based on a 70% cost and 30% quality evaluation approach, this report recommends the contract for Phase 2: to carry out the enabling works at Southwater Infant and Junior schools be awarded to Integra Buildings Ltd for the sum of £647,236.00. This is to be funded from received Section 106 funds and is within the approved budget.

The Director of Property and Assets has approved the award of the construction contract for Phase 2: to carry out the enabling works at Southwater Infants and Junior schools to Integra Buildings Ltd for the sum of £647,236.00 which is affordable within the overall budget of £1,899,390 for this project.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of South Chichester County Local Committee and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to approve the following CIF Application:

536/SC – Chichester Community Development Trust, ‘COVID-19 response’, £750.00 - towards marketing costs publicising the group's COVID-19 volunteer support programme.

The purpose of Operation Watershed is to support people in their local communities who want to work with the County Council to become more prepared for, or to reduce the risk of, flooding. Local groups are encouraged to apply for funding to finance schemes and projects of all sizes as a way of achieving this.

£1.500m is allocated for Operation Watershed in the Capital Programme agreed by Full Council in December 2017.  The allocation for 2020/21 is £0.375m.  In this period four full applications have been received and evaluated totalling  £34,769.30 and are set out in Appendix A of the report.

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure has approved the applications from the community groups or parish councils set out in Appendix A of the report.       

The approved Adur and Worthing Growth Programme identified public realm improvements in Worthing town centre to support development and regeneration of the town’s economy.  A £12m programme of up to eight public realm schemes between the station and the seafront was identified. The County Council committed £5m of growth funding to deliver the initial phases of the programme.   Worthing Borough Council (WBC) identified developer contributions, such as the Community Infrastructure Levy to fund the later phases of the public realm improvement programme. 

Portland Road and Railway Approach projects were identified within the first phases, with other sites to follow on when further funds become available.  These projects will improve the quality and accessibility of public areas connecting Worthing station, the town centre and seafront, enhancing the resident and visitor experience. The Railway Approach project is due to come forward in the autumn.  This decision concerns the Portland Road project.  The Executive Director of Place Services is working closely with WBC Director of Economy to agree a partnership approach to progress the programme.

          The Executive Director for Place Services has approved:

1.   The appointment of Worthing Borough Council (WBC) as the delivery body for the Portland Road capital project; and the

2.   Allocation of £2.91m from the remaining £4.60m within WSCC Capital Programme for Worthing Public Realm Improvement schemes, to deliver the first phase of the programme (Portland Road).

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of Adur County Local Commitee and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to approve the following CIF Application:

540/A - Adur Woodcraft Folk, ‘Activity packs for children’, £500.00 -towards providing creative activity packs to children from low-income families.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved:

1.   To note the information contained in the Total Performance Monitor in particular the requirement to utilise reserves to meet the expenditure requirement and

2.   To agree the allocation of the contingency budget set out in paragraph 1.8 of the report.

The call-in deadline is 4 June 2020.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to approve the following:

1.   The appointment of Cllr Jacky Pendleton to the Littlehampton Harbour Board for the remainder of the County Council term (May 2021)

2.   The appointment of Cllr Kevin Boram to the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee for the remainder of the County Council term (May 2021)

3.   The addition of the Rural Service Network to the County Council’s Outside Bodies list

4.   The appointment of Cllr Janet Duncton to the Rural Services Network for the remainder of the County Council term (May 2021).

The call-in deadline is 4 June 2020.

Woodlands Meed is a Special School and College for 2-19 year olds located in Burgess Hill. The existing accommodation at the College site has a number of condition issues meaning the College is unable to offer the full curriculum and unable to accommodate the full range of Special Educational Needs. 

In order to address this, in February 2019 the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills took a decision (ES18 (18/19)) to approve the allocation of £0.5m from the Capital Programme to enable a costed design to be produced for rebuilding and expanding Woodlands Meed College on its current site. This has involved the appointment of a full design team through the County Council’s Multi-Disciplinary Consultant to undertake the design work required to develop the feasibility design into a formal proposal enabling costs to be sought for all elements of the proposal.

A further survey of the existing building’s condition and suitability to meet the needs of the College’s students has now been undertaken.  Following assessment of the outcome of this survey and exploration of access options Cabinet will be asked to agree the allocation of funds from the Capital Programme to enable the new investment at Woodlands Meed to proceed.

.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to approve the following:

1.   The allocation of £19.5m, bringing the total budget available to £20m to fund the replacement of the Woodlands Meed College building on its existing site and with its existing capacity of 100 places (option 1B as set out in paragraph 2.3)

2.   The authorisation of the Director of Property and Assets to commence a procurement process and appoint contractors to fully design and cost the replacement college on the college playing field while the college staff and pupils remain in occupation in the existing accommodation

3.   The submission of applications for full planning permission and statutory consents; and with the Director of Law and Assurance, to enter into such agreements as the completion of the project may require, and

4.   That subject to receipt of planning permission and statutory consents, the delegation of the authority to enter into a construction contract with the successful provider to the Director of Property and Assets.

The call-in deadline is 4 June 2020.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of the Central and South Mid Sussex County Local Commitee and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to approve the following CIF Application:

533/CSMS - Hassocks Community Food Bank (Parish of Clayton with Keymer), £253.44 - towards purchasing stack trays and dolly bases to help transport food donations.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of Adur County Local Commitee and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to approve the following CIF Applications:

West Sussex Crowd

·         *530/A – £500.00 to Home-Start Arun, Worthing & Adur for ‘Packs of joy’ towards delivering learning resource packs to vulnerable families with children aged 5 and under.

www.spacehive.com/packs-of-joy-helping-vulnerable-families

*This project has also pitched to Worthing County Local Committee, Joint East Arun Area Committee and Joint Western Arun Area Committee.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of The Worthing County Local Committee and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to approve the following CIF Application:

West Sussex Crowd

·         *531/W – £500.00 to Home-Start Arun, Worthing & Adur for ‘Packs of joy’ towards delivering learning resource packs to vulnerable families with children aged 5 and under.

www.spacehive.com/packs-of-joy-helping-vulnerable-families

*This project has also pitched to Adur County Local Committee, Joint Eastern Arun Area Committee and Joint Western Arun Area Committee.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of The Joint Western Arun Area Commitee and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to approve the following CIF Applications:

West Sussex Crowd

·         *529/JWAAC – £500.00 to Home-Start Arun, Worthing & Adur for ‘Packs of joy’ towards delivering learning resource packs to vulnerable families with children aged 5 and under.

www.spacehive.com/packs-of-joy-helping-vulnerable-families

*This project has also pitched to Adur County Local Committee, Worthing County Local Committee and Joint Eastern Arun Area Committee.

Micro Fund

·         527/JWAAC – £750.00 to Felpham Emergency Resilience Group towards purchasing an ID card printer for security-style ID cards for the group's volunteers.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of The Joint Eastern Arun Area Committee and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to approve the following CIF Applications:

West Sussex Crowd

·         *526/JEAAC – £500.00 to Home-Start Arun, Worthing & Adur for ‘Packs of joy’ towards delivering learning resource packs to vulnerable families with children aged 5 and under.

www.spacehive.com/packs-of-joy-helping-vulnerable-families

*This project has also pitched to Adur County Local Committee, Worthing County Local Committee and Joint Western Arun Area Committee.

In 2015, the County Council entered into a five-year Agency Agreement with Adur and Worthing local authorities for the procurement, management and operation of Civil Parking Enforcement and the operational management of the Worthing Controlled Parking Zone.

The Agreement, which expires on 31 March 2020, has been reviewed and the County Council wishes to extend the Agreement subject to some variations that reflect current working practices.

The Director for Highways, Transport and Planning has agreed the extension and variations to the existing Agency Agreement with Adur and Worthing Councils for a two-year period until 31 March 2022 for the procurement, management and operation of Civil Parking Enforcement in Adur and Worthing and operational management of the Worthing Controlled Parking Zone, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2000/2851.