Agenda item

Pre-Scrutiny

Minutes:

The Committee scrutinised the following private matters.

 

Cabinet Board Proposals

 

10.1  Supporting People Local Commissioning Plan 2017/2020

 

Members considered the Local Commissioning Plan for Supporting People for the period 2017/2020.

 

Members were concerned that the intention was to reduce from 10 organisations that the Council contracts with to one and would this mean the Council would go for the cheapest option. Officers stated that it is envisaged that it could be a consortia of organisations or one larger organisation but regardless of this the Council would not automatically go for the cheapest option.

 

Members asked for clarity on the Quality Impact Assessment as it was not easy to understand which protected characteristics the proposals would affect and in addition the assessment stated that the service does not currently collect this data. Officers stated that it was an admin error for the lack of clarity but confirmed that there would be no detriment to service users.

 

Members requested that further training be arranged for Officers in relation to the Equality Impact Assessments.

 

Following scrutiny the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by Cabinet Board.

 

10.2  Consultant Procurement

 

Members considered the report that sought to extend the contract of a consultant who was undertaking a role as an Interim Principal Officer.

 

Members were advised that it had become increasingly difficult to attract the correct calibre of individual to posts such as Principal Officers.

 

Members asked would this decision leave the Council open to challenge. Officers confirmed that potentially it could but the risk of service failure for not taking the decision far outweighs the risk of challenge.

Officers stated that there would be a further report brought back to the Committee to highlight the staffing changes and restructuring that had taken place given the significant amount of change that had been undertaken over the past 15 or so months.

 

Following scrutiny the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by the Cabinet Board.