The Scrutiny Officer will provide an update.
Minutes:
The Committee had before it and NOTED information * from the Scrutiny Officer regarding various areas that he had been asked to look into on their behalf.
Delayed Transfer of Care
The officer highlighted a link to NHS statistics and informed Members that Devon County Council Scrutiny would be receiving a report from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) regarding hospitals over the winter period. The officer would provide Members with this report and it was AGREED that Dr Squire be asked to attend the next meeting to give his view on the situation.
Members were reminded that the MP Neil Parish had offered to look into specific incidents of bed blocking if details were provided.
Ageing Workforce
The officer had provided information regarding ‘fitness for work’ in light of the removal of a compulsory retirement age and the fact that employees may stay in work longer.
Discussion took place regarding:
· How mechanised working methods could help but could also have a cost implication;
· The fact that it was not just physical health that could deteriorate with age but also cognitive and that this could also result in a drop in performance.
It was AGREED that the Group Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces be asked to provide a report regarding planning for the future with an ageing workforce.
Cornwall Housing Allocations Policy
The officer highlighted a report from Cornwall Council regarding their housing allocations policy.
The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined a new scheme in place, ‘Rent Plus’ which allowed those on Band E of the housing list to rent for an agreed number of years with the potential that when they moved on from that property to receive a deposit of 10% to purchase their own property.
The Cabinet Member explained that Devon Home Choice used a process for eligibility which included local need and income. The banding that applicants were allocated to reflected their circumstances. Devon Home Choice was a Devon Wide scheme and individual Districts could not change the criteria. However, it was possible that Devon Home Choice might not continue in the future as a couple of Districts were considering leaving.
It was AGREED that the Cabinet Member would cover housing allocation at his next Cabinet Member report to the Committee.
Road maintenance and repairs in Mid Devon
The officer highlighted links to the Devon County Council website for reporting potholes and stressed the need for the public to report each pot hole individually.
Discussion took place regarding:
· The condition of rural roads;
· A new contractor was in place and whether or not the service had deteriorated;
· If there was a cluster of pot holes they needed to be reported individually;
· The depth of pot holes that would be repaired.
It was AGREED that the Scrutiny officer be asked to make further investigations regarding the criteria for pot hole repair, make enquires with regard to an officer from Highways attending a meeting and prepare a written update for the next meeting of the Committee regarding the situation in Mid Devon.
Active Start (GP exercise referral program)
The Scrutiny Officer provided current figures for the Active start programme which in 11 months had seen 112 referrals. Of those referrals 47 had been at Tiverton, 45 at Crediton and 20 from Cullompton. Of the 112 referrals 33 customers had taken out memberships.
Discussion took place regarding the Exe Valley referrals group at Tiverton, which met as a social group for coffee after sessions and had seen a better retention rate than the other centres. The officer was tasked to make enquires as to whether a similar scheme could be put in place at all centres.
Notes - i) Report * previously circulated and attached to Minutes.
ii) Cllr N A Way declared a personal interest as he was a Devon County Councillor.
Supporting documents: