Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at this meeting under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

To receive questions (if any) under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

(Note:  Paragraph 16 of the Executive Procedure Rules stipulates that questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and that there be a time limit of 15 minutes).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were received at this meeting under the provisions of the Executive Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

(if any)

In accordance with the provisions contained in Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 23 (Part 4F of the Constitution).

RESOLVED: That no matters had been referred to the Executive Member for reconsideration in accordance with the provisions contained in the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 22 (Part 4F of the Constitution).

(if any)

RESOLVED: To note that no reports had been received.

Report of the Interim Director of Adults and Housing.

It was noted that the meeting was convened at short notice for the reasons set out in the agenda, and involved the taking of an urgent key decision, which had not been included in the November 2007 Forward Plan. Accordingly, in accordance with paragraph 15 – General Exceptions – of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution, a public notice had been displayed at the Civic Centre informing members of the public of the meeting.

The Leader of the Council considered a report of the Interim Corporate Director of Adults and Housing, which set out the current position with regard to payment rates applied to those people with eligible social care needs who received a direct-payment and proposals to change the way in which the rates were structured and to up-lift the hourly rate paid.

The meeting was informed that, in accordance with paragraph 16 – Special Urgency – of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution, the agreement of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been sought that the decision could not be reasonably deferred and that the decision was urgent and would not be subject to call-in.

RESOLVED: That (1) the proposed revised rate-structure for direct payments, as detailed in the published officer report, be approved;

(2) the proposed change to the hourly rate for direct payments, as detailed in the published officer report, be approved.

Reason for decision: To support the Council’s programme of service modernisation for social care and to encourage greater take-up of the direct payment option by users of social care services; and to support delivery of one of the Council’s key flagship actions.