Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed the Committee and safety information was provided.

Apologies were received from Cllr Calascione.

To note any declarations of interest from councillors. They are asked to

indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular

whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declaration of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of

interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

Cllr Kelvin Blake noted an interest in item 7 (Addressing Multiple Disadvantage) as Chair of Second Step. He recused himself for this item.

The Chair moved that the minutes of the previous meeting of the committee held on 21 October 2024 be accepted as a correct record. This was seconded by Cllr Blake.

The Committee confirmed the minutes as a correct record.

To receive any announcements from the Chair.

The Chair noted that a private briefing for Policy Committee members on the subject of the CQC inspection of Adult Social Services had been arranged for immediately following the meeting. The inspection was due to take place in January 2025.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Any member of the public or councillor may participate in Public Forum. Public Forum items must relate to the remit of the committee and should be addressed to the Chair of the committee.

Members of the public who plan to attend a public meeting at City Hall are advised that you will be required to sign in when you arrive. Please note that you will be issued with a visitor pass which you will need to display at all times.

Please also note:

Questions

1.      Written public questions must be received by 5.00 pm, at least 3 clear working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that questions must be received at the latest by 5.00 pm on Tuesday 26^th November. Please email questions to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      Any individual can submit up to 3 written questions.

3.      Written replies to questions will be available on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

4.      At the meeting, questioners will be permitted to ask up to 2 oral supplementary questions.

Statements

1.      Written statements must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that statements must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Thursday 28^th November. Please email statements to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      Statements, provided they are no more than 1,000 words in length, will be circulated to all committee members and will be published on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

Petitions

1.      Details of the wording of any petitions, and the number of signatories to petitions must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that petition details must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Thursday 28^th November. Please email petition details to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      At the meeting, individuals presenting petitions may be required to read out the objectives of the petition.

When submitting a question or statement please indicate whether you are planning to attend the meeting to present your statement ask your question

No Public Forum was received.

The Committee RESOLVED to

1.    Approve acceptance of the Changing Futures grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and/or the National Lottery Community Foundation (TNLCF) to continue to deliver on the Programme`s stated aims in line with Bristol`s Multiple Disadvantage Strategy.

2.    Authorise the Executive Director Adults and Communities in consultation with Chair of the Adult Social Care Committee to take all steps required to accept and spend the Changing Futures grant as outlined in this report.

3.    Authorise the Executive Director Adults and Communities in consultation with Chair of the Adult Social Care Committee to take all steps required to continue the Changing Futures Lead Delivery Partner contract, to a maximum of £1.2m from April 2025 to March 2026.

4.    Note that Bristol`s Multiple Disadvantage strategy will be overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board, and the delivery plan will be held by system partners in the Multiple Disadvantage Transformation Board.

The Committee was advised that the report (agenda item 7) was to update the Committee about the strategic work underway in relation to the Multiple Disadvantage Strategy and the role of the Changing Futures programme.  This was a Key decision as it involved over £500k spend/save & impacted more than 2 wards.

A presentation was delivered by the Transformation and Commissioning Manager.

The Committee was invited to raise comments or questions. Key points from the discussion included:

1.    A Member queried how success of the programme would be measured. A national evaluation of the service was underway. Individuals would be tracked over time to assess their interactions with services and their personal experiences. The spider diagram in the report was discussed as it gave an indication of improvements by presenting data on a cohort of 60 and measured improvement in experience.

2.     The external partners in the programme were discussed. These were likely to include the probation service, Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises (VCSE) and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP). Close working with AWP in particular had been established, including training on the approach to working. The high resource nature of the work was noted.

3.    The consolidation of the Boards was discussed, and queried whether there was confidence in the governance oversight. Representatives from probation and health services were to be members of the newly formed Board, and it was hoped that representatives with lived experience and from VCSE organisations could also be arranged.

4.    It was noted that learning from the Golden Key project had been taken on Board for the Changing Futures programme, which helped secure the grant.

The Chair moved the report. This was seconded by Cllr Weston. The Committee approved the report unanimously.

The Committee RESOLVED to

1.      Approve acceptance of the Changing Futures grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and/or the National Lottery Community Foundation (TNLCF) to continue to deliver on the Programme`s stated aims in line with Bristol`s Multiple Disadvantage Strategy.

2.      Authorise the Executive Director Adults and Communities in consultation with Chair of the Adult Social Care Committee to take all steps required to accept and spend the Changing Futures grant as outlined in this report.

3.      Authorise the Executive Director Adults and Communities in consultation with Chair of the Adult Social Care Committee to take all steps required to continue the Changing Futures Lead Delivery Partner contract, to a maximum of £1.2m from April 2025 to March 2026.

4.      Note that Bristol`s Multiple Disadvantage strategy will be overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board, and the delivery plan will be held by system partners in the Multiple Disadvantage Transformation Board.

The Committee RESOLVED to

1. Note the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership Annual Report 2023-24 in its relation to Safeguarding Adults (as well as children and community safety)

The Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership Annual Report 2023-24 (agenda item 8) was to update Members on the safeguarding work of the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership for 2023/24. There were no decisions to be taken on this report which was for noting.

The Business Manager for the KBSP presented the report.

Key points from the discussion included:

1.      The Chair raised the Prevent Programme’s work with young people, and whether there was a plan to examine events and groups involved in the Summer 2024 local and national riots.  The Strategic Partnership against Hate Crime undertook some of this work which would feature in the 2024-25 annual report. Work was also undertaken with young people from the Shadow Safeguarding Board.

2.      The coordination of actions and communications across a large multi-agency partnership was discussed. The KBSP had a strategic function so part of the role of the Board was to develop and improve those lines of communication by responding to feedback. The strategic plan aimed to ensure individuals in Bristol were supported by the relevant strands of specific work, with metrics and success measures to monitor efficacy and minimise gaps. A complaints and escalation procedure was also in place in case anything was missed.

3.      Domestic Homicide Reviews were discussed.  There was a significant backlog due to delays within the Home Office.

4.      It was noted that geographical areas with higher numbers of at risk individuals was not necessarily in line with areas of deprivation. This could be due to a number of factors, including the existence of Care Homes within the ward. Financial abuse was also more common in affluent areas. Officers agreed to provide a breakdown of domestic abuse rates by ward.

5.      Safeguarding waiting times were discussed. There had been a focus on improving waiting times ahead of the anticipated CQC inspection and progress had been made over the year. Data on this could be provided if requested.

6.      The Modern Slavery sub-committee was discussed. It was agreed that data on Modern Slavery could be difficult to establish but assurance was given that it remained an area of focus and oversight within the Community Safety arm of the KBSP.

7.      Governance was discussed and had the potential to be re-examined in coming months. It was noted a new team was in place within the KBSP operating in a new Policy Committee environment.

The Chair moved the report. This was seconded by Cllr Blake.

The Committee RESOLVED to

1. Note the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership Annual Report 2023-24 in its relation to Safeguarding Adults (as well as children and community safety)

The Committee RESOLVED

1.    To note the Adult Social Care General Fund forecast outturn revenue position of a £7.5 million overspend at P6 2024/25.

2.    To note the forecast of a breakeven position on the Capital Programme budget 2024/25.

The Committee was advised that the report (agenda item 9) presented an update to the Adult Social Care Committee on the council’s financial performance against the approved budget and its forecast use of resources for the financial year 2024/25 (September / Period 6 extrapolated). There were no decisions to be taken on this report which was for noting.

The Executive Director presented the report.

The Committee was invited to raise comments or questions. Key points from the discussion included:

1.      It was noted that since the ASC Policy Committee received the P5 finance report in October 2024 the monthly finance reports produced by Bristol City Council had been ‘exception reports’ ie. only provided where there was a material change to the forecasts for a budget within the remit of the Committee. As that had not been the case for P6 the circulated paper was a short covering report rather than full breakdown.

2.      Officers noted an increase in projected overspend by £0.95m, up to £7.5m. This reflected a relatively stable position, and improvements to this position were expected in 2025. Actions were being taken through the Transformation Programme to address the overspend. The prospect of closing the overspend gap was discussed. Certainty was not possible but Officers were working hard to address the shortfall. The increase in demand, particularly for mental health services, was also discussed.

3.      The progress of the Capital Programme was discussed. It was noted that while a significant amount of work was in development the forecast position did not reflect an increase in spend as the approach to accommodation did not always draw on council capital for delivery.

4.      The process for determining the budget was discussed. Reports and proposals were regularly provided to the Finance sub-committee. 

The Committee RESOLVED

1.      To note the Adult Social Care General Fund forecast outturn revenue position of a £7.5 million overspend at P6 2024/25.

2.      To note the forecast of a breakeven position on the Capital Programme budget 2024/25.