Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board (Call-in in respect of Future Accommodation) held on 5 November 2020 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 3 December 2020 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which identified the forthcoming issues to be considered by the Executive, as outlined in Appendix A to the report.  The report provided the Overview and Scrutiny Board with the opportunity to consider whether any item contained within the Executive Forward Work Programme should be considered by the Board, or referred to a Scrutiny Panel.

NOTED

The Chief Executive and Director of Public Health will be in attendance to provide the Board with an update in respect of the Council’s response to COVID-19.

The Chief Executive, the Director of Public Health and the Head of Revenues and Benefits were in attendance to provide information to the Board regarding the Council’s response to COVID-19. 

The Director of Public Health delivered a presentation to the Board.

Regarding the latest COVID-19 position and the rolling seven-day rate of cases per 100,000 of the Middlesbrough population, as at 12 January 2021: 72 new cases had been added to the system; 675 new cases had been diagnosed; 478.8 rate per 100,000 population; and 177.30 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 population, which reflected a predicted post-Christmas spike.  Increases were a result of the new variant that had been identified (between 65-70% of cases were of the new variant, which was more infectious) and also the extent of mixing on Christmas Day when the restrictions were relaxed.  Lockdown seemed to be having a positive effect, with numbers reducing significantly, but the peak was important when considering the impact on hospitals.

The number of people admitted to hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis had increased from around 28/29 December 2020.  There was currently 185 in-patients (the figure did not include positive cases from within the community detailed previously); 28 of which were in Critical Care.  There were significant operational pressures for the hospital, which would get worse; current modelling was based on a potential peak of 300 beds occupied by people with COVID-19.  It was highlighted that figures would start to increase further as a result of those infected over the Christmas period, which was a significant concern for professionals across the system.

In terms of COVID-19-related deaths across Middlesbrough, the current statistics (as at week ending 1 January 2021) reflected the significant steps that had been taken to protect care homes and populations in general; whilst there had been an increase in cases in the community, the number of deaths had been significantly lower.  Protection activity had included additional testing; ensuring that people were not discharged with a positive diagnosis from hospital into care homes, or from the community into care homes; and additional support for vulnerable people in communities.  Unfortunately, however, it was anticipated that the increased activity at James Cook University Hospital, as described previously, would cause an increase in these figures over the coming weeks and months.

Regarding lockdown three response activities and the support provided to businesses and residents, details would be provided as part of the Head of Revenue and Benefits’ presentation to the Board.

It was indicated that all Council services had been reviewed to understand where provision would be impacted further by lockdown three restrictions.

Lockdown three guidance / regulation implications for those attending education settings, such as primary or secondary school would see Early Years (nurseries, etc.) registered child care and other supervised child care activities continued, and childcare bubbles were permitted.  Primary and secondary schools were now closed until at least 15 February 2021, but primary schools were open to vulnerable children and children of key workers.  The number of those children was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/65

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Councillor D Davison, will be in attendance to update the Board on her aims and aspirations, progress made to date and to highlight any emerging issues relating to her portfolio.

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Councillor D Davison, was in attendance at the meeting to update the Board on her aims and aspirations, progress made to date, and to highlight any emerging issues relating to her portfolio.  The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration, and the Director of Public Health, were also in attendance at the meeting.

The Executive Member explained that her portfolio area had been exceptionally busy since March 2020 due to COVID-19; a strategic plan had been put in place and would be progressed.

It was intended that Dementia Friendly Middlesbrough would be further developed to support those with dementia and their carers, and to further connect with businesses and the community.  Work had commenced prior to the onset of COVID-19, with Marton Community Centre being approached during the initial stages (the Centre now held Dementia Friendly status).  A training session for those Members involved in the operation of the Centre would be undertaken in the near future.

The Executive Member wished to pursue Age Friendly Community Status for Middlesbrough in order to reduce the prevalence and impact of loneliness and isolation, with support potentially being sought from other Elected Members to provide assistance in local communities.

It was intended that an integrated model of support for Middlesbrough, bringing together services of domestic abuse, homelessness, substance misuse and mental health to a vulnerable person’s model, would be launched and delivered from 1 April 2021.  Procurement of Public Health services had been completed; core teams would be placed within community settings in Newport and North Ormesby.

A virtual wellbeing network would be established to support communities.  Three training sessions would be held and it was envisaged that all Elected Members would be invited to attend.

The Health and Wellbeing Regional Board had been established, of which the Executive Member had joined.  Sessions allowed Local Authorities in the North East to share experiences and best practice. 

The Executive Member attended regular safeguarding meetings; Middlesbrough held green status in this regard.

The work of the two directorates, Adult Social Care and Public Health, was commended by the Executive Member.

Following the update, Members were afforded the opportunity to ask questions.

A Member made reference to dementia training that they had previously attended and commented that they would highly encourage others to attend wherever possible.

A Member made reference to Dementia Friendly Status and queried how this would be expanded to achieve more businesses / organisations signing up.  In response, it was indicated that planned activities would include working with Elected Members and looking at areas, such as groups of retail units, to have all respective businesses signed up.  In follow-up, the Member felt that a strategic and wider-ranging approach was required to ensure that a greater variety of organisations could be signed up, and indicated their support to assist with this.

In terms of a holistic approach to issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence and vulnerable people, clarification was requested as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/66

The Head of Strategy, Information and Governance was in attendance at the meeting to present the Strategic Plan 2020-2023 – Progress at Quarter Two 2020/2021 report.  The Head of Financial Planning and Support was in attendance to present the Revenue and Capital Budget – Projected Outturn Position as at Quarter Two 2020/2021 report.  The Director of Finance was also in attendance.

The Head of Strategy, Information and Governance delivered a presentation to the Board.

The submitted report updated on the Strategic Plan approved by Council on 15 January 2020.  As previously raised at OSB, COVID-19 had resulted in a serious impact on the Council’s planning, which had resulted in a currently ongoing refresh of the Strategic Plan, with consultation activity being carried out.  A revised document would be submitted to Council at the end of February 2021, and a Strategic Plan work plan to Executive in March 2021.

Details were provided in relation to the Council’s ‘People’ Strategic Objectives, with reference being made to the impact of crime and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and the trends that had been seen in Middlesbrough, which were reflected nationally (i.e. crime had decreased during lockdown and increased post-lockdown; the opposite had been seen in respect of ASB).  It was difficult to take a long-term view of crime and ASB in Middlesbrough, but various initiatives were being implemented to help reduce this, e.g. installation of additional CCTV cameras; granting of new powers to Neighbourhood Safety Officers; and a grant funding scheme for household CCTV.

A Green Strategy consultation had been launched, which would address how the co2 emission gap would be met in following the reversal of the decision to implement fortnightly residual waste collections.

Children’s Services had continued to see the number of children subject to statutory intervention rise, although Looked After Children did peak in July 2020 and had been reducing since.  Reference was made to the Ofsted improvement plan and the achievements made to date, with positive feedback being received from the Commissioner and Department of Education.

Recovery work within the Town Centre had been paused due to tier three restrictions and subsequent lockdown

With regards to the ‘Place’ Strategic Objectives, it was indicated that the Investments Prospectus remained on target, but there were potential risks to it due to the economic downturn following COVID-19.

Regarding ‘Business’ Strategic Objectives, the economic impact of COVID-19 was still awaited to be seen, but claims had increased between May and September 2020.

Reference was made to the ‘End Child Poverty Campaign’ report, which had identified Middlesbrough’s Local Authority area as the one where child poverty had increased most significantly in the years since 2014.

It was highlighted that all of the matters raised had been picked up as part of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan.

In terms risk management issues, a risk review had been undertaken.  Reference was made to the Brexit trade and security deal, the impact of which would continue to be monitored and reviewed.

The Head of Financial Planning and Support delivered a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/67

A representative from the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board and the Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration will be in attendance to update Members on the Board’s Annual Report 2019/2020 and its Strategic Business Plan 2020/2021.

The Independent Chair of the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board (TSAB), and the Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration were in attendance at the meeting to present information regarding TSAB’s annual report 2019/2020 and strategic plan 2020/2021.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration provided an introductory overview of the TSAB, providing details in relation to structure and functioning.  It was explained that this had been a particularly challenging year for TSAB in light of COVID-19, but work had continued remotely, with face-to-face visits being undertaken where risk assessments allowed.  It was felt that this continued delivery was testament to the dedication and flexibility of the staff involved.

The Independent Chair introduced himself to the Board and outlined details of his professional background and experience.  Members were appraised of the Chair’s intentions for the TSAB over the coming year, which would focus on the examination of cross-cutting issues, such as health, community safety and safeguarding, and consider how these could be progressed to further the Board’s efficiency and effectiveness.  The report to be presented today was retrospective rather than forward-looking, but feedback from Members in respect of the Board’s priorities for 2021/2022 would be welcomed.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration explained that there was a statutory requirement within Adult Social Care to have a Safeguarding Adults Board; TSAB comprised six statutory partners (i.e. Cleveland Police; Hartlepool Borough Council; Middlesbrough Council; Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council; Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council; and South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group and Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Clinical Commissioning Group), as well as 18 non-statutory partners.

Reference was made to the range of sub-groups that operated under the main Board.  These were: Communication and Engagement; Learning, Training and Development; Operational Leads; Performance, Audit and Quality; and Policy, Practice and Procedure.  The Audit and Quality sub-group was chaired by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration.  It was acknowledged that although there was one shared over-arching group of policies and procedures, safeguarding was undertaken slightly differently across Tees, and therefore there was merit in the partners committing to work in a more consistent way to achieve a greater utility from the data available.

Members heard that in terms of investigative work and adult safeguarding, statutory investigations entitled Section 42 Enquiries were carried out.  There had been a 66% increase in the number of Section 42 Enquiries for adults aged 18-24 in the last year.

There had been a decrease across the locality in respect of Safeguarding Concerns received from care homes.  Although this was welcomed, it also raised some questions as to why this was the case.  Consideration was given to COVID-19 and related restrictions that had resulted in fewer staff entering care homes/settings.  Work was currently taking place to determine reasoning around this.

There had been a 70% increase in Safeguarding Concerns received from NHS secondary care settings, and more cases identified from Social Care itself.  It had been a busy year, and it was indicated that the numbers would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/68

Item deferred.

Ad Hoc Scrutiny Panel - Councillor J. Thompson
Adult Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel - Councillor J. Platt
Children and Young People’s Learning Scrutiny Panel - Councillor S. Hill
Children and Young People’s Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel - Councillor L. Garvey
Culture and Communities Scrutiny Panel - Councillor C. McIntyre
Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel - Councillor M. Saunders
Health Scrutiny Panel - Councillor J. McTigue

The Scrutiny Chairs / Vice Chairs provided verbal / written updates in respect of the work undertaken by their respective panels since the last meeting of the Board.

An Ad Hoc Scrutiny Panel meeting in respect of Members’ Communications had been scheduled for 27 January 2021.

A discussion ensued in relation to the Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel’s investigation into the topic of pest control, with consideration being given to such matters as: Issues raised across Middlesbrough; Payment for pest control services; Enforcement around pigeon feeding; and Potential facilitators for infestation.

NOTED

The next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board had been scheduled for Thursday, 11 February 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

NOTED

Additional Scrutiny Meetings

The Chair advised that an Extraordinary OSB meeting in respect of the Council’s budget consultation had been scheduled for 27 January 2021 at 4.00 p.m.

The Call-in meeting in respect of Nunthorpe Grange Farm Disposal, which was adjourned on 18 December 2020, would reconvene on 29 January 2021 at 1.00 p.m.

Following the reversal of the decision to implement fortnightly residual waste collections, the Call-in meeting to consider this, which was adjourned on 18 December 2020, would no longer be required.

NOTED