Agenda and minutes

Minute of the Meeting of the Limited Liability Partnership Strategic Governance Group held on 21 April 2015 to be approved and signed by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 21 April 2015.

DECISION

          APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Chair.

With reference to paragraph 1 of the Minute of 21 April 2015, Mrs Torrance advised that she had written to the NHS requesting their nomination, a reminder had been issued but no response had been received.

DECISION

NOTED.

There had been circulated copies of a letter from Douglas Sinclair, Chairman, Accounts Commission.  Mr Barr, Managing Director of SB Cares, explained that the letter outlined the Accounts Commission’s continued interest in ensuring that councils were able to hold to account arm’s length external organisations (ALEOs).  The Commission would be undertaking a review of the Code of Practice on Funding External Bodies and Following the Public Pound to assist councils to apply the principles of good governance to the funding arrangements for ALEOs and would write again once the review had been completed.

          DECISION

NOTED.

Verbal update by the Chairman of SB Cares on the recent appointment of Non-Executive Board Members.

The Chair advised that following an interview process, three local candidates had been selected with experience in finance, the care system and board membership.  As soon as references had been finalised a media release would be published with the successful candidates’ details.

DECISION

NOTED.

Consider reports by the Finance and Commercial Director of SB Cares on the performance of SB Cares:

BUDGET MONITORING TO 30 JUNE 2015

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Finance and Commercial Director informing of the financial position for SB Cares at 30 June 2015.  The budget monitoring position based on the actual income and expenditure to the 30 June 2015 showed a profit for the first quarter of £187k.  The Senior Management Team had reviewed the progress being made to deliver agreed efficiencies and new business and at this early stage in the financial year were forecasting a profit of £481k which was in line with the Business Plan approved by Members in October 2014 and the Council’s 2015/16 budget.  SB Cares had been awarded two new Care at Home contracts from Scottish Borders Council since the company commenced trading on 1 April 2015.  The first contract through a service transfer as provider of last resort for 273 Care at Home hours per week and the second through a tender awarded for 900 Care at Home hours per week.  This was an increase in the company’s Care at Home provision of 24% which had been reflected in the forecast position for 2015/16.  It was noted that since April, SB Cares had taken on two new contracts with little disruption to clients and staff and an increase in the quality of service provided.   Ms Collins advised that Scottish Borders Council (SBC) insurers, Zurich Municipal, would provide insurance for SB Cares through SBCs contract and this would continue.  Mrs Torrance advised that charges to clients would not change, the charge to the client was the same irrespective of the provider, whether private or through SB Cares, the only potential change would be charges for self-directed support and further information on this change would be reported to the Group. 

DECISION

NOTED

(a)   SB Cares financial position as at 30 June 2015;

(b)   That the information would be shared with Scottish Borders Council to inform the  revenue monitoring position; and

(c)  The staff should be congratulated for their work establishing the new company, with  little disruption to clients and an increase in the quality of service provided.    

There had been circulated a report by the Finance and Commercial Director updating on the development of SB Cares’ key performance indicators (KPIs).  The Council had entered into a partnership agreement with SB Cares on 1 April 2015.  This agreement set out the governance arrangements and outlined reporting requirements.  SB Cares was currently developing its strategic key performance indicators (KPIs) to be presented quarterly to the Strategic Governance Group (SGG).  The initial indicators that had been identified as priority for development were: number of clients supported across the service; average number of carers supporting clients; absence levels; number of staff employed and the number of vacant posts. Mr Barr advised that KPIs were essential for the Group to monitor performance.   Further areas that would be developed included KPIs to monitor customer satisfaction and market share.  The Group discussed other KPIs which could be developed such as maintenance of buildings, response times for delivery of equipment, ratio of management to staff and complaints management.    Mrs Torrance asked if the Group could have access to the Care Inspectorate gradings.

          DECISION

(a)  AGREED the four KPIs being developed to be brought to the next meeting in November 2015; and

(b)  NOTED progress being made to develop KPIs for SB Cares.

          MEMBER

          Councillor Brown joined the meeting prior to consideration of the following report.

The Chair advised that the meeting scheduled for 3 May 2016 would now take place on 17 May 2016, she would discuss with Mrs Bolson, Democratic Services Officer, if the location for the meeting could be Kelso, the Group would be advised accordingly. 

DECISION

NOTED.

Before proceeding with the private business, the following motion should be approved:-

“That under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

DECISION

AGREED under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the business contained in the following items on the ground that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 8 of the part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

Private section of the Minute of the Meeting of the Limited Liability Partnership Strategic Governance Group held on 30 June 2015 to be approved and signed by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.)

Members approved the private section of the Minute of 21 April 2015.

(Presentation.)

Members considered a presentation by the Managing Director, SB Cares.

(Copy attached.)

Members considered a report by the Operations Director, SB Cares.

(Copy attached.)

Members considered a report by the Service Development Manager, SB Cares. 

Update by the Operations Director of SB Cares on Registration of SB Cares Services with the Care Inspectorate.  (Copy attached.)

Members considered a report by the Operations Director, SB Cares.

Update by the Managing Director of SB Cares on the effect of the recent contracts awarded to SB Cares on staff terms and conditions. (To follow.)

Members considered a report by the Managing Director, SB Cares.