RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2015 be signed as an accurate record of the Panel's last meeting.

No disclosures of interest were made during the meeting.

There was no urgent business.

The Panel RESOLVED that the allocation of items between Part A and Part B of the agenda be confirmed, as printed.

The Panel received a short presentation from officers giving the background of the Plan and an update. Members were informed that the schemes that hopes to deliver the plan are existing schemes that did not attract new funding. The plan should deliver on 6 key targets. The outcome based commissioning programme for over 65s is the foundation for delivering the better care fund plan.

Officers were concentrating on minimising delayed discharges and reported that there would be no quick fix, however initial actions are producing results.

The Panel heard that officers await confirmation of new guidance for 2016/17 which will impose new conditions to include enhanced joint working across health and social care.

The Panel were interested to hear about the Planning Group that exists across all agencies. Commissioning around care home would be increased with particular attention being paid to those that demonstrate high quality care in a responsive and safe environment. The closure of locally sources homes would impact on the delivery of the plan; officers are working closely with the existing homes to minimise market failures and continued monitoring would ensure delivery on Croydon specifications.

The Panel RESOLVED:
1.1 To note progress made in implementing the Better Care Plan
1.2 And to note the mitigations on performance identified in section 5.2 of the previously circulated report.

Graham Terry walked the Panel through a tour of the transformation of the adult social care programme; providing the historical information and detail that the programme seeks to achieve.

Clients moving to direct payments had currently seen a large number of successes, however there are still elements of resistance. Officers continue to work to develop varied routes of access for those clients struggling with direct payments. Payment cards have been discussed, working with providers and colleague to respond to user demands and expectations.

Officers agreed to provide the Panel with additional information which includes sight of reports that were referred to within the presentation. The Panel were in agreement that a Member learning and development opportunity would be useful to inform all ward Members about direct payments as they support, signpost and advise constituents.

The Panel made reference to potential risks or exploitation of the direct payments system, as vulnerable clients may be targeted by companies offering to manage their finances for a fee. Officers agreed that this would pose a risk and agreed to include the risk in the system. An exercise would take place to gather intelligence from authorities to determine best practice.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the presentation.

Paul Greenhalgh, Executive Director of People updated the panel on recent changes to the board and executive of the LATC.

The work programme for the next meeting was NOTED by the Panel and the Members suggested that a list of future meetings be included as part of the work programme.

The Panel REOLVED under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act. As proposed by Councillor Margaret Mead and Seconded by Councillor Louisa Woodley.

The remainder of the meeting included disclosure of exempt information (as defined by paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A in Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972: ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)'. The minutes of the discussion are therefore also exempt and not available to the public. A summary of the discussion is below, as required by section 100C(2) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Panel RESOLVED that the Part B minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2015 be signed as an accurate record and that minutes number B10/15 Update of LATC, paragraph 4, final sentence be removed.

The Panel considered a report that gave information regarding those care homes currently being monitored through the serious concern protocol and supported by the Care Support Team. A concern may be linked to a poor CQC report or due to a serious incident(s) occurring within the establishment.

RESOLVED that the Panel note the report.