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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST (NWASSA), HELD ON FRIDAY
15 DECEMBER 2000, AT THE DE VERE HOTEL, BLACKPOOL
PRESENT
Members
Councillor Strett In the Chair Wigan
Councillor Gorton Blackburn with Darwen
Councillor Wright Blackpool
Councillor Morley Halton
Councillor Keith Knowsley
County Councillor Ward Lancashire
County Councillor Wilkinson Lancashire
Councillor Roderick Liverpool
Councillor Joynes Oldham
Councillor Beesley Rochdale
Councillor McGuire St Helens
Councillor Hudson Salford
Councillor Rimmer Sefton
Councillor Middleton Tameside
Councillor Dolan Trafford
Officers
S. Pullan Blackpool
E. Clarke Bury
G. Taylor Halton
A. Marsland Knowsley
P. Oliver Lancashire
E. de Sousa Manchester
G. Evans Oldham
A. Williamson St Helens
E. Murphy Salford
R. McConnell Sefton
I. Rush Trafford
B. Walker Wigan
P. J. Hewitt Social Services North West
P. J. Viggers Social Services North West
E. Trotter Social Services North West
B. McAlinden Secretariat Manchester
Apologies were submitted on behalf of:
Councillors
Morris (Bolton), Holtom (Lancashire), Thompson (Rochdale) and Froggatt and Harpin (Warrington).
Officers
M. Siegal (Cumbria), A. Shepperd (Liverpool), I.Davey (Rochdale), S. Wilds (Sefton) and C. McKinless (Tameside)
and D.Whitehead (Warrington).
NWA/00/39 - MINUTES
That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2000 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
NWA/0040 - WORKING WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
A report of the Co-ordinator was considered on the joint meeting between Social Services North West and the Local
Government Association (LGA) held in Bolton on 11 October 2000.
It was reported that the meeting with the LGA had gone very well and had been mentioned by Councillor Stringfellow
in her speech at the Edinburgh Conference. Social Services North West was moving forward and Councillor Dolan
said that it was hoped that this Committee could meet with the LGA annually.
RESOLVED/
1. That the Chair should write a letter of thanks to Councillor Stringfellow and propose that Social Services North
West meet again with the LGA Social Affairs and Health Executive next year.
2. That the minutes of the meeting between Social Services North West and the Local Government Association, held
in Bolton on 11 October 2000 be noted, subject to the inclusion of Councillors Wilkinson (Lancashire) and Middleton,
(Tameside) being included in the attendance list.
NWA/00/41 - ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TO SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST
A joint report of the Co-ordinator was considered on action necessary to secure continuing support to Social Services
North West.
The Co-ordinator, Professional Assistant and the Clerical Assistant left the meeting while this item was considered.
It was reported that Lancashire County Council have no problem with providing continuing accommodation for the
Social Services North West staff team but requested that they be involved in future discussions.
RESOLVED/
1. That the fixed term contact of the Co-ordinator be extended for six months until
31 July 2001.
2. That the Co-ordinator and the Financial Adviser be asked to report to the March 2001 meeting on the possibilities
for the establishment of a longer term Co-ordinator post.
NWA/00/42 - TOPSS ENGLAND - ADMINISTRATION OF NORTH WEST REGIONAL TRAINING FORUM
A report of the Co-ordinator was considered on a request from TOPSS England, the national training organization
for social care, that Social Services North West, should undertake the administration of its new North West Regional
Training Forum, and to confirm the decision of the Chair and Deputy Chair to agree to this for a trial period.
Ged Taylor, Director of Social Services, Halton informed the Committee that he was a serving member on the Forum
and that the meetings are held quarterly.
RESOLVED/
1. That the decision of the Chair and Deputy Chair to support the provision of administrative support to the TOPSS
England North West Regional Training Forum, for a trial period until 31 March 2001 be endorsed.
2. That a further report be submitted to the March 2001 meeting of Social Services North West, reporting progress
to date and the terms of any proposed extensions to the arrangement.
3. That Councillor Middleton be appointed as Social Services North West representative to serve on the TOPSS England
North West Regional Training Forum.
NWA/00/43 - REVIEW OF BOARDING OUT ALLOWANCES
A joint report of the Co-ordinator and the Financial Adviser was submitted considering the role of Social Services
North West in making recommendation about the rate of boarding -out allowances in member authorities.
Members held the view that the regional rate for boarding - out allowances was somewhat out-dated. County Councillor
Wilkinson suggested that car mileage be included when the review is carried out.
RESOLVED/
1. That a comprehensive review be undertaken, jointly, with ADSS North West, of the regional role in promoting
good practice in foster care.
2. That for the benefit of those authorities still relying on a regional point of reference, Social Services North
West recommends, for a final year in 2001/2002, an inflation increase in the rates recommended by NWASSA in previous
years, as set out in the attached appendix.
NWA/00/44 - WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
A report of the Co-ordinator was submitted on recent developments in relation to Social Services North West's
agenda with the National Health Service.
A pamphlet was circulated concerning a Social Services North West Conference, to be held on 18 January 2001, at
the Reebok Stadium, Bolton on Social Care and the NHS Plan - equal partnership in serving people and communities.
The Co-ordinator referred to this conference as 'the highlight of the year' and urged all authorities to support
this event. Already there has been a high demand for places.
There is continuing concern about the strength of the partnership between health and social care. Bernard Walker,
Director of Social Services, Wigan made the point that there has to be a broader role for local government in
the future of the NHS. It was felt that the question of mental health care was problematic and the Deputy Chair
said that he would raise this issue with ProfessorJoan Higgins, Chair of the NHS Region at the forthcoming meeting
in Bolton in February. Councillor Dolan referred to the scrutiny aspects of the issue and the Deputy Chair said
that if Social Services North West can include comments on this matter it will.
RESOLVED/
1. That the report be noted and the actions taken be endorsed.
2. That the response from John Hutton, Minister of State be noted.
3. That representatives of NHS organisations in the North West be invited to attend the conference on 18 January
4. That authorities be asked for an update on their local partnerships with the NHS, in preparation for the meeting
with the Regional Chair.
5. That Social Services North West continue to address key issues and support member authorities in relation to
the NHS Plan.
NWA/00/45 - PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT AND THE QUALITY STRATEGY
A report of the Co-ordinator was considered on the response to the Government Green paper 'A Quality Strategy for
Social Care', and an approach from the Head of Joint Reviews.
It was suggested that Social Services North West arrange a conference next year that would include the scrutiny
of best value and performance assessment.
RESOLVED/
1. That the report be noted.
2. That the response to the Quality Assessment paper be endorsed.
3. That a response be made to the Director of Joint Reviews on the Consultation of Judgements.
4. That a further conference be arranged on performance assessment and quality issues, as they affect councillors
carrying responsibility for the personal social services.
NWA/00/46 - WORKING WITH THE NORTH WEST DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
A report of the Co-ordinator was submitted highlighting recent developments in relation to building contacts with
the North West Development Agency.
RESOLVED/
That the report be noted and that the Deputy Chair, Councillor Brian Strett be nominated to join the North West
Health Partnership
NWA/00/47 - KEY SERVICE / FINANCIAL PRESSURES
A report of the Co-ordinator detailing the final response of the North West Region's authorities to the survey
conducted by Social Services North West on the subject of Financial Pressures. A supplementary report was tabled
at the meeting.
It was reported that children's services were a major area of overspend and one of continuing concern in relation
to budgets.
The Deputy Chair referred to SIGOMA, a special interest group attached to the Local Government Association, (LGA)
which is able to cut across the political divide, and represents a number of northern urban authorities. It was
suggested that Social Services North West should liaise with SIGOMA and reaffirm its stance with regard to continuing
financial pressures.
RESOLVED/
1. That the report be noted.
2. That the Co-ordinator be requested to draft a letter, for approval by the Chair and Deputy Chair, to be sent
to the appropriate Ministers and to prepare a press release.
NWA/00/46 - CONFERENCE PROGRAMME 2000 - 2001
A report of the Co-ordinator was considered detailing recent and proposed conferences organized by Social Services
North West.
Comments were made that the conferences had been successful and informative.
RESOLVED/
1. That the report be noted, and support for the conference on 18 January 2001 on Social Care and the NHS plan
be encouraged.
NWA/00/47 - ASYLUM SEEKERS
A report of the Co-ordinator was submitted giving the current position concerning provision for asylum seekers
in the Region.
Recent confirmation from the Home Office had stated that 8000 asylum seekers would need to be dispersed in the
North West.
RESOLVED/
That the report be noted.
NWA/00/48 - NORTH WEST REGIONAL ASSEMBLY - RESEARCH INTO DISABILITY ISSUES
Ms Kate Smyth, research consultant gave a presentation on ' Committed to Inclusion, Accepting the Challenge', a
report that she had compiled on behalf of the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA). The report was distributed to
members and officers.
The report points out that the NWRA has begun to combat social exclusion and in Spring 2000, it commissioned intensive
research to identify the issues faced by disabled people in the region. These are issues that must be addressed
if disabled people are to be included and recommendations have been made on achievable action and a time-frame
for implementation.
Kate Smyth informed the meeting that there were 885,000 disabled people of working age living in the North West,
representing almost 21 % of its working population. 41% of these are in employment while the rest do not work
but claim state benefits. It was pointed out that only 4% of disabled people use a wheelchair.
Laws to be introduced in 2004 will require that premises will have to be accessible to disabled people. It was
pointed out that it was ironic that a number of NHS premises were not accessible, that they were often up stairs
and over shops. It was agreed that primary care facilities often leave much to be desired.
Kate drew the attention of the Committee to the serious matter of those people who suffer double disabilities.
For instance, they have one problem but then need to go into hospital with another unrelated problem. One member
said that 'there was no such thing as disabilities but more of levels of abilities'.
Should member authorities wish to make comments on the report they should be sent to Peter Viggers, Professional
Assistant, Social Services North West.
Members thanked Kate for what was an outstanding presentation and were reminded that there was an executive summary
at the beginning of the report.
NWA/00/49 - NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED/
That the next meeting be held on 16 March 2001 at Lawson House, Runcorn, Halton Borough Council.
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