Resolved:   That all items on the agenda be web-cast.

Apologies were received from Councillor Beerling.

It was noted that Councillor Moriarty was substituting for Councillor Beerling.

There were no visiting Members.

a)  Disclosures of interest.

b)  Disclosures of lobbying.

c)  Disclosures of whipping.

Councillor Paine declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9, Future Work Programme and Forward Plan of Key Decisions by virtue of his friendship with an employee of Nu-Venture Coaches Limited.

Resolved:  That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2009 be agreed as a correct record and duly signed by the Chairman.

Interview with Ms Sue Stower, Kent County Council’s Head of Service for the Maidstone and Malling Locality.

The Chairman welcomed the Head of Services for the Maidstone and Malling Locality, Ms Sue Stower, and the Senior Practitioner, Mr Peter Buckley, from Kent County Council’s Adult Social Services to the meeting and asked them to provide an introduction to the role of Occupational Therapy with regard to Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs).

Kent Adult Social Services had been restructured from 1 October 2009 to encompass the Self Directed Support, part of the Government’s Personalisation Agenda, which gave people more choice and control over their lives and the support they received.  The Kent Contact and Assessment Service now received all Kent Adult Social Service’s referrals, giving advice and guidance and undertaking as much fast track work as possible that did not require assessments.  This included arranging delivery of minor equipment and adaptations to people who were clear about what their needs were.  In addition a six week period of enablement could be arranged to help someone regain their skills and confidence in activities of daily living.  This helped them to live as independently as possible in their home without the intervention of long term care packages or major equipment.  The enablers were able to put in minor equipment if necessary. 

The Assessment and Enablement Teams consisted of Care Managers, Occupational Therapists, the Hospital Teams and Kent Home Care Teams.  Occupational Therapists within this team were known as ‘Case Managers (OT)’.  This team was responsible for assessing clients needs, including for equipment and adaptations.  Once the needs had been established and an indicative budget set, the case was passed to the Coordination Team who helped the service user create their own support plans.  OT cases did however remain in the Assessment and Enablement Team because it was not considered good practice to hand over a case to a new person halfway through the DFG process given its complexities.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) completed three year Occupational Therapy degrees (or equivalent) and were required to be state registered to practice.  OTs carried out home visits and used both their medical knowledge and clinical reasoning to assess the customer’s physical capabilities to carry out certain actions in the home, such as a person’s ability to get in and out of a chair, on and off the lavatory and up and down stairs.  In response to a question, Ms Stower advised that the client’s needs would not be exceeded as the assessments were formalised and OTs were trained to supply only what was absolutely necessary.  She noted that some adaptations could be counter productive if not required, such as a stair lift, as the stairs were good exercise.  The OT made recommendations in consultation with the client, and elected for the most modest solution, such as the utilisation of a shower stool to aid showering or a stair lift rather than an extension.  The OT also considers the prognosis of the client and major adaptations may be suggested if appropriate.  An OT’s recommendation for a major adaptation was discussed in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

The Chairman informed the Committee that he had met with the Contaminated Land team to discuss the Committee’s forthcoming review and the work of officers.  Members were advised that officers were reviewing the Council’s Contaminated Land Strategy, including the definition of contaminated land, to align it with other Local Authorities.  A new Environmental Health Manager would be attending the Committee’s meeting on 24 November to present the draft revised strategy.  Members would then be able to establish whether they felt there was any outstanding work and whether a further contaminated land review was required by Members.  The Chairman highlighted that the Committee had to receive the draft strategy at its meeting in November as the Cabinet Member’s decision was scheduled to be taken before 29 January 2010. 

The Committee considered the Park and Ride Update attached at Appendix A.  Members felt it was particularly important for the Committee to continue monitoring usage and requested that further information regarding usage, financial implications and town centre footfall figures be presented to the Committee at its meeting on 24 November.  The Committee also requested that the Overview and Scrutiny Officer research other Local Authorities’ Park and Ride usage figures.  A Councillor queried the logic of why the number of customers finding it easy to identify which bus to catch from the town had increased from 201 to 266 for the London Road Park and Ride, when bus livery had been reduced.  The Committee therefore requested a copy of Jacob’s survey report. 

The Chairman reminded Members that the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee was holding a scrutiny structure workshop on 3 November and reiterated the importance of all Members’ involvement in helping to shape the future of scrutiny.

Resolved:  That

a)  The Committee monitor Park and Ride usage and receive further information on the financial implications of the drop in usage, along with  town centre footfall figures to compare to Park and Ride usage;

b)  The Overview and Scrutiny Officer research other Local Authorities’ Park and Ride usage figures; and

c)  Members be provided with a copy of the Jacobs Park and Ride survey report.

6.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m