Issue - meetings

(To receive a report by the Executive Director – Adult Care and Community Wellbeing and the Monitoring Officer which asks the Executive to consider and accept the report published by the Ombudsman on 6 July 2021)

1.    That the report published by the Ombudsman on 6 July 2021, and attached at Appendix A to the report, be received and considered.

2.    That the actions already taken to address the concerns set out in the Ombudsman's at Appendix A of the report, be noted and affirmed.

3.    That the first two recommendations of the Ombudsman as set out in paragraph 70 of the Ombudsman's report at Appendix A, be accepted.

4.    That the requirement for the Council to act with all possible urgency to move from a net to a gross payment arrangement consistent with properly managing the risks of the change for the Council, providers and service users, be accepted.

5.    That the actions taken both in respect of practice changes already implemented and the significant actions and change in systems being implemented to bring about the changes required to its payment mechanism be noted, confirmed and approved.  That the work outstanding, and the assurance that this will be actioned with all possible urgency, be noted.

A report was received from the Executive Director – Adult Care and Community Wellbeing and the Monitoring Officer which set out the Report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman ("the Ombudsman") into allegations of maladministration.  The Executive was requested to receive the Ombudsman's report on behalf of the Council and consider the recommendations of the Ombudsman and the actions taken and proposed to be taken by the Council under the Local Government Act 1974.

It was clarified that this was guidance and the Council had followed the Act, and had made a local choice, which the Ombudsman had disagreed with on this occasion. 

It was noted that the residential homes market considered the move from net to gross to be a significant contributor to future fee rates, and so it would help the Council in moving in that direction and with future pressures.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report published by the Ombudsman on 6 July 2021, and attached at Appendix A to the report, be received and considered.

2.    That the actions already taken to address the concerns set out in the Ombudsman's at Appendix A of the report, be noted and affirmed.

3.    That the first two recommendations of the Ombudsman as set out in paragraph 70 of the Ombudsman's report at Appendix A, be accepted.

4.    That the requirement for the Council to act with all possible urgency to move from a net to a gross payment arrangement consistent with properly managing the risks of the change for the Council, providers and service users, be accepted.

5.    That the actions taken both in respect of practice changes already implemented and the significant actions and change in systems being implemented to bring about the changes required to its payment mechanism be noted, confirmed and approved.  That the work outstanding, and the assurance that this will be actioned with all possible urgency, be noted.