Agenda and minutes

To agree the procedures for the operation of hybrid meetings.

RESOLVED –

THAT the guidance be agreed.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wright.

There were no declarations.   

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Any other announcements

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair reminded those present that the meeting was being broadcast live by the Council to the internet and could be viewed for twelve months thereafter and then archived and made available on request. Anyone who had asked to address the meeting was deemed to be consenting to having their contribution recorded and broadcast and to the use of the sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.

Camden’s Children’s Services were congratulated on having received a rating of ‘outstanding’ from Ofsted for the overall effectiveness of the service. The Ofsted inspection had taken place in April 2022 and the report published on the 21^st June 2022. The Children’s Service, the leadership of the Service and those involved in the inspection were thanked for their commitment and making a difference to the lives of Camden’s children and young people.  

The Cabinet noted that today, 22^nd June, was Windrush Day and whilst there was much to be celebrated by the Windrush Generation, they and their families had been let down by the Government and were still seeking justice.    

There were no deputations.

There was no notification.  

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2022.

RESOLVED - 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd March 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting items referred from a Council Scrutiny Committee requiring urgent consideration will be taken.

There were no matters referred.

Report of the Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment. The Cabinet Member introduced the report with the recommendation that the North London Waste Plan Adoption be referred to Full Council. 

RESOLVED –

THAT having considered the results of the equalities impact assessment set out in Appendices C and D and having due regard to the obligations set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2022 the Cabinet: 

1.    Noted the content of the report and the Inspector’s Report on the North London Waste Plan (as set out in Appendix A of the report);

2. Agreed to refer the report and the appended documents to full Council with the recommendation to adopt the North London Waste Plan (set out in Appendix B of the report), which incorporated the amendments recommended by the Planning Inspector who carried out the public examination of the Plan.

Reasons

For the reasons set out in the report.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families

This report sets out the work completed to date to refresh the draft Local Area Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy 2022-2027 (attached at Appendix A). We are seeking approval by Cabinet to proceed to formal consultation.

The renewed draft strategy, developed through a programme of engagement with key professionals and co-designed with children with SEND and their families, establishes a shared ambition that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities lead happy, fulfilled and rewarding lives.

The work is being overseen by the SEND Strategy and Improvement Board, chaired by Martin Pratt, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services. The Board has representation from Education, Health and Social Care as well as parents from the Parent Carer Forum and Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS). Please see list of board members attached at Appendix C.

Subject to Cabinet’s approval, we will hold a formal, 12-week consultation on the draft strategy from 1 July 2022 until 22 September 2022. A final version of the strategy, taking into consideration views gathered during the formal consultation, is due to be approved by Cabinet in the autumn.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families.  The Cabinet Member presented the draft strategy and sought endorsement by Cabinet for the strategy to progress to formal consultation.    

RESOLVED –

Having due regard to the obligations set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the Cabinet:

i)               Accepted the proposals for the Local Area Special Education Needs and Disabilities Strategy as set out in the report and agreed that the draft strategy should go to public consultation;

ii)              Agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Director Supporting People, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Best Start for Children and Families, to approve the final arrangements for and thereafter conduct the consultation as agreed. 

Reasons

For the reasons set out in the report.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

This report sets out a proposed approach to the commissioning of Camden’s adult substance misuse and recovery services. The intention is to commission an integrated service which will also include the development of a designated substance misuse family service.

The proposed model will offer a single point of entry to substance misuse services, increase flexibility of where and when services are offered, increase partnership working with stakeholders, offer a flexible approach to those experiencing multiple disadvantage, support families directly affected by substance misuse and help to minimise intergenerational substance misuse.

The proposed contract will be for six (6) years starting on or around 1 April 2023, with the option to extend at the sole discretion of the Council by two (2) further periods of up to two-years each with an estimated total value of c£54,000,000. The value excludes the potential variations to the contract set out in section 2 of the report, which will be made clear to the market in the tender documentation and contract notice.      

The option of the Council directly providing the new service was not deemed a credible commissioning option. These are clinical services which require specialist expertise and registration with the Care Quality Commission.

The Council would need to identify compliant premises; and develop line management and clinical supervision structures with sufficient expertise to ensure that services are delivered by staff with the appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience.  This includes the prescribing and dispensing of controlled drugs and other medication; delivering physical health interventions such as injection site checks; wound care; hepatitis screening and vaccination; and providing a suite of psychiatric and psychological interventions.

There is a healthy provider market for the delivery of drug and alcohol services which is well established and very experienced in delivering quality substance misuse services.

The procurement will achieve the identified Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) saving of £500,000. This was a saving due to be delivered in 2020/21 but was delayed due to Covid-19.  It is unclear whether further savings will be required from the new MTFS which is still to be agreed.

The report is being submitted to the Cabinet in line with Contract Standing Order C3.4, which states that the Cabinet must agree procurement strategies for contracts over £5,000,000.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care. In the absence of Councillor Wright, the report was presented by Councillor Callaghan, who had until recently been the Cabinet Member with responsibility for health in Camden. 

RESOLVED –

THAT having considered the results of the equalities impact assessment at Appendix 1, and having due regard to the obligations set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the Cabinet:

1. THAT the introduction of a new integrated substance misuse service delivery model, which will incorporate four (4) current contracts into one, as set out in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.6 of the report be agreed;

2. THAT the procurement strategy, which included a price/quality split of 40/60 and contract term of six (6) years plus two (2) extensions of two-years for an estimated aggregate value (including extensions of £54,000,000) as set out in paragraphs 2.7 to 2.11 of the report be agreed; and

3. THAT the delegation of authority to the Director of Public Health to take the final decision on the award of the contract in consultation with the Cabinet Member for a Healthy and Caring Camden be agreed.

Reasons

For the reasons set out in the report.

There was no urgent business.