Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from the Leader, Councillor Jane Scott. 

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 June 2014.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2014 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2014.

No declarations of interest were made.

No announcements were made.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. This meeting is open to the public, who may ask a question or make a statement. Written notice of questions or statements should be given to Yamina Rhouati of Democratic Services by 12.00 noon on 17 July 2014.  Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

The Deputy Leader explained that as was customary at meetings of Cabinet, any member of public present would be permitted to address Cabinet on items on the agenda.  It was noted that no formal requests had been made to address this meeting.

To receive and note the minutes of the following Cabinet Committees:

The minutes of the under mentioned Cabinet Committees were presented:

Resolved:

To receive and note the minutes of the following Cabinet Committees:

it was noted that Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe’s name in the list of those who had tendered an apology for the meeting needed to be included.

Report by Terence Herbert, Associate Director -Operational Children’s Services

Councillor Laura Mayes presented a report which sought to ensure that Cabinet was satisfied that the adoption agency was effective and achieving good outcomes for children, young people and service users.

This six monthly written report on the management, outcomes and financial

state of the adoption agency was a statutory requirement and covered the period 1October 2013 to 31 March 2014.

A number of significant changes had been implemented within the service in response to the continuing focus on adoption reform. Against a backdrop of continuing change and development, the service had improved its performance and risen to the challenges posed by the adoption reform agenda.

It was noted that the number of adoption orders granted had increased from 14 in 2012/13 to 40 in 2013/14 and the number of adopters approved increased from 26 in 2012/13 to 40 in 2013/14.  It was noted that some parts of the adoption process were outside the control of the Council eg the family justice system and in particular the allocation of court time. However, reports were being improved to ensure all necessary information was documented to avoid the risk of deferrals by the courts.

Cllr Jon Hubbard confirmed that the Children’s Select Committee had considered the matter and shared the opinion of Laura Mayes that the report presented was very encouraging and should be regarded as very good news indeed.

Resolved:

That the report be noted and that Cabinet’s congratulations for the hard work in bringing about the continued improvement of the service be conveyed to the Adoption Team.

Reason for decision:

The 2011 Statutory Adoption Guidance and the 2011 Adoption Minimum Standards place a requirement on local authority adoption services to ensure that Wiltshire Council Cabinet is satisfied that the Adoption Agency is effective; achieving good outcomes for children, young people and service users; and complying with the conditions of registration.

Report by Ian Gibbons, Associate Director of Law and Governance, and Monitoring Officer.

Councillor Dick Tonge presented a report which requested Cabinet to consider and provide any comment on the draft Annual Governance Statement  (AGS) for 2013-14.

This process formed part of the Council’s annual review of the effectiveness of its governance arrangements.  Taking into account any comments from   Cabinet and the Standards Committee,  the AGS would be signed by the Leader of the Council and the Corporate Directors after final approval by the Audit Committee on 31 July 2014. The AGS would also form part of the Annual Statement of Accounts for 2013-14.

Resolved:

That Cabinet notes the draft Annual Governance Statement  which together with ongoing work by the Governance Assurance Group would be presented for final approval to the Audit Committee on 31 July 2014 and thereafter published with the Statementof Accounts.

Reason for decision:

To prepare the Annual Governance Statement for 2013/14 for publication in accordance with the requirements of the Audit and Accounts Regulations 2011.

Report by Corporate Directors Carolyn Godfrey and Maggie Rae

Councillor Laura Mayes presented a report which outlined the current difficulties being experienced in the recruitment of experienced social workers and social work managers in children’s services and adult care operations.

The Corporate Leadership Team had therefore taken the operational decision on 23 June 2014 to pay market supplements to some specific social work roles where the impact of the recruitment difficulties on service delivery had become unsustainable. This was in accordance with the Council’s existing Market Supplement policy.

This was designed to improve in particular the recruitment and retention of experienced social workers and managers in the safeguarding and MASH (multi agency safeguarding hub) which was critical to the delivery of services to vulnerable children in Wiltshire.

This was an operational decision and therefore delegated to officers. However, it was being drawn to Cabinet’s attention to ensure it was satisfied from a safeguarding perspective. Cllr Mayes commented that as well as the supplement, there were other factors that also played a part in the retention of social workers such as manageable workloads and achieving a good work life balance.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.         Note and support the decision by Corporate Leadership Team on 23 June 2014 to pay 10% market supplement to level 3 and 4 social workers and a 15% market supplement to assistant team and team managers in the children’s social care teams for safeguarding and MASH: and

2.             Note that the decision also included the provision to extend these market supplement payments to other experienced social worker and social work managers roles in other areas of children’s services and within adult care operations where there is evidence of significant difficulties in recruiting, and where the inability to recruit is having an impact on service delivery that is deemed to be unsustainable and subject to the approval of the associate director for people & business, in conjunction with the relevant associate director.

3.         That a report be presented to a future meeting of Cabinet on other actions being taken to support much valued staff in these areas.

Reason for decision

To improve the recruitment and retention of experienced social workers and social work managers.

Any other items of business, which the Leader agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.