Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lamb.

          There were no declarations of interest.

          The minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2015 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

Cabinet received a report which followed the consultation and feedback on the proposed recommendations on day opportunities for adults under 65. The consultation sought the views of service users, parents, carers, staff, providers and partners on the transformation of day opportunities and the report enabled Cabinet to consider both the responses to the city wide consultation and the amendment to the original proposals.

Councillor Holdich stated that he was the chairman of City College, however he had reviewed his position and taken legal advice and did not consider himself predetermined and was therefore able to talk and vote on the matter.

Councillor Fitzgerald introduced the report highlighting the main issues contained within. He provided an overview of the new model, namely for the City College Peterborough to manage the day opportunities, and advised that the model focused on increasing the support given to people in developing employment and independent living skills, whilst retaining care based services for those with the most complex needs.

Pat Carrington, Principal of the City College, addressed Cabinet and gave an overview as to why the new model was so innovative, the plans going forward and the expertise that the College could bring to the model. She further advised of the partners who would be involved in taking the model forward.

Cabinet debated the report and key points raised and responses to questions included:

·         The Council continued to support Westcombe Industries and a number of other micro-industries such as Royce Rolls etc.

·         The College would develop individual’s skills in order to give them more employability prospects. It was recognised however that not all individuals would be able to work;

·         With regards to assisting to actively find work placements, the College worked with 250 employers across the city and the day opportunity centres also had contacts of their own; and

·         There may be some changes to the service going forward, but these would be made in order to make further improvements.

Cabinet reviewed the feedback received from the consultation on the proposals and its amendments for the transformation and modernisation of day services for adults under 65 and RESOLVED:

To approve the proposed approach of day opportunities operating effectively and effectively under the new model, namely for the City College Peterborough to manage the day opportunities.

          REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To enable consideration of both the responses to the recent city-wide consultation on the transformation of day opportunities and the amendment to the original proposals; and for consideration to be given as to how the findings would feed into the Councils spending plans for 2015/16.

          ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

A review of the current provision of day opportunities for people with learning and physical disabilities provided by the Council had been commissioned to understand if they were best meeting people’s needs or could be improved.

A number of alternative delivery models had been considered in providing an alternative to the service currently provided and the continuation of in-house services was not considered a viable option for a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Cabinet received a report which requested it to consider the responses made to the consultation on the future delivery model for the library service in Peterborough and, in light of those responses, to determine the way forward in such a way as to fulfil the Council’s statutory obligations.

The report sought Cabinet’s approval for the future delivery model for the library service in Peterborough.

Councillor Serluca introduced the report highlighting the main issues contained within including the key aspects of the new model and an overview of the consultation responses received. It was advised that the model provided for a flexible library service which responded to local need. Work would also continue with partners and groups to develop and monitor the proposals in the two pilot libraries, with the remaining implementation over two months. The Council’s Culture and Leisure Partnership Manager summarised the additional consultation responses received following the 12 noon deadline.  

Cabinet debated the report and key points raised and responses to questions included:

·         Cabinet congratulated officers and the Cabinet Member on the work undertaken on the consultation and the final outcome proposals;

·         A media campaign would be run throughout April 2015 to encourage individuals to sign up to Open+. Clear opening hour guidance would be available at all the libraries, giving people the option to know which libraries were open at any given time; and

·         The outcome proposals would ultimately improve the service provided and it was to be noted that many other authorities were closing libraries altogether, meaning a total loss of jobs.

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to:

          Approve the future delivery model for the library service in Peterborough.

          REASONS FOR THE DECISION

          To approve the proposed new approach to delivering Peterborough’s library services in the future as outlined within the report.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

Alternative options had been explored, but discounted, in relation to the options for the delivery of library services in Peterborough that would achieve a similar level of saving:

1) The option of putting all of the available staffing resource into Central Library to create an enhanced 7 day city centre offer, supplemented by the library mobile service; and

2) Central, Bretton, Orton, Werrington and Dogsthorpe libraries remain open with reduced staff hours, but will be available for further hours with no staff. Hampton remains as a purely self-service library. Eye, Dogsthorpe, Stanground, Thorney and Woodston libraries will close. However if community groups come forward any of these can remain open by being run by volunteers at no additional cost to the Council.

         Cabinet received a quarterly report which provided an update on the improvements made in Children’s Services and ongoing performance.

         Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED:

         To note the contents of the report.

         REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To ensure an overview of Children’s Services improvement was provided to the Cabinet for information.

         ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

         There were no alternative options considered.