Proposed by Councillor Anne McArdle

Seconded by Councillor Pat Glasman

1.  That this Council accepts that the changing demographic pattern of the Wirral will mean a high percentage increase in the older population and that this factor will place even greater demands on health and social care services over the next decade.

2.  It is therefore of paramount importance that this Council begins a mature and considered debate as to how these services can be best provided in a climate of ever decreasing funding from central government. This debate should be cross party and include all stakeholder organisations so that future policy decisions are made on evidenced based strategic need – not political expediency.

3.  The passing of the Health and Social Care Bill and the inevitable march towards private provision for health and social care will mean that multi-national businesses such as Virgin Care will be reluctant to provide for those with long-term chronic conditions that are often a characteristic of the older population. In Wirral we must fight against this threat.

4.  It is with these priorities in mind that the need for an effective and efficient Adult Social Services Department becomes paramount. Council acknowledges the big improvements that have been made in Adult Social Services and congratulates all staff on a very positive Self-Evaluation exercise which was completed in December 2012. This report has provided an excellent milestone in the work towards the peer review due to be undertaken later this year.

5.  It is time to move forward so that constructive energies and scarce resources are channelled appropriately and not over –focussed on the errors of the past.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Simon Mountney

Seconded by Councillor Cherry Povall

Delete all after paragraph 1 and insert:

2.  This Council recognises the dedication and determination shown by the staff working within the Department of Adult Social Services. Their efforts, professionalism and flexibility are the cornerstone of the provision of service as we move forward.

3.  This Council has now had the opportunity to investigate the “Martin Morton” affair and the 4 week delay policy along with other ongoing issues within DASS. The findings thus far indicate that issues exist within the management teams at all senior levels and that the standard of leadership expected and required by this Council has been lacking in certain areas.

4.  There of course should always be a culture of moving provision on and upwards but this must be managed against the background of learning all the lessons from our mistakes. It appears that some management have yet to embrace this culture of learning and inclusion. Council would find it useful and interesting to see the raw returns from the recent self evaluation exercise so council could assess these findings against the subsequent report.

5.  This Council does not wish to dwell or focus on the past to the detriment of service provision as we all move forward together. However, Council does wish to learn all the lessons of the past so we might learn to the maximum in developing our social services moving forward. It is therefore important that we get the correct balance between moving forward and recognising, correcting and learning from our mistakes as any good Investor in People organisation should do.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Ann Bridson

Delete paragraph 3 and replace with:

Council welcomes the changes to the Health and Social Care Bill that mean that firms commissioned to provide NHS care can only compete on quality, not price. However, Council also agrees that there are legitimate concerns about changes to the provision of community health services and believes that close scrutiny should be given to the service level agreements contained in these contracts to ensure that services continue to be provided free at the point of use, to a high standard on the basis of people’s need.

Delete paragraph 5 and replace with;

It is important that constructive energies and scarce resources are channelled appropriately. Council believes that, in order to do this, the errors of the past must first be properly recognised and addressed – not swept under the carpet so that we are doomed to repeat them.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment proposed by Councillor Mountney was put and carried (36:29) (One abstention).

The amendment proposed by Councillor Gilchrist was put and carried (36:29) (One abstention).

The substantive motion was put and carried (36:29) (One abstention).

Resolved (36:29) (One abstention) –

(1)  That this Council accepts that the changing demographic pattern of the Wirral will mean a high percentage increase in the older population and that this factor will place even greater demands on health and social care services over the next decade.

(2)  This Council recognises the dedication and determination shown by the staff working within the Department of Adult Social Services. Their efforts, professionalism and flexibility are the cornerstone of the provision of service as we move forward.

(3)  This Council has now had the opportunity to investigate the “Martin Morton” affair and the 4 week delay policy along with other ongoing issues within DASS. The findings thus far indicate that issues exist within the management teams at all senior levels and that the standard of leadership expected and required by this Council has been lacking in certain areas.

(4)  There of course should always be a culture of moving provision on and upwards but this must be managed against the background of learning all the lessons from our mistakes. It appears that some management have yet to embrace this culture of learning and inclusion. Council would find it useful and interesting to see the raw returns from the recent self evaluation exercise so council could assess these findings against the subsequent report.

(5)  This Council does not wish to dwell or focus on the past to the detriment of service provision as we all move forward together. However, Council does wish to learn all the lessons of the past so we might learn to the maximum in developing our social services moving forward. It is therefore important that we get the correct balance between moving forward and recognising, correcting and learning from our mistakes as any good Investor in People organisation should do.

(6)  Council welcomes the changes to the Health and Social Care Bill that mean that firms commissioned to provide NHS care can only compete on quality, not price. However, Council also agrees that there are legitimate concerns about changes to the provision of community health services and believes that close scrutiny should be given to the service level agreements contained in these contracts to ensure that services continue to be provided free at the point of use, to a high standard on the basis of people’s need.

(7)  It is important that constructive energies and scarce resources are channelled appropriately. Council believes that, in order to do this, the errors of the past must first be properly recognised and addressed – not swept under the carpet so that we are doomed to repeat them.