Agenda item

5.1  Councillor Mark Williams, chair of the health & adult social care scrutiny sub-committee, introduced the report.

5.2  Members asked whether the review had explored the possibility of requiring care providers to indemnify themselves against financial risk.  Councillor Williams responded that this had not been included within the scope of the review but that a recommendation could be added to the report.  However, he commented that this would inevitably push up the cost of providing care.

5.3  Members were concerned at the indication on page seventeen of the report that the Four Seasons loan of £600 million would mature in September of this year.  Councillor Williams highlighted that their accounts had been returned as qualified and that debt repayments were falling behind.

5.4  In response to further questions, Councillor Williams confirmed that, as a result of improvements, the council had lifted the embargoes in respect of the care homes in the borough.  He also clarified the process for billing and reported that survey returns and the oral update in respect of Tower Bridge Home were positive.

5.5  Members asked whether the council had a good relationship with the various tiers of management.  Councillor Williams believed that new management at Southern Cross was better and more open.  In his view, sharing of best practice was key.  Once the report had been considered and commented on by cabinet, the sub-committee aimed to meet with the managers of the three homes.

5.6  The committee welcomed the report as an important piece of work.

  RESOLVED:

  That, with the additional recommendation below, the final scrutiny report be submitted to cabinet for consideration:

  “That cabinet be asked to explore the feasibility of requiring indemnification from future care contractors in the event that the provider ceases to operate.”