The Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - Resources of Derbyshire County Council discussed significant changes to council-operated care homes, the strategic approach to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), and the current situation regarding trade union time off.

Council Care Homes

A public question from D Ingham addressed the sudden shift in the council's stance on care home closures. Initially, there were no plans to reduce the number of council-operated care homes, but by April, a proposal was made to close up to 11 homes to achieve £5.209 million in savings. The Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health clarified that the savings were based on reducing service volume and remodelling the care home offer. The decision was influenced by a review of current and future demand for residential care beds, which indicated sufficient capacity in the Derbyshire care home market. The focus will now shift to specialist dementia care.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

Wes Downes, Policy Manager, and Sally Pearson, Head of Learning and Development, presented the key results of the public consultation on the proposed EDI Statement and Equality Objectives. The consultation, which ran from 28 February to 13 March 2024, received around 100 responses, primarily from council employees. The feedback indicated high levels of agreement with the EDI statement and objectives. As a result, the EDI Statement was amended to explicitly reflect the council's commitment to both colleagues and communities. The committee resolved to note the consultation findings, the final proposed EDI Statement, and the update on key EDI activities.

Trade Union Time Off

The committee was updated on the current situation regarding trade union time off within Derbyshire County Council. The council follows the ACAS Code of Practice on time off for trade union duties and activities. The recognition agreement with Unison, Unite, and GMB, which includes provisions for trade union time off, is under review. Initial amendments have been shared with the unions, and further discussions are scheduled. The committee resolved to note the current situation and the proposals to review the recognition agreement.

For more details, you can refer to the minutes of the meeting.