Open Council Network - Worcestershire

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Sat Jun 29
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Worcestershire Council: EV Charging Strategy Approved, School Closures Move Forward

The Worcestershire Council held three meetings this week. The Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board meeting scheduled for Monday was cancelled. The Cabinet met on Thursday and made key decisions about electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the future of education in Pershore. The Pensions Committee met on Tuesday and noted the minutes of the Pension Board and the Pension Investment Sub-Committee.

Cabinet

The Cabinet meeting on Thursday 27 June 2024 saw the council make significant decisions about the future of electric vehicle infrastructure in Worcestershire and education in Pershore.

Worcestershire Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy

The meeting began by considering a proposal to adopt the final version of the Worcestershire Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) Strategy. This strategy aims to address the growing need for electric vehicle charging points across the county. The strategy document suggests that:

To support the transition to electric vehicles and meet anticipated demand, it is estimated that over 2,000 additional public charging points will be needed across Worcestershire by 2030.

The strategy identifies a number of issues that may prevent the council from meeting these targets, including a lack of available land in the right locations, the cost of connecting charging points to the electricity grid, and the relatively low usage of some types of charging point. The report goes on to say that:

The economics and operating model for public charging provision remain challenging due to factors such as relatively low utilisation rates (particularly at rapid and ultra-rapid chargers), high electricity prices, increasing business rates on charging points, and grid connection costs.

The strategy proposes that the council should work with private companies to deliver the charging points. This suggestion echoes proposals made by the UK government in their 2020 policy paper Taking charge: the electric vehicle infrastructure strategy. ¹ The strategy suggests that:

...the Council should investigate and, where appropriate, pursue opportunities to collaborate with private sector charge point operators (CPOs) and other stakeholders, through measures such as joint ventures or concession agreements.

The cabinet approved the strategy.

Pershore Education Planning Area - School Tier Change

Councillors also discussed a proposal to change the school system in Pershore from its current three-tier system of first, middle, and high schools, to a two-tier system of primary and secondary schools. ²

The report considered by the council suggests that this change will:

Improve the quality of education provision in Pershore.
Increase parental choice.
Reduce the number of times children have to change schools.

The report identifies that the change would cost £20m and require the closure of 4 schools:

The report recognises that closing the schools will cause significant disruption for the pupils who attend them, but argues that:

...the benefits of moving to a two-tier system outweigh the disadvantages.

The cabinet approved the publication of statutory notices about the school closures. ³ The decision to close the schools follows a period of public consultation that began in 2022 and concluded in February 2024. This consultation identified that whilst there was no clear consensus on the proposal:

...there was a slight majority in favour of the proposal amongst respondents living in Pershore.

Worcestershire County Council Statement of Accounts 2023-24

The cabinet received the draft statement of accounts for 2023-24. ⁴ The statement shows that the council spent £962m in 2023-24 and received £964m in income.

The statement identifies a projected overspend of £22.6m. Of that overspend, £16.8m was in the Children's Services directorate. £10.7m of this overspend is attributed to the placement of children in care outside of the county. The report suggests that this overspend is due to a number of factors, including an increase in demand for services and the rising cost of placements. The report goes on to say that:

...the national picture for children’s social care shows that demand and costs continue to rise at an unsustainable rate...

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the Leader of the Council, is quoted as saying:

I do think that it's important that we continue to highlight the position that we're in and other local authorities are in, that the system is not sufficiently funded in order for us to meet our statutory duties within existing resources.

This statement reflects Councillor Geraghty's previous statements on this issue. At the meeting of the Cabinet on 23 May 2024, Councillor Geraghty said:

...the funding model for local government as a whole and in particular the funding model for children's services desperately needs reform...

The cabinet noted the statement of accounts and agreed to recommend it to the council's audit and governance committee for consideration at their next meeting.

Pensions Committee

The Pensions Committee is responsible for overseeing the Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund. This week, the Pensions Committee met on Tuesday 25 June 2024 to note the minutes of two of its sub-committees.

Pension Board Meeting

The Pension Board is responsible for the overall governance of the Pension Fund. The board met on 4 June 2024, but no video recording of the meeting has been made available.

Pension Investment Sub-Committee Meeting

The Pension Investment Sub-Committee is responsible for advising the Pensions Committee on investment strategy. The sub-committee met on 10 June 2024, but no video recording of the meeting has been made available.

This is the second time this month that the Pension Investment Sub-Committee has met without a video recording of the meeting being made available.

This week has seen the council grapple with the challenges of providing essential services in the face of rising demand and costs. The cabinet's decision to approve the Worcestershire Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy demonstrates the council's commitment to tackling climate change. However, the projected overspend in the Children's Services directorate highlights the difficult financial decisions that the council faces.

Taking charge: the electric vehicle infrastructure strategy is a UK government policy paper published in 2020 that sets out the government's plans for developing electric vehicle infrastructure in the UK. You can read the policy paper on the gov.uk website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/taking-charge-the-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-strategy. ↩
A three-tier education system is a system in which children move between three types of school: first school, middle school and high school. A two-tier system is a system in which children move between two types of school: primary school and secondary school. ↩
A statutory notice is a formal notification that must be given by law. In this case, the statutory notice is being given to inform parents and other interested parties of the council's intention to close the schools. ↩
A statement of accounts is a financial report that provides information about an organisation's financial performance over a specific period of time. The statement of accounts is usually prepared annually and is audited by an independent auditor. ↩

Worcestershire Council Expands Volunteer Engagement Initiatives

In the last 7 days (since Saturday 08 June 2024), the council has held the following meetings:

Pension Investment Sub-Committee - Monday 10 June 2024
Pension Investment Sub-Committee - Wednesday 12 June 2024 (Cancelled)
Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 13 June 2024 (Cancelled)
Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Monday 10 June 2024
Joint Museums Committee - Wednesday 12 June 2024

Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting on Monday focused on the significant role of volunteers in Worcestershire and the council's efforts to support and expand volunteer engagement.

Volunteering in Worcestershire

The meeting began with a discussion led by Karen May, the cabinet member for the community, who emphasized the critical role volunteers play in enhancing the lives of Worcestershire residents. The council's strategy includes several key initiatives:

Post-COVID-19 Volunteering: The council has been building on the volunteer momentum gained during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers have been crucial in various sectors, including libraries, museums, and health walks.
Volunteer Week: The meeting highlighted the success of Volunteer Week, which celebrated the contributions of volunteers and aimed to recruit more individuals into volunteering roles.
Volunteer Database: The council maintains a database of over 1,000 volunteers, although many have not been active recently. Efforts are being made to re-engage these volunteers and offer them new opportunities.

New Volunteering Areas

Hannah Parrott, the assistant director, discussed new areas where volunteers are being integrated, such as the Coroner's service and public health engagement. The council is also working on a county-wide volunteer portal funded by a £50,000 grant from the Department of Health and Social Care. This portal aims to streamline volunteer recruitment and engagement across the health and care system.

Financial Impact of Volunteering

The meeting also touched on the financial contributions of volunteers. For example, the archaeology service benefited from £45,000 worth of volunteer work last year. The council is exploring ways to better quantify and demonstrate the value volunteers bring to the community.

Challenges and Future Plans

The panel discussed the challenges of maintaining volunteer engagement and the importance of supporting volunteers through training and recognition. There was also a focus on ensuring that volunteering opportunities are accessible to all, including those who may face financial barriers.

Questions and Concerns

Councillor Emma Marshall raised concerns about the decision-making process for the transition away from the Here to Help service, which was a COVID-19 response initiative. The council clarified that the decision was made based on the reduced need for such a service post-pandemic and the shift towards more sustainable volunteer engagement strategies.

Other Meetings

The Pension Investment Sub-Committee met on Monday, but no video broadcast was provided.
The Pension Investment Sub-Committee scheduled for Wednesday was cancelled.
The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee scheduled for Thursday was also cancelled.
The Joint Museums Committee met on Wednesday, but no video broadcast was provided.

This week's focus on volunteering highlights the council's commitment to community engagement and the significant impact volunteers have on local services. The discussions and initiatives presented in the Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting underscore the importance of supporting and expanding volunteer efforts to enhance the well-being of Worcestershire residents.

Key Insights on Social Care, Public Health, and Foster Care Challenges in Worcestershire

In the last 7 days (since Saturday 18 May 2024), the council has held the following meetings:

Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Monday 20 May 2024
Health and Wellbeing Board - Tuesday 21 May 2024
Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Wednesday 22 May 2024
Planning and Regulatory Committee - Tuesday 21 May 2024 (Cancelled)
Cabinet - Thursday 23 May 2024 (Cancelled)

Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting on Monday focused on several key issues, including social care, safeguarding, and the challenges faced by the council in managing resources and services.

Social Care and Safeguarding

Mr. Maurice, the new Sea of Honor, thanked the council for additional resources allocated to social care. He emphasized the ongoing challenges in ensuring staff availability and the importance of rapid learning from safeguarding incidents. He highlighted the benefits of a verbal rapid building process, which allows for quicker dissemination of learning from serious incidents, reducing the time from a year to three to six months. He also discussed the issue of self-neglect, noting that declining cognitive function can lead to situations where individuals unintentionally neglect themselves, such as misunderstanding food expiration dates.

Exploitation Strategy and Rough Sleeping

The council has made significant progress in addressing rough sleeping, involving people with lived experiences and relevant bodies. The development of the Complex Handle of Risk Management (CALM) process was praised. This process addresses the needs of individuals who fall through the cracks between agencies, using innovative methods like meeting people in coffee shops to engage with them effectively.

Staffing Concerns

Staffing in the adult care sector was a critical concern. Mr. Maurice pointed out the risk of a shortage of nurses in the coming years, despite an increase in medical school placements. He stressed the need for efforts to retain staff and attract new entrants into the nursing profession, as the demand for adult care services grows with an aging population.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspections

Mr. Maurice expressed confidence in Worcestershire's preparedness for CQC inspections. He mentioned the importance of professional curiosity and multi-agency working in safeguarding, highlighting the need for continuous improvement in mental capacity assessments and information sharing among agencies.

Voluntary Redundancies and Service Delivery

The council discussed the impact of voluntary redundancies on service delivery, particularly in managing direct payments for social care. The reduction in staff has made it challenging to maintain the same level of service, and the council is reviewing processes to streamline and improve efficiency.

Continuing Healthcare Funding

The meeting addressed the complexities of continuing healthcare funding and the disputes that arise between local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). The council is working to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate funding and care, despite the challenges posed by differing interpretations of the national framework for continuing healthcare.

Health and Wellbeing Board

The Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Tuesday focused on public health initiatives and community well-being in Worcestershire.

Public Health Review 2023-2024

David Ross, the new cabinet member for Public Health and Wellbeing, chaired the meeting. Lisa Macklin presented a comprehensive review of public health activities over the past year, emphasizing the importance of partnership with NHS colleagues, the voluntary sector, and residents. Achievements included high performance in health visiting services, reduced smoking rates in pregnancy, and successful vaccination campaigns.

Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy

Claire Mitchell and Hailey Darnell discussed efforts to reduce smoking in pregnancy, a significant risk factor for poor birth outcomes. The local maternity and neonatal system (LMS) has been instrumental in driving improvements, with a focus on partnership and evidence-based practices. Since 2019, smoking rates at the point of delivery have decreased from 13.1% to under 9%. The introduction of vaping as a smoking cessation tool has significantly increased quit rates.

Tackling Loneliness and Isolation

Lucy Check and Lucy Bird presented the draft action plan to address loneliness and isolation, a key priority in Worcestershire's 10-year strategy. The plan focuses on partnership working, connecting people, and community engagement. The Stay Connected Community Grant Programme has funded various projects, including a bereavement support group in Droitwich led by Geena and supported by Lucy Bird. The importance of reaching hard-to-reach individuals and addressing loneliness across all age groups was emphasized.

Better Care Fund Update

Simon Trickett requested the board's permission to delegate the sign-off of the Better Care Fund end-of-year template and plan update to the Integrated Commissioning Executive Officers Group. This delegation ensures timely submission to NHS England, with formal sign-off to follow at the next board meeting.

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting on Wednesday introduced Councillor Emma Marshall as the new chair and focused on foster care challenges and strategies, as well as the Inspiring Worcestershire program.

Foster Care Challenges and Strategies

Tina Russell, the Director of Children's Services, highlighted the shortage of foster carers and the increasing number of children needing care, especially those with complex needs due to trauma and abuse. The council's strategy includes:

Kinship Care: Prioritizing placing children with known family members.
Mainstream Foster Care: Recruiting more foster carers.
Specialist Foster Carers: Introducing specialist foster carers who can earn £1,000 a week for caring for children with challenging behaviors.
Empower Partnership: Working with Empower, a consulting firm, to improve foster care recruitment and retention using their valuing care approach.

Inspiring Worcestershire Program

Jude Ditz and Matt Lead from the People Directorate presented the Inspiring Worcestershire program, which aims to improve career guidance in schools. Key points included:

Gatsby Benchmarks: Schools are guided to implement a structured framework for career education.
Enterprise Advisors: Employers work with schools to provide real-world career insights.
Events: The Worcestershire Skill Show and other events help students explore career options.
Teacher Encounters: Programs to help teachers understand industry needs and integrate career guidance into their teaching.

Future Workforce in Social Care

Daniel Gray discussed efforts to engage young people in social care careers. Initiatives include:

Engagement Events: Partnering with Worcester Sixth Form College to run events that introduce students to social care careers.
Positive Feedback: These events have been successful in sparking interest in social care among students.

Additional Topics

Screen Time and Mental Health: A proposed future topic to examine the impact of screen time on young people's mental health.
School Policies on Exams and Well-being: A suggestion to investigate how schools balance exam preparation with student well-being.

The meeting concluded with a review of the work program and the addition of new topics for future meetings.

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