The Adults and Cultural Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 7 September 2026 to discuss the annual review of Leicestershire's country parks, the accreditation status of the Record Office, adult social care complaints and compliments, the Care Quality Commission improvement plan, and the Leicestershire Carers Strategy. Key decisions included noting the progress on the country parks review, the Record Office's provisional accreditation, and the adult social care complaints report, as well as commenting on the proposed Adults Rural Under-Representative Communities Grant Scheme and the Leicestershire Carers Strategy.

Annual Review of Leicestershire Country Parks

The committee received an update on the ongoing work within Leicestershire's country parks. The report highlighted an extensive programme of events and engagement activities, including the Up to the Beacon Sculpture Trail which attracted an estimated 15,000 visitors. Visitor facilities have seen improvements, such as a new secure dog exercise area at Broombriggs Farm Country Park and investment in path resurfacing across the network. The service is supported by 147 volunteers who contributed 3,346 hours of work. Flooding remains a challenge at Watermead Country Park, with eight flood events throughout the year, but natural flood mitigation measures have been installed at Beacon Hill. The service has achieved Green Flag Awards for Beacon Hill, Market Bosworth, Snibston, and Watermead Country Parks. Looking ahead, the service will explore how to capture more accurate visitor data and will continue to manage its land holdings for the benefit of wildlife and people.

Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

The committee was updated on the accreditation status of the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland (ROLLR) by The National Archives (TNA). The ROLLR was awarded provisional accredited status for two years in 2024, dependent on meeting improvement requirements, including providing archival standard storage and procuring a digital preservation and access system. In July 2026, the TNA noted strong progress towards addressing issues and extended the provisional award until the midpoint review in summer 2027. The report highlighted that failure to resolve the current storage situation could jeopardise the Archive Service's accreditation. The estimated costs for maintaining current accommodation and commissioning external storage over 25 years are substantial, with Leicestershire County Council's proportion being over £42 million. The committee was asked to note the report.

Adult Social Care Statutory Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2025-26

The committee received the annual report on adult social care complaints and compliments for 2025-26. Complaint volumes increased slightly to 342, with a rate of 31 complaints per 1,000 users. The top complaint themes were charging, assessment, and service received. While 47% of complaints were upheld, a decrease in timeliness was noted at Stage 2 of the complaints process, with 45% exceeding the statutory timescale. The report also highlighted a significant increase in compliments, with 442 received, exceeding the number of complaints. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated 36 new complaints, with fault found in eight instances. The committee was asked to note the report and provide comment.

Care Quality Commission Assessment 2025 Improvement Plan Delivery Update

An update was provided on the progress made in delivering the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Improvement Plan. Significant improvements have been made in the timeliness of assessments and reviews, with waiting times for assessments reducing considerably. For example, the percentage of people waiting over 28 days for an assessment dropped to 3.3% in August 2026, down from 18% in August 2025. Timeliness of financial assessments has also significantly improved. The report detailed progress in access to information, advice, and guidance, including the launch of a new chatbot and a review of the council's website. Improvements have also been made in reablement services and hospital discharge processes. The committee was asked to comment on the proposed Adults Rural Under-Representative Communities Grant Scheme, which aims to address inequalities in accessing preventative support through a £800,000 fund over four years. The report also noted that the Care Quality Commission will adopt a flexible approach to assessing local authorities undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, with potential for focused assessments rather than full comprehensive assessments until after the vesting day in April 2028.

Leicestershire Carers Strategy 2026-2030

The committee received an update on the public consultation for the Leicestershire Carers Strategy 2026-2030. The consultation involved over 300 adult carers, 19 young carers, and feedback from professionals. The feedback indicated that 74% of responders felt the draft strategy accurately reflected carers' issues, and 94% considered the proposed priorities to be very important. Key themes from the feedback included the need for further respite options, a focus on young carers, better communication between services, additional help with benefits, crisis support, and clear information for carers and those they care for. The strategy has been revised to include a greater focus on working carers and parent carers, and commitments from health partners. The accompanying action plan will include proposed commissioning intentions. The committee was asked to comment on the strategy and action plan before it is presented to Cabinet for approval.