East Midlands Improvement & Transformation Board
25th November 2014 @ 10.00 am
Pera Business Park, Melton Mowbray, LE13 0UL
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Declarations of Interest
3. Minutes of meeting held 10th September 2014
4. Proposed Role and Focus of the Improvement and Transformation Board
5. Regional Health Review
6. Member Development Programme
7. Reflections on Local Government Summit (21st November 2014)
8. Update on Welfare Reform Item 3
East Midlands Improvement and Transformation Board meeting 10th September 2014
Minutes
In attendance Councillor Roger Begy, OBE (Chair) Rutland CC Councillor Marion Brighton, OBE North Kesteven DC Councillor Annette Simpson Bassetlaw DC Councillor Tony Howard East Lindsey DC Councillor Alan Chambers Bassetlaw DC Councillor Robin Brown Northamptonshire CC
Officers Stuart Young (SY) East Midlands Councils Alison Neal (AN) East Midlands Councils Kirsty Lowe East Midlands Councils Mark Edgell (ME) LGA Lee Harrison Nottinghamshire CC
1. Apologies Councillor Fiona Martin, MBE (Vice Chair) East Lindsey DC Councillor Blake Pain Harborough DC Councillor Alan Rhodes Nottinghamshire CC Councillor Lewis Rose, OBE Derbyshire Dales DC Councillor John Clarke Gedling BC Councillor Anne Western Derbyshire CC Councillor David Sprason Leicestershire CC Councillor Chris Baron Ashfield DC
Councillor Begy considered greater support on the part of members is required in order to make the Improvement and Transformation Board viable. This is a member led Board and members need to consider what they would wish to lead on going forward.
Health is a key issue at present and members agreed this work should continue with mistakes in the past and lessons need to be learnt. Similar problems are being experienced by many and it is important to consider what changes can be made.
It is important that procedures are formulated in the future and overlaps identified.
Going forward: . more radical changes need to be made . the role of the IT Board needs to be considered . 2 or 3 areas to be identified for consideration at the November Board meeting.
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. Link to LGA group
Action: SY/ME agreed to meet and discuss the role of the IT Board together with functional relationship between the LGA and EMC.
Councillor Howard advised the meeting of the collaboration in Hampshire which is taking place. Action: Councillor Howard agreed to look into this collaboration and advise.
2. Declarations of Interest
None
3. Minutes of meeting held 5th June 2014
The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting.
4. Legacy Programme
(a) Audit Report
Alison Neal presented this report to the Board, which represents the final internal audit of the 2012/13 and 2013/14 EM IEP Legacy Programme undertaken by EMC’s previous accountable body, Leicestershire County Council.
Cloud Computing project - £29k refund, together with the unspent legacy funding totalling £588,800 has been transferred to EMC.
AN confirmed that a risk assessment has been carried out and copies of all letters relating to the transfer across of funds are held at EMC. All projects have been rigorously challenged.
A report, with the recommendations of Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board, will be presented t the EMC Management Group.
The report was agreed.
(b) Lessons Learnt
Stuart Young presented this report to the Board. Following formal completion of the EM IEP programme, Members requested that a short document be produced reflecting upon the successes and failures of this programme.
The report set out the good news stories with an effective and sustainable programme being identified. £2.46m of grant investment has resulted in total savings to local councils of £18.97m, a return of 1:8.
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Councillor Simpson felt that Members have little knowledge of the work and role of EMC. SY agreed to discuss how EMC can address this issue and consider what can be done to move this forward. Action: SY
Councillor Begy/SY agreed to meet in order to discuss areas/locations of the location of future member development events etc in order to target a different Member audience from other regions. Action: Councillor Begy/SY.
Mark Edgell noted that the LGA recognised the cross-regional work but there is a need to recognise the traditional regions.
Councillor Begy requested that an item from the Improvement and Transformation Board be included on the agenda of the Executive Board. Action: SY.
Members noted the report.
5. Health Review
Stuart Young presented this paper to the Board, highlighting discussions that are taking place with EMC membership and with MPs through the APPG EM (regional MPs group), for proposed joint work between councils, MPs and partners on health matters.
Any proposed work will be led by local councils and complement the work already undertaken by local health scrutiny committees and health and wellbeing boards.
Councillor Begy considered inequality of funding to be an important issue. Consideration to be given what can be done about this and is there funding in place to deal with this. SY advised there is a clear difference in the role of health funding in the East Midlands, compared with other areas.
It is important that there is a focus at the outset.
Issues raised: . Inequalities . Funding
The Chair requested focus on these two issues. Action required. Action: SY
The Chair requested an initial report be prepared for consideration by December 2014. Action: SY
The report was noted.
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6. Sector Led Improvement – Adult Social Care
Lee Harrison, Nottinghamshire CC, attended the meeting in order to present this report to the Board. The report sets out the details of the delivery of the SLI programme in 2013/14 together with an outline of continuing work for 2014/15 for Sector Led Improvement – Adult Social Care.
In 2012/13 funding of £22k was provided towards setting up this programme. Within the programme there is a very good buy in to the programme. Ten second tier authorities have signed up. Peer Challenge programme is part of this programme.
The first year of the programme is now complete. Training is undertaken by the LGA as part of the Peer Challenge programme. 70% of the authorities have taken place. A specialist advisor, Eddie Clarke, has been appointed.
Peer Challenge – evaluation of the programme will be undertaken. Good responses have been received from those authorities who have taken part in the review. Positive response has also been received from Members.
A formal analysis of the programme and self assessments will be undertaken.
ME noted this is intra-regional work but there may be some benefits from having work undertaken from outside the region.
Lee advised of the Challenge Summit scheduled to take place on Friday 12th September for Chief Executives/Chief Officers. This will provide an opportunity to discuss outcomes. A summary report identifying successes and problems will be produced and shared with interested parties.
Members requested a progress report be provided in six months time identifying the key points. Action: Lee Harrison
Members considered the progress and developments.
Members endorsed the release of the additional £22k of funding in accordance with the previously endorsed funding agreement.
7. Update on Welfare Reform
SY presented this report to the Board.
The report provides the Board with an oversight of the current work and focus of the Welfare Reform Steering Group.
The Steering Group has continued to gather data on under occupancy, local housing allowance and council tax benefit. Future priorities in respect of data collection include:
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. Social Housing Rent arrears . Homelessness presentations . Empty residential properties . Advice and guidance service requests.
Members requested a follow up report providing an update on developments since the publication of the EMC report Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: the Story so Far. An update report will also be presented to the Executive Board in December in advance of an annual review for the full meeting of EMC in February 2015.
Members also requested an email be sent to Improvement and Transformation Board members regarding a contact lead member name who would provide an oversight for the completion of the update review. Action: SY
Members advised that Money Advisors have been appointed in order to deal with the problems with Universal Credit.
Rent Arrears – further work is being carried out.
The report was noted.
8. Member Development Programme 2014/15
SY presented this paper to the Board.
The report provided an update on the proposed Member Development Programme 2014/15 – a copy of which was attached to the report.
Kirsty Lowe identified the activities taking place. Programme now in place and it is important that Members engage in this important programme. Members agreed to support EMC in promoting the EMC Member Development programme of briefing events. Councils need to be encouraged to sign up to the programme.
Letter to be sent included copies of slides from previous events, in order to provide councils with in an insight into topics previously presented. Action: SY/EMC
Items for inclusion in the future events programme: . Better Care . Transport . Community Safety . Anti Social Behaviour Bill
Members requested that consideration be given to future events taking place in the North of the region. Action: EMC
Issues/Action – EMC . Promote events
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. How do we encourage more people to attend future events . Induction programme – Support for New Councillors following the May elections.
The report was noted.
8. Regional Summit – ‘The Future of Local Government and Public Service Delivery in the Next Parliament’
SY presented this report to the Board.
Front Bench representatives required. Chair agreed that Improvement and Transformation Board Members be included on the list of delegates. SY agreed to email those IT Board Members who have not registered attendance. Action: SY
The LGA Chair has been invited to present on the ‘100 Days’ campaign.
Mark Edgell provided the Board with an update on the ‘100 Days’ Campaign, which focussing on the practical steps required by Local Government. There are eight clear targets for LG to deliver in the future.
LGA will have fringe events taking place at the Party Conference. Information can be found at www.local.gov.uk/local interactive tool.
The report was noted.
Date of next meeting: 25th November 2014, 10.00 am @ Pera Business Park, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0PB
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Item 4
Improvement and Transformation Board
25th November 2014
The Role and Focus of EM IT Board
Summary
At the last Board Meeting, Members identified challenges in identifying and taking forward a programme of work. The following report proposes a way forward for the Board in identifying and agreeing a potential programme of work.
Recommendation
Members of the Board are invited to consider and agree the future focus of the Board.
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1. Introduction
1.1 At the last Board Meeting, Members identified challenges in identifying and taking forward a programme of work. The Board directed that proposals be developed in order to support its consideration at its next meeting.
1.2 This report proposes a way forward for the Board in identifying and agreeing a potential programme of work over and above oversight of the member and officer development programme, and current focused work on the welfare reform and health.
2. Challenges
2.1 In developing a proposed programme, the following challenges are identified. It is against the consideration of these challenges that the following work programme is proposed:
a) Where’s the Money?
2.2 That was spent. The EM RIEP programme has been formally closed, and appropriate (internal and external) audits completed. This process has been overseen and endorsed by this Board. Clearly, where partnerships have responsibility for allocated significant funding, support and engagement naturally follows. The level of previous RIEP funding is not available so the work of this Board cannot, therefore, be based on programme/resource management, rather it needs to focus on influencing and supporting councils in the East Midlands to innovate and improve in key areas of organisational importance.
b) Too Many Cooks….
2.3 The Board has previously emphasised the benefits and need for close and co-ordinated work with the LGA on improvement and transformation activity. The LGA has a clearly defined and well-supported programme of leadership and sector-led support that includes the ‘Leadership Academy’, corporate/theme peer challenges. Any work that EMC undertakes should complement, not duplicate, this, and the previously developed ‘prospectus’ attached as Appendix 4(a) provides a framework for guiding any agreed approach.
c) The (Really) Big Picture
2.4 Improvement and transformation is not just about shared services or peer review. There are some fundamental challenges facing local councils – the really big picture stuff – that should be considered, e.g. devolution, governance and combined authorities, alongside health and wellbeing, children’s and adult social care services.
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3. Proposals for Future Board Focus
a) Member and Officer Development Programme
3.1 It is suggested that this remains a Board responsibility. The Member Development Programme is an important element of EMC core activity and there is a commitment to offer at least one member development opportunity each month.
3.2 EMC supports councillor development in the region in a variety of ways. In addition to the knowledge briefing and skills development workshops being delivered both regionally and locally; EMC leads the assessment of the national councillor development charter in the region; manages networks to support the sharing of knowledge and experience of councillors in key areas, e.g. adult social care, children’s services; and supports the personal development planning (PDP) of councillors from process design including an on-line political skills assessment tool, developing in-house facilitation and undertaking PDP discussions.
3.3 Alongside this, the recent summit meetings (Rail Investment; Future of Local Government – attracting over 250 delegates) should be seen as integral parts of the member development offer – and therefore included within Board oversight arrangements.
b) Task and Finish Group Reviews
3.4 As part of the strategic influencing and policy development responsibilities of EMC, it is suggested that the Board provides oversight of the ‘task and finish group’ reviews. There are likely to be two reviews each year, alongside a number of shorter, more time-focused reviews.
3.5 Member oversight and engagement is key and the leadership provided by the Board will support the process, agreement and delivery of each review being member-led.
3.6 Current examples include the reviews into Regional Health Priorities and the Impact of Welfare Reform. The focus of future work should be informed by the priorities as identified by members as part of the annual business planning process and the views of the Board would support agreement of future task group activity.
c) Chair Networks
3.7 The LGA and EMC provide support for a number of lead member/chair networks on matters of key responsibility for the sector, specifically Health and Wellbeing, Children’s Services and Adult Social Care.
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3.8 In the co-ordination of activity of common interest and to support learning and the sharing of best practice, it is suggested that the Board brings together the Chairs of these networks on a regular basis. This would also link in to the wider activity of the sector that relates to improvement and transformation across both tiers of local government across the region.
d) Regional Corporate Support and Challenge – An Offer
3.9 The agreement of a refreshed focus of the Board provides an ideal opportunity for EMC to offer an additional sector-led improvement offer to member councils.
3.10 This builds upon a previously endorsed proposal – but one that was never taken up – whereby EMC (with support from LGA Principal Associate) provides bespoke support for a council (in all likelihood a district council) through a corporate-type review on any priority issue. This may include support and challenge to the council’s future vision and corporate plan, or additional support and learning from future challenges that may include proposals for combined governance arrangements.
3.11 It is proposed that the likely process would be: . Primarily undertaken with the council leader and chief executive but with the inclusion of other councillors and senior management at the discretion of each council. . The review team would be led by a council leader, EM IT Board member and chief executive (from councils within the East Midlands), supported by LGA Principal Advisor and EMC Executive Director. . The review would last between half a day to a day, with preparatory work undertaken by LGA Principal Advisor and EMC Executive Director. . Financial support would be available to provide for councillor involvement. . This support would be a provided a nil-additional cost (part of the membership offer of both the LGA and EMC) and the review will be confidential in nature.
4. Recommendations
4.1 Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board are invited to consider and agree the future focus of the Board.
Cllr Roger Begy OBE Chairman Improvement and Transformation Board
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Item 4(a)
Sector led Improvement and Transformation - Joint Prospectus by the LGA and EMC
East Midlands Councils and the Local Government Association work to support, promote and represent local government.
It is the objective of both organisations to ensure that local authorities are supported to effectively respond to the significant challenges the sector faces. To ensure clarity, this prospectus draws together the range of services and support on offer to member councils in meeting this challenge.
A key element of the support is where the national membership offer is enhanced by a locally-tailored regional package of support that complements and not duplicates each other’s work. With a broad, comprehensive and cost-effective package of support services and programmes available to member councils, the enclosed prospectus demonstrates to member councils where the LGA and EMC effectively work in partnership in delivering sector-led improvement and transformation.
The offer presented in the prospectus offers excellent value for money and is available to member councils at ‘free at use’ or on a marginal cost basis.
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Item 4(a)
Leadership
The importance of leadership development to help drive improvement in councils has long been recognised. Both the LGA and EMC are committed to continue to invest in member development in order to equip leaders with the skills and knowledge required to effectively represent their communities.
1. Councillor Support and Development
A comprehensive package of member development is offered to member councils at both the national and regional level.
Both EMC and the LGA provide free at use or subsidised support to assist in the development of political leaders, and help councillors undertake their leadership roles. The EMC/LGA programme includes:
. The LC Leadership Programme LGA – designed for chief executives and leaders in local government, customised learning to increase the leadership capacity of the sector and its ability to improve the lives of local people.
. The Leadership Academy LGA – delivered over a three month period, the Academy helps develop local government’s leaders of the future.
. Councillor induction LGA – free events where new councillors can learn more about local government, its challenges and their role as a councillor.
. Change of control LGA – up to five-days of free support from experienced councillors for new leaders and cabinet members.
. Opposition to power LGA – free support for councillors in opposition who are likely to form administrations.
. Next generation LGA - a programme for leaders of the future.
. Support to portfolio holders for children’s and adult social services LGA/EMC – help to undertake their statutory role.
. Individual peer mentoring LGA – support provided by experienced councillors with relevant expertise.
. Personal Development Planning EMC – support to design and or facilitate a culture and process of individual development plans to aid councillor development.
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. The Councillor Development Charter EMC – providing support and assessment against the national councillor learning and development framework in the East Midlands.
. The Community Leadership Awards EMC - a suite of three ILM endorsed awards that provide an opportunity for councillors to achieve recognition of the development of skills, knowledge and experience they have gained.
. Regional Programme of Briefing Events for Councillors EMC – the regional programme is a series of six quality knowledge based events for councillors on a variety of important and topical issues delivered on a ‘low cost’ basis.
. Regional Councillor Development Network EMC – this provides regular opportunities for councillor development officers and councillors to share learning, information and good practice.
. Member Development Workshops and Master-Classes EMC - delivered on a regional and sub regional basis focused upon specific issues identified by councillors against their development needs.
2. Officer Support and Development
The LGA and EMC provide free at use or subsidised support for the development of council officers, including:
. The National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) – attracting young talent into local government and providing councils with the high calibre leaders of the future.
. Leaning into the future LGA – aimed at the next generation of chief executives, it provides opportunities to work together on the challenges facing the sector, their authorities and themselves.
. Strategic leadership in modern local government LGA – for heads of service or equivalent to help develop leadership skills.
. Local Government Challenge LGA – personal development for rising stars.
. Low-cost professional CPD and training and development EMC – a focused development support for senior officers in key service delivery areas, e.g. planning, housing and environmental health.
. Leadership development EMC – also including succession planning, mentoring and individual workshops to support leadership development.
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Leadership development programmes can also be delivered regionally or on a sub regional basis focusing on the skills, knowledge and behaviour required to lead effectively.
. East Midlands Coaching Network EMC – a programme to help organisations build internal coaching capacity and enable access to qualified and experienced coaches to support performance improvement and personal development.
. Action Learning Sets EMC – the facilitation of Action Learning Sets and provision of an Action Learning Facilitation Skills Programme which builds the internal capacity of officers and councillors to self facilitate within and across authorities and partner organisations.
. Developing individuals and teams EMC - to improve individual and collective performance, e.g. through the Myers Briggs Type indicator that supports improvement in performance and productivity.
. Peer Learning EMC - events to help showcase and share best practice on particular topics, hosted by one or more local authorities who have interesting experiences to share.
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Transparency
The LGA has a range of online tools, which are free to access, to help you manage your own performance, compare performance with others, get detailed information about your local area and share best practice.
1. LG Inform LGA The LG Inform service is a practical response to the sector’s call for greater freedom to take responsibility for its own improvement and increase transparency. This free online service allows you to access, compare and analyse data and present your findings.
With access to over 1,800 individual items of published data for England, LG Inform provides: . easy access to the most relevant, up-to-date published data . high-quality online and offline reporting, including charts, maps, tables and reports . single data reports for individual organisations . the ability to create and share reports, instantly updating these when new data is published . a personalised, customisable home page, giving each user a quick snapshot of their key data . The ability to compare one council with another locally, regionally, or nationally.
2. Knowledge Hub LGA . A professional social network, with more than 140,000 members, which helps people in local government connect and share online in a secure environment. . It allows you to join relevant groups, make personal connections, receive email updates on specific topics, publish blogs to the sector, find, share and discuss information that is relevant to you and your work.
3. You choose LGA . Research shows that residents like to be involved in budget-making decisions. Our ‘You choose’ budget consultation tool provides an ‘off the shelf’ solution to help you with budget consultation.
4. Performance Management Benchmarking Network EMC . A forum to share performance information to facilitate benchmarking in the region providing officers with the opportunity to share knowledge, information and work programmes. . An opportunity to explore national developments concerning performance management.
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Item 4(a)
Improvement
There is clear value in developing a culture within the region that supports self- awareness and promotes continuous self-improvement, allowing partners to work together on policy priorities, and helping to identify where early support is needed to prevent serious difficulties developing. In the East Midlands, an increasingly effective approach is available – the key strengths of which are:
1. Corporate Peer Challenge LGA
The LGA offers support to councils to help you review and transform services, improve performance and deal with reputation issues. The free-of-charge corporate peer challenges include: . a pre-visit, up to one week onsite, end of week feedback and a written report within two weeks . a review shaped to focus on your relevant issues . a team agreed in advance by you and including experienced councillors and officers.
Regional Peer Review EMC/LGA - Delivered jointly by EMC and the LGA, from May 2013 an additional sector-led improvement service is offered to member councils, through short, focused, bi-annual reviews.
2. Service Specific Support
As a member of both the LGA and EMC, councils are able to access a comprehensive package of service support and good practice networks on specific priority areas. EMC and the LGA offer a range of service specific support including:
. Service or theme peer challenges LGA – a service or themed review focusing on specific areas such as adults and children’s safeguarding, housing and communications.
. Fire and rescue authorities LGA – the LGA also provide peer reviews for fire and rescue authorities, using the same model as service or theme peer challenges.
. Towards Excellence in Adult Social Care (TEASC) LGA – a national programme for improving adult social care services.
. Reputation management LGA – specialist communications advice to support you when dealing with high profile issues.
. Children’s services LGA/EMC – the Children’s Improvement Board (CIB) and regional member and director networks provide advice and support on the full range of children’s services.
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. Planning PAS/EMC – at both the national and regional level, the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) and EMC provide consultancy, peer support, learning events and online resources to help councils better understand and respond to changes in the planning system and to drive improvement.
. Scrutiny CfPS/EMC – the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) and Regional Scrutiny Network provides a range of support for scrutiny, accountability and good governance.
. Health and Wellbeing Board support EMC/LGA – Health and Wellbeing Boards are offered a range of support by the LGA and East Midlands Councils including a regional ‘Health and Well Being Chairs Network’, peer mentoring and support to develop local boards.
. HR and Workforce development EMC - The provision of bespoke support to member councils including HR advice, pat benchmarking, shared services support and provision of mediation services.
. Strategic Policy Network EMC – EMC has established a number of networks to share knowledge, experience and learning on strategic issues for the sector, e.g. Troubled Families agenda and Welfare Reform.
. The Strategic Migration Partnership for the East Midlands EMC – funded by the Home Office, this partnership provides a regional advisory, development and consultation function for member organisations from a range of sectors – for the co-ordination and provision of advice, support and services for migrants.
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Innovation and Productivity
The productivity programme’s support to councils changes each year, but currently includes:
. ‘Productivity expert’ programme LGA – confidential external advice to support and challenge councils’ service transformation plans.
. The Commissioning Academy LGA – a joint programme with central government which enables senior managers to develop knowledge and skills alongside colleagues from Whitehall.
. Adult social care efficiency programme LGA – helps councils develop approaches to further improving efficiency and productivity in social care.
. A Review into Adult Social Care Funding in the East Midlands EMC – a review to support councils to address the significant challenges that adult social care funding poses.
. National map of shared services LGA – a re-launched compendium and map showing that at least 337 councils across the country are engaged in 325 shared service arrangements resulting in £278 million of efficiency savings.
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EMC and the LGA will adapt their offer and services to reflect the sector’s changing priorities. To discuss in more detail any of the services offered or to discuss any support you may need, please contact.
Mark Edgell Stuart Young Regional Director Executive Director Telephone: 07747 636910 Telephone: 01664 502630 [email protected] [email protected]
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Item 5
Improvement and Transformation Board 25th November 2014
Health Review
Summary
The following report provides a summary of the headline issues as they relate to the development of the final report into health – the regional review commissioned by the leadership of East Midlands Councils
Recommendations
Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board are invited to consider and comment on the emerging findings of the regional health review.
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1. Background
1.1 EMC has commenced a review on regional health matters. At the regional level, there is a locus (generally, or at least in part) between the geographical focus (and structures) of NHS organisations that cover, commission or provide services across the East Midlands region, e.g. NHS Midlands and East, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Clinical Commissioning Groups.
1.2 The focus of this work should be where a collective approach ‘adds value’ and will support the consideration of issues that are of joint interest to councils, MPs and wider partners. The review is led by a task and finish group, chaired by Roger Begy, in liaison with the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board Chairs’ Network.
1.3 To inform this review, a summit on the health priorities for the region was held in the Houses of Parliament on 30th October. It provided a useful opportunity to explore the key issues with MPs, council leaders and health representatives and identify emerging conclusions and recommendations.
2. Profile of Health in the East Midlands (to be finalised by Public Health England)
a) General Points
2.1 In most aspects, the health of the East Midlands is close to the national average. It is not the worst region in the country, but it is not the best.
2.2 However, within the East Midlands there are major health inequalities and these are widening across many parts of the region.
. Income deprivation in the region ranges from just 2.9% of the population of Keyworth North ward in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire to 40.9% of the population of Spinney Hills ward in Leicester. . Child Poverty in the region ranges from just 5.5% in South Northamptonshire to 39.2% in Nottingham City. . In terms of inequalities, these areas tend to be in areas with high levels of deprivation, in large cities, and in the areas where the basic industries have declined or disappeared – such as the coalfields areas of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and steel in the case of Corby, and the coastal strip of Lincolnshire. . Inequalities in life expectancy within local authority areas are also stark. For example, the life expectancy gap for men living in Derby City is 12.2 years, meaning that a male living in the most deprived decile in Derby City
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can expect to live 12.2 years less than a man living in the least deprived decile of the city.
b) Life Expectancy
2.3 Life expectancy is significantly shorter than the national average for both men and women living in the East Midlands.
. Male life expectancy in the cities of the East Midlands is poor; Nottingham City being just 76.9 years compared to 81 years in Rutland. . Female life expectancy in Nottingham, Northamptonshire, Leicester and Nottinghamshire is significantly lower than England as a whole. . The more affluent areas of Leicestershire and Rutland enjoy significantly higher life expectancy for both males and females. . There is a gap in life expectancy between males and females within the region ranging from a difference of 4.8 years in Leicester to 3.5 years in Nottinghamshire
c) The Big 5 Killers
2.4 Heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory and liver disease - these five big killers account for more than 150,000 deaths a year among under-75s in England alone and estimates indicate that 30,000 of these are entirely avoidable.
. All such chronic conditions have the potential to limit the functional status, productivity, and quality of life of people who live with them. In addition, chronic illnesses are a major contributor to health care costs. . Excess weight in adults is significantly higher than the national average in East Midlands with two thirds of adults being overweight or obese in 2012 (65.6% compared to 63.8% nationally). This is a particular problem for the county areas (ranging from 66.4% in Nottinghamshire to 68.2% in Lincolnshire) rather than the City areas (Leicester is significantly better than the national average at 57.0%). . Tobacco is the single biggest avoidable cause of cancer in the world - The prevalence of smoking is an issue in Nottingham (24.4%) with almost a quarter of adults still smoking in 2012, and among the routine and manual populations living in Lincolnshire (35.6%) with more than a third still smoking in 2012.
d) Mental Health Illness
2.5 Multiple social, psychological, and biological factors determine the level of mental health of a person at any point of time. The clearest evidence is associated with indicators of poverty, including low levels of education but poor
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mental health is also closely connected with other problems, including poor physical health and problems in other areas like education, work prospects and personal relationships. 2.6 Much has been said recently in relation to ‘parity of esteem’ for mental health. For the Task Group, parity of esteem means valuing mental health care equally with physical health - where tackling mental health issues is undertaken with the same energy and priority as physical illness. The statistics surrounding mental health are salutary.
. Mental illnesses are very common - among people under 65, nearly half of all ill health is mental illness. . Mental illness is generally more debilitating than most chronic physical conditions. . Only a quarter of all those with mental illness such as depression are in treatment. . 75% of all chronic mental health problems start before the age of 18 – but only a quarter of children and teenagers aged up to 15 with mental health problems receive any support, and just 6% of the mental health budget is spent on children. . People with poor physical health are at higher risk of experiencing mental health problems and people with poor mental health are more likely to have poor physical health. . Currently people with poor mental health have the life expectancy of people who lived in the 1950s – some 10 to 15 years shorter than average.
2.7 Aside from the rates of long-term mental illness in the East Midlands, as a whole, not being disproportionately higher than for the rest of the country, there are clear pressures in this region with Hardwick and Nottingham City CCGs areas having significantly higher levels of long-term mental health problems than national levels.
2.8 Importantly however, what the data does show are the disproportionately higher rates of mental ill health (when measured by those suffering from depression) across the East Midlands, with the majority of CCG areas recording levels that are some way above the national average and over 6% of the adult population are registered as suffering with depression.
2.9 The exception to this is areas within Nottinghamshire (where CCG prevalence of mental illness is below the national average of 5.8%). This may indicate differences in the way in which depression is recorded by GPs, particularly as the rate of people in contact with mental health services is higher than average across Nottinghamshire; for example, in Nottingham City CCG there is more than double the rate seen nationally at 4,661 per 100,000.
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2.10 Attendances at A&E for psychiatric disorders are highest in Mansfield and Ashfield CCG at 424 per 100,000 population, and also higher than the national average (244) in CCGs in surrounding Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. Detentions under the Mental Health Act are also higher than the national average in Leicester and Nottingham City CCGs (23 and 26 per 100,000 population respectively, compared to 16 nationally, respectively).
2.11 Social isolation may be seen as a contributing factor to general health and mental health issues, particularly for social care users and their carers. Social isolation is an issue for many communities in the East Midlands with less than 40% of those being cared for and carers, getting the social contact they would like. For those being cared for, social isolation is an issue for residents of the more deprived cities Leicester (38.6%) and Nottingham (37.4%), but also for those living in the more rural areas of Lincolnshire (37.4%) and Derbyshire (34.6%), while carers in Derby (36.9%), Northamptonshire (33.2%) and Nottinghamshire (32.1%) are more likely to report social isolation.
2.12 Depression is a real illness with real symptoms that, apart from obvious wellbeing concerns, has clear economic implications with NHS England estimating that people unable to work because of mental illness costs the UK economy approximately £70bn a year, equivalent to 4.5% of gross domestic product, once absences, productivity losses and benefit liabilities are taken into account.
3. Funding for Healthcare – Inequalities in the East Midlands
3.1 Public expenditure data1 published by HM Treasury in July 2014 show that health spending (both in total and per head) in the East Midlands during 2012/13 was some way below the average for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
2012/13 £ Health/head, Health/head indexed
North East 2,150 111 North West 2,127 110 Yorks and Humber 1,972 102 East Midlands 1,850 96 West Midlands 1,937 100 East 1,737 90
1 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-expenditure-statistical-analyses-2014
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London 2,019 104 South East 1,731 89 South West 1,803 93 England 1,912 99 Scotland 2,115 109 Wales 1,954 101 Northern Ireland 2,109 109 UK identifiable 1,937 100 expenditure
3.2 Looking at the current financial year and ahead to 2015/16, CCG Programme Budget Baseline Allocations show that: . Allocations per head for the East Midlands in 2013/14 are lower than the England average. A similar disparity will continue through to 2015/16.
CCG Allocations per head
2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 (£) (£) (£) East 1,085 1,104 1,119 Midlands England 1,115 1,133 1,147 average
. There is wide variation in the extent to which funding allocated to local health bodies differs from ‘target allocations’ that are based on relative need. . CCGs which make up the Leicestershire & Lincolnshire Area Team are collectively expected to be -2.40% below their target allocations in 2014/15, and this pattern will continue into 2015/16 unless a new approach is adopted. . In Northamptonshire, NHS Nene CCG is -6.99% below target and NHS Corby CCG is -11.32% below. . The Midlands and East area is further below its target allocation than anywhere else in 2014/15, and will continue to be so in 2015/16.
3.3 An important point to emphasise is that while funding remains an important issue, any change to the funding model is likely to take significant time. Issues relating to funding require a tangible short-term response where ‘leverage’ becomes comparably important as part of this review – being able to use existing resources in a more innovative way that delivers on regional/local priorities.
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3.4 This may involve varying the national model of ‘expected outcomes’ with the use of funding directed against actual local priorities. This would require a degree of ‘latitude’ from DH/NHS as local partners should not be held to account in the same way as before – rather outcomes would be accountable against an agreed framework developed through local political process and dialogue.
4. The Health Workforce – Recruitment and Retention
4.1 The country has an ageing population. In the East Midlands, the demographic pressures are likely to be particularly acute with a higher proportion of elderly population in this region than nationally; between 2012 and 2022, the East Midlands population aged 75-79 is projected to increase by 46%; and those aged 90+ by 57%. The positives of people living longer bring with it concerns of increased health care needs.
4.2 The implications of a disproportionately ageing population are clear - the health workforce must have the capacity and skills to effectively manage an increase in demand and the complexity of that demand due to a rise in the number of patients presenting with multiple health needs as a consequence of an ageing population.
4.3 Currently, about 15m people in England have a long-term condition. By 2025, the number of people with at least one long-term condition will rise to 18m (The Kings Fund, 2013). However, fewer newly qualified doctors are choosing to become geriatricians, at the very time when increasing lifespans mean that more are needed.
4.4 The Royal College of GPs in 2013 estimated that by 2021 there could be 16,000 fewer GPs than are needed, while the Royal College of Nursing has forecast a shortfall of 47,500 nurses by 2016 and 100,000 by 2022, as more nurses retire or go abroad to work and fewer would-be nurses start training. These are the ‘big’ nationwide headlines but locally the situation is stark.
4.5 Evidence presented to this review demonstrates the significant challenges filling GP training vacancies in this region, of which nearly 40% remain unfilled, against 99% fill rate in London and a UK average of 90%. Part of the problem remains that students are often unaware of where the region is and what it offers, making it one of the least popular regions for all types of medical training specialisms, not just GP training.
4.6 A report by the Royal College of Physicians found that there is a large variation in the number of consultant physicians per head of population across the country, where patients in London have almost double the number of consultants as the East Midlands, and this region has the joint lowest numbers of consultants per head of the population than anywhere in the country.
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“Given the association between senior hospital doctors and lower hospital mortality, such disparity across the country is concerning. There is a worrying correlation between hospital consultant staffing levels and hospital standardised mortality ratios…. This suggests that London has the right staffing levels and that the rest of the country needs to catch up.”
4.7 On the basis of data and analysis provided by Health Education East Midlands (HEEM), the region is a major centre for training but medical graduates all too frequently leave once qualified. Of the 505 students who graduated from the medical schools in Nottingham and Leicester in August 2011, 52.5% moved out of the region for their foundation training over the next two years; and by August 2013 60.5% were in further training positions outside the region.
4.8 The inability to retain medical graduates from the region’s medical schools means a significant loss of expertise and capacity from this region at every stage of training and career progression. The reasons behind these are varied but from work undertaken by HEEM, the East Midlands: . was not seen as a prestigious training or working environment; . was considered to have limited opportunities; . was considered to be less competitive compared to other regions; . training time was less protected with service pressures affecting time for teaching/learning; . was seen as having a variable standard of educational experience across the region; . the onus on identifying opportunities rests currently with trainees;
4.9 Regarding GP vacancies specifically, steady expansion is planned with a national target of 3,250 by 2015 and HEEM’s target is 280 for the East Midlands in 2015. In 2014, the target is 262, however, of those 262 places only 167 are currently filled. To address these challenges the following options may be considered:
. Pre GP project - Initiative to provide those interested in general practice with the educational support to gain the competencies which will help them in their career and with selection to GP training. . Induction/Returner and retainer scheme - Both continue to be supported in the region, with a steady small number each year. . Attracting trainees - support for trainees to do projects to attract and retain GP trainees. . Increasing interest in GP training from core training - Work with CCGs on ‘selling’ the local career options to trainees finishing core training.
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. Reducing attrition and maximising investment in training - Investment with CCGs to provide some training and develop links including mentorship with current GPSTRs. . Work on GP fellowships - Fellowships to develop additional competencies to attract and retain new GPs. . Increasing interest amongst medical students - Support to increase GP teaching of the undergraduate curriculum and increase the GP presence during medical school . Practice Nurses - Expanded Practice Nurse programme developed over the last couple of years.
4.10 There are similar concerns about recruitment and retention in other roles throughout the health system. For example, the East Midlands has one of the lowest levels in England of full time equivalent qualified, contracted nurses per head of population (5.21 nurses per 1,000 population compared to an England average of 5.58).
4.11 We have noted elsewhere in this review that the most socially deprived communities, which are also the most income deprived communities are also experiencing the worst health outcomes. The review has not been able to establish whether there is a correlation between areas with most GP vacancies and areas of deprivation, but this has emerged as an area for further consideration.
4.12 This review has further considered options to encourage people to apply for the available training places through, for example, offering incentives to encourage doctors and health professionals to train in the East Midlands and ensure that those who do, stay in the East Midlands.
4.13 We also need to consider how we organise ourselves and how we are allowed to organise ourselves. Anecdotally, many people choose to go into the ‘bank’ role as it enables them to meet their earning requirements working just a few days per week as locum or ‘bank’ staff. Students and graduates at the onset of their medical career are hardly likely to have the aspiration of being a ‘locum’ as their career goal – if so then, how has the system itself encouraged so many highly qualified individuals to remove themselves from the contracted workforce, contributing to the problems set out above?
4.14 In relation to recruitment and retention in primary care, the following potential recommendations have been highlighted:
. Local authorities should co-ordinate a marketing campaign promoting what is good about the region to help develop a positive profile. It should take the opportunity to also showcase examples of good or innovative practice in health and care within the region.
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. East Midlands Healthcare Workforce Deanery and Health Education East Midlands should investigate whether there is a correlation between areas with the most GP vacancies and areas of deprivation. . East Midlands Healthcare Workforce Deanery and Health Education East Midlands should investigate whether incentives could be offered to encourage doctors to train in the East Midlands; and to ensure that those who do train here, stay here.
5. Summary
5.1 While the final report should provide an accurate reflection of the health challenges for the region, including its causes and the effect of such disparities; in discussions to date the following priorities have also been highlighted:
. Funding and Resources – but with a focus on how to lever greater outcomes from the funding available. This will include innovative and potentially radical solutions to be developed in consultation with local NHS colleagues, with proposals that this region may pilot a number of these proposals, if local partners are in agreement. . The significant challenges to primary care including both recruitment and retention. . Greater roles and responsibilities for local partners in saving money and improving care, e.g. local councils in commissioning primary care.
6. Recommendation
6.1 Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board are invited to consider and comment on the emerging findings of the regional health review.
Stuart Young Executive Director, EMC
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Item 6
Improvement and Transformation Board 25th November 2014
Member Development Programme
Update on 2014/15 Programme and Planning for 2015/16
Summary
The following report updates the Improvement and Transformation Board on progress in delivering the 2014/15 Member Development Programme and invites Member direction of the future 2015/16 programme, with particular consideration for supporting the induction of new councillors and the further development of incumbent councillors.
The Member Development Programme is an important element of the 2014/15 Business Plan in delivering an ‘all-member’ organisation and additional value of membership.
Recommendations
Members of the Board are invited to:
. Support the promotion of the remaining two events on the current Regional Programme of Policy Briefing Events in January and February 2015.
. Offer advice and support in the development of the 2015/16 Member Development Programme.
. Support EMC in promoting the East Midlands Councils Member Development programme.
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1. Background
1.1 The Member Development Programme is an important element of the 2014/15 Business Plan. As part of the new approach agreed by Members, the Executive Board directed that at least one member development opportunity is offered each month.
1.2 The following report updates the Improvement and Transformation Board on progress in delivering the Member Development Programme 2014/15 and highlights proposals for the 2015/16 programme.
2. Member Development Skills Programme
2.1 EMC launched its Member Development Programme for 2014/15 in June 2014. The programme provides a range of opportunities available to Councillors across the East Midlands, from skills based development to focused policy briefing sessions.
2.2 Future events in the programme include: . 3rd December 2014 - An Introduction to Local Government Finance. . 11th December 2014 - Action Planning for Councillors using Action Learning. . 12th December 2014 - The Future Role of Scrutiny. . 6th March 2015 - Councillor Mentoring Skills.
2.3 EMC has delivered six Councillor Development events since the last Improvement and Transformation Board meeting. These events were: . The ‘Civic Heads and Team’ training (11th June, 12 delegates). . ‘Being an Effective Councillor’ (19th June, 11 delegates). . Equality & Diversity – Making it Work (11th September, 1 delegate plus officers). . Successful Councillor Development (30th September & 14 October, 25 delegates). . The Councillor Officer Relationship (16th October, 6 delegates).
3. Regional Programme of Briefing Events for Councillors
3.1 The Regional Programme of Briefing events for Councillors is a series of six low-cost knowledge based events for councillors in the region. The programme enables local authorities to access briefings on important national policy issues in the region minimising time and travel costs. The programme also provides Councillors from across the East Midlands with an opportunity to learn together and from each other.
3.2 The Regional Programme of Briefing events is a subscription based service. There are currently 21 authorities subscribed to the programme.
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3.3 There are two events left in the programme, details are provided below. The final event in the programme has yet to be agreed, and Member advice on the content of this session is invited.
. 22nd January 2015 - Community Safety. An update event on Police and Crime Commissioners and Panels, exploring community safety issues facing local government.
. 24th February 2015 - Employment Matters - local authorities driving jobs and skills. An event focusing on employment issues, particularly youth unemployment, exploring how authorities can support young people in employment, education and training.
3.4 The following events have been delivered as part of this year’s programme: . The Impact of Migration in the East Midlands (17th June, 31 delegates from 20 local councils). . Wet, Wet, Wet - Building Local Resilience in a Changing Flood Risk Context (24th September, 24 delegates from 13 local councils). . Where are we now? What the changes in Welfare Reform, Housing and Planning mean for local government now (8th October – 36 delegates from 16 local councils). . Regional Pay Briefing (4th November, 9 delegates from 9 local councils)
4. Summit Events for Councillors To support and complement the wider work of EMC, two wider summit events were to be held in the autumn:
. 10th October 2014 - East Midlands Rail Summit. East Midlands Rail Summit; over 100 delegates (54 councillors) with speakers including Anna Walker, Office of Rail Regulation; Lilian Greenwood MP, Shadow Rail Minister; David Horne, Managing Director, East Midlands Trains; Phil Verster, Network Rail; Alison Munroe, HS2 Ltd, chaired by Pete Waterman, member of the HS2 Growth Task Force and opened by Rt. Hon Nicky Morgan MP.
. 21st November 2014 - The Future of Local Government and Public Service delivery in the next Parliament. A summit on devolution and the likely impact on local government. Further details of this event can be found under Item 7 of these papers.
5. The 2015/16 Future Member Development Programme
5.1 To support and add value to our member authorities, EMC have designed a programme of member development for 2015/2016 taking into account those authorities with Elections in May 2015 as well as incumbent members.
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5.2 The programme is designed in three parts; initially to support member induction programmes taking place within authorities in the first three months; secondly to provide support to review induction programmes, identify current and future learning and development needs and support new committees working together and finally to continue to develop the skills and knowledge required over the remaining 6-9 months. Further details are described below.
5.3 To support member induction programmes we intend to: . Facilitate workshops for new members (early July 2015) aimed at increasing understanding of the member role in the community, the context in which the council works, member/officer relationships and a brief policy context overview. . Provide a range of skills and knowledge development workshops for the various member roles (during June and July) that include: Scrutiny and Effective Challenge for members new this role Raising the Bar in Scrutiny and Effective Challenge for chairs/vice chairs of scrutiny and committees. Community Leadership and Engagement for all members wishing to understand and maximise their impact as community leaders. Cabinet/Executive/Committee Structures tailored to each member authority but with the overall aim of helping members “hit the ground running” and perform better together. Problem Solving within a Political Context encourages members to problem solve and commit to taking considered action. Policy Briefing Event to provide an initial analysis of what the outcomes of the election will mean for policy affecting local government and the public sector.
5.4 The second part of the programme includes the following aspects: . Workshops to review induction programmes delivered internally and forward planning. . Supporting new committees working together. . Personal Development Planning – scoping and designing the approach and undertaking 1:1 sessions (if required).
5.5 The remaining part of the programme includes a range of skills and policy development events to support the continuous development of members. Suggested areas are outlined below:
. Leadership beyond boundaries – to support working together to make change happen in a complex world. . Strengthening and Sustaining Personal Resilience - to enable a sense of wellbeing while effectively meeting different demands to perform to your best.
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. Facing the Media Confidently - to develop successful media handling skills to proactively and positively raise the profile of your authority. . Chairing and Facilitation – to undertake formal and informal meetings with competence and confidence. . Persuasive Communications – to help communicate with clarity and influence with impact. . Key Policy Issues for Local Government (23 September 2015) this policy briefing session will provide information on key policies on areas such as housing policy, planning and welfare reform.
5.6 EMC have a proven track record to designing and delivering member development programmes in your localities and the above workshops and/or a tailored programme can be designed and delivered for you working with your identified partners.
5.7 The regional programme of policy briefings will continue in 2015/16 with 6 Events suggested as follows: . 24 June – What the outcomes of the General Election will mean for Local Government and Public Services. . 23 September – Key Policy Issues for Local Government to include housing policy, planning and welfare reform. . 6 November Summit – Delivering Public Services in the New Parliament, building on 21 November 2014 summit to understand what the changes in Government mean for delivering services in the new parliament.
5.8 To ensure the programme remains responsive to key policy issues, the content is to be determined although dates have been highlighted below: . 2 December 2015 . 28 January 2016 . 9 March 2016
6. Commitment to Member Development
6.1 To demonstrate the ongoing commitment to member development for member organisations, EMC will provide ongoing support through the Councillor Development and Scrutiny networks as well as the support and assessment required for authorities investing in member development through the East Midlands Regional Councillor Development Charter.
6.2 The Improvement and Transformation Board is also invited to consider proposals for greater Member oversight of the programme with, for example, members taking individual lead roles for different aspects of the programme to support officers in their development and delivery.
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7 Recommendations
Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board are invited to:
7.1 Note the progress on the current Member Development programme 2014/15.
7.2 Provide feedback on the proposed 2015/16 Member Development programme.
7.3 Encourage member engagement with the remaining sessions of the 2014/15 policy briefing programme on 22nd January and 24th February 2015.
Lisa Butterfill HR and Development Manager, EMC
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Item 7
Improvement and Transformation Board Meeting
25th November 2014
Regional Summit on ‘The Future of Local Government and Public Service Delivery in the Next Parliament’
Summary
Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board have provided oversight to proposals for the summit event on 21st November 2014, ‘The Future of Local Government and Public Service Delivery in the Next Parliament’.
This paper invites Members to reflect on this summit meeting and discuss any learning to inform the development of similar events if held in the future.
Recommendation
Members of East Midlands Councils are invited to reflect on this summit meeting and discuss any learning that can be taken to inform the development of any successor and/or similar events in the future.
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1. The Summit
1.1 Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board have provided oversight to proposals for the summit event on 21st November 2014, ‘The Future of Local Government and Public Service Delivery in the Next Parliament’.
1.2 In the week leading up to the summit, 175 delegates were signed-up to attend the event. A delegate list, agenda and final ‘Prospectus’ are attached as Appendix 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c) respectively.
1.3 The objectives of this event are to: . Deliver on the EMC commitment to be an ‘All-Member’ Organisation. . Provide an opportunity for councillors and partner organisations to discuss and inform proposals relating to public service delivery. . Presentation of ‘Prospectus’; a limited number of proposals that Councils would like to see reflected in the manifestos of the main political parties. . Highlight opportunities to inform and support the further development of manifesto proposals. . Deliver value-added to member councils and their councillors.
1.4 An important element was the presentation of an ‘East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution’ that made a limited number of proposals for greater roles and responsibilities for local government and the benefits offered by decentralisation.
2. Key Points
2.1 This was the largest event managed by East Midlands Councils and this, together with the associated ‘prospectus’, is an important element of the ‘all- member’ pillar of activity of the EMC Business Plan in providing an opportunity for all councillors across the region to be involved in, and directly influence, the direction and focus of this.
2.2 It is expected (at the time of writing) that 140+ delegates will attend the summit, chaired by John Hess (BBC Political Editor), to hear from a number of speakers that include Kris Hopkins (Minister for Local Government, DCLG) Tony Travers (LSE), Graham Allen MP (Chair of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee), Cllr David Sparks (Chairman, LGA), Ben Lucas (RSA) as well as council leaders from within the East Midlands.
2.3 The total costs are likely to be approximately £5000. Unlike the rail event, EMC was unable to secure sponsorship to cover some (or all) of the costs incurred in staging this event.
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2.4 Members are invited to offer comment on the event with a focus on any potential learning points if similar events are to be held in the future.
3. Recommendation
3.1 Members of East Midlands Councils are invited to reflect on this summit meeting and discuss any learning that can be taken to inform the development of any successor and/or similar events in the future.
Stuart Young Executive Director, EMC
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The Future of Local Government and Public Services in the Next Parliament - 21 November 2014
Delegate List Organisation First name Surname 1 Ashfield District Council Cllr Chris Baron 2 Ashfield District Council Philip Marshall 3 Asra Housing Group Matt Cooney 4 Bassetlaw District Council Cllr Annette Simpson 5 Bassetlaw District Council Cllr Alan Chambers 6 Bassetlaw District Council Cllr Simon Greaves 7 Bassetlaw District Council Gillian Blenkinsop 8 BBC John Hess 9 Blaby District Council Cllr Jo Fox 10 Blaby District Council Sandra Whiles 11 Blaby District Council Cllr Marian Broomhead 12 Blaby District Council Cllr Iain Hewson 13 Blaby District Council Cllr Tony Greenwood MBE 14 Blaby District Council Cllr Christine Merrill 15 Bolsover District Council Wes Lumley 16 Bolsover District Council Cllr Ann Syrett 17 Bolsover District Council Cllr Clare Munks 18 Bolsover District Council Cllr Keith Bowman 19 Bolsover District Council Cllr Mary Dooley 20 Bolsover District Council Cllr Hilary Gilmour 21 Boston Borough Council Richard Harbord 22 Boston Borough Council Cllr Paul Gleeson 23 Boston Borough Council Cllr Peter Bedford 24 Boston Borough Council Cllr Richard Leggott 25 Boston Borough Council Cllr Stephen Woodliffe 26 Boston Borough Council Cllr Paul Kenny 27 Browne Jacobson LLP Peter Ware 28 Campaign to Protect Rural England Bettina Lange 29 Charnwood Borough Council Cllr David Slater 30 Charnwood Borough Council Cllr Stephen Hampson 31 Charnwood Borough Council Cllr Hilary Fryer 32 Charnwood Borough Council Cllr Sandie Forrest 33 Charnwood Borough Council Geoff Parker 34 Charnwood Borough Council Cllr Stephen Hampson 35 Chesterfield Borough Council Huw Bowen 36 Chesterfield Borough Council Michael Rich 37 City of Lincoln Council Simon Walters 38 City of Lincoln Council Angela Andrews 39 City of Lincoln Council Cllr Ric Metcalfe 40 City of Lincoln Council Cllr Donald Nannestad 41 Corby Borough Council Cllr Chris Stanbra 42 Corby Borough Council Cllr Tom Beattie 43 Corby Borough Council Cllr Jean Addison 44 Corby Borough Council Cllr John McGhee 45 Corby Borough Council Cllr Bob Eyles 46 Daventry District Council Cllr Chris Long 47 Daventry District Council Cllr Chris Millar The Future of Local Government and Public Services in the Next Parliament - 21 November 2014
Delegate List Organisation First name Surname 48 Department for Communities & Local Government Portia Bailey 49 Derby City Council Cllr Alan Graves 50 Derby City Council Cllr Mick Barker 51 Derby City Council Cllr Chris Poulter 52 Derby City Council Cllr Mark Tittley 53 Derby City Council Cllr Martin Rawson 54 Derby City Council Cllr Bill Wright 55 Derby City Council Cllr Hardyal Dhindsa 56 Derby City Council Cllr Mike Carr 57 Derby City Council Alison Wynn 58 Derby City Council Adam Wilkinson 59 Derbyshire County Council Cllr Anne Western 60 Derbyshire Dales District Council Cllr Lewis Rose OBE 61 Derbyshire Dales District Council Cllr Geoff Stevens MBE 62 Derbyshire Dales District Council Dorcas Bunton 63 Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Charles Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Chamber of 64 George Cowcher Commerce 65 Derwent Living Peter McCormack 66 East Lindsey District Council Cllr Tony Howard 67 East Lindsey District Council Cllr Fiona Martin MBE 68 East Midlands Housing Group Chan Kataria 69 EMFEC Paul Eeles 70 Erewash Borough Council Cllr Kevin Miller 71 Erewash Borough Council Cllr Chris Corbett 72 Erewash Borough Council Cllr Mrs Carol Hart 73 Gedling Borough Council John Robinson 74 Gedling Borough Council Cllr Michael Payne 75 Gedling Borough Council Cllr John Clarke 76 Harborough District Council Cllr Phil Knowles 77 Harborough District Council Cllr Phil King 78 Harborough District Council Beverley Jolly 79 Harborough District Council Norman Proudfoot 80 High Peak Borough Council Cllr Caitlin Bisknell 81 High Peak Borough Council / Derbyshire County Council Cllr Tony Kemp 82 Kettering Borough Council Graham Soulsby 83 Kettering Borough Council Cllr Mike Tebbutt 84 Kettering Borough Council Cllr Russell Roberts 85 Kettering Borough Council Cllr Lloyd Bunday 86 Kettering Borough Council Cllr Derek Zanger 87 Leicester City Council Cllr Susan Barton 88 Leicester City Council Cllr Rory Palmer 89 Leicester City Council Andy Keeling 90 Leicester City Council Cllr Wayne Naylor 91 Leicester City Council Cllr Barbara Potter 92 Leicester City Council Sir Peter Soulsby 93 Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils Cllr Guy Jackson The Future of Local Government and Public Services in the Next Parliament - 21 November 2014
Delegate List Organisation First name Surname 94 Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils Cllr Ron Simpson 95 Leicestershire County Council Cllr Blake Pain 96 Leicestershire County Council Cllr David Sprason 97 Leicestershire County Council Cllr Simon Galton 98 Leicestershire PCC Paul Stocks 99 Lincolnshire County Council Richard Wills 100 Lincolnshire County Council Cllr Sue Woolley 101 Lincolnshire County Council Cllr Robert Parker 102 Lincolnshire County Council Tony McArdle 103 Lincolnshire County Council Cllr John Hough 104 Lincolnshire County Council Cllr Martin Hill OBE 105 Local Government Association Mark Edgell 106 Local Government Association Cllr David Sparks OBE 107 Longhurst Group Bob Walder 108 London School of Economics Tony Travers 109 Manchester City Council Cllr Sue Murphy 110 Mansfield District Council Ruth Marlow 111 Mansfield District Council Cllr Roger Sutcliffe 112 Melton Borough Council Cllr Jeanne Douglas 113 Melton Borough Council Christine Marshall 114 Melton Borough Council Cllr Byron Rhodes 115 Melton Borough Council Cllr Pam Posnett 116 Member of Parliament Karl McCartney MP 117 Member of Parliament Vernon Coaker MP 118 Member of Parliament Kris Hopkins MP 119 Member of Parliament Graham Allen MP 120 Newark and Sherwood District Council Cllr Roger Blaney 121 Newark and Sherwood District Council Kirsty Cole 122 Newark and Sherwood District Council Ged Greaves 123 Newark and Sherwood District Council Andy Carolan 124 Newark and Sherwood District Council Leanne Monger 125 Newark and Sherwood District Council Deb Johnson 126 North East Derbyshire District Council Cllr Ken Savidge 127 North East Derbyshire District Council Cllr Nigel Barker 128 North East Derbyshire District Council Cllr Michael Gordon 129 North Kesteven District Council Cllr Richard Wright 130 North Kesteven District Council Cllr Marion Brighton OBE 131 North Kesteven District Council Cllr Mike Gallagher 132 North West Leicestershire District Council Cllr Sean Sheahan 133 Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils Cllr Richard Lewis 134 Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils Cllr Peter Byng 135 Northamptonshire County Council Ben Wesson 136 Northamptonshire County Council Cllr Graham Lawman 137 Northamptonshire County Council Cllr Andre Gonzalez de Savage 138 Northamptonshire County Council Cllr Robin Brown 139 Northamptonshire County Council Cllr Chris Groome 140 Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership Jo Lappin The Future of Local Government and Public Services in the Next Parliament - 21 November 2014
Delegate List Organisation First name Surname 141 Nottingham City Council Cllr Pat Ferguson 142 Nottingham City Council Cllr Steve Battlemuch 143 Nottingham City Council Cllr Thulani Molife 144 Nottingham City Council Glen O’Connell 145 Nottingham City Council Cllr Jon Collins 146 Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire Authority Cllr Darrell Pulk 147 Nottinghamshire Association of Local Councils Cllr Bernie Briggs 148 Nottinghamshire County Council Mick Burrows 149 Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr Alan Rhodes 150 Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr Kay Cutts MBE 151 Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr Martin Suthers OBE 152 Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr John Wilkinson 153 Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr Reg Adair 154 Nottinghamshire county council Cllr Diana Meale 155 Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr John Peck 156 Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping 157 Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Mark Hall 158 Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Cllr John Boyce 159 Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire Malcolm Burch 160 Office of the Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP Clare Whelan OBE 161 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Cllr Jim McMahon 162 Public Health England - East Midlands Centre Jane Jobarteh 163 RIBA East Midlands Mike Baulcombe 164 RSA Ben Lucas 165 Rushcliffe Borough Council Cllr Alistair MacInnes 166 Rushcliffe Borough Council Cllr Sue Mallender 167 Rushcliffe Borough Council Cllr Debbie Mason 168 Rushcliffe Borough Council Allen Graham 169 Rutland County Council Helen Briggs 170 Rutland County Council Cllr Roger Begy OBE 171 Rutland County Council Cllr Terry King 172 South Derbyshire District Council Cllr John Harrison 173 The Manor Academy Donna Trusler 174 The Woodland Trust Nick Sandford 175 Uppingham Town Council Cllr Dave Ainslie 176 Wellingborough Borough Council Vicki Jessop 177 Wellingborough Borough Council Cllr Paul Bell 178 Wellingborough Borough Council Cllr Geoff Simmons 179 Wellingborough Borough Council Cllr Malcolm Waters 180 West Lindsey District Council Ian Knowles 181 West Lindsey District Council Cllr Jeff Summers 182 West Lindsey District Council Cllr Anne Welburn Item 7(b)
The Future of Local Government and Public Services in the Next Parliament What Will it Mean for the East Midlands? Friday 21st November 2014
Welcome from Sir Peter Soulsby, Mayor of Leicester 10:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks - John Hess, BBC East Midlands Political Editor
10:10 What's Good Enough for Scotland...Independent Local Government as the Vehicle for English Devolution (20 minutes) Graham Allen MP, Chairman of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
10:30 The Future for Local Government and its Partners (25 Minutes) Professor Tony Travers, Director of LSE London, London School of Economics
10:55 An East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution (15 Minutes) Cllr Jon Collins, Chair of East Midlands Councils, Leader of Nottingham City Council
11:10 Challenges for Local Government and Working Together to Overcome Them (20 Minutes) Kris Hopkins MP, Minister for Local Government
11:30 Panel Questions and Answers (30 Minutes)
12:00 Refreshments 12:15 A Common Agenda for a New Government (15 Minutes) Cllr David Sparks OBE, Chair of Local Government Association
12:30 The Growth and Public Sector Reform Challenge (15 Minutes) Ben Lucas, Chair of Public Services, The Royal Society of Arts
12:45 Reflections – Where Next for Public Services? (10 Minutes) Cllr Martin Hill OBE, Vice Chair of East Midlands Councils, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council Cllr John Boyce, Leader of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
12:55 Panel Questions and Answers (30 Minutes)
13:25 Closing Remarks - John Hess, BBC East Midlands Political Editor, close at 13:30
13:30 Summit Close and Lunch Housing after the Lyons Commission (1 hour) 14:00 Malcolm Sharpe, A Member of the Lyons Housing Commission An optional fringe session on the Lyons Report - proposals for delivering 200,000 homes a year in the UK.
42 Item 7(c)
East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution
November 2014 43 Signatories A Prospectus for Devolution
From now until the General Election in May 2015, we have the opportunity to present an offer for driving forward national economic growth, providing better targeted and more effective services to people that need them, whilst saving taxpayers significant sums of money. Without change, local government risks being no longer able to continue to provide services over and above the statutory Cllr Jon Collins Cllr Martin Hill OBE Cllr Neil Clarke MBE minimum. Chairman Vice Chairman Vice Chairman This prospectus is an offer to all political parties that may form the next Government – but is an offer dependent upon far-reaching reforms that will enable local councils to deliver the ambitious plans presented in this Prospectus. The election of a new Government in May 2015, with the continued financial challenges and ever increasing pressures on services, will have a profound impact on the future shape and scope of public services provision. This Prospectus offers a way forward. Cllr Chris Millar Cllr Robert Parker Conservative Group Leader Labour Group Leader Local councils offer the scale and ambition to innovate and improve public service outcomes by focusing on the specific priorities of local communities; while at the same time securing further savings for the public purse. Alongside this, there is an opportunity for councils to better promote the region and to prevent the East Midlands further losing out on its share of resources needed for economic growth, jobs and the delivery of improved public services. But to achieve these goals, a fundamental rebalancing of the national-local Cllr Fiona Martin MBE Executive Mayor Tony Egginton relationship is needed. Of all the European democracies, none have administrative Liberal Democrat Group Leader Independent Group Leader arrangements as centralised as the UK. Councils call for a genuine transfer of power and accountability from national to the local level to allow those closest to the people who receive services, to have the freedom and flexibilities to effectively plan and deliver those services.
44 1 1 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 2 The Offer
The UK continues to face significant financial challenges that will further impact upon Genuine Devolution to Councils how services are provided to local communities. At a time when the demand for services Now is the time for a genuine devolution settlement for councils that includes fiscal continues to grow, public services will need to become increasingly innovative - and responsibility for greater tax raising (or reducing) and spending powers, and giving greater councils are best placed to lead the further integration and to drive efficiencies across the roles and responsibilities for local councils to expand their ability to prioritise and deliver wider public sector. However, the framework for this has to be a radical English devolution services on behalf of their local communities. settlement for local areas. Loosen the Purse Strings – How the ‘Local’ is Funded Looking forward, councils know that times will continue to be tough and that public To allow local councils to have genuine financial independence from central government; spending will be squeezed further. NHS spending is to be protected, that much is clear. firstly, the freedom to raise additional sources of income in their local areas; and secondly, Her Pensions, which make up over half of the welfare budget, are similarly ‘off the table’. There Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) should allocate local areas a share of the local income is also likely to be little appetite to make any substantial reduction to the budgets for tax yield for councils to spend against local, not national priorities. education and defence. Against this, the main political parties are unlikely to go into the Flexibility for Growth election with a pledge to significantly raise taxes. To better focus local economic and employment programmes on local needs, councils call for the devolution of the Work Programme and the integration of Jobcentre Plus with council services; and all Councils accept the need for further public spending constraint. What they do not accept, funding brought into a ‘single pot’ for local growth, infrastructure, employment and skills. however, is that local government should continue to bear a disproportionate share of spending cuts. Councils have managed spending reductions better than any other part of Narrowing the Housing Gap the public sector; savings have continued to be made, whilst ensuring essential services Councils need greater powers to bring forward housing development in accordance with and support are provided to local communities. However, Local Government, the police their local plan. The delivery of greater housing supply, particularly affordable housing, can and fire services are near the limit of what can be reasonably achieved. With further be significantly boosted by the lifting of the Housing Revenue Account debt ceiling, and the funding reductions an inevitability, a radical change is required to how we deliver and fund reform of current ‘planning gain’ arrangements including both Section 106 obligation and the public services to ensure need is met, whilst at the same time ensuring councils can invest, Community Infrastructure Levy. support and promote local economic growth. Health and Adult Social Care Better planning and collaboration across the whole of the health and social care system is This Prospectus supports and is intended to bolster the proposals submitted by other vital to effective reform. We now have the opportunity to facilitate a transition towards fully organisations representing Local Government, particularly the Local Government integrated, place-based budgets for health and care, including contributions from housing, Association, the Core Cities Group, and the County Councils and District Councils public health, environmental and leisure/cultural services. Networks. It sets out a radical, but achievable set of proposals that will deliver economic and employment growth, and savings for the taxpayer - ensuring services are delivered more efficiently and effectively for the benefit of the local community. The focus is on In return, councils confirm their commitment to work positively five key areas that councils in the East Midlands are confident will meet the objectives of and constructively with Government in achieving the outcomes Government and aspirations of local people: highlighted in this Prospectus.
45 3 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 4 1 Genuine Devolution to Councils
Councils are best placed to lead integration and to drive the circumstances of those in receipt of this benefit. What is needed efficiencies across the wider public sector. The framework for this is ‘devolution of the benefits system’ which includes the devolution has to be a radical English devolution settlement for councils. of both benefits budgets and, within national minimum standards, the setting of local benefit levels. By giving councils responsibility The core principle that underpins this Prospectus is the need to for unemployment, housing and earnings-related benefits, local ‘rebalance’ power from Westminster to localities. In other countries, government would have significant incentives and opportunities a majority of state spending is administered by regional and/or to put in place locally-focused arrangements that get people into local government; but in England 95% of all tax is collected by the work, bolster skills, earnings and economic growth – and ensure local Chancellor - and it is Westminster that largely decides where this is accountability for the delivery against agreed outcomes. spent. The devolution settlement is the foundation stone for the following Recent developments arising from the Scottish referendum really proposals which relate to the economy, infrastructure and housing, do mean that the ‘devolution genie is out of the bottle’, and councils adult social care and local government finance: in the East Midlands stand ready to seize the opportunities, and the responsibility for effectively organising themselves to be in a position to ‘receive’ these powers, e.g. through establishing combined authorities/economic prosperity boards; and by highlighting to Genuine Devolution to Councils Government the benefits for ‘letting go’ of these powers. Now is the time for a genuine devolution settlement for councils that includes fiscal responsibility for greater tax raising (or reducing) and This is not about devolution to nationally accountable quangos spending powers, and giving greater roles and responsibilities for that will have no control over local taxation; these are in no way a local councils to expand their ability to prioritise and credible transfer of power from Whitehall to localities. Nor is this deliver services on behalf of their local communities. about devolution through addressing the ‘English Question’ by giving English MPs a greater say over legislation that only affects England. Devolution Instead, this is a call for genuine devolution of powers to local councils that, by including responsibilities for the setting of local taxes and greater spending powers, will expand their ability to prioritise and deliver services on behalf of their local communities. Centralisation Council tax benefit has already been devolved and local councils have put in place far more responsive and locally prioritised schemes than were in place before. However, councils have little influence over
46 5 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 6 2 Loosen the Purse Strings - How the ‘Local’ is Funded
Much of the public spending in England is determined centrally, based on national policies This should be underpinned by two important principles; that that fail to adequately take into account specific local needs and opportunities. Local levels of the income tax share will be renegotiated whenever authorities suffer from short-term funding settlements that restrict councils’ ability to responsibilities for service delivery are transferred between central strategically plan and innovate to maximise investment returns that would make public and local government; and existing equalisation arrangements will services more sustainable. This uncertainty is inevitably passed onto those organisations continue and be conducted through a process independent of central that local government funds, e.g. the voluntary and community sector. government, ensuring fairness and balance between local councils.
More political powers for local government will mean little without greater financial Scotland has been given these powers - for a population of a little independence. At the very least, councils call for five year budget settlements that span the over 5 million, spread over a large and diverse geographic area. The entire Spending Review period as a key component in giving councils the much needed East Midlands has a population of over 4.5m. The population of other budgetary certainty and flexibility to manage their finances over the medium term; and regions ranges from 7m people in the North West to 2.5 m in the greater control and longer term financial commitments to increase the scale and efficiency North East – so there is every reason to justify the contention that of investment. councils, by working together and with partners like the LEPs, have the democratic authority, scale and competencies to manage similar Alongside this, the roll-out of Community Budgets through fully integrating budgets and responsibilities. the removal of obstructive and unnecessary ring-fences to departmental budgets, will save money and make a real difference to outcomes. Loosen the Purse Strings – How the ‘Local’ is Funded In making these changes, the perverse outcomes of ‘damping’ must not be built back into To allow local councils to have genuine financial independence from central government; any new system. Prosperous councils, such as many in the south-east, continue to receive firstly, the freedom to raise additional sources of income in their local areas; and secondly, disproportionate levels of ‘damping’ protection that contrasts sharply with councils such as HMRC should allocate local areas a share of the local income tax yield for councils to Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Lincolnshire, all with areas of significant deprivation, but spend against local, not national priorities. experiencing larger pound per head cuts as a result of damping protection.
This will improve the ‘status quo’; but there is the opportunity for a genuinely ambitious and radical settlement with the call for local councils to have genuine financial independence from central government. This means that; firstly, councils have the freedom to raise additional sources of income in their local areas, as appropriate to local need and with the mandate of their electorate; and secondly, HMRC should allocate local areas a share of the local income tax yield for councils to spend against local, not national priorities.
47 7 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 8 3 Flexibility of Growth
The East Midlands, with its potential for significant growth, continues LEPs are the partnership platform for delivering local growth, and to be held back by the lack of investment and flexibility from they must engage and work effectively with councils in their area Whitehall. – but they cannot create the conditions for sustainable private sector-led growth by themselves. To deliver on local ambitions, all Recent growth funding decisions have highlighted the potential for local economic and employment programmes should be effectively greater freedoms and flexibilities; with some LEPs having received co-ordinated, focused on and adapted to local needs. This requires indicative funding support for proposed projects, against which they devolution of the Work Programme and the integration of Jobcentre will be required to monitor and manage accordingly; whilst others Plus with council services; and the devolution of all funding into a have received indicative funding against programmes. In further ‘single pot’ for local growth, infrastructure, employment and skills reinforcing the effectiveness of collective work between councils and through councils to LEPs, to enable focus on specific local priorities, LEPs, there are opportunities for passing control over funding and rather than nationally micro-managed schemes. powers down from Whitehall to councils rather than having to seek funding on an individual project basis from Government.
Councils call also for greater funding certainty to enable a more Flexibility for Growth effective approach to programme and project prioritisation. The To better focus local economic and employment programmes on local needs, councils ability to effectively prioritise without certainty of the financial call for the devolution of the Work Programme and the integration of Jobcentre Plus envelope risks the process resembling a national beauty contest with council services; and that all funding is brought into a ‘single pot’ for local growth, where the projects need to catch the eye of a national judge. An infrastructure, employment and skills. indicative allocation and longer term funding settlements will provide more effective support to local partners, through LEPs, to make informed decisions on resource allocations and programme/project prioritisation.
48 9 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 10 4 Narrowing the Housing Gap
There is a housing crisis in this country and the overwhelming priority is to dramatically Alongside this, changes are needed to ‘planning gain’ arrangements. increase housing supply so that there are more homes for people to either rent or buy, in Councils need greater flexibility to negotiate ‘Section 106’ agreements the areas where they are needed most, for both business and social reasons. The obvious with housing developers in order to deliver more affordable housing problem remains that for many years this country has failed to build sufficient houses. In and other public benefits - particularly on smaller scale housing the East Midlands, the delivery of housing remains at only about 50% of actual need; with developments that are common in many of the more rural parts the level of housing need at around 20-22,000 houses per annum, but delivery falling short of this region. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be at only 11,200 per annum. reformed to reflect its original purposes – the delivery of larger than local infrastructure requirements. In particular, the so-called ‘Boles Councils are fundamental to finding a solution but need greater freedoms and flexibilities Bung’, by which up to 25% of CIL is passported to Parish Councils, to meet their local housing needs. Measures should include removing arbitrary should be revoked with councils having greater autonomy to set the Government targets for determining planning applications, freedom to set planning fees level of CIL and to retain these funds to deliver the intended strategic locally to enable Development Management to become a ‘cost neutral’ service for local infrastructure. council tax payers (not the ‘many’ subsidising the ‘few’), and the ability to designate local use classes to control the proliferation of activities such a betting shops and amusement arcades. More fundamentally, councils should be given greater powers to bring forward Narrowing the Housing Gap housing development that is in accordance with the local plan, both in terms of financial Councils need greater powers to bring forward housing development freedoms to invest and compulsory purchase powers. in accordance with their local plan. The delivery of greater housing supply, particularly affordable housing, can be significantly boosted By devolving full responsibility for housing capital budgets, we call on by the lifting of the Housing Revenue Account debt ceiling, and the the Government to relax the rules that prevent councils building much reform of current ‘planning gain’ arrangements including both Section needed housing. The delivery of greater housing supply, particularly 106 obligation and the Community Infrastructure Levy. affordable housing, can be significantly boosted by the lifting of the Housing Revenue Account debt ceiling, with its replacement by a sensible set of financial controls that apply already to other areas of council borrowing. In addition to increasing the supply of housing, it would also support skills and employment growth (e.g. construction jobs and apprenticeships) and ultimately stronger local economies.
49 11 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 12 5 Health and Adult Social Care
The bill for health and social care is one of the biggest components We have the opportunity to implement radical reforms that will have real benefit for the of council expenditure – and the costs risk tipping councils off a fiscal health outcomes of local communities. This is not about structural reform, but an opportunity cliff. The current arrangements for adult social care are inadequate to to deliver health and social care in a more orderly way with the NHS focusing on meeting meet the demand-led pressures facing adult social care that continue people’s acute healthcare needs, while the ‘care’ service is locally commissioned and resourced. to rise as the population ages; with the East Midlands experiencing a 10.3% increase in people receiving services in 2012/13; being only one of two regions that experienced an increase. There is limited capacity Health and Adult Social Care and options for further savings; with over £335m savings across the Better planning and collaboration across the whole of the health and social care system is region already secured. vital to its effective reform. We now have the opportunity to facilitate a transition towards fully integrated, place-based budgets for health and care, including contributions from With change required in the immediate term, we need to take a housing, public health, environmental and leisure/cultural services. ‘whole systems planning’ approach to services – efficiency alone will not enable us to keep pace with demand! Partners agree that whole systems planning and collaboration is vital to the effective reform of the current system and we now have the opportunity to facilitate a transition towards fully integrated, place-based budgets for 6 Summary health and care, including contributions from housing, public health, environmental and leisure/cultural services. This is our offer to Government. Health and Wellbeing Boards must be at the forefront of reform, with local areas having the responsibility for developing their own priorities for improving health and wellbeing and putting in place a range of Councils are ready, willing and able to meet the support services and information to meet their population’s needs. To challenges ahead. To support this, the new Government meet this responsibility, the leadership and capacity of these Boards in power after May 2015 must put in place far-reaching must be genuinely ‘geared-up’. radical reforms that genuinely devolve power to the local level and include those powers and responsibilities highlighted in this Prospectus.
50 13 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 East Midlands Prospectus for Devolution | November 2014 14 East Midlands Councils This document is available in alternative formats and T: 01664 502 620 can be explained in a range of languages. E: [email protected] For more information please call 01664 502 620 or e-mail: [email protected] W: www.emcouncils.gov.uk @EMCouncils This document has been printed on recycled paper.
East Midlands Councils, Published November 2014. First Floor Office, South Annexe, Pera Business Park, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 0PB
51 Item 8
Improvement and Transformation Board Meeting
25th November 2014
Welfare Reform - Where are we now?
Summary The attached report updates the Improvement and Transformation Board on the impact of the welfare reforms to date and on the recent work by East Midlands Councils and the Welfare Reform Steering Group.
This paper reviews evidence and data from local authorities on the impact of the introduction of local council tax support and housing reforms in particular.
A further report will be presented to the Executive Board in December with a view to a full report going to the East Midlands Councils’ General meeting in February 2015.
Recommendations
Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board are invited to:
. Note the developments on welfare reform as highlighted in this report.
. Consider and agree the key issues for welfare reform and how it impacts on communities and local councils in the East Midlands.
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1. Introduction
1.1 The Improvement and Transformation Board requested an update on the welfare reform agenda at its meeting in September 2014. The update was to build on the work identified in the East Midlands Councils publication Welfare Reform: The Story so Far published in February 2014.
1.2 The purpose of the attached report is to highlight the work of EMC since February and the impact of welfare reform on councils in the East Midlands.
2. Activity March 2014 – November 2014 a) East Midlands Welfare Reform Steering Group
2.1 The Welfare Reform Steering group has met four times in 2014. The main agenda topics have included:
. Progress and updates from the Universal Credit pilots. . The extent of properties affected by the under occupancy provisions. . Development of and future funding for local welfare assistance schemes. . Workforce implications arising from the introduction fo the Single Fraud Investigation Service . Preparation for the introduction of the Local Support Services Framework and the Universal Support Delivered Locally pilots . Community budget models . Continuous review of data across the region.
2.2 A key area of work has been the collection and analysis of data. The data collection is ongoing and initial findings are included within the attached report. Particular emphasis is being placed on collecting data on council tax collection rates and the cost of collection. There is emerging evidence to suggest that whilst collection rates have remained strong or in some areas in fact increased, the cost of collection has increased. In addition to the cost of collection, some local authorities have invested resources in working with those who have had to pay Council Tax for the first time. b) East Midlands Councillor Development Low Cost CPD Event on Welfare Reform, Housing and Planning Where are we now? On 8th October.
2.3 Thirty six councillors attended the recent member development event on welfare reform, housing and planning. Participants were asked to give their feedback on the emerging picture on the welfare reforms to date and announcements on the roll out of Universal Credit and funding for local welfare assistance schemes.
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Item 8
The key messages were: . Engagement with those affected by the reforms is unlikely to happen until the changes are implemented. . Co-location of DWP into council office buildings had the potential to be able to create a more informative environment for tenants. . Problems with people not interacting with councils. One Council now has own housing company and will be buying affordable housing with their own money. . Lack of information for councillors. All councillors need the knowledge to inform the public. Councillors shouldn’t wait for public to come to them. . Consensus that affordable housing needs to be built in the right place with easy access to schools/transport/shops and there is a need for one and two bedroom accommodation. . Impact of welfare reforms not had dire effect as originally thought. . Delegates agreed that the messages shared at the event did resonate with their experience. . The key challenges were to help tenants deal with the benefit system, to increase the council tax base and to create sustainable jobs . Members asked that DWP looked at the issue of sanctions and the that causes for people on red line; to consider a benefit break problems for those on low paid or zero hours based work; concerns as an employer, staff morale, recruitment and retention and the impact of the decisions about TUPE; . There were concerns about the impact on smaller authorities who do not have the resources to put in preventative measures to assist with collection and prevent arrears. . The key asks included concerns about the long term forecast. Rents could increase putting pressure on household budgets including the ability buy food; problems with rent arrears and social landlords were envisaged; councillors also asked for flexibility with the 106 pot for planning. . Concerns about the workforce and recruitment and retention issues.
2.4 The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Department of Work and Pensions attend the Welfare Reform Steering group bi-annually.
3. Recommendation
3.1 Members of the Improvement and Transformation Board are invited to:
. Note the developments on welfare reform as highlighted in this report. . Consider and agree the key issues for welfare reform and how it impacts on communities and local councils in the East Midlands.
Sarah Short HR and Development Manager East Midlands Councils 54
Welfare Reform in the East Midlands
Where are we now?
November 2014
55
Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014
Contents
Foreword
Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. Universal Credit
3. Council Tax Support
4. Household Benefit Cap
5. Housing Benefit: Under Occupation in the Social Housing Sector
6. Housing Benefit: Local Housing Allowance
7. Discretionary Housing Payments
8. Welfare Assistance Schemes complete just need case study Leicester?
9. Conclusions and Next Steps
10. Statistical Annex
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Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014
Executive Summary
As discussed in the East Midlands Councils report, Welfare Reform in the East Midlands Where are we Now? the available evidence suggests that welfare reforms are continuing to have a mixed impact in the region. Some reforms such the implementation of the ‘Benefit Cap’, whilst receiving widespread media coverage, do not appear to have had a significant impact in the East Midlands.
However, the information collected to date indicates that council tax and housing benefit caseloads across councils in the East Midlands continue to be static, despite falling unemployment numbers. There is some evidence of rising levels of rent arrears but council tax collection rates are remaining stable. Further information is needed to substantiate the view that the cost of collection is rising. Those in low paid employment appear to have been most affected by the reforms, partly due to associated changes to the tax credit system. There is some anecdotal evidence that suggest the impact of the reforms in London is starting to affect the East Midlands with some movement of families moving out of London to more affordable areas.
There is continued concern about the future of funding for Local Assistance Schemes particularly as within the East Midlands many innovative schemes have been introduced.
Key messages from councils in the East Midlands in October 2014 include and reflect previous concerns:
. There is a need for greater local freedom and flexibility for councils to address the under-supply of affordable housing; . There are specific concerns about the availability of suitable housing stock, particularly smaller properties and one bedroom accommodation; . There is a need for greater freedom and flexibility for councils to support people into employment and deliver strong local economies; . There is a need for a greater acknowledgement of the impact on local authorities of new burdens and absorbing the cost of administration of welfare reforms, eg cost of council tax collection . There is a need for local knowledge and discretion in supporting people with particular needs or vulnerabilities, both with claiming Universal Credit, managing the impact of the reforms using the ‘Community Budgets approach’; . There is a need for local authorities to consider how they will make provision for welfare assistance beyond 2015/16. . All of the above must be adequately and appropriately funded.
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Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014
1. Introduction
1.1 Following the enactment of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which gave greater powers for councils to localise welfare support, the Welfare Reform Steering Group was established in 2013 and meets on a quarterly basis. The Group is chaired by Allen Graham, Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council, and comprises senior officers from:
. Rushcliffe Borough Council . West Lindsey District Council . South Northamptonshire District Council . Leicester City Council . Charnwood District Council . Bassetlaw District Council . Derby City Council . Nottingham City Council . Kettering Borough Council . Melton Borough Council . Nottinghamshire County Council . Derbyshire Dales District Council . Newark & Sherwood District Council . Broxtowe Borough Council . East Midlands Councils
1.2 The focus of the work over the last year has been to consider:
. Progress and updates from the Universal Credit pilots. . The extent of properties affected by the under occupancy provisions. . Development of and future funding for local welfare assistance schemes. . Workforce implications arising from the introduction of the Single Fraud Investigation Service . Preparation for the introduction of the Local Support Services Framework and the Universal Support Delivered Locally pilots . Community budget models . Continuous review of data across the region.
1.3 The Steering Group has highlighted to the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) and CLG the current and anticipated impact of the roll out of Universal Credit. DWP and CLG representatives attend the Steering Group biannually. Regular intelligence on implementation to date has been shared with the LGA to inform national discussions with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and DWP.
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Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014
1.4 A key area of work has been the collection and analysis of data. The data collection is ongoing and initial findings by individual local authority as of the end of September 2014 can be found in the Statistical Annex which comprises Section 10 of this report.
1.5 Thirty six councillors attended the EMC Member Development event on welfare reform, housing and planning in October 2014. Participants included East Midlands Councils, the LGA, representatives of both unitary and borough councils.
1.6 Members considered their initial response to the reforms to date. The key messages were:
. Co-location of DWP into council office buildings had the potential to be able to create more informative environment for tenants. . Problems with people not interacting with the council. . One authority now has own housing company and will be buying affordable housing with their own money. . Lack of information for councillors. All councillors need the knowledge to inform the public. Councillors shouldn’t wait for public to come to them. . Consensus that affordable housing needs to be built in the right place with easy access to schools/transport/shops and there is a need for one and two bedroom accommodation. . Impact of welfare reform not had dire effect as originally thought. . Delegates agreed that the messages shared at the event did resonate with their experience. . The key challenges were to help tenants deal with the benefit system, to increase the council tax base and to create sustainable jobs . Members asked that DWP looked at the issue of sanctions and the problems that causes for people on red line; to consider a benefit break for those on low paid or zero hours based work; concerns as an employer, staff morale, recruitment and retention and the impact of the decisions about TUPE; . There were concerns about the impact on smaller authorities who do not have the resources to put in preventative measures to assist with collection and prevent arrears. . The key asks included concerns about the long term forecast. Rents could increase putting pressure on household budgets including the ability buy food; problems with rent arrears and social landlords were envisaged; councillors also asked for flexibility with the 106 pot for planning. . Concerns about the workforce and recruitment and retention issues.
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Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014
1.7 The information collected to date indicates that whilst collection rates have remained stable to cost of collection is increasing. There remains concern about in-work claimants with anecdotal evidence from councils suggesting that numbers of in work claimants are continuing to rise.
1.8 Sections 2 to 8 of the report summarise the emerging impact in the East Midlands of individual elements of the Government Welfare Reform package, based on available data and feedback from the October 2014 Member Development event.
2. Universal Credit Update and future roll out proposals
2.1 Universal Credit (UC) affects those claiming out-of-work benefits and those claiming Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits. Universal Credit brings together 6 benefits and tax credits into 1. It replaces Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit.
2.2 Payments are received monthly in arrears as a single payment per household. To receive UC claimants are required to sign a new Claimant Commitment. Most claimants will be expected to budget for housing and living costs from their UC payment.
2.3 The inclusion of Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits means that UC will inevitably affect many low-income working families. UC will also change the way benefits are claimed in the early stages of self- employment.
2.4 Work & Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith announced in September 2014 that Universal Credit will be rolled out to all Jobcentres and Local Authorities across the country from early next year. This marks a significant acceleration in one of the Government’s biggest reforms. This expansion will be for new claims from single jobseekers. Universal Credit is already available in over 50 Jobcentres in England, Wales and Scotland, and will be available in nearly 100 Jobcentres by the end of December 2014.
2.5 The Universal Credit Test and Learn approach is designed to drive continuous improvement of the service ensuring it is built on experience and evidence. Further Universal Credit Test and Learn initiatives announced in September were:
. The trialling of key aspects of Universal Support – delivered locally in 11 partnership areas across Great Britain to inform future delivery. Derby City Council and West Lincolnshire comprising West
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Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014
Lindsey, Lincoln City, North Kesteven and Lincolnshire authorities have been selected to trial aspects of universal support. These include the sharing of data, skills and estate to support more households into work. . To ensure the right integrated local foundations are established for expansion, the Department for Work and Pensions will put in place Delivery Partnership Agreements between Jobcentre Plus and Local Authorities to make available funded support for those who need extra help. Through national expansion these partnerships will be established to help households progress into work as Universal Support – delivered locally is developed building on the Local Support Services Framework. . Universal Credit Work Coaches will engage with all households at their work search interviews to assess financial capability. Where appropriate this includes making Personal Budgeting Support appointments for advice and identifying if an Alternative Payment Arrangement is necessary for the housing element of Universal Credit. . Universal Credit Work Coaches will encourage access to local support services as they reinforce the connection between work readiness and good money management to help households break down barriers and move into work faster so they can earn more. . In-work progression pilots will be extended to help households increase their earnings once they have found work. These trials will ensure DWP develop the approach further based on evidence as Universal Credit labour market transformation is progressed. . Smarter segmentation will be tested to assess the impact and efficiency of early support for those who need extra help. . Testing of an enhanced digital service for Universal Credit will begin later this year. This will test the full scope of Universal Credit for all claimant types in a limited local area. . DWP anticipate that this plan will ensure Universal Credit is established across Great Britain with new claims to legacy benefits closed from 2016 with migration to Universal Credit to follow thereafter.
2.6 East Midlands Universal Credit Pilot Highlights
. The objectives of the East Midlands Pilots are outlined in the table below:
Rushcliffe Borough Council . help people claim online so they can apply for UC . work closely with partners to focus
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Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014
support for customers with often complex needs and integrate services . identify and support vulnerable customers including those without skills to claim online. West Lindsey District Council . supporting claimants to get online . provision of budgeting support. Melton Borough Council . get 50 per cent of working age claimants using digital services . move twenty of our most complex cases into work . integrate services to improve face to face access for the most vulnerable people
Key themes across the pilots included: . Partnership work; . shifting the emphasis to claimants becoming work ready; . triage arrangements; . digital and financial inclusion.
Melton Borough Council summarised a shared understanding by the pilots that: “In order for vulnerable customers to get into sustainable employment customers need to have stability across all areas of their lives. It is critical therefore that the holistic needs of a claimant are identified and a joined up action plan is developed to tackle all areas of concern with a single trusted point of contact to manage and support them.”
In Rushcliffe surveys were used to determine claimant’s needs and help identify partners who could provide solutions. Mosaic mapping was then used to understand likely patterns of assistance needed set against the geographical distribution of different groups of potential claimants.
In West Lindsey all those who lived in social housing and attended a ‘Moneybox’ money advice session maintained their tenancies and reduced their arrears by 14 per cent.
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Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014
3. Council Tax Support
3.1 From April 2013 the administration of council tax benefits has been administered at a local rather than national level. Each local authority has now set up a localised benefit support scheme. This change in the way Council Tax Benefit is administered has been accompanied by a 10% reduction in council tax support from Central Government.
Council Tax Support : Summary of Impacts in the East Midlands
Impact on Citizens Impact on Councils
. Local schemes have reduced . The council tax benefit claimant support to certain groups to meet counts in the East Midlands have budget constraints, including low continued to remain static or income working families, those in increased despite falling part time work or zero hours unemployment, contrary to the DWP contracts. expectations (further detail in Figure 10.1). This may be due to increased . Some groups may now be paying number of claimants in part time Council Tax for the first time. work or on zero hours contracts.
. Council tax collection rates whilst remaining stable, there is evidence that the cost of collection is increasing.
. Initial rates of council tax collection are declining through the year as more people are finding it harder to pay. This is an emerging annual pattern.
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4. Household Benefit Cap
4.1 The benefits cap restricts the income from non-work related benefits. It is intended to endure that workless households do not receive more in benefits than the average working household earns, restricting single people to £350 per week and £500 per week for couples and families. National roll out was managed over a 10 week period, split into two tranches completed by 30th September 2013.
4.2 Just over 51,000 households have been affected by the benefit cap in England so to date. Of those, 46% have been in London and only 4% in the East Midlands. A breakdown by council can be found in Figure The household benefit cap has not had the anticipated impact in the East Midlands The costs of managing increases in homelessness, increased requirement for temporary accommodation and subsidising rent costs has not resulted, to date, in an extra financial burden for local authorities in the East Midlands.
Household Benefit Cap: Summary of Impacts in the East Midlands
Impact on Citizens Impact on Councils
. Figures from DWP1 indicate that . Councils will have to work closely the cumulative count (April 2013 with households identified as likely to –August 2014) of households be capped, aiming at getting as affected by the cap in the east many as possible back to work in Midlands was 2067 (4% of the partnership with Jobcentre Plus. total for England).
. The highest levels are in . There is anecdotal evidence of those Leicester (the most populous in higher rent areas being local authority area), followed by incentivized to move north Nottingham and Derby.
1 Published 9th January 2014
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5. Housing Benefit: Under Occupation in the Social Housing Sector
5.1 From April 2013, Housing Benefit recipients within the social sector have received their Housing Benefit based on household size. For those deemed to be under-occupying their homes they received a reduction in their benefits dependent on how many spare rooms they have. If a recipient is under-occupying by one bedroom then they will receive a 14% reduction. If they are under occupying be two or more rooms then they will receive a 25% reduction in their housing benefit.
5.2 Each person or couple that makes up part of the household will be eligible for one bedroom with the following exceptions:
. Children under 16 of the same gender are expected to share. . Children under 10 are expected to share regardless of gender. . A disabled tenant or partner who needs a non-resident overnight carer will be allowed an extra room.
Under Occupation in the Social Housing Sector: Summary of Impacts in the East Midlands Impact on Citizens Impact on Councils
. Figures suggest there are 28,778 . Some councils have reported a under-occupancy as at March 2014 sharp increase in applications for which is a significant increase since Discretionary Housing Payments September 2013 in council owned (DHPs) since April 2013 stock (over half from the major urban areas): 24,896 with one spare . There is increased pressure on a bedroom and 5834 with two or more limited amount of smaller sized spare rooms. Further detail in Figure social housing stock. 10.3. . There will be an increased need for . At present there is little evidence to councils to address the under-supply suggest that people are moving as a of affordable housing. result of under-occupancy although numbers appear to be falling.
. Council figures from across the East Midlands (Figures 10.4 & 10.5) suggest a rise in the level of rent arrears during 2013. However this data is incomplete and there no evidence of a direct link with under- occupancy.
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6. Housing Benefit: Local Housing Allowance
6.1 Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the method by which Housing Benefit is calculated for private sector tenants. In April 2011 a number of changes were made, as set out below:
a) The maximum payable rate was lowered from the 50th percentile to the 30th percentile of the market rate.
b) Maximum weekly payable rate were introduced:
. For a one bedroom property it is £250 per week. . For a two bedroom property it is £290 per week. . For a three bedroom property it is £340 per week. . For a four bedroom property it is £400 per week. . Four bedroom rate is now the maximum payable.
6.2 The reforms to the LHA element of Housing Benefit impact most on the areas where the private rented sector accounts for a high proportion of households and where rent levels are highest. So far, London has been most affected by these changes at national level.
Housing Benefit: Local Housing Allowance Summary of Impacts on the East Midlands Impact on Citizens Impact on Councils
. There is a mixed picture in . The impact is likely to be highest terms of LHA caseloads with in some coastal towns and urban some councils reporting a areas where there is a strong decrease in Local Housing reliance on private sector Allowance Case Loads accommodation and where rent following increases last year levels are generally higher. (Further detail in Figure 10.6).
. Some councils have reported a sharp increase in applications for Discretionary Housing Payments since April 2013 . There will be an increased need for councils to address the under-supply of affordable housing.
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7. Discretionary Housing Payments
7.1 Councils are allocated funding each year from Government to support people who qualify for housing benefit (or similar under Universal Credit) but are experiencing difficulties in either paying their rent or with the start- up costs of a tenancy.
7.2 The Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) pot is limited and when the funding for the year runs out, no more payments can be made. The local authority decides who should be given the payments, how much and how often they are paid. DHPs may be paid weekly or can be a lump sum. It can also be backdated.
7.3 The Government has increased the amount of money available to councils to help people to adjust to the reduction in housing benefits.
Discretionary Housing Payments Summary of Impacts on the East Midlands Impact on Citizens Impact on Councils
. Increased levels of DHPs . Demand for DHPs will provide additional remains high. support to those that have seen a decrease in Housing Benefit payments since April 2013.
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8. Welfare Assistance Schemes
8.1 In April 2013, the Department for Work and Pensions (‘DWP’) abolished the Crisis Loan and Community Care Grant elements of the Social Fund and transferred the funding previously used to support these to upper tier local authorities in England.
8.2 This move followed a period in which Government’s expenditure on Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants had grown significantly. In an attempt to contain spending, DWP introduced a number of restrictions on eligibility and reduced the maximum level of award for Crisis Loans in 2012. However, it remained concerned that its system of cash payments was open to abuse and was failing to meet the underlying needs of applicants, some of whom applied repeatedly to the scheme for help.
8.3 The funding provided for establishing Local Welfare Assistance schemes has been provided on a non-ring fenced basis by DWP, which has resulted in local authorities across the East Midlands establishing different schemes of provision.
8.4 DWP indicated that it expected them to use these to meet local priorities and provide help to those in greatest need. The intention was for local authorities to deliver a “flexible response to unavoidable need, perhaps through a mix of cash and goods and aligning with the wider range of local support local authorities already offer”.
8.5 The transfer of funding to local authorities was welcomed in principle. Local authorities provide a range of vital support to people in crisis situations or who have community care needs, and the transfer presented an opportunity to bring financial and non-financial forms of support together to better address their underlying problems and reduce the number of repeat applications.
8.6 A recent report by the LGA “Delivering Local Welfare. How councils are meeting local crisis and community care needs” http://www.local.gov.uk/documents/10180/5863529/LGA+Deliverin g+local+welfare+report+FINAL.pdf/44b70063-0242-41dc-afc1- 1a35a625d8cb highlights how ten local authorities responded to the challenge of creating Local Welfare Schemes. There is commonality between the LGA findings and the experience in the East Midlands: . All of the local authorities in the LGA study have moved away from cash payments towards ‘in-kind’ support, using payment cards or vouchers to meet crisis needs and directly purchasing essential items for those with community care requirements. This has reduced the potential for people to abuse the system, with councils reporting that people have withdrawn
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applications when they were informed that there were no cash payments available; . Local authorities have delivered cost-effectively by negotiating bulk purchasing deals with suppliers and in some cases use local providers, including recycling projects, to both keep the cost of items low and improve the level of service. Whilst establishing these fulfilment mechanisms was initially time consuming, the arrangements are now working well and there is evidence that these are more cost-effective than was the case for Social Fund provision. . Local authorities have also made great efforts to ensure that they are managing demand effectively. This initially led some to be cautious in respect of the eligibility criteria and levels of award available from their schemes, although these are still evolving in the light of experience. . The targeting of provision to those in greatest need, combined with efficiencies in fulfilment has allowed authorities to move resources into more preventative work and to do more to meet the underlying needs of applicants. . Local authorities have enabled provision to become more joined-up, to meet the complex needs of applicants and reduce repeat demand. This has included working with applicants to help improve money management skills and move them closer to the labour market, and is in line with DWP’s stated objectives for the Local Support Services Framework for Universal Credit
8.7 Local Welfare Schemes are now at risk as the Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that there will be no separately identified funding to support these in the financial settlement for local authorities in 2015/16.
8.8 Councils have managed the available budget effectively; reduced the potential for abuse, and created schemes which better meet the underlying needs of applicants and reduce repeat demand. This has enabled them to provide vital, timely support to some of their most vulnerable and deprived residents, many of whom have also been impacted by the consequences of the Government’s wider programme of welfare reform.
8.9 It is clear both from the experiences of East Midlands’ authorities and the LGA research that there will always be a need for some form of crisis and community care support to be made available.
8.10 Whilst local authorities may be able to make further efficiencies moving forwards, for example by sharing back office and fulfilment functions with neighbouring authorities East Midlands Councils supports the LGA position that Government needs to recognise that there is a need to continue to provide them with a specific and identifiable pot of funding to
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Welfare Reform in the East Midlands: Where are we now? November 2014 meet these types of needs in their localities on an ongoing basis. In the absence of this, the early indications are that local authorities are likely to reduce investment in preventative work, which may lead to greater social and financial costs in the longer term.
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9. Conclusions and Next Steps
9.1 The available evidence suggests that Welfare Reform is so far having a mixed impact in the region. Some reforms, such the implementation of the ‘Benefits Cap’, whilst receiving widespread media coverage, have not had a significant impact in the East Midlands.
9.2 The information collected to date indicates that council tax and housing benefit caseloads across councils in the East Midlands have remained static or increasing, although unemployment has been falling for some time. Whilst there is some evidence of rising levels of rent arrears, council tax collection rates have remained static although the cost of collection appears to be increasing.
9.3 Different types of authority and place face different types of challenges. Some urban areas and coastal towns have been particularly affected by the Local Housing Allowance reforms due to a strong reliance on private sector housing stock to meet social housing needs and relatively high rents.
9.4 Councils in the East Midlands have used funding for local assistance schemes in a number of innovative ways. The review of the decision to withdraw funding in 2015/16 is welcomed but there needs to be further consideration of how provision can be maintained in the future.
9.5 Key messages from councils in the East Midlands include: . There is a need for greater local freedom and flexibility for councils to address the under-supply of affordable housing; . There are specific concerns about the availability of suitable housing stock, particularly smaller properties and one bedroom accommodation; . There is a need for greater freedom and flexibility for councils to support people into employment and deliver strong local economies; . There is a need for a greater acknowledgement of the impact on local authorities of new burdens and absorbing the cost of administration of welfare reforms, eg cost of council tax collection . There is a need for local knowledge and discretion in supporting people with particular needs or vulnerabilities, both with claiming Universal Credit, managing the impact of the reforms using the ‘Community Budgets approach’; . There is a need for local authorities to consider how they will make provision for welfare assistance beyond 2015/16. . All of the above must be adequately and appropriately funded.
9.6 Further data collection is underway and it is envisaged that a more detailed picture will emerge to be reported at the Executive Board in
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December. The Welfare Reform Steering Group is continuing to gather and analyse data based on the welfare reforms and all EMC member authorities have been asked to contribute to this data collection exercise.
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10. Statistical Annex
10.1 Total Case Loads for Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit
Source: Local Authorities
10.2 Numbers Affected by the Household Benefit Cap
Source: DWP
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10.3 Levels of Under-Occupancy in Council Owned Stock
Source: Local Authorities
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10.4 Local Authority Rent Arrears: Numbers of Live Cases
Source: Local Authorities
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10.5 Local Authority Rent Arrears: Amount of Arrears
Source: Local Authorities
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10.6 Local Housing Allowance Caseloads
Source: Local Authorities
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10.7 Council Tax Collection Rates
Source: Local Authorities
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10.8 Cost of Council Tax Collection
Source: Local Authorities
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