|
1.
|
By Councillor Kendall of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care
‘Could the Cabinet Member tell me what plans are in place to train key mental health staff, consultants etc. in Asperger Syndrome? (i.e. autism with no learning disability).
Currently, local Asperger-trained psychological/therapeutic support for sufferers (and their parents/carers) is virtually non-existent in Essex. Mostly all that is available is generic "one size fits all" support which is inappropriate for this autistic cohort and can actually make things worse.’
|
|
|
Reply
‘The Council has commissioned the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) to provide a range of Mental Health services across Essex.
EPUT’s Asperger’s Service provides training across the Trust to raise awareness and enable teams to improve their support to people with Asperger’s and their families:
- In July 2017 the Asperger’s Service provided training in the South of Essex for adult psychiatrists and in Southend and Basildon for Mental Health teams.
- In August 2017, the Learning Disability psychology department provided training for staff in Liaison and Diversion services in Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) awareness and reasonable adjustments.
- Asperger’s Awareness (one day course to provide participants with a basic understanding and awareness of Asperger syndrome and explores contemporary approaches to more effectively supporting the care of people who live with this condition)
- Autistic Spectrum Conditions (to increase the knowledge and skills of those practitioners supporting and assisting service users with ASD).
The Adult Autism Partnership Board has developed a Multi-Agency Training Plan led by Mid Essex CCG, with priority focus on primary and secondary care staff training in autism via e-learning.
Additionally, Essex County Council offers a countywide one-day training course for advanced knowledge of Autism in relation to Adults within Adult Social Care. The training also covers the assessment process. Training includes understanding research and pre-course e-learning on Autism that does include Aspergers.’
|
|
2.
|
By Councillor Aspinell of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care
‘Is it your intention to bring to Council for us to sign up to the Ethical Care Charter as detailed in the attached link?’
www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2017/06/ethicalcarecharterEDITFINAL.pdf
|
|
|
Reply
‘Essex County Council routinely works with the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care in England, to make sure social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care.
As a member of the Safeguarding Adults Board, the Council is committed to working with partners to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is being promoted including, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.
This Council is committed to providing good quality care to all our Adult Social Care service users in Essex.
We do not currently plan to adopt the Charter, as there are other, more proactive mechanisms for ensuring safety, quality and dignity of care for those we support.
With respect to the pay, conditions and training opportunities for care workers, Essex County Council, as the commissioner of care and support services, continues to work with providers to ensure a viable, robust and skilled sector workforce.’
|
|
3.
|
By Councillor Harris of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care
‘Would portfolio holder please do as many other councils around the country and sign up to the Ethical Care Charter, as ECC already does most of the suggested best practice in the charter.’
http://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2017/06/ethicalcarecharterEDITFINAL.pdf
|
|
|
Reply
‘Essex County Council routinely works with the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care in England, to make sure social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care.
As a member of the Safeguarding Adults Board, the Council is committed to working with partners to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is being promoted including, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.
This Council is committed to providing good quality care to all our Adult Social Care service users in Essex.
We do not currently plan to adopt the Charter, as there are other, more proactive mechanisms for ensuring safety, quality and dignity of care for those we support.
With respect to the pay, conditions and training opportunities for care workers, Essex County Council, as the commissioner of care and support services, continues to work with providers to ensure a viable, robust and skilled sector workforce.’
|
|
4.
|
By Councillor Harris of the Cabinet Member for Education
‘Would the portfolio holder look at the Council’s bus service in south Colchester, namely the numbers 50 and 63 buses. Both services are operated by the Hedingham Bus Company.
As the Council subsidises both routes, can the portfolio holder influence the time table so that the services do not run so closely timed to each other, but at a half hourly service. The morning service, for example, has both the 50 and the 63 run only a few minutes apart, and then leaving bus users with 50 minutes with nothing.
Could negotiation include getting a 30 minute service instead, using hourly service of 50 and 63 with a stagger?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘I am aware of the current close running of services 50 and 63. Both services were won by (separate) combined tender bids which allows the buses to ‘cross work’ between different contracts in the most cost effective way.
- Service 50 is combined with service 92 on Saturdays (and one 92 journey on Wednesdays) and a range of small shopper bus services (50b, 69a, 85, 84b, 79) during the week.
- Service 63 interworks with the school bus service 19.
This arrangement requires the buses to be at certain points at certain times in order to work, which makes it difficult to co-ordinate the 50 and 63. To do so would reduce the level of service available to residents outside central Colchester.
This said, close analysis of the timetables suggests that it may be possible to alter the times of some services to produce a more even headway at some times of the day – mainly in the morning off peak period, without upsetting the rest of the service timetables.
Therefore, officers will raise this possibility with Hedingham Omnibus and see what action can be taken.’
|
|
5.
|
By Councillor Mackrory of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Skills, Infrastructure and the Digital Economy.
‘The Commission of Inquiry into the A12 chaired by Sir David Rowlands reported in 2008, can the Cabinet Member give an update on the following:
- How many of the 28 recommendations have been implemented and what is the status of those remaining?
- Appendix 9 refers to the number of personal injury accidents between 2004 – 2006, what are the figures from 2007 until the latest available?
- Appendix 11 refers to the road closure statistics from 1st January – 30th April 2008, what are the figures from 1st May 2008 until the latest available?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘Essex County Council cannot directly carry out works on the A12, as it is a trunk road and the responsibility of Highways England. However, the County Council used its considerable influence through the A12 Inquiry to make sure that the road was seen as a strategic route which could no longer be planned and managed in an ad hoc and hand-to-mouth manner as it appeared to many that it was at the time; hence the 28 recommendations covering everything from route upgrading to day-to-day management.
Turning to your queries
- 1.28 recommendations
The Sir David Rowlands report was meticulous in its approach and encyclopaedic in its findings, with numerous recommendations. Many of the recommendations now need to be seen in the light of the changes in the way the route is now managed, operated and planned for.
Rather than run through all 28 recommendations, I have grouped together some thoughts on progress since the Inquiry:
- Status and Planning for the Route plus its desired standard
At the time of the Inquiry there was a lot of uncertainty as to how any meaningful upgrade could be affected by the then regional approach to funding allocation. I’m glad to say that much has changed, and the A12 is seen now as a de facto important trunk road managed and planned for by a new organisation, Highways England. Highways England is under a remit from Government to deliver objectives not just for congestion and safety, but also to aide economic growth by improving connectivity. This is a sea change in the previous approach, and hasushered in a new Route Based Strategy (RBS) which replaced the previous workaday Route Management Strategies. The first RBS was published firstly as a pilot on 2013, and then in full in 2015. The RBS was followed up by inclusion of the A12in the Roads Investment Strategy, which set as its target the upgrading to three lanes of all sections of the A12 between M25 (Brook Street) and Colchester (Crown Interchange) by 2025.
Initially an A12 Alliance was set up and was highly influential, but following the publication of a new approach to trunk road management, the meetings have ceased and have been replaced with active strategic planning discussions between Highways England and the County Council. We may conclude that the Inquiry and the Alliance was instrumental in a new approach to the A12 which shows how effective the initiative was.
- Priority sections
Much was made of the inadequate sections of route notably at Hatfield Peverel, and between there and Marks Tey as being priorities for improvement. Since the Inquiry the Hatfield Peverel to Witham improvement has taken place, and the section from Chelmsford to Marks Tey prioritised for wholescale upgrading, options for which were unveiled earlier this year.
- Management of the road on a day to day basis
Following the Inquiry the A12 patrols were introduced, and important information gathered about the nature of incidents and breakdowns. Regrettably the patrols ceased due to funding difficulties, but this authority has regularly championed their usefulness, and looks forward to their reinstatement whenever this can be afforded by Highways England and the Essex Police. Until that time the Essex Police will and do carry out campaigns, and manage driver behaviour through their current programmes aided by the Safer Essex Roads Partnership work.
- Speed management and Information management
The Inquiry called for speed management and information services to be introduced. Since these recommendations were made, two sections of the A12 have had average speed cameras installed, and several VMS signs sited.
- Other matters
There were a number of recommendations regarding more minor matters such as laybys, public rights of way and signing /lining. These are attended to by Highways England as part of their day-to-day management of the road through their contracting mechanisms, including the resurfacing and minor defect rectification programme underway at present for example.
- 2.Accident Record & Road Closures
As I say, Essex does not administer the road on a day-to-day basis, and in order that I give you an accurateupdate on the 2007 and 2008 figures to which you refer, I have contacted the Route Managers at Highways England, so that they can provide me with up-to-date information. Once I have this I will write again to answer these important points.
Overall I would conclude that the A12 Inquiry was a milestone in getting the route recognised as an important economic driver of growth, and one which needed an holistic approach which is what the Roads Investment Strategy with its aim to make the A12 an Expressway has started.’
|
|
6.
|
By Councillor Mackrory of the Cabinet Member for Education
‘Will the Cabinet Member, together with the Cabinet Member for Highways and the Cabinet Member for Housing, Property & Planning, undertake an urgent study into the traffic and highways implications of expanding schools on tight sites in urban areas where the existing highways infrastructure is unsuitable for the increase in traffic generated? The study to include exploring ways of securing funding for the highways upgrades from developer contributions.’
|
|
|
Reply
The following response has been provided by the Cabinet Member for Education, the Cabinet Member for Highways and the Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Planning.
‘As part of every planning application including expansion of school sites a Transport Assessment is conducted which seeks to assess the traffic impacts associated with the development. If these impacts are deemed sufficient enough appropriate developer contributions are sought through the Section 106 process to secure infrastructure improvements. However physical infrastructure is only part of the story there are ongoing school travel planning activities which include ensuring that pupils and parents adopt the most appropriate and suitable method of travel to school. To support this a specific position was created in July 2017 to ensure that there is more emphasis placed on this initiative, particularly in the Colchester area given that a number of schools have been identified for expansion within a defined geographical cluster. This position works closely with officer and member representatives to ensure that the right solutions are delivered with respect to each school.
It should also be noted that the school itself plays a big part in the promotion and monitoring of sustainable travel to schools through ‘hands up’ surveys, ‘park and stride’ initiatives and 3PR which is a considerate parking initiative from the South Essex Parking Partnership which the County Council officers are working closely with to roll the scheme out across South Essex.’
|
|
7.
|
By Councillor Deakin of the Leader of the Council
‘I have regularly attended ECC meetings where Officers are in attendance and working on their laptops, on their laps. Working like this cannot be good for their eyesight or posture and is most certainly not complying with the correct working height for computer screens.
- Can the Leader tell me how this is promoting best working practice?
- Does this Council provide free eye tests for staff and Members?
- Has this Council carried out a risk assessment on all members of staff who regularly work in this way?If so, when, and what were the findings?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘ECC is at the forefront of promoting mobile and flexible working and new employees frequently comment how helpful it is to be able to access ECC information easily, flexibly and securely.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require that an assessment is undertaken of workstations used for an extended period of time a place used continuously for an hour most days, although a temporary workstation would not need the assessment to be formally recorded. In most cases the use of a laptop at a meeting would not amount to use for a prolonged period of time because people at the meeting will be observing or participating in the meeting and will be watching the discussion and so there would not be prolonged use of the laptop.
Continuous typing on a laptop for an extended period of time without use of a separate screen is not recommended. County Hall is equipped with several thousand workstations where laptops can be connected into an adjustable height screen, keyboard and mouse.
If any member would like to assess their own workstation the guidance is available on the ECC intranet (search for ‘VDU’) although this is not a formal requirement as the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 do not apply to Members.
The Council pays for eye tests for employees who are users of display screen equipment. Neither the 1992 Regulations nor the current scheme of Members allowances allow for reimbursement of these costs for Members.
The law and ECC policy requires that all employees should have a DSE assessment for their workstation. An employee’s manager is responsible for ensuring that assessments take place in accordance with the policy. Each assessment will be specific to the needs of the individual employee and their workstation.’
|
|
8.
|
By Councillor Young of the Cabinet Member for Education
‘Cabinet agreed to set up an Essex Multi Academy Trust. Please can the Portfolio Holder clarify the proposed Governing Body membership structure and confirm permanent exclusions will be used as a last result.’
|
|
|
Reply
‘I thank Councillor Young for her question regarding the development of an LA initiated Multi Academy Trust (MAT) and for her support of this at the recent Cabinet meeting. I would like to clarify that the endorsement by Cabinet was to proceed with an application to the Regional Schools Commissioner for approval. In addition, the Essex MAT (EMAT) will be established as an independent entity from the council. Legally ECC can only hold a 20% stake in the board of trustees and this is the proposal we will be putting forward. Given that the EMAT has not yet been approved by the Regional Schools Commissioner it would not be appropriate to share the details of the Members or Trustees of the proposed EMAT at this time.
In respect of the specific question about exclusions, this would be a matter for the Board of Trustees of the EMAT to consider and would be in line with their policy on behaviour management / exclusions. ECC would advocate to any school in Essex that the permanent exclusion of pupils should always be a last report and in line with the schools adopted policy of behaviour / exclusion.’
|
|
9.
|
By Councillor Young of the Cabinet Member for Education
‘The change in Home to School Transport policy was scheduled to deliver savings of between £500,000 and £1m yet the 2016/17 final out turn figures revealed savings of just £40k. When will the Portfolio Holder order a review of this policy with a view to making changes?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘I thank Councillor Young for her question, although the details presented within it are completely inaccurate.
The table below illustrates spend per school day in the relevant financial years:
|
Financial year
|
Spend per school day
|
|
2014/15
|
£134,325
|
|
2015/16
|
£132,862
|
|
2016/17
|
£131,540
|
In the 2016/17 financial year, the Council spent £2,785 less per day on education transport than in 2014/15 (the last year under the previous policy). A normal school year has 190 days and so the equivalent reduction in spend between 2014/15 and 2016/17 was £529,150.
It is clear that the current policy is delivering much needed savings. It is also significantly fairer. The previous arrangements gave some areas of the county a special deal, paid for by all other Essex taxpayers, which was unfair and unsustainable.
There is no intention to either review or change the policy. A position that is equitable for all parts of Essex is essential and that is what the current policy achieves.’
|
|
10.
|
By Councillor Reid of the Cabinet Member for Resources
‘In view of the recent problems that occurred with the Teachers’ pay system, can the Portfolio Holder tell us that measures are being put in place to prevent the system malfunctioning in the future?
Can she categorically state that all of those teachers who incurred bank charges have been reimbursed and not left in hardship and can she do everything in her power to prevent this happening again?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘We have completed an independent investigation into the August pay delay which has been undertaken by our internal auditors which revealed the issue to be one of human error. All internal payroll processes have now been fully reviewed and recommendations made including an additional check put in place to ensure there will be no repetition.
All claims received have been settled.’
|
|
11.
|
By Councillor Davies of the Cabinet Member for Highways
‘Would the Cabinet Member provide details of all applications to Local Highways Panels that are in the process of being validated, highlighting reasons for those that have remained as “awaiting validation” status for a significant period of time?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘Number of all applications, by Local Highways Panel, that are in the process of being validated:
Chelmsford – 34
Maldon – 17
Epping – 13
Castle Point – 6
Brentwood – 5
Rochford – 3
Basildon - 5
Braintree – 28
Colchester – 48
Harlow – 15
Tendring – 21
Uttlesford – 26
Essex Highways aims to have all requested validations complete on time for the December/January Panel meetings; this is so they are able to be programmed by the Panel for the forthcoming financial year. On the rare occasion a validation is required sooner then it will be prioritised.
If your question is in relation to the validation time-scales for a specific scheme I’d be happy to discuss this with you individually.’
|
|
12.
|
By Councillor Henderson of the Cabinet Member for Children and Families
‘Will the portfolio holder please confirm whether or not it is correct that Barnardo’s are having to make redundant 30% of its most experienced staff providing support for vulnerable children and families across North Essexin order to meet the budget cuts being imposed by Virgin Care?
Will he further confirm that Essex County Council remains responsible for the support and protection offered to 0 – 19 year olds and that action is being taken to ensure that no child is disadvantaged or made more vulnerable as a result of the council having chosen to allow its Children’s Services to be managed by a 3rdparty?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘Virgin Care in partnership with Barnardo’s has been commissioned by ECC and NHS West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group to deliver the 0-19 Child and Family Wellbeing Service across the county from 1 April 2017, within a fixed budget set by commissioners.
Virgin Care and Barnardo’s have recently completed a robust and inclusive workforce redesign consultation process to be in a position to ensure colleagues were placed in the right roles to deliver the outcome measures and key performance indicators agreed within their contract. Prior to this, there were 111 Barnardo’s colleagues working in children’s centres in North East Essex. There are now 78 experienced Barnardo’s staff working alongside colleagues employed by Virgin Care in the new service. 8 employees voluntarily left their posts, 9 took voluntary redundancy and 13 have been made compulsorily redundant (a total of 31.18%).
To answer your second point, Essex County Council have previously delivered the services within this contract by 3rd party providers which has been the case for many years, so this is not a new approach. A comprehensive set of key performance Indicators have been agreed, which have been built on from the previous contract monitoring processes, and these will allow for Commissioners to hold Virgin Care and Barnardo’s to account, along with a number of activity level measures that have been put in place during the transition into the new service to ensure service levels do not drop below those that were in place at the contract transfer point at the scheduled monthly contract management meetings.
Regarding disadvantaged families, Virgin and Barnardo’s have been specifically commissioned to improve outcomes for some of our most disadvantaged families across Essex. Our extensive early years review identified many disadvantaged families who struggled to access support, for a range of reasons. We believe that the Healthy Family Teams will provide the pro-active support that such families will benefit from and will access this support flexibly and not solely rely on attendance at specific centres, rather through the flexibilities afforded to a more integrated work force. Work is also underway to support families to create their own effective peer support networks to address the underlying areas of isolation we know many of our most disadvantaged families feel. To support this, Barnardo’s are leading on building on their previously successful Volunteer programme.’
|
|
13.
|
By Councillor Scordis of the Cabinet Member for Highways
‘In Colchester, weeds at least a foot high have become a regular sight all over the town. Despite several requests for weeding I was told weeding would only take place at certain times, despite the unpredictable weather patterns we saw this year. Would the portfolio holder be able to re-evaluate when the weeding program takes place?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘Colchester was treated in April and September this year. We vary the timings for each district where possible depending on growth.
Any weeding that is required after treatment would need to be completed by the street care teams, normally a district council function, or highway rangers if on a 30mph road. We are very happy to work with the local councils to coordinate any weeding activities after our treatments have happened.
Essex County Council does review the approach, policy and timings on an annual basis but at the moment we do not have plans to increase frequency.’
|
|
14.
|
By Councillor Scordis of the Cabinet Member for Highways
‘Would the portfolio holder please be able to explain why a broken kerbstone sticking out into the road is not seen as a hazard to cyclists or drivers? Could he clarify how far a kerb would need to be before Essex County Council took action and removed the hazard?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘All reported defects are inspected using a strict risk based approach. This allows the prioritisation of our limited resources on those areas that present the greatest risk for road users. In the case of kerb stone defects the assessment would be based on likely footfall in the area, and the potential for interaction with road users.
I would be happy to ask officers to respond on the specific example you are referring to if you can provide me with location details.’
|
|
15.
|
By Councillor Kendall of the Cabinet Member for Highways
‘Please could you tell me how much Essex County Council has been paid by Jupiter Spring Productions Ltd to close a number of roads and part of Thorndon Country Park in my County Division between September 28th and October 4th? Why wasn't I consulted as the local member before any decision was made to close the roads and the park?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘The closures requested by Jupiter Spring Productions Ltd provided a unique opportunity and whilst we currently have no more filming-related closures planned on our roads, going forward we are keen to explore the economic benefits of charging for filming in Essex County Council’s buildings, parks and roads. As well as generating income it offers us an opportunity to promote our great county on an international stage while bringing money into our local economy through film crews who spend at our shops, eat at our restaurants and stay at our hotels.
Thorndon Country Park was paid a five-figure sum for the use of their north car park and was accessible via its south car park throughout the filming. While Essex Highways has invoiced Jupiter Spring Productions Ltd for the usual cost of processing a road closure.
Road closures do not require consultation with ECC members due to the sheer volume of applications received from companies (especially utilities) in relation to the 5,000 mile road network in Essex. Closures are advertised in the local paper (and in this case) on social media in advance to help make residents aware.’
|
|
16.
|
By Councillor Sheldon of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Skills, Infrastructure and the Digital Economy.
‘Can the Cabinet Member reassure my residents that the Council will investigate claims that council contractors damaged the surface of the car park on Benfleet High Road adjacent to Hatley Gardens, when they used it for plant and other storage during the original works on the Sadlers Farm junction that started back in 2010. Can he also give my residents reassurance that if it found that the surface of the car park was damaged by the contractors that the Council will use all means at their disposal to ensure they repair the damage as soon as possible.’
|
|
|
Reply
‘Balfour Beatty has agreed, at no expense to the Council, to remedy defects in the Sadlers Farm scheme, and work is due to start on later in Oct. Their proposed way of working has been scrutinised by officers, and an agreed traffic management plan has been assembled. The details are on our website. We will be monitoring the situation closely, and I can assure you that any lessons from the original works a few years ago have been learned, and the contractor understands very well that traffic management is an equal concern to the Council as is the remedying of the defects.
The matter of Hatley Gardens is not quite so straightforward. Although works to Tarpots and the link to Sadlers Farm were undertaken at the same time to the Sadlers Farm main works, the contractor was not the same. Rather than Balfour Beatty it was Eurovia that undertook the works. Therefore remedial work needed now would not be the responsibility of Balfour Beatty. The matter is further complicated by the fact that Essex County Council entered into a licence agreement with Castle Point Borough Council over the use of the car park as a compound for Eurovia to utilise. Under the agreement there was provision for liability to remedy any defects caused by the contractor. Accordingly an inspection was carried out at the end of the works, and damaged areas were repaired. There were however, concerns raised after the works regarding potholes in the car park area, which existed prior to its use as a compound. It seems clear that this issue will require further discussion with Castle Point and I will undertake to ask that this takes place and will reply with the findings.’
|
|
17.
|
By Councillor Henderson of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care
‘Regarding the changes to Adult Social Care Charges; how was the consultation carried out? Were every one of the 9,100 written to, with a copy of the consultation document to post back; and if not, why not – after all the Council knows who those affected are?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘The consultation process on the charging reforms went through our formal governance procedures, and was published on our website in the normal way.
During 2016 we consulted on the changes, writing to some 9,000 adults receiving non-residential social care, enclosing a copy of the consultation and inviting them to respond. This was over and above publishing the consultation in the normal way and was intended to ensure it came to the attention of those most likely to be affected by it.’
|
|
18.
|
By Councillor Buckley of the Cabinet Member for Education
‘Following reports in the national media that some Standing Advisory Committees for Religious Education (SACRE’s) including Essex have recommended that the terms BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini) be dropped and replaced with terms CE (common era) and BCE (Before Common Era), will the Cabinet Member join me in condemning this act of over-zealous political correctness?
Given that leading members of Jewish and Islamic faiths have said no offence is caused by the use of the Gregorian calendar, will the cabinet member instruct heads of LEA controlled schools that the common, and well understood, terms BC and AD should continue to be used in Essex Schools?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘Despite reports in the national press to the contrary Essex SACRE have not made a recommendation that the terms BC and AD are replaced by CE and BCE. The current agreed syllabus does not include this recommendation. However, the Essex SACRE have issued a guidance document entitled “responding appropriately to pupils’ religious obligations”, which does make reference to the terms CE and BCE. This is guidance for schools and it is a matter for schools to decide which, if any, elements of the guidance to follow. This guidance reflects the approach of many Religious Education text books, for both primary and secondary schools, which employ these terms in order to show sensitivity to pupils who are not Christians. This has been the case for a number of years.
SACRE members are meeting very shortly and will issue a statement to Essex schools to the effect that both terms can indeed be used. As the implementation of this guidance is a school-led decision.’
|
|
19.
|
By Councillor Smith of the Cabinet Member for Education
‘Phase 2 of the Westley Green housing development (Dry Street) now has full planning permission, which includes a site for a new primary school. This successful planning application didn’t include any detailed plans to build this school. When will this new school be built and who will be paying for this new school, the taxpayer or the developer?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘The 10 Year Plan 2017-2026 identified the need for a new school at Dry Street, with an estimated opening date of 2023. This is subject to the rate of house building and occupation which will affect the demand for and sustainability of the new school. The 10 Year Plan is reviewed and updated annually, with the next iteration to be published in January 2018.
The Local Authority has a signed S106 agreement in place which has secured a financial contribution towards the building of the new school. The new school will very likely serve pupils beyond just the Dry Street development, and therefore Basic Need funding (the funding provided by the government to LAs to provide additional school places) may also be used to pay to build the new school.’
|
|
20.
|
By Councillor Smith of the Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities and Customer
‘During the week leading up to St. George’s Day of 2018, will Essex County Council consider running Essex History week to promote and celebrate the people who helped to shape the history of this long standing English county?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘I take Councillor Smith’s suggestion on board and agree wholeheartedly that celebrating Essex’s history is vital. For Essex County Council this is a year-round rather than one-week event. We make it clear through our programme of work across the council, as well as the Vision for Essexand our Organisation Strategy that we are dedicated to celebrating the rich and diverse culture, history and people of this county in everything that we do; and we do this in many different ways.
One of the special ways we are celebrating this next year is through our project Snapping the Stiletto: 100 Years of Change. Because next year marks the 100 years since the first British women received the vote, the 90th anniversary of all women receiving the vote and the 50th anniversary of the Dagenham Ford Worker’s Strike, Essex County Council and its museum partners are exploring, recording and celebrating the diverse and inspirational stories of Essex women and will be exhibiting them across the county throughout the year.
The Essex Record Office’s You Are Hear project, which, along with digitising the ERO sound and video archive, has been using innovative and exciting techniques to celebrate local people and bring our county’s archive into the public domain through listening benches and audio kiosks which are now permanently installed across the county.
You can see similar celebrations of our history and our people through projects such as Resorting to the Coast, with Tendring Council and the Grand Theatre of Lemmings, our Essex Summer of Art, as well as commemorations of the end of the First World War, Armed Forces Day and various other events throughout the year that provide significant recognition of the phenomenal history of Essex and beyond.’
|
|
21.
|
By Councillor Abbott of the Cabinet Member for Highways
‘This summer in the Division I represent I received a significant number of complaints from residents regarding blocked public rights of way (PRoW), which I reported. The blocked sections of PRoW appear to relate in part to the Council’s policy of only cutting routes once per year.
Due to the growing cycle, a single cut means that there will inevitably be periods where overgrowth becomes impassable in certain locations, particularly where there are dense nettles, brambles, etc.
Is the Council still committed to ensuring that PRoW remain open all year round so that they can continue to perform their important function of offering people safe off-road access for walking?
If so, what is the Council going to do, potentially including working with partners, to make sure that such blockages do not become an annual problem?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘Essex County Council is committed to ensuring that Public Rights of Way are open all year round. Whilst it is acknowledged that the cutting schedule only allows for one cut, it is not necessarily this single cut that is the issue in respect of vegetation growth obstructing the PROW.
There is always a difficult balance to strike and cutting too early will deliver little benefit to users and, due to the duration of the programme, there will inevitably be a period toward the end of the programme where some areas begin to become overgrown.
Individual reports of obstructed PROW can be made through the Essex Highways website and will be assessed to identify if further action, aside from the cutting schedule, is required.
We are committed to working with partners to enhance the service and by way of example, are now working with 57 volunteer groups, a number that has more than doubled in three years.
Having said this, we are always interested in exploring new ways of delivering services and it might be that the localism motion that was passed at the last Full Council – and referred to the Place Services and Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee – could point towards a more effective way of delivering PROW cutting with our partners, as you suggest.’
|
|
22.
|
By Councillor Robinson of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care
‘Will the Cabinet Member please update us on discussions being held with District-level housing departments to improve joint working, in particular to reduce delayed discharges from hospital and to reduce homelessness and its consequences.’
|
|
|
Reply
‘There are a number of engagement and consultation forums where Essex County Council works positively with districts on housing and homelessness issues:
- Essex Housing Officers Group (hosted by ECC on behalf of districts)
- Essex Homelessness Officers Group (hosted by ECC on behalf of districts)
- Housing, Health and Social Care forum
There is also an Essex Homelessness Trailblazer prevention initiative funded by the DCLG which ECC successfully obtained funding of £890k for two years.
This initiative commenced on 1st April and provides 10 homelessness prevention mentors across Essex. These mentors work with all districts and work collaboratively on homelessness prevention cases. The mentors will typically work on cases that are complex. So far this service has had over 100 referrals, and delivery of the service is monitored by the Essex Homelessness Officers Group.
As part of this initiative we have set up an Essex-wide strategic steering group to focus on homelessness prevention.
We are engaged in a comprehensive strategy to decrease the level of delayed transfers of care, which is a particular focus of the Improved Better Care Fund initiative.
However, housing is not seen as a significant issue in reducing delayed transfers of care.’
|
|
23.
|
By Councillor Turrell of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care
‘Can the Cabinet member explain why Mencap and the Essex Carers’ Network were not consulted about the revised charging policy for social care support when Essex County Council’s own impact assessment report specifically talks about consulting or involving those groups that are likely to be affected by the policy decision?Does he also understand the stress caused to those carers looking after disabled children to receive increased bills of £50 a month and in some cases £100 a month?’
|
|
|
Reply
‘Essex County Council routinely publishes consultations on its website, in the same way as many other councils and government departments do. Essex Mencap and Essex Carers’ Network are well-established and sophisticated organisations and presumably routinely responds to consultations in which it has an interest.
You will appreciate that there are many bodies supporting the frail and elderly and those with disabilities across Essex, and it would be impractical to contact them all individually.
During 2016 we consulted on the changes, writing to some 9,000 adults receiving non-residential social care, enclosing a copy of the consultation and inviting them to respond. This was over and above publishing the consultation in the normal way and was intended to ensure it came to the attention of those most likely to be affected by it.
We did not take the decision to change the way in which we calculate individual’s charges lightly. Essex has, for many years, had a system of charging that was, in comparison with most other local authorities with adult social care responsibility, relatively generous. As you know like most local authorities, Essex is faced with continuing financial pressure and we can no longer afford this approach.
It is true that some adults have seen a substantial increase in their charges as a result of the changes we have implemented, however it is also the case that no one has been left with less than their guaranteed minimum income in accordance with the law. While I do understand that lifestyles choices are important to the adult concerned, I have to be clear that our role is to meet eligible needs (not preferences) and to do so in line with the statutory guidance as set out above.
While I fully understand that the changes we have introduced are having a considerable impact on those affected by them, I am satisfied that we have acted lawfully and that the implementation has been as fair and transparent as possible. As a Council we have a duty to collect the revenue due to us to ensure we can continue to support those who need our help.
We will continue to charge in line with the Cabinet Decision of December 2016 and the relevant law and statutory guidance.’
|