Agenda and minutes

6.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the decisions made on 25 September 2020.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

7.1       There were no disclosures of interest.

Notification of any items which the Lead Member considers urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda.

8.1       There were no urgent items.

9.1       The Lead Member considered a report seeking agreement to commence a consultation on the way care and support is delivered at Newington Court Extra Care scheme in Ticehurst.

9.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to agree that East Sussex County Council undertakes a six week consultation on how care and support is delivered at Newington Court in Ticehurst.

Reason

9.3       It is the intention to consult with residents, staff and key stakeholders on the potential to develop Newington Court into a sheltered scheme or housing with care scheme. If this approach was to be agreed, work would be undertaken with Rother District Council, CAHS and Optivo to increase referrals to Newington Court as retirement accommodation.

10.1     The Lead Member considered a report setting out the Adult Social Care and Health response to the Notice of Motion for East Sussex County Council to call on Her Majesty’s Government to publish its White Paper on the reform and future of Adult Social Care.

10.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council to:

1) note the consideration given to the call for the Government to publish its White Paper on the reform and future of Adult Social Care and reject the Motion for the reasons set out in the report; and

2) support the ongoing lobbying and engagement with central government about financial, and other support, for social care throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

Reason

There is consensus that long term, sustainable reform is required for the Social Care sector, however the timing of such reform is a critical consideration. Such reform will require considerable consultation and engagement with the public and all key stakeholders at a time when the social care sector is facing another round of winter pressures on top of the continuing challenges of the Covd-19 pandemic.