Agenda item

4.1

Public Question on Review of Care4you Resources Centres at Hazlehurst and Sevenfields

4.1.1

Mr. Jamie Thompson asked how did the Council plan to recognise the value of the skills/expertise of staff working at the Sevenfields and Hazlehurst Resources Centres if they were de-commissioned?

4.1.2

Mr. Thompson also asked what measures will be in place to ensure the standard of care provided by private sector homes will be of the standard provided currently?

4.1.3

In response Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living, stated that the Council applied a whole raft of measures to monitoring the quality of care provided in care homes, including inspections by Council Members and staff and NHS staff. Reports on these inspections were submitted for consideration by the Council’s Monitoring Advisory Group, which she chaired and which comprised cross party representation and lay people. Reports from the Group were submitted to the Healthier Communities and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee. She acknowledged the additional point raised by Mr. Thompson concerning the high rating given by the Care Quality Commission to Sevenfields following an inspection and she added that, if any problems were detected by the Council in private sector homes, they would be the subject of regular monitoring and inspection, with a view to bringing them up to standard, with the ultimate sanction that placements to such homes would be stopped.    

4.2

Public Question on Aerial Upgrade Contract Advert and Charges for Ladders on the Hanover/Lansdowne estate

4.2.1

Mr. Stuart Lapp expressed serious concern that he had not yet received responses to his requests made at Council meetings and through correspondence, in relation to the Aerial Upgrade contract advert for the Hanover/Lansdowne estate and that, if he did not receive a response to his queries in the near future he would refer the matter to the Information Commissioner. In asking his question, Mr Lapp also asked for details of the charges made for ladders under the contract.

4.2.2

Councillor Harry Harpham (Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods) responded that his understanding was that, in relation to matters concerning  the Aerial Advert, information had been supplied to Mr. Lapp by officers but he would double check this. Councillor Harpham also indicated that Mr Lapp’s query regarding the charges for ladders had already been answered.

4.3

Public Question concerning Citizen’s Advice Services Centre funding

4.3.1

Mr. Stuart Lapp asked why the Council had withdrawn funding from Citizen’s Advice Centres at Chapeltown, Darnall, Manor and Stocksbridge and where could members of the public now access advice services as a result?

4.3.2

Councillor Mazher Iqbal (Cabinet Member for Communities and Inclusion) indicated that all four Centres had been advised in writing of the Council’s proposals and it was the Council’s intention to work with them on the future provision of advice services in the light of the proposals. The areas concerned would continue to have access to advice services but this would be through other organisations. It was also intended to submit a report to Cabinet on the future provision of advice services in these areas.

4.4

Public Question on action of South Yorkshire Police

4.4.1

Mr. Saleh Mohamed Ali raised concerns he suggested he had raised many times alleging his persecution and pressure by institutions in Sheffield  and appealed to Cabinet to solve his problems commencing with an investigation into why the Police had raided his home?

Councillor Harry Harpham (Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods) responded that he would pass on Mr Ali’s concerns to the South Yorkshire Police.