Lynda Bull's Response on Conventry City Council's failure to Consult, proposed £3 cuts, etc

Des Curley

I received the following today from Midlands based Independent Services Monitor Paul Brian Tovey. Its a response from Lynda Bull , Head of Coventry City Council's Adult Social Care Group .I think its fair comment to say Ms Bull doesnt quite come across as a Freedom of Information champion and may appear to some to be a tad too anally retentive.



Dear Mr Tovey

Provision of requested information.

Thank you for your request for information regarding the Council's proposals concerning Learning Disability Service Users, which we received on 9th November 2006.

As you know there has been some subsequent E-Mail communication. Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and a response to your questions given in your original and subsequent E Mails and also raised in your conversation with Jonathan Jardine is attached. I am aware that I have already responded to a number of these questions already and this response reflects this.

Please see Appendix 1.

Please note that most of the information that you request is owned by the Coventry City Council and subject to copyright protection. Under the Re-Use of Public Sector Information 2005 Regulations you are free to use this information for your own use or for the purposes of news reporting. However, any other type of re-use under the Regulations, for example; publication of the information or circulation to the public, will require permission of the copyright owner and may be subject to terms and conditions. For documents where the copyright does not belong to Coventry City Council you will need to apply separately to the copyright holder.

If you wish to apply to reuse the information you have requested or have any other issues relating to this request please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are unhappy with the way the Coventry City Council has handled your request, you may ask for an internal review. Please contact the Information Governance Team, who will arrange an internal review of your case, at:

Information Governance Team

Customer & Business Services

Council House, Basement Room 5

Earl Street, Coventry.

CV1 5RR

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF


Yours sincerely

Lynda Bull

Head of Adults Social Care Group

APPENDIX 1

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REF: 06-291 TOVEY

RESPONSES TO YOUR QUESTIONS:

1) What consultation took place with service users and their carers prior to the report to Cabinet on 31 October 06?
Response: We are consulting now - no decisions have yet been taken – the outcomes of the consultation will be feedback to Cabinet on 12 December 2006.

2) What exactly is the PCT's role in the provision of Coventry's LD service?
Response: Coventry Teaching PCT is now a commissioner of services. Specialist Learning Disability Mental Health services is now part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership Trust. Health Community Learning Disability services remains as part of Coventry Teaching PCT pending further service developments. The service is not a single integrated health and social care service. It is only partially integrated – e.g. social workers/nurses in community learning disabilities team. There are, however, Joint commissioning arrangements.

3) Is there a Section 31 agreement between Coventry City Council and Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust for Learning Disability services?
Response: There is a Section 31 Agreement in relation to Learning Disabilities Development Fund – this is a small budget for development – it is not a commissioning or service budget.

4) To what extent does the close working on Learning Disability between Coventry City Council and Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust imply a "section 11" Health and Social Care Act duty to consult demonstrably?

Response: We do not consider that there is a Section 11 requirement to consult demonstrably. That said, we are currently consulting and the outcomes of those consultations will be reported through a transparent democratic process. We also take the view that LAs have better track record in consultating on change and that a Section 11 duty (or similar directive) is not required.

5) Could you explain the nature of the involvement of the PCT with CROW ( an NHS body )

Response: CROW is a charitable organisation with a range of funding streams. The Council contracts with it for work based training as outlined in the Cabinet Report . There is no PCT involvement with CROW.
6. Would you please inform what Social Cares involvement is with the PCT broadly and on the 'Coventry Partnership Board'

Response: There are extensive partnership arrangements with the primary Care Trust from the Coventry Partnership at a strategic city level to joint working in specific social care areas. There are partnership boards for Older People, Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Children and Young People and Physical and Sensory Impairment. Further information can be gained from the Coventry City Council Website where there are links to the Coventry Partnership and a number of the other partnerships.