No apologies were received.

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest.

Panel members confirmed that these were a true and accurate record of the previous meeting.

Cllr Billy Christie, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the Budget and Business Plan for 2025/26.

The Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Integrated Care and Public Health provided details on the seven draft savings proposals within the department.

• Assistive Technology Strategy
• Uplift of homecare charges for self-funders to current borough market rate
• Review of high-cost care packages
• Voluntary and Community Sector grant funding and community response hub
• Review of the Adult Social Care structures
• Low-cost packages
• Better utilisation of DFG

The Director of Public Health introduced the Panel to the key elements of the 2024/25 Annual Public Health Report, which focuses on Tackling Drugs Together.

In response to questions, the Director of Public Health provided further information as follows:

• Cannabis is a Class B drug, and the maximum penalty for possession is five years imprisonment.
• We can investigate data on parental substance misuse and the impact on children.
• Catch 22 service visit schools to provide drug and alcohol awareness and information

Sam Wilcox, Community Defibrillation Manager, and Jessica Burgess, Head of Charity, informed Members about the Heart Starter campaign.

The London Heart Starters Campaign is raising money to increase the number of defibrillators where they are needed most.

Our calculations show that Merton Council currently has 4 defibrillators registered on our database. However, to meet the minimum criteria for defibrillators preferred per population size, we recommend a further 5 defibrillators be funded and installed in the following  areas - Figges Marsh, Longthornton, Pollards Hill.

We pledge to work with communities to identify defibrillator guardians, install public-access defibrillators, and ensure community members are trained in the life-saving skills of CPR and feel confident to use a defibrillator

Councillors can help support the campaign in the following ways:

• Make a gift or fundraise
• Serve as a defibrillator guardian for your community (or help us find one for your area)
• Have your council sponsor a defibrillator
• Spread the word - https://www.londonambulancecharity.org.uk/Appeal/heartstarters

In response to questions:

• Cllr Brenda Fraser will discuss Longthornton Ward with LAS outside of meeting.
• London Ambulance Service provide defibrillator training sessions. LAS will circulate info.
• Defibrillators must be connected to an electrical supply (must be kept warm to be ‘rescue ready’)
• It costs £1600 to fund and install a Public-Access Defibrillator with an unlocked cabinet.
• With regards to maintenance – batteries last around 4 years, pads around 2-4 years.

Aileen Buckton, Independent Chair, gave an overview of the key points of the Merton Safeguarding Adults Board (MSAB) Annual Report 2023/24.

The Merton Safeguarding Adults Board (MSAB) is an independent board which operates at a strategic level to oversee safeguarding arrangements in Merton and ensure that adults at risk being supported and protected from neglect and abuse.

Our Community Champions network has gone from strength to strength over this last year and we continue to support their development. This group is made up of representatives from local organisations and the wider community. It meets regularly with the aim of raising awareness of safeguarding adults, sharing key messages and insight into key safeguarding issues for communities across Merton

In response to a question from a Panel Member about an internal audit on DBS checks, Aileen Buckton agreed it is important that all those who work in safeguarding have DBS checks and committed to asking for an assurance report in relation to this.

The Interim Director of Integrated Care, Commissioning & Assurance, provided an update in relation to Adult Social Care’s preparation for the Care Quality Commission Assurance framework and the associated Self-Assessment Report.

We are currently reviewing and updating our information return, and we will send this over to the CQC by the 2 December 2024. It is likely that the onsite visit will occur approximately 5 to 6 months from the notification date and therefore the visit is potentially due in April or May 2025.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care drew Members attention to some of our key strengths highlighted by the Peer Challenge:

• The staff we met are a real asset for Merton.
• Teams who are experienced, committed, hardworking and supportive who demonstrate a strong culture of caring for people.
• Positive relationships between members and officers.
• Well managed adult social care finances.

In response to questions:

Co-production and focusing on the needs of the person will run through everything we do, as will including the voices of people with lived experience. This point was a consideration in our LGA feedback, and we are including evidence of it going forward. 

The work programme was agreed with the following addition:

Add gynaecology waiting lists