To receive apologies for absence (to include reasons, where appropriate) from Members/Officers

Apologies for absence were received from the following Member for the reasons so stated:

Councillor Cheryl Green - Unwell

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including Whipping Declarations)

The following Declarations of Interest were made:

Councillor John Spanswick declared a prejudicial interest in item 4.8.26 as he has a family member who works in Adult Social Care

Councillor Edith Hughes declared a personal interest in item 4.8.30 as she is Chair of Heronsbridge Community School

To receive for approval the minutes of a meeting of the Corporate Resources and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee dated 26 February 2015

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of a meeting of the Corporate Resources and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 26 February 2015 were approved as a true and accurate record

Invitees:

Layton Skiltern – Principal Transformation Officer

Darren Mepham – Chief Executive

Councillor M Gregory – Cabinet Member - Resources

The Corporate Director for Resources provided Committee with an update on the Bridgend Programme which had changed significantly since the last report on 5 June 2014

She advised Members that in December 2014 changes were made to the responsibilities of the Corporate Directors so that the Corporate Director for Wellbeing assumed direct line management responsibility for Children’s Social Care and became Director of Social Services and Wellbeing and the Corporate Director for Children retained the responsibilities for Education and Family Support, but also assumed the  corporate lead responsibility for the Transformation programme and became known as the Director of Education and Transformation

Members questioned the scope of the Cultural Trust and whether establishing a separate arrangement for Wood B and B Leaf would be a better option.  Members were also concerned about the projects being encouraged to take a commercial approach to their work.  The Corporate Director for Resources told Members that establishing an alternative provider could give the projects a better chance of being sustainable.  She explained the reason for the trust taking a commercial approach is that it has to be self -sufficient as the funding for the project had now come to an end

A Member asked if the Authority is confident that the £437k saving in 2015-16 will be met in relation to the Parks Pavilions Disposal/ Transfer highlighted in item 4.8.9 of the report.  The Officer confirmed that the project would contribute to the MTFS savings rather than account for the total figure. 

A Member asked if the Parks and Pavilions disposal / transfer included savings on staffing costs and if there were any cuts in staff expected. The Corporate Director for Resources told Members she would clarify and come back to Members with the information.

Members raised concerns over the slow progress for parties that have shown an interest in self managing services and suggested that this may be in part due to the lack impact of reducing back office support due to cuts in staffing teams such as Legal Services

Recommendations

·         That the Bridgend Change Programme updates should go to a joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee in future

·         Building Capacity in the Third Sector and Town and Community Councils – Members recommend that a named BCBC Officer is identified as a single point of contact for interested parties requiring support when applying to undertake self-management of services, and for this arrangement to continue throughout the process.  

Invitees:

Ness Young – Corporate Director – Resources and Section 151 Officer

Councillor M Gregory – Cabinet Member - Resources

The Corporate Director for Resources provided the Committee with a briefing on the Bridgend Change Programme projects which relate to the Making Best Use of Resources Corporate Improvement Priority. 

Through the Bridgend Change Programme the Authority has successfully delivered a number of projects that have helped reduce operating costs and make significant improvements to the way that the Authority work whilst also protecting front line services.  It will remain the framework for the next three years.  In December 2014 the Authority agreed that a single Director should assume overall Corporate responsibility for the Bridgend Change Programme, recognising the need to increase the pace and scale of the transformation required in the face of continuing austerity.  As a result of rebalancing the Corporate Director’s portfolios, the Director for Education and Transformation was given this responsibility and has since been working with the Corporate Management Board (CMB) to review and update the Change Programme and the projects contained therein.  The Corporate Director for Resources referred to the appendix of the report which showed the projects currently being delivered within the Bridgend Change Programme, it provided the Committee with a briefing on the projects that fall under Priority 6: Working Together to Make the Best Use of the Resources. 

A Member queried the whether the waiver of the procurement of the hosting of the Authority’s finance system would incur costs.  The Director for Corporate Resources confirmed there would be no costs as a result of the waiver.

A Member asked how much of the Procurement comes from Wales.  The Officer told Members that the Authority has to follow national regulations when it comes to Procurement and can not specify that the Resources must come from BCBC although local contractors are encouraged to apply.

Members queried the progress of the training programme on the new Community Care Information system.  The Director for Corporate Resources informed Members that a training requirements had been set out and a contract to deliver the training had been signed with Care Works (Wales?)

A Member asked for information on the National Project in relation to Sickness Absence highlighted in paragraph 4.4 of the report.  The Officer explained that BCBC is currently involved in a project with the WLGA to share best practice between authorities with a view to continually reduce sickness absence across the Authority. 

Members expressed concern that they were not being made aware of assets proposed for inclusion in the Enhanced Disposal Programme early on in the process so they are able to provide input into the consultations. 

Recommendations

That Members be made aware of assets proposed for inclusion in the Enhanced Disposal Programme at an early stage to enable them to provide input into any consultations and decision making

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report on the items that were considered at the meeting on the 23 April 2015 and sought confirmation of the information required for the subsequent meeting following the Annual Meeting of Council

RESOLVED: The Committee noted the topics to be considered at the next meeting of the Committee, to be scheduled at the Annual General Meeting of Council in May and acknowledged that that the order and dates of items may be subject to change as Corporate Resources and Improvement Overview Scrutiny Committee will be dealing with regular Performance and Budget reports in the future. 

The Meeting closed at 4.45pm

To consider any items of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency