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)

G Jewell (Scrutiny Support Officer) declared an interest as the Scrutiny Support Officer and left the meeting whilst the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017-18 - 2020-21 was being discussed.  

To receive for approval the minutes of a meeting of the Corporate Resources and

Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 21 September 2016.

The Chairperson confirmed that the items requiring further action were still being dealt with.

RESOLVED              That the Minutes of the Corporate Resources & Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 21 September 2016, be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Corporate Director Operational and Partnership Services submitted a report, the purpose of which was to present the items due to be considered at the Committee’s meeting on 17 January 2017, and seeking confirmation of the information required for the subsequent scheduled meeting to be held on 8 February 2017, and finally, present a list of further potential items for prioritisation by the Committee.

RESOLVED                 That Committee:

(i)          Noted the topics due to be considered at the meeting of the Committee for 17 January 2017 and confirmed that it did not require any additional specific information to be provided by the invitees listed or the Overview & Scrutiny Unit;

(ii)         Determined the invitees to be invited to attend, any specific information it would like the invitees to provide as well as any research that it would like the Overview & Scrutiny Unit to undertake in relation to its following meeting scheduled for 08 February 2017;

(iii)        Revisited and considered the list of future potential items for the Committee’s Forward Work Programme and reprioritise as the Committees deemed appropriate.

Invitees:

All Members of Cabinet and Corporate Management Board

All Chairpersons of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Representative of the Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Committee considered a report on the Council’s performance in 2016-17, as of quarter 2. It compared this performance with the commitments to delivering the improvement priorities in the Corporate Plan 2016-20. The report also provided an update on the financial position as at 30^th September 2016.

The Chairperson welcomed S Cooper, Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing and Councillor P White, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help, to the meeting. 

The Committee referred to P2.1.1 and asked if the 3 local community co-ordinators provided resilience for the service. The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing explained that the new scheme was progressing but it was early days in terms of planning. She agreed to send details of the restructure, the development plan and the Western Bay newsletter to the Member requesting further information.

The Committee referred to the new indictor measuring the number of assessments of need for support for carers undertaken during the year and those that lead to a support plan. Members asked how the authority was performing in this area. The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing      explained that discussions were still underway with WG and other authorities re the definition and the way the information was captured. The assessment of carers needs in the majority of cases could be identified in the support plan for the cared for person. By end of year they should have a better understanding of what was required.

Members referred to PM26, another new indicator where the target was set before WG guidance was finalised. This indicator was open to different interpretation and unlikely to be met but should be clarified further during the year.

The Committee requested further information on the percentage of looked after children on 31 March who have had three or more placements during the year. The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing explained that this related to 51 children, of which 31 were under 1 or over 13 years old and agreed to provide further information for committee members.   

The Committee referred to a recent Corporate Parenting Workshop where it appeared that good work was being done but the figures in PM34a did not support this. The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing agreed that the film didn’t accurately reflect the position but there was a reason in each case such as being a young parent, young carer, or a job seeker.

The CM for Social Services and Early Help explained that there were a number of new indicators and as such it was difficult to set targets and that an additional 12 months of historical data would help in future.

The Committee asked what corrective action had been taken in relation to SSWB 9. The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing explained that this was a compliance issue which was missed but this would not happen again because back up cover had been arranged for future meetings. 

The Committee asked why PM28 showed as amber not red for the average length of time on the Child Protection  ...  view the full minutes text for item 219.

Invitees:

Cllr H Williams Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member Resources

Darren Mepham, Chief Executive
Andrew Jolley, Corporate Director – Operational & Partnership Services

Randal Hemingway, Head of Finance & Section 151 Officer

Members considered a report on the draft Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017-18 to 2020-21, which set out the spending priorities of the Council, key investment objectives and budget areas targeted for necessary savings. The strategy included a financial forecast for 2017-21 and a detailed draft revenue budget for 2017-18.

Members asked for more information regarding digitising the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and the fact that many people in receipt of benefits would not be able to manage this online. The Deputy Leader explained that a budget had been allocated to deal with this and everyone who was entitled to it would receive it. An online platform was being configured and instructions were being issued with Council Tax bills encouraging residents to complete transactions on line rather than by phone. Other services would continue to support residents unable to apply on line.

The Committee requested details of the proposed savings in Democratic Services. The Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services explained that this did not specifically relate to scrutiny.  There would be a different form of Local Government in future and a requirement to collaborate more. If scrutiny collaborated more, it was likely that it would cost less and savings could be made from this. The role of the Mayor was also being considered including the part the authority played in supporting the Mayors work. These were not finite proposals but issues to be considered in the future. It would be possible to make the savings required by looking at the way services were delivered including combining the scrutiny function. If Members protected this part of the budget then that could create a problem.

Members asked for clarification regarding not reducing the scrutiny function but changing the way the service was delivered. They were concerned about collaborating for education and social services and different priorities for each authority. Some Members were aware of joint scrutiny arrangements that had failed because others were not willing to participate. The Corporate Director - Operational and Partnership Services explained that there could be collaborative working but not collaborative scrutiny. 

This would not damage the scrutiny function and it was important to continue to look at different ways of working. More information would be available in January about the proposed merges and consideration could then be given to staffing proposals for the transitional period. This report was being presented to scrutiny when the authority was approaching a period of change. In terms of work now, the authority could think about a structure that could embrace collaboration in future.

Some Members suggested that monthly council meetings were unnecessary and this could be reviewed. The Corporate Director - Operational and Partnership Services explained that he was under the impression Members were happy with the current arrangements and added that web casting appeared to be becoming more popular. 

Members raised the issue of the Community Action Fund, some wards being larger than others and multi member wards. The Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer confirmed that discussions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 220.

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.

None