Agendas, Meetings and Minutes - Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: County Hall, Worcester

Contact: Nichola Garner  Committee and Appellate Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

Available papers

The Members had before them:

 

A     The Agenda Papers (previously circulated); and

 

B     The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 October 2016 (previously circulated).

 

A copy of document A will be attached to the signed Minutes.

Additional documents:

1755.

Apologies and Declarations of Interest (Agenda item 1)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No apologies.

 

Mr M L Bayliss declared an interest as he had a family member employed by the County Council.

1756.

Public Participation (Agenda item 2)

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case Wednesday 16 November 2016).  Further details are available on the Council's website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed below.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

1757.

Confirmation of the Minutes of the previous meeting (Agenda item 3)

The Minutes of the meeting of 13 October 2016 have been previously circulated

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

1758.

FutureFit - Proposals for Change and Reform to support the Medium Term Financial Plan (Agenda item 4) pdf icon PDF 487 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the progress of the Council's FutureFit Programme together with proposals for change and reform to support the Medium Term Financial Plan.  The details were set out in the report and Appendices.

 

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

 

(a)       The Cabinet Member for Transformation and Commissioning introduced the report. He commented that the Corporate Plan set out the Council's wider strategy and vision. It specified certain initiatives going forward in the next 2 years as well as giving an indication of the things that had already been done. Savings had been made whilst improving services and without losing the vision of making Worcestershire a better place to live, work and invest in. The Council had reached out to the public through a number of surveys and roadshows and their input was valued.  The public had noticed the improved value for money and had expressed a greater level of satisfaction with Council services than previously. There remained challenges particularly in relation to the vulnerable old and young which were being addressed through extra care units and increased technology to allow people to live independent lives. The contribution of the public should be recognised for example Dementia Care volunteers. The Council was investing in major infrastructure projects as well as general day-to-day maintenance. There was a commitment to invest in highly skilled and committed employees and to attract the best people from outside the county. A number of contracts were being examined with a view to driving up efficiencies and savings. The transformation and change rationale was cross-directorate and he considered that the Council was free of barriers between directorates;

 

(b)       The Leader of the Council stated that the proposals were based on engagement and consultation with the public and business community. The financial challenge of £34m had been set out in the budget and the report set out how the Council would address that. The Council would look to invest the additional transitional funds of £5m received from the Government. The Council would look to optimise Council tax receipts through working with district councils. The Council would look at aspects of growth and inflation and already had plans for £13m of growth. The Council had an extra £6m worth of proposals for income generation, better use of assets and efficiency and reform. Some of the proposals were long term in nature and would be rolled forward to 2018/19. However there remained a financial gap of £2.9m. There would be time for further consultation before the budget was finalised; 

 

(c)      The relevant Cabinet Member considered that Adult Social Care had benefited from additional funds in the budget. The provision of Supported Living accommodation was vital for people with learning disabilities to enable them to lead independent lives, and to date 340 people had been supported. In response to the findings of the Winterborne View Inquiry, the Council had successfully brought people back into county accommodation albeit at extra cost. The Council would continue to explore the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1758.

1759.

Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report 2015/16 (Agenda item 5) pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) Annual Report 2015/16 and the progress of the work of the Board.  The details were set out in the report and its Appendix.

 

Derek Benson, the independent Chair of WSCB, presented the Annual Report 2015/16. He commented that he had taken up the position of Independent Chairman from 1 April 2016. The Board could not in 2015/16 be assured of the effectiveness and robustness of the Council's child protection system. The processes had demonstrated a strong commitment to safeguarding and arrangements were in place but they needed to improve be more co-ordinated to deliver a better service for the children and young people of Worcestershire.

 

There had been improvements in some areas but not at the pace expected. The improvements had had to be delivered against the backdrop of a reduced resource base and increased demand. There had been investment but this needed to be replicated in service provision. It was important that partnership work was effective and the Board would hold partners to account. The Council also needed to be mindful of the Implications of the Wood Review and the Government's response would impact on local arrangements particularly with the possible removal of statutory status for local safeguarding boards. As part of its work the Board focussed on the following key areas: the implications of the Child Sexual Exploitation Strategy, Early Help, the Integrated Family Front Door, and Children's Social Care Back to Basics Improvement Programme.

 

As of November, he was optimistic that the Council was adopting the right approach.  He had seen a step change since the summer and improved stability in senior leadership.  The Board would be looking to seek assurances going forward in relation to monitoring the level of staff turnover, the ratio of experienced staff to newly qualified staff, caseloads and the complexity of work. The Board had seen improvements in practice and case load reduction. There were no Serious Case Reviews to report. The multi-agency case file audit had seen improved information sharing. In terms of the audit process, compliance and commitment from partners was good but there still needed to be better use of the phasing system.  Since April, the Board had streamlined governance and upped the pace of change. He noted that safeguarding was not the responsibility just of the Council and the Board would continue to challenge practices in a constructive manner.

 

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

 

(a)     The Cabinet Member for Children and Families commented that he was pleased with the feedback in terms of the Council's progress. The report was a fair assessment of the Council's approach to safeguarding and reaffirmed the progress made so far whilst recognising that there areas of work that required improvement in the future. The report looked back to 2015/16 and he was pleased with the comments made about recent improvements, whilst recognising the need to improve;

 

(b)    The Leader stated that it was important to ensure that progress continued  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1759.

1760.

Fair Funding Consultation Outcomes 2017-18 - National and Local Changes to the Funding Arrangements for Schools (Agenda item 6) pdf icon PDF 342 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered responding to the Fair Funding Consultation for 2017/18 and the Local Schools Funding Formula for Worcestershire mainstream schools for 2017/18.  The details were set out in the report and its Appendices.

 

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

 

(a)       The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report. He commented that he was seeking to maintain stability in the system whilst the Government reviewed the Fairer Funding System. The Council had consulted the Worcestershire Schools Forum as well as directly with schools. The key message received was to keep the Fairer Funding Formula as it was last year for stability. He was working with local MPs and making representations to the Government to get a fair funding outcome as soon as possible. He confirmed that the Minimum Funding Guarantee remained unchanged; and

 

(b)       There had been very little feedback following the consultation exercise but this was to be expected given that very little had changed. The continued work with local MPs to lobby the Government was welcomed.

 

RESOLVED: that

 

(a)     Cabinet had regard to the consultation undertaken in September and October 2016;

 

(b)     the consultation feedback in Appendices 2, 3, 4 and 5 to the report be noted;

 

(c)     the involvement of the Worcestershire Schools Forum members and schools during the consultation be noted;

 

(d)     the views of the Worcestershire Schools Forum on the Local Schools Funding Formula issues for 2017-18 and other matters which are outlined in Appendix 6 to the report be noted;

 

(e)     the Local Schools Funding Formula for Worcestershire mainstream schools from April 2017 to apply for 2017-18 and other matters as detailed in paragraphs 35 to 45 of the report be approved having regard to the consultation feedback from schools detailed in Appendix 3, 4 and 5 to the report and views of the Worcestershire Schools Forum in Appendix 6 to the report;

 

(f)      the Director of Children, Families and Communities be authorised to make the required submission to the national executive body, the Education Funding Agency by 20 January 2017 for the Local Schools Funding Formula for 2017-18 taking account of any impact and change on the approved units of resource in paragraph 37 of the report as a consequence of the October 2016 census and other 2016 data, any other data changes and the final 2017-18 Dedicated School Grant; and

 

  (g)   the continuing unfair funding for Worcestershire and its schools be noted and that the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families will continue to have dialogue with the Government for Fairer Funding.

1761.

Energy and Carbon Management Plan 2016-2021 (Agenda item 7) pdf icon PDF 201 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the new Energy and Carbon Management Plan 2016 -2021 and proposals to reduce CO2 emissions from the Council's operations and activities.  The details were set out in the report and its Appendices.

 

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

 

(a)       The Cabinet Member for the Environment introduced the report. He commented that reductions in emissions for street lighting, gas, electricity, liquid petroleum gas, fleet fuel and staff mileage had led to a total reduction of £700k per annum. The Carbon Reduction Plan would be scrapped in 2019 with the Climate Change Levy being increased but he was not anticipating any major change in the Council's finances as a result. The Council continued to work with partner agencies to meet its carbon emission targets. The Council only just failed to meet its aspirational target last year. The next target would be a 20% reduction in carbon emissions from the current baseline which represented projected savings of £240k per year based on current energy prices; and 

 

(b)       The Council had been successful in its approach to making savings in street lighting and despite concerns expressed about switching off lights, very few objections had been received. It was important that the Council complied with the international carbon emissions policy.

 

RESOLVED: that

 

(a)       the implementation of the new Energy and Carbon Management Plan 2016-2021 set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

 

(b)       the proposed 20% reduction target in CO2 emissions from the Council's operations and activities for which it is directly responsible from 2015/16 baseline by the end of March 2021 as set out in that plan be approved.

1762.

Resources Report (Agenda item 8) pdf icon PDF 200 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a Resources Report.  The details were set out in the report and its Appendix.

 

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

 

(a)     The Leader of the Council introduced the report. He anticipated that the forecast for the remaining half of the financial year was an overall pressure of £300k by the end of financial year. The Council was performing well within cash limits. The report set out the financial pressures and how they would be addressed. The Council had set out an ambitious capital programme which would benefit the residents of the County including the completion of the Hoobrook Link Road, work commencing on the Eastham Bridge and the EfW plant at Hartlebury. The financial settlement would allow the Council some degree of certainty going forward. The update on the Treasury Management Statement noted the very low interest rates for Council borrowing; and

 

(b)     The Cabinet Member for the Environment commented that the Energy from Waste plant at Hartlebury was on target for its completion date. The plant was currently burning waste and it was anticipated that it would be delivering electricity to the National Grid before Christmas.

 

RESOLVED: that

 

(a)     the Cabinet Member's conclusions concerning revenue budget monitoring up to 30 September 2016 be endorsed;

 

(b)     the current progress regarding the FutureFit programme be noted;

 

(c)     the Cabinet Member's conclusions concerning capital budget monitoring up to 30 September 2016 be endorsed;

 

(d)     the County Council's acceptance of a four-year financial settlement deal from the Department for Communities and Local Government be noted; and

 

(e)     the Cabinet Member's conclusions regarding the treasury management half yearly progress report be endorsed.