Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Mr C B Taylor.

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in writing or by e-mail indicating the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (27 June 2018).  Enquiries can be made through the telephone number/e-mail address below.

None.

(previously circulated)

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 May 2018 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Leader and Chief Executive of the Council had been invited to the meeting to discuss the development of the 2019/20 Budget and how Scrutiny might best contribute to this work.

By way of introduction, the Chairman reminded Members that there had been concerns about last year's budget scrutiny process, including the lack of time available for scrutiny following the late availability of information.  The meeting was an opportunity to think about the development of next year's budget and to hear the Leader's views on how the scrutiny process might work.

The Leader informed the Board that he was in listening mode and saw the meeting as an opportunity to hear how the Scrutiny Panels would like to develop a better process.  The timetable for budget development was already set with a draft budget to be published in December and the final budget being approved by Council in February.  Before this there was an opportunity to discuss how best to look at emerging in-year trends and issues in order to inform the Medium Term Financial Plan.  Cabinet had a programme of quarterly monitoring to identify trends and this would next be considered in September.

The Chairman informed the Board that he was keen to involve all 57 Councillors in the budget scrutiny process.  He went on to welcome the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer to the meeting and ask for his views on budget scrutiny.  In response, the Chief Financial Officer reminded Members that every authority was different.  It would be important to work with Members at the right pace and in the right level of detail.  He suggested that in Worcestershire the narrative of budget development could be improved.

Members of the Board were given an opportunity to ask questions and the following main points were made:

·       It was confirmed that the budget setting process included consideration of the whole of the Council's income, including council tax, grants and one-off, time-limited resources.

·       The importance of undertaking work pre-Christmas was emphasised, including looking at actual and forecast budgets.  Members would need to fully understand the service they were considering, including policies and strategies, and staffing levels.

·       It would be helpful for Members and officers from Democratic Services to have the support of an officer from Finance who was able to use accounting language to interpret information requests.

·       The Leader agreed that the process should involve all Members and suggested that the usual budget briefing for Members could be held earlier in the year in order to improve understanding and bring Members up to speed.  Rather than focusing on the detail of the draft budget, it would be helpful to develop an understanding of the 'architecture' of budget setting.

·       A Member commented that the information provided to Scrutiny Panels last year was too high level and did not give sufficient detail to allow in-depth scrutiny.  He referred to information provided by Wychavon District Council which included trends, details of last year's budget, last year's performance and the proposed budget.  In order  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1045.

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The decision on future provision of Overnight Short Breaks for Children with Disabilities would now be made at a meeting of Cabinet on 12 July, rather than as a Cabinet Member decision, as originally planned.  In preparation, the Scrutiny Task Group would meet on 10 July to discuss the Cabinet report and formulate comments for the Cabinet Member.

The Children and Families O&S Panel would be meeting in August to consider the SEND Action Plan and feedback comments to the Cabinet Member before it was sent to OFSTED.

The planned meeting to discuss KS2 attainment with headteachers across the County had been delayed until October.  All schools which covered KS2 would be invited to attend.

The Panel also intended to undertake a scrutiny exercise to consider the relationship between schools and the Family Front Door.  Workload pressures had meant that this had not yet been started.

Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Panel had considered Community Transport at a recent meeting.  Community Transport in Worcestershire provided 155,000 journeys per year and the County Council helped with contracts and grants.  The Panel had considered how the County Council could further help, possibly with contingency planning and publicity.

The Panel had also looked at streetworks and how greater joined up thinking on roadworks could be encouraged.

The Panel had been encouraging the development of an app that would allow members of the public to report highways problems.  It was hoped that it would be available within 6 months.

On 13 July the Panel would be holding a workshop to review the past year and plan its work programme for the coming year.

Adult Care and Well-Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Panel had not met since the last meeting of OSPB so the Chairman was not in a position to provide an update.  The Panel's next meeting would be held on 18 July.

Crime and Disorder

The OSPB's annual Crime and Disorder meeting would be held on 24 July and the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-Being would be attending.  The focus for the meeting would be on modern slavery.  The Board would also receive a presentation from the Safer Roads Partnership, looking at the strategy on safer roads and how it relates to services and functions of the County Council.

The report on LTP4 consultation successes would be available for the Board's next meeting.

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Information on the new arrangements with regard to neighbourhood teams had been circulated to all Members.

The Committee's next meeting would bring together NHS and adult social care organisations to consider their responses to winter pressures.

Refresh of the Scrutiny Work Programme

The Chairman of OSPB asked Panel and HOSC Chairmen to consult with their Members on any amendments and/or additions to their work programmes, in preparation for a discussion at OSPB's September meeting.