Agenda and minutes

The Members had before them:

A.    The Agenda papers (previously circulated); and

B.    The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2017 (previously circulated).

Mr M L Bayliss declared an interest as a member of his family was employed by the Council (Children, Families and Communities).

Mrs L C Hodgson declared an interest in Agenda item 5 as a governor of the Heart on England College.

Mr J H Smith declared an interest in Agenda item 5 as his daughter worked at the Heart of England College.

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, 5 April 2017).  Further details are available on the Council's website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed below.

None.

The Minutes of the meeting of 2 February 2017 have been previously circulated.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Cabinet considered the Children's Social Care – Service Improvement Plan (SIP) update. The details were set out in the report and its appendices.

In the ensuing debate, the following principal points were raised:

a)    The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report and made the following points:

·         The Council had been working hard to introduce measures to address the issues raised by the Ofsted report as soon as possible. Work to develop an Improvement Plan had been ongoing since the oral feedback from the Ofsted process back in November 2016

·         In developing the Council's response, visits had been undertaken to a number of Councils across the country to learn best practice from councils who had been in a similar position including Nottinghamshire County Council, Leeds City Council and Devon County Council

·         An action planning day had been held, lead by HMI – Lead Inspector and the senior HMI for the West Midlands to help address a number of important issues highlighted in the Ofsted report

·         The Council was close to submitting the SIP to Ofsted and a summary of the 8 outcomes had been included in Appendix 1 to the report. Each outcome would be linked to a key theme identified in the Ofsted Report He thanked his Cabinet colleagues, the Director of Children, Families and Communities and her team and the Chief Executive for their contribution in producing a corporate response

·         The governance arrangements for the Children, Families and Communities Directorate had been re-examined and a number of changes had been introduced including increased political membership of the Improvement Board (he thanked Ms Hill, Mrs Oborski and Mr Thomas for their contribution). In addition, the ex-Director of Children's Services at Leeds City Council had been appointed to provide external challenge to the work of the Improvement Board

·         The Council would be subject to Ofsted quarterly monitoring visits. In addition, the Department for Education had appointed the Director of Children's Services at Cornwall County Council to undertake a commissioner-led review of the Council's welfare and safeguarding arrangements. The Commissioner was required to report to the Minister within three months regarding the three main aims set out in the report

·         He was confident that the Council was able to show significant progress to make the argument for the service to remain with the Council. In particular he felt that with the current leadership of Children, Families and Communities, the Council would be able to deliver good and safe services for children

·         The core Children and Families strategic framework had previously been a approved under delegated authority however he was keen that Cabinet had a chance to review them

·         Corporate Parenting needed to be embedded in the Council over the next 4 years, particularly for newly elected councillors. The information session arranged for candidates in the elections was a positive step in this respect

b)    The Leader of the Council emphasised that children's safeguarding was the most important issue facing the next Council and all members of the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1783.

Report to follow.

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

In the ensuing debate, the following principal points were raised:

a)    The Leader of the Council introduced the report and commented that there remained budgetary pressure for 2016/17 of £500k.  It had also been necessary to roll some of the programme over to the next financial year. Good progress had been made with a number of significant capital projects which had an important impact on the local economy. The county had the fastest growing economy in the country in terms of productivity. The Council was working with partner organisations to increase economic growth and attracting firms with highly skilled work forces. The informal hand-over of the EfW plant at Hartlebury was welcomed. The plant would provide waste security for many years as well as generating electricity to the National Grid. He paid tribute to the leadership of the project by Anthony Blagg. He also welcomed the additional funding for Adult Social Care up to 2019/20 but had urged the Government to recognise Adult Social Care as a growth pressure for councils into the medium term. No details had been received for the additional funds for school maintenance or the extended rights for free travel.

b)    The Cabinet Member for the Environment commented that the EfW plant at Hartlebury was the biggest capital investment of its kind in Worcestershire and the most complex. Completion of the project within 2 days of the target date was a significant achievement for a project of this scale. The plant had been tested and had been in operation and providing power to the National Grid from October onwards.

c)    In response to a query, the Cabinet Member for the Environment commented that the environmental impact of not sending waste to landfill was particularly important. Incinerator Bottom Ash would still be taken to Hill and Moor Landfill Site for recycling. The rest of the residue material would be used in the construction industry. As the amount of landfill space and landfill waste reduced, it was anticipated that Hill and Moor would eventually change use from a landfill site to a recycling facility.

d)    The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care commented that guidance from the Government on how the additional Adult Social Care funds could be spent was still awaited. The Leader of the Council thanked Sheila Blagg for her Leadership of Adult Social Care.

e)    The Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure commented that the Council had been very successful in securing the Local Growth Deal grants.

f)     The Cabinet Member for Localism and Communities commented that the improvements to the Southern Link Road were welcomed and had successfully kept traffic flowing in that area. The Department for Work and Pensions had signed off the libraries  which meant that the Council was able to keep all its libraries open.

g)    The Chairman of the Waste Credit Governance Committee queried whether recyclates were sent to the new EfW plant. The Cabinet  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1784.