Agenda item

To receive this report and to receive answers to any questions on it (blue pages – attached).

The Leader of the Council presented his annual state of the county report which covered several overarching themes:

·         Open for Business

·         Children and Families

·         Health and Wellbeing

·         Environment

·         Focused on the views of our residents and businesses

·         The Financial Challenge

·         An Enabling Authority

·         Our toolkit to deliver financial stability and better outcomes

·         reaching out across county boundaries

·         Pension Fund

·         Audit and Governance Committee.

The Leader answered questions about the report which included:

·         demand management and the reduction of services in key areas.  Particular mention was made of library opening hours and the way in which residents were affected.  The Leader stated that he was concerned to protect as many front-line services as possible and reductions in the library service had been targeted on hours identified as those least popular with customers.

·         problems of oversubscription in schools and certain high-profile cases within the city of Worcester were highlighted.  Members also highlighted potential problems with further waves of 'academisation' and academies being insensitive to local conditions - an example being the experience in Redditch of the attempt to impose 2-tier system of education in an arbitrary and unilateral manner.  The Leader made reference to levels of oversubscription generally and restated the Council's position on Academy schools and their relationship with the County Council.

·         various comments on highways conditions, capacity and journey times and how this impacted on the Council's Open for Business aims.  The Leader said specific points raised at the meeting would be examined.

·         Bromsgrove Railway Station.   Members spoke about the short-term difficulties associated with the construction works.  The Leader responded and also talked about the longer-term benefits which included train frequencies and the proposed electrification works on the line.

·         Stronger Families funding Phase 2 - would the Council be in a position to deliver given reductions in funding?  A general answer was given which referred to the funding of both phases.

·         The Council's digital aspirations and how this had to include support for such processes as "Your life, your choice" and other on-line services.  The Leader confirmed it was his wish that as many people as possible should be assisted to access the Council's services in this way.

·         would resources be better invested in front-line services rather than the further expansion of superfast broadband.  The Leader reiterated the advantages to the county of enhancing this infrastructure.

·         visits around the county and which members these involved.  The Leader also outlined plans for visits to the EfW plan in Hartlebury and the sharing information about its operation.

·         disposal of assets and whether a register was being prepared and if it would be available for members.  The Leader said this information would be signposted for Members.

·         a possible increase in the Councillors' Divisional Fund.  The Leader spoke generally about the Fund and how popular it has become with Members.

·         the role, influence and extent of the 'Midlands Engine'.

The Leader promised written responses on the Residents' Survey and areas which had not been highlighted as a priority for the County Council.

The Chairman thanked the Leader for his report.