Meeting documents

Venue: Mezzanine Rooms 1 & 2, County Hall, Aylesbury

Contact: Clare Gray  Karen Jones

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

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Minutes:

There were no apologies.

2.

Declarations of Interest

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Minutes:

The Leader welcomed Lin Hazell back to Cabinet as the new Cabinet Member for Children’s Services (The Cabinet Member).  Under Item 8 the Cabinet Member declared that she was previously Chairman of the Health & Adult Social Care Select Committee and she had been a member of the GP Services Inquiry Working Group. 

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 219 KB

Of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 November 2014

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Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 November 2014 were agreed as a correct record after ‘work’ had been added to the third sentence which was revised to read as ‘The Leader thanked the Cabinet Member for all her hard work over the last 12 months and added that she had made a major contribution to the service.’

4.

Hot Topics

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Minutes:

The following hot topics were discussed:

 

·       The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing reported that at the end of November she and the Leader were present at the opening of Stokebury in Old Amersham which is a new facility for people who are recovering from an episode of mental health.  This was the last part of the Home Options Programme which has provided 87 places 13 more than originally envisaged and was a fantastic facility especially for people with asbergers syndrome and autism.  The Cabinet Member was pleased that 20 new self-contained flatlets were providing a permanent home for the service users who were happy with their new homes.  The Cabinet Member considered that this was an excellent example of what has been done in Buckinghamshire for some of the most vulnerable residents.  The Leader was delighted by how happy the residents were with the facilities and he congratulated the Team and thanked the Cabinet Member for the invitation. 

·       The Leader reported that Sunday had seen the first opening to the public, in about twenty seven years, of the original Old County Hall in the Market Square.  He explained that two of the main rooms were being restored under Phase One of an extensive restoration programme.  More would be restored in the coming months.  In addition, at the back, the old Porters Lodge had been refurbished and was being offered as low cost start-up offices/studios/workshops for small businesses in the Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire area.  This was one example of how the County Council was trying to generate new business growth and to give an opportunity to residents in the county to start their own businesses. Information was available about how to take up the new units under the title ‘@Porters Lodge’ on twitter.   

5.

Question Time

This provides an opportunity for Members to ask questions to Cabinet Members

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Minutes:

There were no questions asked.

6.

Scanning and Planning pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Forward Plan for Cabinet and Cabinet Members

Select Committee Work Programme

Rights of Way Committee Definitive Map Schedule

Planning Application Status

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Minutes:

Cabinet noted the Cabinet Forward Plan, Select Committees Work Programme, Rights of Way Committee Definitive Map Schedule and Progress on Planning Applications. 

7.

Cabinet Member Decisions pdf icon PDF 153 KB

To note progress with Cabinet Member Decisions

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Minutes:

The report was noted.

8.

Health & Adult Social Care Select Committee GP Services Inquiry: Final Report pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Cabinet is asked to note this report, and no response is required.  The recommendations within the report will be directed to the NHS England National Team (recommendations 1 and 8), the NHS England Thames Valley Area Team (recommendations 2, 3, 4 and 5), the two local Clinical Commissioning Groups (recommendations 3 and 7), and Healthwatch Bucks (recommendation 6).  Responses will be requested within 28 days, and recorded at the next Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee on 10th February 2015.

 

The full report is in the separate supplement appendix pack

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Minutes:

Cabinet received the report of the Health & Adult Social Care Select Committee GP Services Inquiry. 

 

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services introduced the report in her role as the previous Chairman (the Chairman) of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC).  She explained that the Inquiry was into access to GPs and the clear findings were that there was an imbalance between capacity and demand for GP services. 

 

Members were invited to ask questions and the following points were raised:

 

·       Congratulations were expressed from both from a Member and Public Health England on the report. 

·       It was noted in paragraph 23 that extra demand had been generated because of a more proactive approach with NHS healthchecks uncovering conditions requiring follow up and increasing instances where longer appointment times were required because of complex and multiple conditions which had put pressure on GPs.  There was a shortage of younger GPs in General Practice because many of them preferred to specialise in hospitals.

·       The report was commended and a question was asked about where it needs to be received in order to get noted.  With reference to the Patient Feedback it was suggested that many patients can make appointments if they are very sick.  

·       The Chairman replied that many patients often want to see one Doctor on a certain day and at a certain time and that most of these requests can be met.  She added that each surgery had a different way of managing urgent appointments.  It was anticipated that the report would be circulated to the District Councils, Chief Executives, MPs and representatives from Health. 

·       The Chief Executive asked for clarification of recommendation 8 that NHS England acknowledge the concerns over the imbalance in local GP service capacity and demands and commit to additional funding for CCGs undertaking co-commissioning of GP services within the Area Teams so this additional CCG Activity is adequately resourced.       He asked if NHS England were being asked to do something or if they had already acknowledged the concerns.  The Chairman replied that they had already acknowledged the concerns.

·       In the executive summary of staff the Chief Executive asked if the capacity issues related to GPs and practise nurses or administrative staff and paramedics.  He suggested that the CCGs may want to look at the opportunities for training staff at Aylesbury College, Bucks New University and Amersham and Wycombe College.  

·       The Chairman replied that the general focus was the recruitment of medical staff and that not been any reports of problems being experienced with recruiting administrative staff. 

·       The Leader asked to what extent did GP surgery appointments accommodate commuters and can GPs work around them.  He noted that elderly patients who grew up with a system with a named GP worry about continuity.  In relation to Recommendation 4 referring to securing developer contributions, the Leader asked was it realistic to expect developers to fund GP surgeries.

·       It was suggested that a large development is built additional surgeries should be provided to take the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Draft Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2015/16 to 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 190 KB

Cabinet are asked to approve the Strategic Plan and the Revenue and Capital budgets for wider consideration by the Finance, Performance and Resources Select Committee and other interested parties such as the business community and partner agencies in Buckinghamshire.

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Minutes:

Cabinet received the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources setting out the draft revenue and capital budgets for 2015/16 to 2017/18.

 

The Leader introduced the Draft Revenue and Capital Budgets.  He explained that in February 2013 a four year budget was recommended and considered to be sustainable.  Three significant pressures emerged during the year including the ability to introduce pay and display parking and increased parking enforcement has resulted in a pressure of £0.5m, in Adult Social Care a forecast overspend and there was a rapid increase in the forecast overspend in Children’s Services. The budget needs substantial changes in order to support the Government’s Financial Strategy.  There will be an impact on BCCs responsibility for adults, Children’s Services, road maintenance and increased pressure on the provision of school places.  BCC was the lowest funded County Council in the UK in revenue support grant from the Government and there were no proposed changes in the autumn statement.  The final statement will be published on 17 December. 

 

The Leader asked about how BCC felt the consultation was able to meet the needs of residents.  The Cabinet Member for Community Engagement reported that 2,034 responses had been received from 425 organisations which was 57% more than last year and that the majority of residents supported a minimum 2% council tax increase.  The residents had a high regard for the services provided by the County Council including roads, protecting vulnerable children and adults and that the main concern was access to high speed broadband.  The Leader acknowledged that residents generally see road improvements as one of the main priorities.  He explained that the increase in funding from Children’s Services reflected the desire to protect the vulnerable and noted that Broadband was very important for residents but not a priority for those residents who already had it.     

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources explained that there was a major problem with revenue and that last year the budget for Children’s Services was insufficient.  In Children’s Services a £1m overspend had been forecast and a decision was required on whether to put the overspend into the base budget or leave as a risk. 

 

The capital commitments include:

·       the reduction in the contribution to the waste reserve

·       maintaining an increased commitment to the road programme     

·       an increase in money to provide additional school places and not all the money was available from central government.

 

The Service Director Finance and Commercial Services (the Service Director) explained that the proposals set out in the paper showed a balanced revenue and capital budget and a two year settlement.  The autumn statement indicated no additional cuts in 2015/16.  An £11.2m reduction was anticipated in 2015/16.  Changes included an extra £10.5m to take account of the Task and Finish Group recommendations and the Ofsted Improvement Plan, the effects of an aging population was reflected in a 1.99% increase in Council Tax for 2015/16 and the next 2 years.  80% of savings will be achieved through efficiencies.  The capital programme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

The Council's Operating Framework pdf icon PDF 177 KB

That the Council’s Operating Framework is agreed and comes into force on 1st April 2015.

 

That any subsequent changes to the Operating Framework are either a key decision of Cabinet or the Leader in consultation with relevant Cabinet Members as appropriate. 

 

The Operating Framework is in the supplement appendix pack.

 

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Minutes:

Cabinet received the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources asking them to agree the Council’s Operating Framework with minor amendments detailed below:

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources explained that a new structure was being introduced in April 2015 with four Business Units.  The operating Framework will be agreed by Cabinet annually and it was considered that the framework will form the operation of a modern Council. 

 

One change to Shared Services will be that after 31 March 2016 the Business Units cannot go to outside sources for the provision of Shared Services without demonstrating that there is a business case that there is not a major adverse effect of the rest of on the organisation.  It will be necessary to ensure that a competitive service is provided for customers.  The Delivery Units will be required after 31 March 2016 to contract for a minimum of period 6 months.  The Shared Service Business Unit must be market competitive within a 2 year period.

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Team Leader explained that if agreed this will be a live document with staff and will provide a single document as a toolkit for managers to use in understanding what the key rules are.  The key audience will be members and staff and this will be published to maximise transparency.     

 

An explanation was requested of the Council Board and why there was no reference made to the HQ Management and who the members were.  Cabinet were informed that the Council Board replaced the Chief Officers Management Team (COMT).  The Council Board comprises the 4 Managing Directors of the Business Units, the Director of Assurance and the Director of Strategy and Policy. 

 

The Chief Executive added that Members sit on the Board of each of the Business Units.  The HQ Board comprises of the Chief Executive, the Director of Assurance, the Director of Strategy and Policy, the Managing Director of Business Enterprise and two Members who are the Leader and Deputy Leader.  The HQ Management Board will commission support services from Shared Services in the same way as other Business Units. The HQ Management Board will be responsible for Strategic Commissioning Plan.    Clarification was requested on use of the term ‘HQ Management Board’. 

 

During a discussion the following points were made:

 

·       The Framework was welcomed as an opportunity for the Business Units to be entrepreneurial.  It was noted that the Support Services will not be managed by the Business Units.

·       The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources explained that the objective was to make Shared Services Business Units provide a cost competitive service.

·       The Leader cautioned that he did not want Future Shape to result in the destruction of the County Council as an entity.  This is about providing better lower cost services to the residents and not about individual business units going off alone and acting in a way that is destructive to the rest of the County Council. He wanted to see costs being scrutinised and Business Units  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Action Plan to reduce overspends pdf icon PDF 203 KB

Cabinet is asked to note that the action plans continue to be monitored on a monthly basis.

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Minutes:

Cabinet received the report of the Action Plan to reduce overspends.

 

In Transportation the forecast overspend had been reduced to £24k.  In Health and Wellbeing there was a £1.2m overspend forecast and £500k had been released from contingency to reduce the forecast to £700k.  The overspend in Children’s Services had increased and the Action Plan was not delivering the recovery that was hoped and a £1m overspend had been forecast which was causing much concern. 

 

It was hoped that Health and Wellbeing Portfolio will achieve a balanced budget.  It will be necessary to look at the proposals for Children’s Services and anticipated that savings can be achieved or service delivery be addressed to make some changes. 

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources considered that a follow uo to the Task and Finish Group be established to address the in-year overspend and the additional £1m for next year which he considered was very serious.

 

The Chief Executive explained that an Improvement Board was about to embark and the Secretary of State’s adviser was on site and he suggested that a report is presented to the next Cabinet on the Actions taken and the budget forecast.  There was a confidence that the service can be put on the road to recovery. The Leader noted that the DfE advisers were on board and there was an Improvement Board he cautioned too many teams but this was a red flag control and a serious risk and needed to be reviewed.  The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources expressed disappointment that not much had been achieved during the monitoring period and he was encouraged by the Chief Executive’s comments.     

 

RESOLVED

 

Cabinet agreed the recommendation that the action plans continue to be monitored on a monthly basis. 

12.

Date of the Next Meeting

12 January 2015

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Minutes:

12 January 2015.