Meeting documents

Apologies were received from Mr M Shaw.  Mr P Irwin attended as a substitute.

It was noted that Purdah would be in effect 27 March to 4 May 2017 due to local elections.  It was also noted that Purdah would continue until the General Election on 8 June 2017.

Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 27 March to be agreed by Cabinet and signed by the Chairman.

Two items were asked to be changed in the minutes from the meeting held on 27 March 2017.

Hot Topics

Clarification that the update referred to one new food sharing app and not two

Performance Review – Update from Cabinet Member for Resources

Clarification that the final bullet point should read 2^nd lift refurbishment and not 2nd floor

Minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2017 were agreed to be an accurate record (with the changes above) and signed by the Chairman.

Cabinet’s attention was brought to the following:

·         Mr D Johnston, Managing Director of Children’s Social Care & Learning was leaving the authority.  Cabinet thanked him for his significant contribution, in particular to the Children’s Improvement Programme

·         Cabinet welcomed the Interim Managing Director of Children’s Social Care & Learning, Mrs G Rhodes White

·         Mr W Whyte had attended the recent meeting of the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee where a 25 year plan for land drainage, growth and making space for water had been agreed

Mr R Stuchbury asked about the plans for joint working and engagement with Parish Councils in relation to the unitary proposals, and particularly in relation to contributions to Section 106 and how it is used.

Mr M Tett advised that with County Council elections and following the announcement of the General election in June, a decision on the Unitary proposals was not expected until after the election period.  It was also noted that there were ongoing discussions with Parish Councils about options for future joint working arrangements.

Mr Tett also noted that there was enormous pressure on Section 106 funding for infrastructure and there were restrictions as to what it could be spent on. 

For Cabinet to consider the Forward Plan

Cabinet noted the report.

Cabinet noted the report.

For Cabinet to consider the Select Committee Work Programme

Cabinet noted the report.

For Cabinet to consider the report

L Hazel, Cabinet Member for Childrens Services presented the report. During discussion key points were highlighted as follows: 

·         The continuation of the Change for Children Programme

·         The need to increase Foster Carers within Buckinghamshire

·         The need to increase the number of children’s homes in Buckinghamshire to increase the control of care provision for  children

·         The expansion and purchasing of care homes would increase capacity for placements within the County, which would not only better for the children but would also save money on out of County placements

Cabinet made the following comments:

·         Health and wellbeing of children was of great importance and in County provision would create better outcomes for them

·         In County placements ere more cost effective for the authority and would reduce travel time for Social Workers which would allow them more time with children and families

·         The importance to engage with the Local Member when researching  properties for care homes

Recommendation

1) Approve the business case for the provision of additional residential places for children in Buckinghamshire; and

2) Agree to prudentially borrow up to a value of £2m to fund the additional property purchases.

3) Delegate to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in agreement with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, the authority to purchase properties and carry out improvement works as required funded by prudential borrowing up to an overall value of £2m

RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED with the recommendations.

For Cabinet to consider and discuss the issues raised in the report.

L Hazel, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services presented the report. During discussion key points were highlighted as follows: 

·         The improvement programme was a top priority of the County Council

·         Since the initial Ofsted inspection three visits had taken place, all of which had reported improvements, the portfolio were confident that were a further Ofsted inspection to take place, the rating of inadequate would no longer be in place

·         Cabinet noted the significant work that had gone into social worker recruitment and the decrease of interim staff used

·         Work needed to continue with partners such as Health and Police to ensure a whole service approach

Cabinet welcomed the update report and thanked all members of staff within the service for their continued hard work.  Mr Tett requested that thanks be relayed back to staff via the interim Managing Director of Children’s Social Care and Learning.

ACTION: Mrs G Rhodes White

RESOLVED:  Cabinet NOTED the report and requested that quarterly updates be added to the forward plan.

ACTION: Member Services

For Cabinet to consider the Select Committee Inquiry report.

Mr B Roberts, Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee and Mrs E Wheaton Committee and Governance Advisor, presented the inquiry report and draft response. During discussion points were highlighted as follows:  

·         Mr Roberts thanked all members of the inquiry group and colleagues in Health and Adult Social Care

·         The inquiry had highlighted particular areas of focus including amounts of paperwork, different IT systems used, delayed assessments, care homes not taking new clients over the weekends, the location of teams that needed to be working together and the important role the Pharmacy played in the discharge process

·         Some successes had already been implemented following the inquiry including no fining between Health and ASC

·         Discharge process was to start as soon as someone was admitted

·         The role families played in the discharge process and how to tackle those whom were not engaged

·         Buckinghamshire were a high performing authority however work remained to  reduce the number  of delayed transfers

·         The "Trusted Assessor" model was under development with care providers  and Officers were reviewing other best practice models

Cabinet thanked members of the Select Committee for their work on the inquiry.

RESOLVED:  Cabinet AGREED the Cabinet Member response to the recommendations.

For Cabinet to consider the Select Committee inquiry report.

Mr D Carroll, Chairman of the Transport, Environment and Communities Select Committee and Mrs K Sutherland, Committee & Governance Advisor presented the inquiry report and draft response. During discussion points were highlighted as follows:

·         All involved in the inquiry group were thanked for their hard work

·         Buckinghamshire County Council were a leading authority on School travel

·         The inquiry brought together key stakeholders to understand school travel issues in Buckinghamshire

·         162 schools had engaged with activities, however there were some challenges with those schools who remained disengaged

·         A range of choice and the growth agenda, with new schools and expansions, would have an impact  on school travel plans

·         Expansion of village schools and lack of parking available needed to be addressed

·         Engagement with schools and parish councils would be ongoing

·         The importance of getting Governors involved and resident associations

·         The need for an officer at the County Council to co-ordinate the work

·         The need for partners such as Police, schools, parents, Parish Councils and residents to also accept responsibility and work together to find solutions

Cabinet thanked Members of the Select Committee for their work on the inquiry.

RESOLVED:  Cabinet AGREED the Cabinet Member response to the recommendations.

To resolve to exclude the press and public as the following item is exempt by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 because it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded for the following item which is exempt by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 because it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Of the meeting held on 27 March to be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

The confidential minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2017 were agreed to be an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

05 June 2017.

5 June 2017, Mezzanine Rooms 1 & 2, County Hall, Aylesbury.