Meeting documents

Apologies were received from Mr J Chilver, Cabinet Member for Resources. Mr G Williams, Deputy Cabinet Member for Resources attended as a substitute.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 18 December 2017 to be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Mr Williams highlighted a change to the wording on page 11 paragraph 1.2 inner soil to change to inert soil.

Mr M Tett advised that following the previous report to Cabinet on the Quarter 2 revenue budget position which reported an overall underspend of just under £3m, an update had been received outlining the following positions:

Health and Wellbeing had initially reported a forecast overspend of £1.4m; this had now increased to £4.1m.

Children’s Services had initially reported a forecast overspend of £831k; this had now increased to £1.8m.

Mr Tett confirmed that each portfolio had some budget contingencies which would be used to offset some of the forecast overspend, however a formal report would come to Cabinet in February.  The budgets would also be scrutinised as part of the budget scrutiny process taking place that week. 

Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment; commented on the developments in China and their decision to no longer accept Waste from other countries. Work was being undertaken to determine the impact on the UK and how to mitigate the issue. It was noted that Waste Wizard was a useful tool for identifying local waste sites and the waste accepted at each, details were available on the County Council website.  https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/waste-and-recycling/recycle-in-your-area/

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation; thanked the Winter Maintenance Team for their hard work during the winter months and in particular during the recent adverse weather.

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services; highlighted the Fostering Information Service and information events being held in Aylesbury on 18 January 2018 and in High Wycombe on 24 January. Attendees could register their interest via the fostering pages on the County Council website.  https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/events/fostering-events/fostering-information-sessions/

The Leader; confirmed that the Local Government settlement had been announced just before Christmas.  It was noted Council Tax could be raised by 3% in line with inflation; this option would need to be explored within Buckinghamshire, particularly in the context of the pressures within Children’s Services and Adult Social Care. 

Ms J Wassell, County Councillor attended to ask the following questions regarding the Early Help Review:

Does Cabinet agree that the comparative data of other local authorities set out in the report are Local Authorities (LA’s) that can be fairly compared to Bucks?

Mr W Whyte responded that the report sought to set out what other local authorities were doing and areas of good practice.  As Bucks were one of the last local authorities to review these services, it was prudent to include these in the review.

What consideration will be given to those sites/centres that are part of the review and potentially will become hubs?

Mr Whyte confirmed that one of the recommendations in the report outlined that if Cabinet were minded to agree the new model all sites would be reviewed in more detail to assess their suitability. 

Mrs W Mallen, County Councillor attended the meeting to raise the following question about the Early Help Review:

As stated in the report, six months is a long time to expect centres to wait to know what is happening with their facility, does the Cabinet Member anticipate that it will take this long? 

Mr Whyte confirmed that the time outlined was to ensure that there was time to review all the sites. It was hoped progress in discussions could be made sooner. 

Mr C Ditta, County Councillor attended the meeting to ask the following question about the Early Help Review: 

Could the consultation be restarted in order to make it clearer? 

Mr Whyte confirmed that the original consultation was extended following early feedback in order to provide additional information and also to help make more public aware of the consultation. This had resulted in a good response of 2000 representations, which had been included in the Cabinet report. Mr Whyte also stated that there may have been some confusion regarding the proposed model due to the details given within a petition that had been live at the same time that had suggested all 35 children’s centres were to close, which was incorrect.

Mr S Lambert, County Councillor attended the meeting to ask the following questions:

Mr Lambert highlighted an error in the Early Help appendix 2 page 228 of the report; it should read Oakfield School not Oakridge. He also asked if the evidence based reports mentioned in appendix 2 could be published? 

Mr Whyte advised that he would confirm details with officers and provide a response outside of the meeting. 

Is the Early Help review being carried out in conjunction with the Bucks Learning Trust review (BLT) in order to make sure that the Council are utilising all the sites available to them? 

Mr Whyte advised that the County Council wanted to be more efficient with the use of all its buildings. Whilst carrying out both reviews at the same time would be ideal, it is not possible to coordinate all property reviews at the same time. Mr M Appleyard also confirmed that the County Council were still  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

For Cabinet to consider the Forward Plan

RESOLVED: Cabinet NOTED the report.

RESOLVED: Cabinet NOTED the report.

For Cabinet to consider the Select Committee Work Programme

RESOLVED: Cabinet NOTED the report.

Recommendation

Cabinet is asked to Recommend to Council that they:-

(i)      Approve the proposed draft of the Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2016-2036 (attached as an Appendix A to the agenda), for the purpose of:

a)    formally consulting, for a statutory period of 6 weeks in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning)(England) Regulations 2012; and

b)    submission of the proposed draft the ("Submission Draft") to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for examination in accordance with Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulation 2012 (subject to (ii) and (iii) below.

(ii)     Delegate authority to the Director of Growth, Transport and Highways, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, to make minor amendments to the final BMWLP document to address typographical errors and improve clarity, provided that these amendments do not alter policies significantly or change the sense of supporting text, prior to the start of the publication period.

(iii) Delegate authority to the Director of Growth, Transport and Highways, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, to approve any modifications or other amendments which arise during the examination of the Submission Draft by the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Mr B Chapple, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment introduced the item and Mr I Mohammed, Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Manager attended the meeting; key points were highlighted as follows:

• Changes to the revised recommendation which had been tabled at the meeting (copy attached) were noted
• The new Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (BMWLP) 2016-2036 was being progressed as the "Submission Version" for the purposes of the Regulation 19 consultation and the submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (SoS)
• Preliminary consultation had taken place in September 2017 lasting eight weeks
• If agreed the plan would go out for consultation 5 March 2018 – 19 April 2018, then onto the SOS at the end of May
•  If agreed a public inquiry would then take place in the summer with a view to  adoption in early 2019
• The BMWLP would be reviewed every five years

Mr Chapple referenced areas of the report including consultation responses, proposed sites and objections that had been received from a Leading developer and Slough Borough Council questioning the "safe-guarding" areas covering that part of county, on the basis that it could affect the long term future development of the area to meet housing needs.  Mr Chapple confirmed that the County Council would strongly resist these objections but noted Slough Borough Councils position.

Mr Whyte asked if proper consideration had been given to Hydelane Farm given its proximity to the flood plain and being adjacent to the canal.  Mr Chapple confirmed that meetings had been held with the local preservation area and this would be taken into account.

Mr Tett raised the current issues of HGV vehicle movements across the south of the county in Iver and asked if the proposed plan would have an adverse effect on this or would help to elevate.  Mr Mohammed advised that the plan would not aim to make existing problems worse and that going forward any operator would be required to provide details of HGV movements as part of any application.

RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED the amended recommendations.

Recommendation

1)    That Cabinet accepts the proposal to create a new Early Help service, designed in line with the stated key principles and within agreed resources

2)    That Cabinet authorises formal discussions over the next six months with schools, early years providers, partners and the voluntary and community sector about how the remaining 28 Children’s Centre buildings can best be utilised in the future to maximise their benefit for children, families and communities, within agreed resources

3)    That Cabinet delegates further decisions on the detail of the new Early Help Service, including the re-purposing of buildings, to the Cabinet members for Children’s Services, for Education and Skills and for Resources in consultation with senior officers, within agreed resource

Mr Whyte, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services introduced the item and set out the context for why the review was taking place. 

• The review was a fundamental redesign of how the County Council would help children and families who do not currently benefit from the provisions that are available.
• The new model would reduce complexity, give right support at the right time, be proactive and identify and work with families at a much earlier stage.
• Services provided by Public Health would remain, although settings at which these were provided may change.

Cabinet Members praised the report and the proposed model and suggested that it would be able to give families more choice and make it easier for them to access services and giving them continuity.

Mr Tett summarised that the new model was a principle of early intervention with younger people across the spectrum not just early years.  Shifting from being reactive services to preventative services.  The new model would be about improved outcomes for young people and families and not centred on the buildings these services are provided from.

RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED the recommendations.

Recommendation

·    That the current Funding Agreement between Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) and the BLT expires on 31 July 2018, with the transference of all service areas that are delivered through the grant funded activity back to BCC so that functions can be rationalised and efficiencies can be made

·    The BLT retain the Newly Qualified Teachers (NQT) appropriate body status on behalf of BCC, subject to review after 1 year from 1 August 2018 (see Appendix E)

·         That the transfer of the aforementioned services should take place in a staged way and by the proposed deadlines in 2018 (as listed in Section B below)

Mr Appleyard, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills introduced the item and highlighted the following points:

• Changes in Government rules had meant reducing the influence and direct activity of the Local Authority (LAs) and encouraging and moving some services into schools. 
• The funding that the Council were provided by Central Government did not pay for some of the services that were built into the contract with BLT five years ago. 
• The County Council were in ongoing discussions with the BLT to help them to remain viable and deliver these services.

Mr Tett reflected that this was a change driven by a reduction in funding and the County Council were working with the BLT to support a way forward.

RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED the recommendations.

RESOLVED

Cabinet AGREED that there were no items to discuss in a private session.

No confidential discussion was required.

12 February 2018

Monday 12 February 2018, Mezzanine 1&2, County Hall, Aylesbury.  10.30am