Meeting documents

Apologies were received from Mr W Whyte, with Mrs J Teesdale, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children’s Services attended as a representative. as a substitute.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday 5 March 2018

RESOLVED:  The minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2018 were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

Cabinet’s attention was brought to the following;

Leader; Paid tribute to all those that had ran the London Marathon including the Assistant Chief Executive Ms S Ashmead.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation; Updated Cabinet that with the recent improvements in the weather, the programme of filling potholes was well underway.  Residents were urged to report any portholes using the online tool.  The Leader clarified that the potholes would be prioritised on a technical assessment and resources available.

Mr S Lambert, County Councillor attended to ask the following question regarding Direct Care and Support Services report:

‘Can all recommendations come back to Cabinet for decision rather than being delegated to the Cabinet Member as set out in the recommendations of the report’?

L Hazel, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing responded by stating that the proposal did include consulting with end users and that this would ensure that when decisions are taken there is sufficient feedback and information in order to take an informed decision.  Mr Tett stated that he had no objections to decisions being taken by Cabinet as long as it didn’t have an impact on time frames to implement and budget implications.  It was agreed that each proposal could be reviewed on a case by case basis as to who would take the decision. 

RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED to this approach.

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.

For Cabinet to consider report and recommendations

Mr S Lambert, Member of the Transport, Economy and Environment Select Committee, Chairman of the inquiry attended the meeting to present the report.  During discussion key points were highlighted as follows:

• The inquiry examined the implications of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 ("the Act") for local authorities and the steps the Council should take in order to comply with its duties under the Act.
• The report had been discussed at length at the Cabinet meeting in March and the report set out eight recommendations for Cabinet to consider
• The key role of tackling modern slavery were how to identify and support victims
• A new pilot victim support service delivered by RAHAB had been set up and was being funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner
• 2,500 cases currently identified in the Thames Valley area, but there was still difficulty in identifying the true number of victims

Members raised and discussed the following points:

• Thanks was given to the Chairman of the Select Committee Mr D Carroll, Members of the Committee and Ms K Wager, Committee and Governance Advisor for their hard work on such a significant and important inquiry
• Concerns were raised about funding of the over the two year strategy and what would happen once this funding was withdrawn and if there would then be a financial pressure on the County Council.  Mr Lambert confirmed that the funding was from the Police and Crime Commissioner and that the County Councils role was to signpost to support available.  Mr Lambert also confirmed that Buckinghamshire County Council were leading the way in their response to the duties put upon them by the Modern Slavery Act 2015
• Concerns were discussed in relation to the number of victims identified rising over the coming years and the need for this to monitored closely and reviewed as part of the six month update coming back to Cabinet
• Members discussed the areas the pilot scheme covered and Mr Lambert confirmed that Buckinghamshire and Berkshire will share the victim service with Oxfordshire deciding not to commission the service
• Mr Lambert confirmed that the service delivered by RAHAB would help to identify the true impact of Modern Slavery in Bucks.

Mr N Brown Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health made reference to the Cabinet responses to the recommendations and are appended to these minutes.  Mr Brown also put on record his thanks to Mrs C Marriot who had initiated the project before leaving the organisation.

RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED the recommendations as follows:

For Cabinet to consider report and recommendations

Lin Hazel, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, presented the report, joined by Ms Quinton, Executive Director for Communities and Adult Social Care. The purpose of the paper was to outline the future commissioning intentions for the Council’s in-house

Direct Care and Support services, previously called ex-Buckinghamshire Care services. During discussion key points were highlighted as follows:

• Lin Hazell introduced the report by reminding Cabinet of the background to the establishment of Buckinghamshire Care 2013 and services and staff subsequently being brought back in house in 2017
• The Adult Social Care Transformation programme had revised its strategic programme and set out three service tiers; Living Independently, Regaining Control and Living with Support
• Plans for individual services will be subject to particularised consultation so projected future models are officer proposals following their consideration of options and could be revised through due process.
• Plans for Direct Care and Support Services had also been designed to achieve best solution for service users, greatest value for money and meet savings targets, including for the Medium Term Financial Plan

Members raised and discussed the following points:

• Mr Tett reminded Cabinet Members of the discussion taken under Question Time in relation to the recommendation for any decisions on proposals being amended
• Buckinghamshire Care provided a small proportion of ASC services provided by the County Council and the service was brought back in as soon as issues were identified.
• The importance of good communications and consultation with all service users and providers
• For any further alternative options that have become available since the report was written to be explored
• Ms Quinton stated that currently no decisions were being taken and that the report merely set out the direction of travel for the service.

RESOLVED

Cabinet APPROVED the recommendations with the following amendments:

1. The approval of further key decisions to be delegated to either the Cabinet Member or return to Cabinet depending on time and budget restrictions
2. Any further options that become available since the report was written are explored

21 May 2018

21 May 2018, Mezzanine 1 & 2, County Hall, Aylesbury