Meeting documents

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 September 2015.

The minutes of Council held on Thursday 17 September 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

Mr A Huxley presented two petitions, the first relating to drivers using Rabans Lane/Meredith Drive/ Dickens Way to avoid queuing, and the second to Jackson Road both in the HP19 area of Aylesbury.  Mr Huxley reported that additional information being gathered through Mobile Vehicle Activated Signs (MVAS) would be added to the petitions shortly.

Apologies for the meeting were received from Mr P Hardy, Mr D Hayday, Mr A Stevens, and Aldermen Mr K Ross and Mr B Allen.

A minute’s silence was held for the victims of recent atrocities across the world including in Paris.  The Chairman informed Members that a Book of Condolences had been opened for staff and public to sign, which would be sent to the Mayor of Paris.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive a report and presentation from young people involved in local youth democracy.

Miss L Gonsalves and Miss A Bahl from the Youth Parliament, and Mr A Nicholls and Miss G Costa from Amersham & Wycombe College were welcomed to the meeting.

Miss Gonsalves informed Council about her role in the UK Youth Parliament, the benefits she had gained and the importance of the Youth Parliament in giving all young people a voice.

Miss Bahl explained why she was standing for the Youth Parliament and how she wanted to inspire others to become involved in solving issues.

Mr Nicholls thanked the Councillors who had attended the Local Democracy event at Amersham & Wycombe College and said that as a result he had a much better awareness both of how democracy worked and the challenging role of a local Councillor.  These views were echoed by Miss Costa who added that the session had provided an insight into benefits of the taxation system in the UK.

The following points were raised by Members:

·         Mr N Brown, Mr P Iwin, Mrs J Teesdale and Mrs V Letheren who had attended the College session all commented on the value of the event

·         The presenters’ views were sought on the voting age, the Syrian crisis, women in politics, managing the Council’s budget and the issue of an ageing population

The presenters were thanked for their presentation and invited to return to a future meeting.

To receive presentations from PCC Anthony Stansfeld and Chief Constable Francis Habgood, accompanied by Inspector Phaedra Binns.

Mr A Stansfeld, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Mr F Habgood, Chief Constable for the Thames Valley, were welcomed to the meeting.  (The presentations made have been added to the Council’s website: https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=107&MId=6365&Ver=4)

In his presentation to Council, Mr Stansfeld brought Members’ attention to the reductions in crime figures; savings and performance improvements; uncertainty of future funding; internet based crime; and support for victims.

Mr Habgood made his presentation, particularly highlighting the Force’s PEEL grading; where there had been changes in levels of crime; activity related to the visible presence of police; and funding challenges.  Mr Habgood also explained about key areas of work including:

·         Work being done to develop the most appropriate response to incidents

·         Raising awareness and address issues of child sexual exploitation

·         Tackling organised crime in partnership with other Forces and agencies

·         Developing better communications including the increased use of social media

The following responses were made by Mr Habgood to questions raised:

·         Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) were a vital element of neighbourhood policing, although with future funding constraints numbers will have to be reduced.  Opportunities for part-funding were welcomed

·         Prevention remained a fundamental objective of policing

·         Social media was enabling the Force to raise visibility of justice in relation to rural crime but that more needed to be done

·         Traditional levels of estate were no longer needed as fewer crimes were reported at stations and officers no longer needed to use desk-based technology, although the symbolism of police buildings was acknowledged

·         Constables were trained to work to degree level and employment routes should remain open for those without degrees on entry

Mr Stansfeld provided the following responses to questions:

·         Advertising on vehicles and uniforms could lead to legal challenge and would not provide significant income

·         The unsustainability of some police forces in light of funding cuts was likely to lead to merging of forces in future.  Centralised regional based services could develop, enabling forces to focus on local level neighbourhood policing

The Chairman thanked Mr Stansfeld and Mr Habgood for their presentations and offered Members to submit any unasked questions for written response.

To note the treasury and investment borrowing performance and the monitoring against the Prudential Indicators.

Mr J Chilver, Cabinet Member for Resources, presented the report to Council and moved the Recommendation.

RESOLVED

The Council noted the treasury and investment borrowing performance and the monitoring against Prudential Indicators.

To receive updates from the Select Committee Chairmen on the work of the Committees.

Mrs V Letheren, Chairman of the Children’s Social Care and Learning Select Committee informed Council that the Committee’s Inquiry Report into CSE had been well received by the Buckinghamshire Children’s Safeguarding Board.

Mr B Roberts, Chairman of the Finance, Performance and Resources Select Committee, informed Members that the Committee’s Rent-in-Advance report had been presented to Cabinet on 9 November and thanked all involved.

Mrs A Macpherson, Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee, drew Members’ attention to the Committee’s agenda and highlighted attendance of the Chief Executive of the Hospitals Trust at the next meeting.

Mr D Carroll, Chairman of the Transport, Environment and Communities Select Committee, thanked members of the public for their engagement with the Committee’s Flooding Inquiry, whose report would be presented to Cabinet on 7 December.

In response to questions:

·         Mrs Macpherson confirmed that she was unable to attend the forthcoming meeting in Buckingham regarding Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire Strategic Health Services, but that she would shortly be attending a joint Bedfordshire meeting on the same subject, with more information being made available at the Select Committee’s meeting in February.

·         Mrs Letheren explained that the Select Committee had focussed on the Children’s Services Improvement Plan in 2015 but that items for the future work programme, including school improvement, would be considered at its next meeting on 17 November.

To note the written report of Cabinet Members, and any written questions & responses received.

To receive any additional verbal updates from Cabinet Members on their reports, as well as provide an opportunity for any oral questions from Members.

9a.       Leader of the Council

9b.       Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing

9c.       Cabinet Member for Education & Skills

9d.       Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

9e.       Cabinet Member for Resources

9f.        Cabinet Member for Transportation

9g.       Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment

9h.      Cabinet Member for Community Engagement & Public Health

9a. Leader of the Council

In response to questions, Mr M Tett, Leader of the Council, explained that although the reorganisation of services into Business Units had only been implemented recently, it was enabling a stronger focus on efficiencies both within and between Business Units.

In relation to the purpose of the Economic Heartland Alliance, Mr Tett reiterated that the arrangement enabled neighbouring Transport Authorities to develop a single voice in promoting the strategic transport needs of the area.

The issue of venues was raised and Mr Tett explained that the budget freeze included cessation of spend on external venues, which needed ideally to be applied to both Member and officer meetings.

Concern was expressed regarding the current financial position and in particular the robustness of financial planning in light of assurances given during Budget Scrutiny in January 2015.  Mr Tett reminded Members that the financial challenges facing the Council were being faced by many other County Councils across the country.  Mr Tett said that demand on services, growth in costs and competition for placements had all increased at a higher rate than expected, and that the Government needed to recognise the pressures on Councils with demand led caring responsibilities in considering its financial settlement.

Mr Tett was thanked for his work on HS2 and asked about how the anticipated impact resulting from construction could be resolved.  Mr Tett acknowledged the challenge and that agreement to mitigations were still being actively sought.

Council was informed of the work being done by communities across Buckinghamshire to send aid to refugees.  Mr Tett welcomed the opportunity to visit the hub in Cressex and stressed the importance of solutions being found to both the conflict in Syria and to resulting issues in other areas.

In relation to a question about the timing being right for reconsideration of unitary status, Mr Tett reminded Members that although, in his opinion, the financial model for two tier government was unsustainable, there was at present neither a local consensus nor a process available to progress an agreed alternative approach.  In the absence of this Mr Tett stressed the importance of Councils working together to deliver quality services at the lowest cost to residents.

9b. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing

In response to a question raised, Mr M Appleyard, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing, provided assurance that the processes within Adult Social Care services were being managed effectively.

The issue of budget resilience was raised.  Mr Appleyard explained that the ability to reduce costs for residential care, by which he included all areas where the Council provided homes for people, was very limited and although residential homes were being built in the county, the Council was in competition for places with London Boroughs and with self-funders.  Mr Appleyard confirmed that non-residential services would need to deliver savings, including areas of prevention activity but that investments to make longer-term savings, such as use of technology, would still be considered.  Mr Appleyard reiterated the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Motion 1: Annual Training Event for Councillors on Child Safeguarding and Corporate Parenting

The following Motion was proposed by Mr P Irwin and seconded by Mr R Stuchbury and Mr P Gomm:

"This County Council resolves to organise an annual training event for all County Councillors on child safeguarding as well as corporate parenting; and that all County Councillors commit to attending this training annually."

Mr Irwin explained that the Motion arose from the recent work of the Select Committee and was needed to inform and support Councillors in their corporate parenting and community leadership roles.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Ms L Hazell expressed her support for the Motion, indicating that it would further embed the Safeguarding Board training programme.  Ms Hazell reminded Members of their responsibility and duty of care for all children within the county.

During debate Members expressed their support for the Motion, reiterating the importance of understanding and raising the profile of children’s safeguarding.

The Motion was formally seconded by Mr R Stuchbury.

RESOLVED

That an annual training event for all County Councillors on child safeguarding and corporate parenting is organised and that all County Councillors are committed to attending this training annually.

Motion 2: Local Area Forums (LAFs)

The following Motion was proposed by Mr P Gomm:

"This Council resolves that all Local Area Forum activity (including all meetings/officer support and grant provision) is suspended until after the 2017 County Council elections.

Instead, we suggest that any future grant funding distributed by the LAFs is incorporated into the existing Community Leader’s Fund scheme so that each local Member is able to continue to support community initiatives.  The funding transferred should be evenly distributed to all Councillors.  This action will save the Council at least half a million pounds per year."

In moving the Motion, Mr Gomm expressed his concerns about the length of time taken to deliver a review of LAFs, the resource invested in LAF activity, and questioned whether there were better ways to deliver outcomes in local areas.

Mr Tett explained that all areas of spend were currently being reviewed and assured Members that the LAF review would be concluded shortly.  Mr Tett expressed his concern about the alternative proposals in the Motion.

During discussion, the following points were raised:

·         That staff involved did not solely support LAFs

·         That the Community Leaders Fund was not an appropriate mechanism for allocation of LAF funds

·         That a more considered approach to the issue of LAFs and LAF funding needed to be taken to ensure a sustainable model for the future

·         That LAFs provided an a opportunity for local, democratic engagement with Parishes, which many valued

·         That the current model did not work effectively in all areas

The issue of whether the Motion was political or not was debated.

The Motion was seconded by Mr A Huxley who explained that in agreeing the Motion, engagement with Parishes could continue through the Local Member.

RESOLVED

The Motion was defeated by a majority vote.

Motion 3:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Cabinet Member Decisions Taken report was noted.

The next meeting of the County Council will be on Thursday 18 February 2016.  The agenda will include the statutory financial statements and the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.

18 February 2016 at 9.30am.