Meeting documents

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Thursday 18 May 2017.

The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 18^th May 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no petitions.

Apologies were received from Sir H Aubrey-Fletcher, Mr P Kara, Mr D Polhill, Mr B Bendyshe-Brown, Mrs L Clarke OBE, Mr A Hussain, Mrs J Teesdale and Ms K Wood.

The Chairman reflected on the fact that, within the first month of becoming Chairman, the Council had observed a minute’s silence on the steps of County Hall on 4 separate occasions because of events in London and Manchester. The Chairman thanked everyone for their support.

The Chairman reported on events since the last Council meeting, highlighting in particular:

·         The annual ceremonial pollarding of a tree in Burnham Beaches by the Corporation of London, followed by lunch with the Lord Mayor of London.

·         Armed Forces day on 17^th June.  The Chairman thanked the Civic and Ceremonial Team for their work in organising a successful event.

·         The Bucks Business awards hosted by Bucks Business First.

·         A visit to the ethnic art fair in Milton Keynes supported by the High Sheriff.

·         An annual reception at RAF High Wycombe.

There were no declarations of interest.

Mr J Chilver, Cabinet Member for Resources, presented the report and highlighted the following:

·         The average rate of return on investment was 1 percent, an increase on the previous year’s rate of 0.68 percent.

·         The investment position had changed with the purchase of the Energy from Waste Plant for £180m and new commercial property worth £40m.  VAT of £36m on the Energy from Waste Plant was fully recovered.

Mr Chilver responded to Members’ questions as follows:

·         The Council was aware of the risks involved in purchasing commercial property and took advice from Carter Jonas, the Council’s commercial property investment advisors.  There were clear targets and thresholds that were complied with for new acquisitions.

·         The maximum total of investments during the last year was around £170m with limits on the exposure to risk on investments.

·         A more in depth answer to a question on "value at risk" would be provided after the meeting.

RESOLVED

Council AGREED the Treasury Management Annual Report and Prudential Indicators for 2016/17.

Mr M Tett, Leader of the Council, presented the report and confirmed that it had been agreed by the cross party Senior Appointments and Bucks Pay Award Committee.

RESOLVED

Council AGREED the Annual Pay Policy Statement.

Mr M Tett, Leader of the Council, presented the report and confirmed the following:

·         The Strategic Plan was the main policy document for the County Council along with the Medium Term Financial Plan.

·         The Strategic Plan was refreshed each year and Members were encouraged to attend annual workshops so that they could input into the plan and help shape policy.

In response to questions from Members Mr Tett made the following points:

·         Although Ofsted inspection ratings across the County were generally very good, there were areas where improvements in ratings needed to be made, for example in Aylesbury and there was already focus on those areas needing improvement.

·         The construction of new Children’s Homes in the County was welcome in allowing children to be located near to their birth families.

·         The Council had a clear priority to protect the most vulnerable in the County as well as provide opportunities for vulnerable residents to advance.

·         It was important to plan for the longer term particularly in respect of infrastructure.

·         It was more difficult to plan for the longer term financially given the uncertainty around support from central government and so the current four year financial plan was currently the most suitable forward view.

·         The numbers of children getting their preferred school place were lower than in some other areas because of the selective education system in Buckinghamshire, whereby some children would not qualify for their first choice of school.

·         The corporate underspend during 2016/17 was partly as a result of a one off change to accounting practice around the minimum revenue provision and would not be repeated in future years.

RESOLVED

Council AGREED the Strategic Plan.

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.

8a. Leader of the Council

8b. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation

8c. Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

8d. Cabinet Member for Resources

8e. Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing

8f.  Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

8g. Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment

8h. Cabinet Member for Community Engagement & Public Health

8a: Leader of the Council.

In response to a question from a Member, the Leader of the Council Mr M Tett confirmed that he had contacted the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government asking for a meeting to discuss the growth agenda and funding for infrastructure.

8b: Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation Mr M Shaw confirmed that he had now been appointed Chairman of the East West Rail Consortium and was meeting the Secretary of State for Transport on Monday 17^th July for discussions.

In response to Members’ questions, Mr Shaw made the following points:

·         The condition of roads in the County being used for the Tour of Britain Cycle Race would be fit for cycle racing.

·         £300,000 additional budget had been allocated to gulley clearance and £200,000 for general maintenance.  The schemes for gulley clearance were now in operation.  Members would be consulted individually on general maintenance for their divisions.  A figure on the amount of money spent specifically in the Chalfont Local Area Forum area would be provided after the meeting.

·         The budget for footways last year was £1.5m and £1m for each subsequent year thereafter and a scheme of plane and patch maintenance was in operation to make footways safe for residents.

·         It had been a difficult decision to close the rail crossing between Mandeville and Southcourt which was causing inconvenience to local residents, however after reviewing CCTV footage it was considered too dangerous to leave the crossing open.

·         It was acknowledged there were delays in getting bollards repaired due to ageing technology and contractor issues but there was a focus on getting repairs done as soon as possible.

·         Mr Shaw apologised for recent problems with the "Report It" website and "App" and a Members’ mailbox had been set up during this period to manage enquiries efficiently.

·         Local Area Technicians would have information on the repair plans for footways.

·         The Jet Patching machine was used extensively across the County’s roads but was more effective in rural rather than urban areas and not for use on high stress parts of the road network.

·         A written response would be provided on the pay and display consultation.

8c:  Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

Mr W Whyte, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services asked Members to help publicise the Early Help review consultation that would start shortly.

In response to questions from Members, Mr Whyte made the following points:

·         He had been impressed by the pace of improvement in Children’s Services and would aim to make sure the pace was maintained.

·         Further information about social workers’ reasons for leaving would be obtained from service directors.

·         The percentage of agency social workers had reduced and there was a continued focus on achieving permanent teams. Children’s Services were working with University College Aylesbury Vale in helping develop social workers in house.  The recruitment of social workers had not been frozen.

·         Opportunities for Members to shadow Children’s Services teams would be looked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

There were no Notices of Motion.

The information was noted.

The information was noted.

Thursday 21^st September 2017 at 9.30am in The Oculus, AVDC, Gatehouse Way, Aylesbury.