Meeting documents

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26^th July 2018.

The Chairman paid tribute to former County Councillors Mr T Fowler and Mr H Wilson who recently passed away.  Mr Fowler had also served as an honorary Alderman of the County Council.

RESOLVED: The minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2018 were AGREED as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

Mrs J Ward presented a petition on behalf of Bierton and Broughton Parish Council to Ms Rachael Shimmin, Chief Executive regarding diversion of traffic from Richmond Road to Broughton Lane.

Apologies were received from Mr Bagge, Mrs Blake, Mr Bowles, Mrs Clarke, Mr Etholen, Mr A Hussain, Mr M Hussain, Mr Roberts, Mrs Teesdale and Mr K Ross.

Written Questions:  The Chairman advised Members that responses to written questions had been published online.

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

·     The Buckinghamshire Army Cadet Force event on 2 August 2018.

·     The opening of the new railway line between Princes Risborough and Chinnor.

·    The successful Looked After Children event hosted in High Wycombe.

There were none.

To note the report from Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown

Mr B Bendyshe-Brown highlighted the plans for Remembrance Sunday 11th November 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War 1.

Mr Bendyshe-Brown thanked the Special Armed Forces, Mr J Bradshaw, Civic & Lieutenancy Officer, County and District Councils and the Royal British Legion.

Mr Bendyshe-Brown ran through the plans of the day and informed Members that wreaths could be obtained through Mr Bradshaw and asked them to share information with Parish Councils.

RESOLVED:  Council NOTED the update report.

To receive the presentation of the Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service from Cllr Roger Reed, Chairman of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority and Mr Neil Boustred, Area Commander.

Mr R Reed, Chairman of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority introduced the item and Mr N Boustred, Area Commander.

Mr Reed highlighted that he was privileged to be Chairman of the BMK Fire Authority which he stated was the highest performing at the lowest cost.  He formally thanked the committed and engaged BCC Members of the BMK Fire Authority

Mr Boustred presented the annual report to Members, appended to the minutes, and highlighted the following:

• Financial position
• Reductions in station assets
• Operational resourcing
• Increase in demand due to summer weather
• Workforce reform
• Apprenticeships
• Approach to prevention
• Response to Grenfell
• Investments
• Issues for the future

Members raised and discussed the following points:

• Cross border working was raised and if that left Buckinghamshire residents vulnerable in the case of an emergency.  Mr Boustred confirmed that support worked both ways and major incidents were often supported by other counties.  He also stated that Thames Valley Fire Control went across three counties so it would be common for other authorities to attend as they might be on scene quicker.
• The work the Fire Authority had done regarding home visits and the potential to notice other prevention issues that may require other services being notified i.e. hoarding.  Following a question from a Member, Mr Boustred confirmed that referrals were welcomed from County Councillors
• The short term learnings from Grenfell were also discussed including tighter communication controls.
• The rise in fire service attendance at road traffic accidents, even those these had reduced in number.  Mr Boustred confirmed   it was a multiagency approach yet their mobilisations were higher.

The Chairman thanked Mr Boustred for his presentation and the work of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority.

RESOLVED: Council NOTED the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority Annual Report.

To approve the 2018-19 Youth Justice Strategic Plan.

Mr W Whyte, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services introduced the Youth Justice Strategic Plan.  Mr Whyte highlighted the following points:

• It was a multiagency partnership based on legislation that the County Council were responsible to deliver.
• The table on page 48 set out the method of funding which was collaborative across a number of organisations with the foreword written by Superintendent Tim Metcalfe.
• The Plan would be measured on 3 outcome indicators; reduction in first time entry, reduction in the use of custody and reduction in reoffending.
• They would be working with schools highlighting some of the issues and impacts. 
• The Plan had been co-signed by all partners involved.

Recommendation:

Council were asked to APPROVE the 2018-19 Youth Justice Strategic Plan.

Members raised and discussed the following points:

• The position of the partnership to respond to any unplanned demands impacting on the budget.  Mr Whyte stated that there was a fixed budget of £1.5m in 2018/19 to work within.  Closer links with Children’s Services would be made to help elevate and mitigate any risk.
• The high percentage of reoffending was raised.  Mr Whyte confirmed that this was in part attributed to five young people receiving custodial sentences for a very serious group robbery offence.  He also mentioned that Children’s Services were also supportive of the Domestic Abuse Strategy.
• It was also raised that feedback from service users had been discontinued and if that was regrettable.  Mr Whyte stated that he would review this and report back to Julia Wassell.

ACTION: Mr Whyte

RESOLVED: Council APPROVED the 2018-19 Youth Justice 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.

A Leader of the Council

B Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation

C Cabinet Member for Community Engagement & Public Health

D Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

E Cabinet Member for Education & Skills

F Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment

G Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing

H Cabinet Member for Resources

Leader

Mr M Tett highlighted the following updates:

• There had been an announcement by Highways England for their preferred route for the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway.  The corridor would be "broadly aligned" with the proposed East-West rail route from Abingdon to south Milton Keynes via Winslow and Mr Tett stated that there was a strong opinion that Central Government had chosen the wrong route.

• Buckinghamshire County Council, like many other council were facing financial pressure.  The figures for the 2^nd quarter were still to be published and reviewed by Cabinet.  Officers would be tasked with looking at what mitigations could be put in place. 

In response to Member questions, the Leader highlighted the following:

• Mr Tett confirmed lobbying efforts regarding the decision for the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and stated that he had been in contact with the Minister for Roads and was meeting with Highways England.  Mr Tett said that their main focus was now to work collaboratively to get the best mitigation possible for Buckinghamshire.
• Mr Tett highlighted the difficulty in predicting demand into Children’s Services and therefore ensuring sufficient budget each year.
• Mr Tett stated that there was still an ambition to achieve 100% Broadband coverage for Buckinghamshire and that a significant amount of budget had been put in place to support that.  He also confirmed that he had been writing to the Central Government reminding them the undertaking that was given to the HS2 Committee to lay cables and this was something that they were not doing.
• Buckinghamshire County Council continued to support the LGA with Brexit preparations. 

Cabinet Member for Transportation

Mr M Shaw highlighted the following updates:

• The Greenway cycling and walking route from Berryfields to Waddesdon had been opened.
• Issues with bollards in Mr Lambert’s area had been resolved and would be in full working order from the first week of October.

In response to Member questions, the Cabinet Member highlighted the following:

• It was highlighted that recent closures of the A404 had resulted in illegal vehicles crossing Marlow Bridge.  Mr Shaw confirmed that any subsequent closers would have TfB officials monitoring the bridge and any monies for damages would be reclaimed from Highways England.
• Larger bollards were now protecting Marlow Bridge but further signage was needed and Mr Shaw confirmed that a request for money from the Capital programme had been submitted.
• Mr Shaw confirmed that works for structural footways scheme for Herrons Place would be carried out as part of the rolling programme.
• Following a question from a Member regarding the County Council taking over the running of wardens and the impact this had on local businesses loading and uploading, Mr Shaw confirmed that the County Council want to support local business but also need to ensure roads aren’t blocked.
• Outstanding street lighting reported but still to be fixed would be looked into.
• Mr Shaw apologised for some delays in scheduled road resurfacing and that these would be carried out in Spring 2019.
• Work had started last month on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Chairman advised that a Motion to Council: Sustainability of Adult Social Care had been received from Mr Tett.

Mr Tett proposed the motion and made the following main points:

• The strain on Adult Social Care (ASC) not only affected the County Council but also families.
• It would normally be associated with the elderly but ASC can affect anyone of adult age and was the responsibility of the County Council to deliver.
• ASC was the biggest area of tax payers money spent, a total of £170m and with an increasing pressure it was impacting budgets for all local authorities
• Central Government lobbying had been carried out with various responses from governments, with every Political Party playing politics. 
• The release of the Government Green Paper has been repeated delayed and Mr Tett stated that the debate to follow was not to find a solution but to highlight the importance and criticality of the Green Paper being published. 
• Credit was given to the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Council Network (CCN) for excellent lobbying on the ASC topic and the LGA’s own Green Paper that had been published.

Council received a presentation from Mrs S Pickup, Deputy Chief Executive of the Local Government Association (LGA).  Appended to the minutes.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Lambert, highlighted the following points:

• Mr Lambert supported the Motion
• The crisis in ASC was well known and he welcomed it being highlighted at County Council
• The cost to Buckinghamshire County Council was higher than in other counties due to demographics
• Working together to put pressure on the Health and Adult Social Care Minister was really important
• The importance of communicating with all ethnic groups

The Chairman invited Members to debate the motion and the following main points were made:

·         There had been £25bn funding for the NHS while a gap of £7.8bn remained in ASC

·         Fastest growing sector in the UK was older people, with the Over 80s having increased by 44% over the last decade.

·         Care homes creasing to trade was having an impact and this was exacerbated in Buckinghamshire due to the high cost of living

·         The importance of supporting residents in order for them to stay in their own homes for longer

·         Providers were under strain which could endanger and put at risk the quality of care provided.

·         The need for the Green Paper to set out how specifically how carers would be supported.

·         Council Tax was a poor base as this varied across the County and Buckinghamshire were penalised by the fair funding distribution.

·         First Tier authorities could not be the long term funding solution and that non statutory services would have to be stopped if it were to carry on with the current trajectory.

·         The need to raise public awareness regarding funding for ASC, for example that it is not funded by the NHS.

·         The importance of Communities and the part they play in supporting those within their local community along with the voluntary sector.

·         The need to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

RESOLVED: Council NOTED the update report.

RESOLVED: Council NOTED the update report.

The next meeting of Council will take place on 22^nd November at 09.30 at the Oculus, Aylesbury.

22 November 2018