Meeting documents
Venue: Mezzanine Room 2, County Hall, Aylesbury. View directions
Contact: Clare Gray/Karen Jones
Note: Please note that this meeting will be webcast - please use the "Webcasts" menu link
Media
Webcast: View the webcast
Note | No. | Item |
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1.30pm |
Apologies for Absence/Changes in Membership Additional documents: Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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Declarations of Interest To disclose any Personal or Disclosable Pecuniary Interests Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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To agree the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 November 2014. Additional documents: Minutes: The Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 November 2014 were agreed as a correct record. |
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Public Questions Public Questions is an opportunity for people who live, work or study in the county to put a question to a Scrutiny Committee about any issue that has an impact on their local community or the county as a whole.
Members of public, who have given prior notice, will be invited to put their question in person.
The Cabinet Member and responsible officers will then be invited to respond. Further information and details on how to register can be found through the following link:- http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/about-your-council/scrutiny/get-involved/ Additional documents: Minutes: There were no public questions. |
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Chairman's Report For the Chairman of the Committee to provide an update to the Committee on recent scrutiny related activity. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman’s Report was noted. |
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Committee Work Programme To consider and agree the Finance, Performance and Resources Select Committee Work Programme 2014/15. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee Work Programme was noted. |
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1.40pm |
Crisis Support in Buckinghamshire Inquiry Report For Members to consider and agree the draft report and recommendations before submission to Cabinet on 23 February 2015. Additional documents: Minutes: Members discussed the draft Crisis Support in Buckinghamshire Inquiry Report. The Inquiry Group was made up of Brian Roberts (Chairman), Bill Chapple, Steven Lambert and Bill Bendyshe-Brown. The Inquiry ran from September to December 2014.
The main aim of the inquiry was to review what provision is already in place and to highlight any gaps in the existing provision. The findings are designed to inform any future discussions around what should be in place if Government funding for local welfare assistance is withdrawn from 2015/16.
The demand for local emergency support was lower than anticipated during 2013/14 with only 10% of the budget being spent after the first 7 months. By the end of the financial year (13/14), £122,928.90 had been spent against a budget of £479,510. The same level of funding was agreed in 2014/15 and the spend from April to October is £79,348.80. The County Council’s budget for this provision in 2015/16 has been agreed at £300k. The report aims to make suggestions and recommendations as to how this money can be spent more effectively by directing it to those people and organisations most in need.
The Recommendations were as follows:-
Recommendation 1: That the local emergency team promotes the local number alongside the 0845 number. These numbers should be promoted to all partner agencies and District Councils as well as promoted to all County Councillors and service areas within the county council (particularly Children and Families). The LES number and information about local emergency support (with links to partner agencies and organisations) needs to be given prominence on the county council’s website. The LES team to develop the idea of "Bucks Support" to help improve access to emergency support services for people in crisis via the county council’s website. (paragraphs 18-21)
Recommendation 2: That the Local Emergency Support team works with the relevant partner agencies to share their current processes with the aim of reducing duplication of effort where possible. (paragraphs 25-27)
Recommendation 3: That the local emergency support team considers administering the red voucher system along with other partner agencies so that the needs of those facing a ‘level one’ crisis can be met immediately and statistical information relating to the use of Foodbanks is collected, on a quarterly basis, in a central place. Encourage partner agencies to "sign-up" to the red voucher system to ensure a consistent approach which will help to establish the size, demand and complexity of the issue. (paragraphs 28-35)
Recommendation 4: That the Local Emergency support team explores in conjunction with the CAB, the possibility of offering free, one-off bus vouchers for people in rural areas to allow them to access crisis support more easily. The policy needs to include this and it should define what emergency travel includes. Discuss with the CAB, the possibility of them administering the vouchers from their offices as one of the CAB’s has already expressed an interest in doing this. (paragraphs 36-37) Recommendation 5: That the County Council actively promotes Credit ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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2.30pm |
Date and Time of Next Meeting 24 February 2015 – 10am Additional documents: Minutes: 24 February 2015 |
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Exclusion of the Press and Public To resolve to exclude the press and public as the following item is exempt by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 because it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) Additional documents: Minutes: The press and public were not excluded. |
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Confidential Minutes Of the Minutes held on 11 November 2014. Minutes: The Confidential Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 November 2014 were agreed as a correct record. |