Meeting documents

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 Planning & Environment

E Cabinet Member for Resources

F Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

G Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing

H Cabinet Member for Education & Skills

Leader

In response to Members questions the following comments were made:

• The leader was asked if the County Council were doing all they could in terms of recycling.  Mr Tett confirmed that not only did he Chair the LGA Economy, Environment, Housing & Transport Board but that he also took a personal interest in the issue.  He confirmed that they had just received the 25 year Environment Strategy from the Secretary of State for Defra which they had supported.  Mr Tett also highlighted the high rate of recycling at the County Council and the ambition to drive that rate up even further.
• Mr Tett responded to a question regarding residents and business owners being unable to access superfast broadband across Aylesbury town centre and the role the County played in Connected Counties.  Mr Tett confirmed that Connected Counties and the County Council would only subsidise non-commercial areas which would not include Aylesbury.  Mr Tett highlighted that the county had reached 90% coverage for residents and they were working with district colleagues in order to get that to 95%, however reaching 100% had its challenges, in particular in rural areas.  Mr Tett also highlighted that they were in discussion with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) looking at a series of trials of techniques for closing the gap.  A lot of focus had also been on fiber and there was a need to move more focus on cellular as more and more people communicated via their mobile phones.
• A Member suggested that those companies working towards 100% recycling could be invited to a summit in the County to share their ideas and progress.  Mr Tett supported this suggestion.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation

Mr Shaw updated Members that he had addressed TfB workers at a recent conference and thanked in person those that had helped with the winter maintenance.  Members stated that residents were also grateful for the updates on social media.

A Member asked if the money had been recovered for the damage to the bridges on the A40 at Denham and at Marlow.  Mr Shaw confirmed that they were still waiting on full and final payment from the company responsible.

A Member highlighted the need for footpath maintenance and Mr Shaw stated that there had been budget put aside for capital works over the next 4 years.

Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health

Mr Brown highlighted the following:

• He thanked the Registration Service for their recent dedication to keep services going during the recent adverse weather. Members of the team had gone over and above in ensuring weddings still took place

• A new Mental Health support service was being created in schools to help support young people
• the success of the Community Organising in East Wycombe.  Mr Brown highlighted the importance of Members getting involved.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment

Mr Chapple highlighted the following:

• The success of the Country Parks across the county
• Buckinghamshire’s zero tolerance approach to fly tipping which was reflected in prosecution figures against the national average
• The consultation on the Minerals and Waste Local Plan had been extended further a further two weeks to finish on 3 May
• An error in the Waste Management figures in the report, which should have read 1,900 tons and not 1,900,000 tons

A Member highlighted the excellent work that the household waste sites do and asked whether they preclude non-residents to dispose.  Mr Chapple confirmed that they did see a number of visitors from outside the county.  Mr Chapple confirmed there would be a report coming to County Council later in the year regarding household waste recycling sites. 

A Member thanked the team for their support to Colne Valley Park and if they could rely on the same support going forward.  Mr Chapple stated that he had every faith that the support to Bucks Country Parks would continue.

Cabinet Member for Resources

Mr Chilver highlighted the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) that come into force on 25 May and encouraged Members to attend the training provided for them.

A Member raised a question regarding the Gender Pay Gap and asked what other counties were doing to get to zero.  Mr Chilver confirmed that Bucks had a good record.

Responding to a question from a Member asking if any support would be given to parish councils in relation to the new GDPR, Mr Chilver stated that they were currently working on a comprehensive guide for schools and developing online training resources that could be accessed for a small fee.

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

Mrs Teesdale had nothing additional to add to the report and answered Members questions as follows:

A Member asked about the Early Help review.  Mrs Teesdale advised that the consultation had been stopped, they were in the processing of reviewing information and a new consultation would be started.  There would be a further update once Mr Whyte returned from annual leave.

Mrs Teesdale agreed to send written responses to the following questions from Members:

• How the out of county fostering numbers compared to this time last year.
• A member asked for assurances that delaying the Early Help review wouldn’t have an impact on the savings required and if it did, were contingencies in place
• What support are we giving to FAST in Aylesbury and Wycombe as they come under even more pressure
• What was the County Council doing in responding to the recent findings regarding the Windrush community

Julia Wassell asked if she could join the unitary debate meeting with the Commissioner, as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.  Mrs Teesdale agreed that this would be fine with her. 

Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing

Lin Hazell highlighted the following points:

• Reminded Members to attend the all Member Briefing on Dementia taking place on 30 May
• Views were being submitted in response to the recent Green Paper
• Thanked all those involved in the winter response
• Highlighted the great facility at the Hughenden Extra Care Village

A Member raised the issue of accessing support being complicated for elderly residents living independently.  Lin Hazell confirmed that processes across the service were being reviewed.

A Member referred back to the emergency extra budget provision given to the portfolio back in January and asked for assurances that the budget was now back on track.  Lin Hazell confirmed that a huge amount of work had gone on in the portfolio and they were now forecasting a slight underspend.

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

A Member highlighted that the Ofsted report stated that all non-selective secondary provision in Aylesbury town was recorded at level three or below and wanted assurances that steps were being taken to address this.  Mr Appleyard responded by stating that a programme had been initiated called Side by Side to link up good performing schools with those that weren’t performing so well.  The programme was in the early stages but had been trailed in other areas and been successful.    Mr Appleyard stated that he would hope to see some improvement in the annual inspections following this.

A Member congratulated the Early Years team for their achievements in securing provision.  Mr Appleyard stated that Buckinghamshire were providing proportionately more places for early years than other authorities in the country, however this was still a struggle due to poor funding being available for providers from government.  He confirmed that they had good working relationships with providers and were able to encourage them to increase their provision. 

A Member asked the Cabinet Member to pass on his thanks to the Admissions and Home to School Transport teams for the way in which they had dealt with a number of challenging issues.  Mr Appleyard stated that he made it a duty and commitment to visit the team on a regular basis.  The team were in a challenging position but provided an excellent service.