Agenda and minutes
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Stephen Cooksey. Fiona White attended as a substitute. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 12 September 2013
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Minutes: An amendment was made to the first line of page 4 of the minutes to read, “commented that significant progress had been made to identify...”. Subject to this amendment, the minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (27 September 2013). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (26 September 2013). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: There were no questions or petitions to report. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
The Committee did not refer any items to the Cabinet at its last meeting, so there are no responses to report. Minutes: There were no referrals made to Cabinet at the last meeting so there were no responses to report. |
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Session 1: Digital by Default – Setting the context
• What do we mean when we talk about digital by default?
• What is happening in central government around digital by default?
• What are other public sector organisations doing in relation to digital by default?
Session 2: Digital by Default – Surrey and its Digital Strategy Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Paul Brocklehurst, Head of Information Management and Technology (IMT) Lucie Glenday, Programme Director for Superfast Broadband Mark Irons, Head of Customer Services Nigel Lewis, Chair of Age Action Alliance Digital Inclusion Group
Peter Martin, Deputy Leader of the Council
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee was given a brief outline of the national context in relation to a digital by default approach. It was commented that central Government was expecting to make large efficiency savings as a result of adopting a digital by default approach; however, the view was expressed by officers that these savings would not all be achievable. Members also challenged the estimated cost-per-transaction reductions made by moving to digital services, as it was felt that this failed to account for the process and cost of staff time. The Committee highlighted the need to consider the national picture in relation to digital services, as it would inform residents’ expectations and views.
2. The Committee was informed that a digital approach could be viewed as not simply a move to put more transactional services online, but as a way of streamlining back office functions and processes. It was highlighted that this could be supported through a more intuitive approach to procurement, ending an over-reliance on IT suppliers, particularly where business processes were being made to fit the technology procured.
3. The Committee was informed that central Government was in the process of developing a new Digital Inclusion strategy and identifying a supplier for assisted digital; this was where the service user received additional support in order to access digital services. It was highlighted by witnesses that there were a number of factors to consider when addressing issues around digital inclusion. These included age-related barriers; some forms of disability; and those who would be unwilling to use online or digital services. The Committee expressed concerns about the requirement to apply for Universal Credit online, and how this could potentially disadvantage vulnerable claimants. It was suggested that this was an area of exploration for the Committee’s Welfare Reform Task Group.
4. The Committee raised a number of questions in relation to accessibility and what role it played in ensuring the Council was sufficiently encouraging people to use digital services. It was highlighted that work was being undertaken alongside the delivery of the Superfast Broadband project to ensure that residents were given the opportunity to develop their digital skills. Witnesses commented that there was a need to consider where continuing support arrangements might be required for those accessing digital services. The Committee was told that there was work being undertaken by the Council to identify which services, such as Adult Social Care or Meals-on-wheels, could be used to facilitate ongoing support arrangements within residents’ homes. It was also highlighted that the Council was supporting Carers UK in making a bid to the National Lottery to assist carers in accessing online services.
5. The Committee was informed that the Council did not have ... view the full minutes text for item 72/13 |
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BUDGET MONITORING: AUGUST 2013
Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of budgets
This report presents the revenue and capital budget monitoring update for August 2013 with projected year-end outturn. The Performance and Finance Sub-Group will report back on any key issues following the detailed discussion of this item at their meeting on 30 September 2013. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Kevin Kilburn, Chief Finance Officer
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. A summary of the discussion held at the Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s Performance & Finance Sub-Group was shared with the Committee. The Performance & Finance Sub-Group considered the August 2013 budget monitoring report at its meeting on Monday 30 September 2013 and identified the following issues for further discussion by the Committee:
• Uncertainties relating to the revenue budget, in particular the likelihood of achieving the savings target for social capital in Adult Social Care in the current financial year (paragraph 10 on page 38).
• Further information was requested about the reasons behind the increase in the number of IT users in the Council from 7,700 in 2011/12 to just under 10,000 this year (paragraph 35 on page 43), and whether better planning could have prevented this becoming a budget pressure in the current year.
• Information was requested about the number of the total staff vacancies as at 31 August 2013 (683) which were filled by temporary staff (page 48).
2. The Sub-Group also stressed the need for Select Committees and the Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee to be provided with sufficient detail of potential savings identified by the Cabinet to enable them to provide effective challenge and robust advice. This was particularly crucial if the Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee was to fulfil its role of reviewing the Council’s overall position recommending any re-allocation of funds from one directorate to another.
3. The Committee commented that there were still significant concerns with regards to the likelihood of Adult Social Care meeting its 2013/14 savings. Members were informed that the Adult Social Care Select Committee had made two recommendations to Cabinet with regards to this. Members expressed concerns that the budget-setting process had allocated such a significant saving to social capital measures.
4. Officers commented that the expectation had been that there would be some slippage in the savings targets related to social capital, and that Whole Systems funding had been set aside to meet any shortfall. It was highlighted that no request was to be made to draw down this funding, until the potential to make these savings within the financial year had been assessed. The Committee was informed that any use of this funding would have to be done in consultation with the health service. Officers informed the Committee that they anticipated the measures related to social capital would begin to show an impact by the September 2013 budget monitoring stage.
5. The Committee asked for clarification regarding the usage of Whole Systems funding. Officers commented that this was money the NHS was required to allocate to the local authority, with the intention of offsetting an increase in demand on acute services in the health service, through preventative work. It was highlighted that other local authorities had used the funding to met shortfalls in their budgets.
6. Officers highlighted that the average cost per service user in Adult Social Care was coming down, ... view the full minutes text for item 73/13 |
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RECOMMENDATION TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: None.
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee noted its recommendation tracker and forward work programme. Members were informed that the Welfare Reform Task Group had agreed its terms of reference, which would be circulated to the Committee for comment.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10.30am on 7 November 2013. Minutes: The Committee noted that its next meeting would be held at 10am on 7 November 2013. The Chairman asked Members to note that this meeting would be held at Epsom Town Hall. |