Agenda and minutes
PDF 61 KBVenue: Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN. View directions
Contact: Bryan Searle, Jisa Prasannan or Andrew Spragg
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Mark Brett-Warburton. Margaret Hicks acted as a substitute. |
|
|
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 30 January 2014
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Minutes: These were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
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 January 2014). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (26 January 2014). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: There were no questions or petitions. |
|
|
RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
Recommendations were made to Cabinet regarding the Council’s Corporate Strategy and Budget Report 2014-2019, following a meeting of the Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 30 January 2014. A response was given at the Cabinet meeting on 4 February 2014.
A recommendation was also made to Cabinet following the interim report of the Welfare Reform Task Group, at the same meeting. A response is enclosed. Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: None.
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee noted the response from the Leader, following recommendations made at the Cabinet meeting on 4 February 2014. Members of the Committee commented that the response did not address specific concerns around savings identified as part of the Family, Friends and Community Support project. It was proposed that Cabinet Members be invited to meet with the Performance & Finance Sub-Group to further discuss matters.
Recommendations:
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
|
|
|
BUDGET MONITORING REPORT & QUARTERLY BUSINESS REPORT
Purpose of the report:
This report presents the revenue and capital budget monitoring up-date for January 2014 with projected year-end outturn. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Kevin Kilburn, Deputy Chief Finance Officer
Peter Martin, Deputy Leader of the Council
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Vice-Chairman of the Committee gave a summary of the discussions of the Performance & Finance Sub-Group. A report of these discussions was tabled at the meeting, and is attached to these minutes. The Committee discussed the role of Family, Friends and Community Support, and it was recognised that a number of measures were being explored as to how this work would meet its challenging saving targets for 2014/15.
2. The Committee explored concerns around the financial pressures faced by the Council as a result of the winter flooding. Discussions were ongoing, but one Member estimated there could be a pressure of £15 million in the capital budget for Highways & Infrastructure. The Bellwin scheme thresholds for emergency assistance related specifically to meeting revenue costs of response in respect of threats to life, health and property, and officers commented that these would be used to meet the cost of additional service demand across directorates as a result of the flooding.
3. The Committee was informed that meeting the financial pressures created by the flood-recovery would consist of three possible options: an increase in support from central government, the re-prioritisation of the Medium Term Financial Plan or an increase in borrowing. It was recognised by the Committee that any increase in borrowing would have an impact on revenue costs. The Committee discussed the potential implication of a re-prioritisation of capital expenditure, and a number of concerns were expressed about the potential implications this might have on the delivery of Project Horizon. The Committee also commented that central government assurances had raised public expectation about how local government would meet the additional demand linked to the flooding.
Recommendations:
a) That, as a matter of urgency, the Cabinet considers how the Council will fund the cost of repairs required as a result of the recent flooding in the County, including the option to approve additional capital borrowing in 2014/2015, with the interest payments arising from the loan in 2014/2015 and future years to be met from within the Highway & Infrastructure Directorate’s revenue budget.
Action by: Cabinet
b) That the Cabinet accelerate the Family, Friends and Community Support programme from April 2014 to increase capacity using an Invest to Save bid to review open cases.
Action by: Cabinet
c) That the effectiveness of voluntary sector grants be reviewed to ensure, where appropriate, these align with and support the objectives of the Family, Friends and Community Support programme.
Action by: Cabinet
d) That initiatives which have the potential to increase value for money be discussed with providers.
Action by: Cabinet
e) That efforts to recruit and retain qualified staff to unfilled social worker posts be redoubled.
Action by: Cabinet
f) That the Committee receive a further report outlining the options explored in relation to meeting the financial pressures created by flood-recovery. This report will be brought to the meeting on 2 April ... view the full minutes text for item 17/14 |
|
|
NEW MODELS OF DELIVERY PROGRAMME/ LOCAL AUTHORITY TRADING COMPANY UPDATE
Purpose of the report: Policy Development and Review
To provide the Committee with an update on the New Models of Delivery Programme and the progress of the Adult Social Care Local Authority Trading Company. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: None.
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee was given an update regarding the New Models of Delivery Programme and the work it had undertaken across the organisation. The Committee was informed that the Council’s statutory and non-statutory obligations were explored as part of the process, and whether services could improve or increase the offer they made to residents and other stakeholders.
2. The Committee was informed that the Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) had identified a wide and varied market for its services. It was noted that Surrey had a large group of residents who self-fund their care, and that the LATC was not restricted by the Council’s eligibility criteria when offering its services. It was also highlighted that the LATC would have greater freedoms about how it developed its in-house capabilities.
3. The Committee was informed that the business case for developing the LATC had been prudent in its estimates, but that the business plan for the company was ambitious about developing new markets. It was recognised by officers that there were risks associated with the development of a LATC, and the Committee was given a number of examples where the LATC model had proved successful.
4. The Committee raised a question about the Council’s impartiality when signposting services to residents. Officers commented that the LATC was commissioned under the same terms as any other external provider. It was highlighted that transparency would be ensured as the LATC would be subject to the same Freedom of Information legislation that applied to the Council. Officers also made a commitment to publish the outcomes of assessments undertaken by the Personalisation Team to ensure transparency. It was also commented that the Managing Director of the LATC would not be an employee of the Council, but directly accountable to the Council’s Shareholder Board. Babcock 4s was cited as an example of how the future relationship of the LATC and the Council would operate.
Recommendations:
· That a further report on the progress of the New Models of Delivery Programme is brought to the Committee at its meeting in September 2014.
Actions/further information to be provided:
Case studies of LATCs in other local authorities to be circulated to the Committee.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
|
|
|
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 Forward Work Programme and Recommendations Tracker. There were no further comments.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
|
|
|
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10.30am on 2 April 2014. Minutes: It was noted that the date of the next meeting was 2 April 2014 at 10.30am. |