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ITEM CG10
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE -
4 MARCH 2004
SOCIAL INCLUSION
SCRUTINY REVIEW – PROGRESS REPORT
Councillors
Liz Brighouse, Ray Jelf and Bob Johnston.
This
review is nearing completion, and the Lead Member Review Group aims to
present a full report to the next Committee in May. This note updates
the Committee on the progress so far, and what the review is finding through
its investigation. The Lead Member Review Group expects that the review
will have a far-reaching impact on an important area of Council activity,
that affects everyone in the County.
Evidence
By
the time the review is complete, the Lead Member Review Group will have
interviewed, or received a statement from more than 25 people, including
external expert witnesses, Oxfordshire County Council officers, and Councillors.
Because of the broad nature of the review, all Directorates are represented
on the witness list, and views have been taken from a wide range of service
areas. This means that the conclusions of the review are based on evidence
from across the Council.
As
well as witness interviews, evidence has been collected from national
and regional organisations such as SEEDA and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation,
government bodies such as the Social Exclusion Unit, other Councils such
as Suffolk, and information sources such as Neighbourhood Statistics.
This means that the findings from Oxfordshire can be set in the context
of social inclusion work elsewhere, best practice guidance, and sound
statistical information.
In
addition, a piece of consultation work is underway that will involve talking
to older people in rural areas, and lone parents, about their experiences
of social exclusion. This evidence will highlight some of the issues that
vulnerable groups have, which should be particularly relevant to how the
Council provides its services and how it tailors these to meet the needs
of more disadvantaged groups.
Findings
There
has been a noticeable consistency in the views expressed about the County
Council’s corporate approach to social inclusion, and the changes needed
to make sure that social inclusion is at the top of the Council’s agenda.
The findings broadly relate to the following areas:
- Corporate strategy.
How the question of social inclusion is addressed from the centre
of the organisation, and whether the social inclusion agenda is understood
and prioritised at every level of the organisation.
- Corporate resources.
What resources are currently committed to social inclusion activity
across the Council.
- Co-ordination
and partnership working. Whether the Directorates work together effectively
to tackle social exclusion, and whether external partnerships are
encouraged to prioritise social inclusion.
- Information
use. How data is collected and used to keep up with the changing needs
of the population of the County.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The
recommendations are all based on evidence that has been gathered in the
course of the review. They will specify measurable outcomes, that can
be effectively monitored, to ensure the most impact. The recommendations
will broadly relate to the following areas:
- Corporate Commitment.
To make sure that social inclusion has a significant profile within
the organisation, and that the commitment is public and accountable.
- Corporate Action.
To make sure that resources used effectively to produce real outcomes
in the area of social inclusion.
- Information
use. To ensure that information is used as a resource and that policy
is directed towards the areas of greatest need.
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