Agenda and minutes
PDF 227 KBVenue: County Hall
Contact: Sue Whitehead, Tel: (01865) 810262 Email: sue.whitehead@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Note: Revised timings are set out in the addenda
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Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Constance (Councillor Owen substituting) and Councillor Stratford (Councillor Waine substituting). |
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Speaking to or Petitioning the Committee Speakers will be invited to address the committee at the point in proceedings where the relevant proposals are being considered, as listed in the timetable below.
Minutes: The following requests to address the meeting had been agreed:
Item 4 – Service & Resource Planning 2014/15 – 2017/18: Children, Education & Families Children’s Centres Mr Greg White, Children’s Centres (Butterfly Meadow)
Chief Executive’s Office
Pegasus Theatre, Mr Lloyd Barrett, Mr Jonathan Lloyd, Artistic Director/CEO, Pegasus Theatre), Maria Molinari, Trustee, Morgan Lee, Trustee,
Community and Village Grants, Linda Watson, CEO of Oxfordshire Rural Community Council
Cuts to Refugee Resource, Dr Antony Kingsley |
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Service and Resource Planning 2014/15-2017/18 The report (previously circulated for the meeting starting at 10.00 am) forms part of a series relating to the Service and Resource Planning process for 2014/15 to 2017/18.
The Committee will consider in turn the Directorate Business Strategies and savings proposed for their service areas. Comments from the Committee will then be fed back to Cabinet in order that they can take the comments into consideration in proposing their budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) at the end of January 2014. Council will meet to agree the budget and MTFP on 18 February 2014.
Councillors please note that the papers are not attached again to this agenda but for completeness are included on the website.
During the meeting the Director together with the Cabinet Member for the relevant Directorate will be available to respond to questions as follows:
The timings below are indicative and will be updated on the website on Friday 13 December:
1350 – 1550 Children, Education & Families 1550 – 1630 Chief Executive’s Office 1630 – 1710 OFRS and Community Safety 1710 – 1750 Public Health
Revised timings: 13.50 – 14.50 – Children, Education & Families 14.50 - 15.50 – Chief Executive’s Office 15.50 – 16.20 – OFRS and Community Safety 16.20 – 16.50 - Public Health
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chairman noted that the consideration this afternoon was within the context of the overall presentation received from the Chief Finance Officer during the morning meeting.
Children, Education & Families
Mr Greg White, as a father and user of a Children’s Centre, spoke in support of the Children’s Centre highlighting the vital support and advice they provide. The Chairman noted that there were no cuts to children’s budget and there was to be a cross party group looking at children’s centres and early intervention services.
Jim Leivers, Director for Children’s Services, Sarah Livedeas, Deputy Director Joint Commissioning Frances Craven Deputy Director Education & Early Intervention; Lucy Butler, Deputy Director, Children’s Services & YOS and Councillor Melinda Tilley came to the table.
During detailed consideration the following key points were raised:
1) Members welcomed that Children’s Centres were being protected. Jim Leivers, responding to a query as to how the savings would be achieved without closing Children’s Centres, referred to the timing of the saving of £3m and the role of the review of children’s centre, early intervention service and children’s social service over the next few years.
2) Responding to a query about respite care Lucy Butler replied that the Council was committed to maintaining respite and she did not see a reduction in provision or numbers.
3) There was discussion concerning how closer cooperation with partner agencies would be achieved. The importance of integrating services with partners was key to changing and enhancing the service provided whilst delivering the necessary savings.
4) There was some discussion on bringing children’s placement back within Oxfordshire. Jim Leivers commented that there would still be some specialist placements outside Oxfordshire required. In response to comments about challenges in previous children’s home projects, Jim Leivers commented that a new Children’s Home was always a challenge. The Council would be transparent in whatever it did. He stressed the importance of good community relations.
5) There was discussion of the role of schools in referrals and how this would work with the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). Jim Leivers commented that there were 60% of referrals from schools. A small number become active cases. If we got better links & arrangements the need for formal referrals may reduce. Work will commence in early New Year. He gave an assurance that there would be a report back regularly to either Cabinet or this Committee.
6) During further discussion on safeguarding the Chairman noted that there can be different expectations around the referral process. Integration work should give some common purpose and understanding. However, she hoped for flexibility in the ceiling for referrals. It was about making it work at grass root and she asked whether there was a vision around that. Jim Leivers replied that it was an ambition he would own with her. Asked if he was trying to work towards that, Jim replied that we will work to ensure that in everything we do it is for the protection, nurturing and care of children in the County. The Committee ... view the full minutes text for item 23/13 |