Agenda and minutes

Apologies were submitted from Councillor Atkins (Councillor Greene substituting), Councillor Godden (Councillor Hannaby substituting) and from Councillor Lilly (Councillor Mills substituting).

Councillor Liz Brighouse noted that Blackbird Leys Academy Trust was referred to on today’s agenda and that her husband was a Trustee.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2015 (PSC3) and to receive information arising from them.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2015 were agreed subject to the following amendment:

22/15 Minute to be corrected to read that Councillor Fawcett be appointed as Deputy Chairman.

23/15 The spelling of Councillor Mathew’s name be corrected to read Councillor Mathew.

During discussion it was confirmed that apprenticeships and looked after children persistent absence be included on a future agenda.

1010

Head of Policy, Maggie Scott, will present a paper outlining the Council’s performance for the first quarter of 2015/16. Director of Adult Social Services, John Jacksonwill be present to allow for a focused performance discussion on key areas of concern.

Head of Policy, Maggie Scott, presented a paper outlining the Council’s performance for the first quarter of 2015/16. Director of Adult Social Services, John Jackson, Seona Douglas, Deputy Director Adult Social Care, together with Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care  was present to allow for a focused performance discussion on key areas of concern in adult social care.

Generally members commended the work being done in the face of a difficult financial position. The Committee made a number of specific requests for additional information and/or further consideration.

Children Education & Families

During discussion members sought additional information on the following topics:

·       The numbers of children in any kind of care and a breakdown by type of care?

·       Information on nurseries failing inspections and what funding they receive.

·       Information on what happens to children once they are excluded? In particular members requested information on hub involvement by individual hubs in order to understand the activity they undertook.

·       Members found the rise in caseloads worrying and wished to consider this matter in detail with the Director at a future meeting

·       Members also sought information on placements outside county in order to understand the effectiveness of the strategy and the cost of additional placements.

·       With reference to para 21 of the report members queried how the figures represented improvement for the children concerned as set out in last sentence of the para.

It was AGREED that where information was readily available this should be circulated in advance of next meeting and that otherwise responses should form part of the next Children, Education & Family focus by this committee..

Environment & Economy

During discussion members requested an updated position statement on financial position/savings. There was some discussion of capital receipts from property assets and it was AGREED that it be a focus of a future Environment & Economy focus. It was suggested that it would be useful to have some input from Income Generation CAG. Maggie Scott referred to an existing briefing note and undertook to share that with Members if possible.

There was discussion of the incinerator at Ardley and it was AGREED that a short briefing be prepared clarifying some of the issues around its use and the impact on budgets.

Public Health

There was discussion on the quit smoking programme and Councillor Gray as Chairman of Education Scrutiny Committee agreed to consider if that Committee should look into what schools were doing around advice on quitting.

Trading Standards

There was a request from an individual member for a performance indicator around weight limit enforcement.

Adult Social Care

There was lengthy discussion of the performance figures during which John Jackson set out the national context. He commented that adult social care and children, education & families were the only directorates that had national guidelines about the information collected on performance. There was a great deal of information collected that was not reported to committee where the focus was on matters of concern. It was therefore important to recognise that overall Oxfordshire was in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33/15

1110

Deputy Director Joint Commissioning, Kate Terroni, will present a report providing an overview of the impact of Community Information Networks. Age UK the provider of the service will also be present to answers members questions.

John Jackson, Director of Adult Social Services and Benedict Leigh, Strategic Commissioner Adults, presented a report providing an overview of the impact of Community Information Networks (CIN). Penny Thewlis, Deputy Chief Officer for Oxford Age UK the provider of the service was also present and highlighted the case studies attached to the report which were examples of the work carried out and the impact the service had.

The Chairman welcomed Penny Thewlis as this was the first time a voluntary sector provider had attended the Committee.

During discussion a member asked how many survey forms were sent out. Members generally commended the work but indicated that the contract was substantial and they would expect to see a lot of people benefitting from the work carried out. The importance of providing support in rural communities and villages was highlighted. There was some discussion on the nature of the support provided and the distinction between providing actual information and signposting users to information provided by others               

In response to a question from the Chairman, John Jackson undertook to plot the formal activity of the CIN on a map. He would also see what was possible in relation to the informal activity although this would be more difficult. The Chairman clarified that the aim was to find out about gaps in the provision of information and advice and what was being done to fill them. 

1140

Chief Fire Officer, Dave Etheridge, and Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Nathan Travis, will present their annual performance update.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) Annual Report 2014-15 is produced for the county council, councillors and members of the public to provide them with a review of the Service's performance over the last financial year. OFRS sets realistic but challenging performance measures every year, aligned to the vision of 365alive.   Last year OFRS set 27 strategic performance indicators. The report details how the service performed against these indicators.  The report also provides performance results in more detail on the following areas;

 - community risk management

 - prevention

 - protection

 - trading standards

 - response

 - emergency planning

 - health and safety

 - training and development

 - call management and incident support

- performance benchmarking

- response standards

- customer satisfaction

- finance.

Chief Fire Officer, Dave Etheridge, presented the annual performance update.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) Annual Report 2014-15 is produced for the county council, councillors and members of the public to provide them with a review of the Service's performance over the last financial year.

Members congratulated David Etheridge on his well deserved OBE.

During discussion members welcomed the report and considered the implications of the partnership between the Fire and Rescue Service and the ambulance service. In noting that the targets were high but being met members queried whether they could be stretched any further. It was explained that the targets were extremely challenging. With regard to the 2 deaths by fire the Committee was advised of the investigations that had taken place and the ongoing activities to reduce risk.

The Chairman thanked David Etheridge and the Fire & Rescue Service. The report showed how integrated the service was with other County Council functions such as health, education and children’s safeguarding.

During discussion of the future programme of work Councillor Mathew asked that the A40 consultation be considered by the Committee.

Councillor Mathew also requested for items on tree services and archaeology services – linked to income generation and the work of the Cabinet Advisory Group (CAG). The Chairman added that in terms of the budget process it would be useful to see a report on the CAG.