Issue - meetings

Cabinet Members: Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/074

Contact: Steven Fairhurst Jones, Corporate Performance & Risk Manager Tel: 07392 318891/Ian Dyson, Assistant Director of Finance Tel: 07393 001250

Report by Corporate Director Customers & Organisational Development and Director of Finance (CA13).

This report sets out Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC’s) progress towards

Corporate Plan priorities and provides an update on the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Plan at the end of August 2019.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a) note the contents of this report;

(b) approve the virements set out in Annex B – 2a and note the virements

set out in Annex B – 2b;

(c) Approve the supplementary estimate set out in Annex B – 2e.

Recommendation agreed.

Cabinet noted a report that set out Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC’s) progress towards Corporate Plan priorities and provided an update on the delivery of the Medium-Term Financial Plan at the end of August 2019.

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance commented that there were no significant changes from previous reports. Referring to two indicators causing ongoing concern (Delayed Discharges of Care and the timeliness of Education and Health Care Plans) she noted that both were subject to Action Plans and queried when improvement was expected. Referring to the amber indicators Councillor Phillips suggested that more attention be paid to such indicators to highlight when they had turned from green to amber. Councillor Phillips added that the updating of the Corporate Plan was an opportunity to revisit all the indicators. She valued the work undertaken and the improved presentation. She welcomed the future inclusion of the risk register and hoped that it would be in a readable format.

Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Leader of the Council responded to the points made. He would reply directly to her once he had an expected date for improvement to the delayed discharges of care indicator. Councillor Steve Harrod, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services undertook to provide more detailed information on the timeliness of EHCPs but commented that the figures were improving.

Responding to a question from Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Phillips confirmed her view that the structure was improving. Councillor Bartholomew noted that it was an evolving structure that would continue to improve.

Cabinet Members drew attention to individual matter relevant to their portfolios.

Councillor Bartholomew, introduced the finance elements of the report detailing the current revenue budget position and providing an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan. Councillor Bartholomew moved the recommendation.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)          note the contents of this report;

(b)          approve the virements set out in Annex B – 2a and note the virements set out in Annex B – 2b;

(c)          approve the supplementary estimate set out in Annex B – 2e.