Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member for Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/022

Contact: Louise Tustian, Head of Insight & Corporate Programmes Tel: 07741 607452/Hannah Doney, Head of Corporate Finance Tel: 07584 174654

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

This report sets out Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC’s) progress towards Corporate Plan priorities for 2020/21 – April and May 2021.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED:

a)            To note April and May 2021 business management and monitoring report.

b)           To approve the virement set out in Annex C- 2b and note virements set out in Annex C-2c;

c)            To approve the bad debt write off set out in paragraph 44 of Annex C

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet had before it a report setting out Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC’s) progress towards Corporate Plan priorities for 2021/22 during April and May 2021.

Councillor Calum Miller introduced the report and moved the Recommendation.  He noted that of the 22 indicators 11 were Green, 4 Amber and 6 Red which was a small improvement on last month.  He also drew attention to two risks rated Red: demand management for children’s services and staff shortages in the construction industry.

Planned savings of £16.1m were expected to be delivered in this financial year, though it should be noted that 25% were rated amber and needed to be monitored closely.  Since the last Cabinet meeting the Government had allocated £10.9m to support the Council’s Covid response.  The specific recommendations on virements and writing off bad debts were within the Council’s budget.

Councillor Glynis Phillips seconded the Recommendations. She noted the continuing strong performance of the Customer Service Centre with a 96% satisfaction rating and 89% of calls resolved on first contact.  An improvement on figures for abandoned calls was expected when new features in the system upgrade take effect.

Councillor Liz Brighouse reported on developments in her portfolio including the expansion of the School Streets pilot, enabling children to have carbon-free journeys and a safer environment around their schools.  This was supported by Government finance but more was needed.

Councillor Brighouse added that there had been an inspection of the Youth Justice Service in May in which it had been seen very positively.  She paid tribute to the strong team.  Absence rates in schools were lower than the national average which was due to hard work by officers and schools.

The number of contacts to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) were 51% higher in May than in pre-Covid times.  This reflected the situation across the country and represented a major risk.  The Council was working to reduce its dependency on agency staff in children’s social care by training its own staff and working to retain them in the county.

RESOLVED:

a)            To note April and May 21 business management and monitoring report.

b)           To approve the virement set out in Annex C- 2b and note virements set out in Annex C-2c;

c)            To approve the bad debt write off set out in paragraph 44 of Annex C.