Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Keith Mitchell.

- guidance note opposite

Councillor Lindsay-Gale reported that she had been subject to a number of critical statements by a number of objectors, both in the Press and a formal complaint which had now been fully investigated.

The contention was that she was in some way biased and should not be taking part and voting on the Mineral and Waste Plan due to a claimed membership of the campaign group, Parishes Against Gravel Extraction (PAGE).  She stated that she wished to make it explicitly clear that she had never been a member of PAGE, although did know some of the members through her role as Councillor and County Heritage Champion.

Since being appointed as Cabinet Member, she had taken extra care not to be associated with any one particular group and had sought to consider the issues with an open mind and would give due and proper thought when reaching future decisions, in the interest of the whole of the County and not for any particular parish.  She therefore believed that there was no legal reason as to why she should not take a full part in the debate at Item 6.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Lindsay-Gale for her statement and referred to a note detailing the electoral division of each Cabinet Member which had been circulated at the Meeting.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2012 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 February 2012 were approved and signed.

The Erratum to the minutes of 20 December 2011, as set out in the Addenda was noted.

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working days before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the Cabinet’s delegated powers.

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

Councillor John Tanner had given notice of the following question to the Cabinet Member for Transport:

 “What research, traffic surveying and computer modelling has been done on the likely impact that the proposed changes to Frideswide Square in Oxford will have on general traffic flow, bus and taxi movements, and cycle and pedestrian safety?”

Councillor Rose replied:

“Most of this has been covered in Member briefings, and previous Cabinet Meetings [Delegated on 31 March, 2011, for example]. As the detail is too great to rehearse here, and is not relevant to Agenda Item 8 today, as both schemes under consideration perform equally, I will be happy to facilitate a briefing for Councillor Tanner outside today’s Meeting, should he be interested.”  

A Supplementary Question was then asked:

“Councillor Tanner thanked the Cabinet Member for his answer and welcomed Councillor Rose’s offer to facilitate a briefing.”

The following requests to address the meeting had been agreed:

Item 6 - Councillor Charles Mathew, speaking as Local Member

Mr Chris Hargraves, Senior Planning Officer, West Oxfordshire District Council

Mr Adrian Hatt, Member of CAGE

Mr John Taylor, Member of PAGE

Councillor Patrick Greene, speaking as Local Member

Councillor Lynda Atkins, speaking as Local Member

Councillor Anne Purse, Shadow Cabinet Member for Growth & Infastructure

Professor John Dowling

Mr Mark Gray, Chairman of Cholsey Parish Council

Item 8 - Councillor Susanna Pressel, speaking as Local Member

Mr Graham Jones, ROX

Councillor Alan Armitage, speaking as Local Member

Ms Gwennyth Pedler, Oxfordshire Unlimited

Item 9 – Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services

Item 11 - Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services

Item 13 – Councillor Alan Armitage, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance & Property

Item 14 – Councillor Jean Fooks, Shadow Cabinet Member for Deputy Leader

Item 15 - Councillor Jenny Hannaby , Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services.

Cabinet Member: Growth & Infrastructure

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/190

Contact: Peter Day, Mineral & Waste Policy Team Leader Tel: (01865) 815544

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Growth & Infrastructure (CA6).

The Minerals and Waste Core Strategy will set out the vision, objectives, spatial strategy, core policies and implementation framework for the supply of minerals and management of waste in Oxfordshire to 2030.  The County Council carried out consultation on draft Minerals and Waste Planning Strategies in September/October 2011.  Responses were received from 779 individuals and organisations, including 548 objections to a new mineral working area at Cholsey.

Overall the consultation has not resulted in any substantive issues being raised that call into question the principles of the draft strategies.  But a number of more detailed issues have been raised, in response to which some changes to the strategy policies are proposed.

The consultation responses, issues raised and possible changes to policies have been considered by the Minerals and Waste Plan Working Group; and the Growth and Infrastructure Scrutiny Committee on 27 February 2012 considered key issues arising from the consultation and proposed changes to policies in response to them.

The report sets out the key issues arising from the consultation and actions that have been undertaken in response to them.  It draws conclusions on where changes need to be made to polices and it puts forward a set of proposed changes to the minerals, waste and core polices and the minerals and waste vision and objectives, for inclusion in a revised Minerals and Waste Core Strategy.

The next stage in the process, subject to approval by full Council, is for the revised Minerals and Waste Core Strategy to be published for public comment and submitted to the government for independent examination.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)              agree the amended minerals, waste and core policies in Annex 1 and the amended minerals and waste vision and objectives in Annex 2 as the basis of the Minerals and Waste Core Strategy – Proposed Submission Document for approval by the full County Council.

(b)              delegate authority to finalise the Minerals and Waste Core Strategy – Proposed Submission Document, including amendments to the supporting text, to the Cabinet Member for Growth & Infrastructure.

(c)               delegate authority to finalise the County Council’s responses to the comments made in response to the Minerals Planning Strategy and Waste Planning Strategy Consultation Drafts, September 2011 to the Cabinet Member for Growth & Infrastructure.

(d)              RECOMMEND to the full County Council that the Minerals and Waste Core Strategy – Proposed Submission Document as finalised by the Cabinet Member for Growth & Infrastructure be approved and be published to enable representations to be made and submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

The Cabinet had before them a report (CA6) which set out the vision, objections, spatial strategy, core policies and implementation framework for the supply on minerals and management of waste in Oxfordshire to 2030.

Councillor Mathew stated that, in his opinion, none of the substantial issues and conflicts had been addressed when preparing the final draft and that the fundamental matters which had been stressed ad nauseam were conspicuous by their absence.  The matter of gravel miles; the north/south of the Thames dichotomy of the source versus the need, the effect of cumulative excavation, the lack of clarity of mathematics in the document on the calculation of primary and secondary gravel excavation and need, the lack of coordination with neighbouring counties had again been completely ignored.  For these reasons, he feared the core strategy remained unsound and in grave danger of being rejected.

Mr Chris Hargreaves, Policy Manager, West Oxfordshire District Council, spoke to express the concerns of that Council to the proposed minerals strategy. He referred to the previously expressed concerns about West Oxfordshire continuing to be the main supplier of sand and gravel within the County but focussed on the likelihood of the minerals strategy being found to be sound by a Planning Inspector expressing concerns that the proposed strategy was neither justified nor effective. In particular he suggested that for the strategy to be justified it must be the ‘most appropriate when considered against the reasonable alternatives’ and that there were genuine reasonable alternatives that should be explored in more detail before the plan is finalised. In terms of effectiveness of the strategy he stated that the Inspector would be looking at the extent to which the strategy is sufficiently flexible and what contingencies cater for a change in circumstances. He expressed the view that very few contingency measures had been put in place with all the County Council’s eggs in one basket and a lack of flexibility which could be provided by considering the alternatives. Finally he questioned the internal coherence of the strategy referring to the stated objective to ‘minimise the distance minerals need to be transported by road’ as against the proposed locational strategy which continued to separate the areas of working from the main locations of growth.

Mr Adrian Hatt, a solicitor from Hedges in Wallinford, spoke on behalf of the Communities against Gravel Extraction (CAGE) against the proposal to site a new gravel pit between Wallingford and Cholsey. He stated that it was not too late to make sensible changes to what they believed was a flawed strategy. He referred to two emails sent to Cabinet Members and the attachments: the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) map and the matrix produced by Susie Coyne, well-respected minerals consultant aspects of which would be addressed by other speakers. He stated that when looking to site a new gravel pit it was common sense and sound planning to locate it in an area least likely to impact on local people. He argued that there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38/12

Cabinet Member: Police & Policy Co-ordination

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/004

Contact: Ben Threadgold, Senior Policy & Performance Officer Tel: (01865) 328219

Report by Head of Law & Governance (CA7).

The Equality Policy 2012-2017 sets out how the Council is approaching its responsibilities for ensuring that all residents in Oxfordshire have fair access to services and equal life chances.  It also demonstrates how the Council is meeting the requirements placed on public bodies under the Equality Act 2010, including setting equality objectives for the next four years.

A draft of the policy has been out for public consultation since January, and the final policy has been amended to reflect feedback from internal and external stakeholders.

To fulfil our legislative requirements, the final policy will be published by 6^th April 2012, and progress in implementing it will be monitored and reported as part of the council's overall performance management arrangements.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the Council’s judgement on effectiveness and key equality objectives as set out in the Equality Policy 2012/2017 and to RECOMMEND Council to receive the report.

The Cabinet had before them a report which set out how the County Council was approaching its responsibilites for ensuring that all residents in Oxfordshire have fair access to services and equal life chances and sought approval of an Equality Policy for 2012-2017.

RESOLVED: to approve the Council’s judgement on effectiveness and key equality objectives as set out in the Equality Policy 2012/2017 and to RECOMMEND Council to receive the report.

Cabinet Member: Transport

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/012

Contact: John Disley, Strategic Manager - Policy & Strategy Tel: (01865) 810460

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA8).

The report summarises the outcomes of design work and stakeholder consultation on two options for improving Frideswide Square. The “Boulevard” option is recommended for detailed design and implementation.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the “Boulevard” option for Frideswide Square for detailed design and implementation, including the advertisement of any necessary traffic orders.

The Cabinet considered a report which summarised the outcome of design work and stakeholder consultation on two options for the improvement of Frideswide Square, Oxford.

Councillor Susanna Pressel, speaking as local member for West Central Oxford, expressed concern about the methodology used for consultation as local residents had not been consulted.  Although she supported the ‘boulevard’ option she had concerns over some of the safety issues, especially on the part of people with disabilities, unconfident cyclists and elderly pedestrians in relation to that option and warned against carrying out the scheme ‘on the cheap’.  She referred to the need for: CCTV cameras to keep traffic speeds down to a maximum of about 15 mph at all times; improvements to be carried out under the Railway Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists; improved landscapes; consideration to be given to how to stop cyclist on pavements; loading and unloading and access for emergency vehicles.

She further questioned whether improving the flow would attract more traffic and whether the removal of bus lanes would mean that bus journeys would take longer.

Mr Graham Jones, speaking for ROX welcomed the proposed improvements to Frideswide Square which he hoped would commence within the next two to three years.  He expressed the hope that the final design would include reduced speeds in the square to improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians; an improved access from the Botley Road; a clearway layby to attract new businesses to the area, ‘gentle’ edges to the bus lanes to enable proper access for buses and the provision of a reserve lane for emergency vehicles.

Councillor Armitage, speaking as local member for West Central Oxford spoke in support of the ‘Boulevard’ option, whilst raising concern regarding the safety of cyclists, namely the danger of vehicles turning left at roundabouts.  He reminded members of the fatal accident to a cyclist close to the railway bridge a few years ago and to other serious injury in the area.  He urged the Cabinet to ensure that a design which addressed cyclists’ safety concerns was one of the highest priorities during the next stage of the design work, as without it, he believed that the scheme could undermine what the Council was trying to achieve at an important gateway into Oxford.

Ms Gwynneth Pedlar, spoke on behalf of Oxfordshire Unlimited, an organisation supported by the County Council to monitor and advise the Council on issues affecting disabled people.  Of the two options presented, Oxfordshire Unlimited was satisfied that the ‘Boulevard’ design was the one most favoured due to clearer sight lines and dedicated crossings making it clearer.  She believed that the safety could however be improved with controlled crossings in several areas.  She sought assurance that the removal of traffic lights would not increase the number of pedestrian accidents and that in the event that accidents did increase lights would be restored quicker than the six month period mentioned.  She raised further concerns over the lack of provision for cyclists; a loading bay  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40/12

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/030

Contact: Dr Jonathan McWilliam, Director of Public Health Tel: (01865) 336707

Report by Director of Public Health, Chief Executive, Director for Social & Community Services and Interim Director for Children, Education & Families (CA9).

To consider the changes to health and wellbeing and social care, and to discuss the future direction they may wish the Council to take.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to discuss the changes to health well-being and social care as described in this paper, and discuss the future direction they may wish the Council to take.

The Cabinet considered a report which outlined the changes to health and wellbeing and social care and discussed the future direction for health and healthcare in Oxfordshire.

Jonathan McWilliam, Director of Public Health, delivered a presentation on the opportunities for local government under the proposed reforms to the health system. The presentation covered the new structure of the Health & Wellbeing Board, the implications for the County Council, the Scrutiny function and district councils and the particular opportunites open to Oxfordshire County Council.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby spoke in support of Health & Wellbeing being returned to the County.  She urged the Director for Public Health to work closely with districts councils to ensure the well-being of those in rural areas.  She expressed hope that Scruitny and Health Watch would provide a means of monitoring how well the new board was performing and that Oxfordshire could be a flagship for the rest of the Country.

RESOLVED: to approve the direction of travel as set out in the report CA9 and to ask the Director of Public Health to report back on future developments in due course.

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/162

Contact: Barbara Chillman, Principal Officer – School Organisation and Planning Tel: (01865) 816459

Report by Interim Director for Children, Education & Families (CA 10).

Woodeaton Manor School is a Foundation Special School which provides education for children and young people aged 11 to 18 years old. It is designated as a special school for pupils with behavioural, emotional and social disorders (BESD), but has a particular focus on those with emotional and social difficulties. The vast majority of pupils have autistic spectrum disorders.

The proposal is to extend the age range to include pupils of Key Stage 2 primary school age so that it becomes an age range of 7 to 18.  

More primary school places are needed in Oxfordshire for children with BESD, leading to a potential delay before the children receive the particular special care that enables them to thrive and achieve their full potential. 

To accommodate this growth in pupil numbers, a single temporary unit is proposed to be installed on the school site, in a location previously occupied by a similar unit some years ago. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to support the Governing Body of Woodeaton Manor School by approving the publication of a statutory notice for the alteration of the lower age limit at Woodeaton Manor School.

The Cabinet had before them a report CA10 which sought approval to extend the age ranfe of pupils at Woodeaton Manor School to include pupils of Key Stage 2 primary school age so that it becomes an age range of 7 to 18.

RESOLVED:  to support the Governing Body of Woodeaton Manor School by approving the publication of a statutory notice for the alteration of the lower age limit at Woodeaton Manor School.

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/217

Contact: Robyn Noonan, Strategic & Performance Service Manager, Tel: (01865) 323664

Report by Cabinet Member for Adult Services (CA11).

This report summarises outcomes from the 'Hearsay' event and Business Strategy engagement sessions in 2011, both relating to developments in social care . It sets out the background to the growth of personalisation in Adult Social Care. The concept of personalisation is defined, and the policy context is set out, from Community Care law reforms of the 1990's to 'Putting People First' in 2007.

The report welcomes the introduction of Personalisation as a policy and reviews some of the risks involved in more direct purchasing of social care by individuals, for example the use of 'Personal Assistants'. It outlines the measures being proposed to Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee for assuring quality in externally provided care. This includes the role of Members in promoting and assuring quality in services which operate in their locality.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)       to note the current position; and

(b)       to RECOMMEND to Council to receive the report and debate its implications for Members.

The Cabinet had before them a report by the Cabinet Member for Adult Services which welcomed the introduction of Personalisation as a policy and reviewed some of the risks involved in more direct purchasing of social care by individuals. The report further outlined the measures being proposed to Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee for assuring quality in externally provided care. This included the role of Members in promoting and assuring quality in services which operated in their locality.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services spoke in support of paragraphs 15, 16 and 17 of the report CA11, namely that Members should have a central role in the further development and promotion of personalisation in Oxfordshire and in the Adult Services Scrutiny Committee considering proposals for Members to take a more formal role in assuring service quality across key provision in their local area.  She stressed that there would need to be a firm division of officers and member processes.

RESOLVED:  to

(a)       to note the current position; and

(b)       to RECOMMEND to Council to receive the report and debate its implications for Members.

Cabinet Member: Finance & Property and Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/027

Contact: Sean Collins, Service Manager (Pensions, Insurance & Money Management) Tel: (01865) 797190

Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CA 12).

This report responds to a letter sent to all Local Authority Leaders and Chief Executives in England.  This letter set out the statutory position regarding Academies and the Local Government Pension Scheme.  The letter expressed concerns that the basis of the calculation of the employer contribution rate for some Academies across the Country was inconsistent, and led to Academies paying unjustifiably higher contributions compared to maintained schools in the same area.  The letter set out the preferred approach of allowing Academies to be pooled with their former local authority.

This report sets out the background to the position in Oxfordshire, the issues surrounding pooling and asks the Cabinet to determine its views on the option of allowing academies to pool with the County Council.  Final decisions will be made by the Pension Fund Committee including any changes to their Funding Strategy Statement which sets out the current approach to pooling, at its meeting on 16 March 2012.

In light of the future financial risk to the Council, and the availability of alternative options open to the Pension Fund Committee, the Cabinet is RECOMMENDED not to support the option of allowing academies to be pooled with the County Council for LGPS purposes, and to inform the Pension Fund Committee accordingly.

The Cabinet had before them a report which, in response to a letter sent out to all Local Authority Leaders and Chief Executives in England, set out the statutory position regarding Academies and the local Government Pension Scheme.

RESOLVED:  not to support the option of allowing academies to be pooled with the County Council for LGPS purposes, and to inform the Pension Fund Committee accordingly.

Cabinet Member: Finance & Property

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/185

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Principal Financial Manager Tel: (01865) 323981

Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CA13).

This report sets out the forecast position for each Directorate.  This includes the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies which were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2011/12 – 2015/16.   Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of January 2012.  The Capital monitoring is included at Part 3. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)               note the report and approve the virements as set out in Annex 2a;

(b)              agree the creation of the new reserves as set out in paragraph 45 to 48; and

(c)               approve the new capital schemes and budget changes set out in Annex 9c.

The Cabinet considered a report which set out the forecast position fro each Directorate, including the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies which were agreed as part of the Service & Resource Planning Process for 2011/12-2015/16.  The Cabinet also had before them a supplementary report by the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief finance Officer as set of in the Addenda, which outlined changes made to the credit rating matrix limits set out in the Annual Treasury Management Strategy & Annual Investment Strategy for 2011/12 and 2012/13.

The Cabinet congratulated Ms Baxter on her recent appointment as Deputy Chief Finance Officer.

Councillor Armitage referred to the additional balances in funds, particularly around school intervention projects and early intervention, expressing concern that cuts were maybe being carried out too aggressively.  He questioned whether the under spends presented an opportunity to reduce pressure on Managers.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families pointed out that the savings in early intervention were in middle management and not to the service.

The Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement referred to the million under spend in school intervention projects, stressing that the money was earmarked to raise educational attainment by looking at different ways of working to achieve it.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Property in moving the recommendations detailed the Directorate positions as set out in the report.  In relation to the comments made on the substantial under spends shown, he indicated the £2m of the under spend was due to be spent in next year and that the rest would go into efficiency reserves.  He commented that Directorates had worked hard to achieve early savings for 2012/13.

RESOLVED: to

(a)               note the report and approve the virements as set out in Annex 2a;

(b)               agree the creation of the new reserves as set out in paragraph 45 to 48; and

(c)               approve the new capital schemes and budget changes set out in Annex 9c.

(d)               note the changes made to the credit rating matrix limits set out in the Annual Treasury Management Strategy & Annual Investment Strategy for 2011/12 and 2012/13 under delegated powers (per paragraph 2 and 9); and

(e)               RECOMMEND Council to note the changes made to the credit rating matrix limits set out in the Annual Treasury Management Strategy & Annual Investment Strategy for 2011/12 and 2012/13.

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/186

Contact: Alexandra Bailey, Corporate Performance and Review Manager Tel: (01865) 816384

Report by County Council Management Team (CA14).

Quarterly Performance Monitoring report.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

The Cabinet considered a report (CA15) which sought agreement to the proposed renewal of the current S75 NHS Act 2006 pooled budget agreement and lead commissioning with Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust from April 2012 – March 2013 for the two pooled arrangements for older people and people with physical disabilities and people with a learning disability.

Councillor Jean Fooks, Shadow Cabinet Member for the Deputy Leader referred to those areas of the report where, she considered, items were not  on track, or there was no evidence yet available, in particular ‘tackling transportation priorities’, ‘breaking the cycle of deprivation’ and ‘Environment and Climate Change’. Under ‘Closer to Communities’, she drew attention to the lack of progress in the eight non-priority areas despite the target date of June 2011.  She suggested that the report would benefit from specific recommendations where a target had not been achieved.

In relation to ‘breaking the cycle of deprivation’ targets, The Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families referred Councillor Fooks to page 177 of the report and the NEETS targets which had been met and had seen a consistent improvement since September last year.  She further referred to the success of reducing teenage pregnancies in Oxfordshire.

The Deputy Leader reminded Councillor Fooks that all the targets had associated action plans.

RESOLVED: to note the report.

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/013

Contact: John Pearce, Service Manager, Strategic Commissioning Tel: (01865) 323619

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA15).

Part one : Joint arrangements with Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust (Commissioner)

 The framework provided by the National Health Service Act 2006 means money can be pooled between health bodies and health-related local authority services, functions can be delegated and resources and management structures can be integrated.

The arrangements allow commissioning for existing or new services, as well as the development of provider arrangements, to be joined-up. They cover:

• lead commissioning
• integrated provision
• pooled budgets.

This paper asks the Cabinet to:

Endorse the proposed renewal  of the current s75 NHS Act 2006 pooled budget agreement and lead commissioning with Oxfordshire  Primary Care Trust  from April 2012-March 2013 for the two pooled arrangements for:

§         Older people and people with physical disabilities and

§          People with a Learning Disability.

This paper has also been submitted to the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and agreed in February 2011  

Part two : Joint arrangements with Oxford Health (Provider)

The framework provided by the National Health Service Act 2006 has been used to develop integrated provision and pooled budgets with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

This paper asks the cabinet to:

Delegate the responsibility to the Director Social and Community Services to enter into a further Mental health pooled Section 75 agreement with Oxford Health. The purpose of this Agreement is to facilitate the provision of integrated services by the partners in the manner and locations specified in this Agreement and to be limited to eligible people within the Council’s borders. 

Cabinet are RECOMMENDED to:

(a)              Endorse the proposals to agree joint agreements with Oxfordshire PCT set out above which have been approved by Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group

(b)             Grant delegated authority to the Director and s151 officer to agree the section 75 partnership agreement with Oxford Health.

The Cabinet considered a report which proposed the renewal of the current s75 NHS Act 2006 pooled budget agreement and lead commissioning with Oxfordshire  Primary Care Trust  from April 2012-March 2013 for the two pooled arrangements for:

§               Older people and people with physical disabilities and

§               People with a Learning Disability.

and in relation to Joint arrangements with Oxford Health (Provider) to delegate the responsibility to the Director Social and Community Services to enter into a further Mental health pooled Section 75 agreement with Oxford Health. The purpose of this Agreement was to facilitate the provision of integrated services by the partners in the manner and locations specified in this Agreement and to be limited to eligible people within the Council’s borders. 

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services stated that the area for Older people and people with Physical disabilities and People with Learning Disabilities had not historically in some areas preformed as well as she would have liked. She hoped the new agreement, which she noted had a cut off clause, would make a difference including a proper look at the services with more focus on areas needing improvement

She sought assurance that their would be sufficient residential care and respite places available and that supported living support services, which would be funded through personal budgets, received the correct funding and that monitoring took place to make sure the funding is sufficient for their needs.

She welcomed the fact that existing staff arrangements would continue with the new arrangements and that the Oxfordshire clinical group had approved the new arrangements for authority to rest with Director and 151 officers.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services responded to the points made commenting that he was aware of the concerns that Councillor Hannaby raised and would continue to monitor the situation carefully.

RESOLVED:  to:

(a)               endorse the proposals to agree joint agreements with Oxfordshire PCT set out above which have been approved by Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group;

(b)              grant delegated authority to the Director and s151 officer to agree the section 75 partnership agreement with Oxford Health.

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Sue Whitehead, Committee Services Manager (01865 810262)

The Cabinet Procedure Rules provide that the business of each meeting at the Cabinet is to include “updating of the Forward Plan and proposals for business to be conducted at the following meeting”.   Items from the Forward Plan for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet appear in the Schedule at CA16.  This includes any updated information relating to the business for those meetings that has already been identified for inclusion in the next Forward Plan update.

The Schedule is for noting, but Cabinet Members may also wish to take this opportunity to identify any further changes they would wish to be incorporated in the next Forward Plan update.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

(Agenda Item 16)

The Cabinet considered a list of items (CA16) for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet together with changes and additions set out in the schedule of addenda.

RESOLVED:          to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.