Agenda item

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

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/024

Contact: Steven Fairhurst Jones, Corporate Performance & Risk Manager Tel: 07932 318890/Katy Jurczyszyn, Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy and Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518

Report by Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Finance (CA6).

This report sets out Oxfordshire County Council’s progress towards Corporate Plan priorities and provides an update on the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Plan at the end of May 2019.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)     note the contents of this report;

(b)    approve the virements set out in Annex D – 2a, and note the virements set out in Annex D – 2b.

Cabinet had before it a report which set out Oxfordshire County Council’s progress towards Corporate Plan priorities and which provided an update on the delivery of the Medium-Term Financial Plan at the end of May 2019.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Chairman of Performance Scrutiny Committee in presenting the comments of the Committee noted that this had been the first time for the Committee looking at the new report. The Committee would explore how best to manage scrutiny of the monthly paper in order to focus on highlights and trends in a way that coincided with Cabinet meetings and to ensure there was an ability to focus on necessary matters. The Committee had welcomed the new format. Referring to the contents of the report Councillor Brighouse highlighted points made by Performance Scrutiny Committee:

·         congratulations to the public health team on their outcomes;

·         a query around the ’local environment protected’;

·         a query why in ‘Strong Investment in Infrastructure the number of new homes had gone from amber to green;

·         Concerns around the timeliness of Education & Health Care Plans;

·         A suggestion that more be done to offer guidance to governors on safeguarding as this was an area that could let schools down during Ofsted inspections.

Councillor Heathcoat, Deputy Leader of the Council in introducing the business, risk and staffing elements of the report commented that the report was still developing but there should be a recognition that the intention was to provide a report that was open, robust and timely. Councillor Heathcoat had attended Performance Scrutiny Committee and thanked the Chairman and Committee for their comments.

Councillor Heathcoat highlighted that nearly all the indicators were either amber or green. She highlighted the red indicator relating to an indicator within children’s services which reflected a national trend. Councillor Heathcoat also made reference to the three inadequate primary schools. In terms of good outcomes, she drew attention to the emergency response targets and the numbers of volunteers in libraries /museums. However, they were not complacent. On staffing Councillor Heathcoat cautioned of the need to investigate behind the figures in order to understand what was being shown. For example, when analysing the data, it was important to acknowledge the double counting that occurs for cover of sickness and maternity leave. Additional information was available on the website.

Councillor Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the finance elements of the report commenting that the temporary virement agreed at June Cabinet for SEN Home to School Transport was not included in the figures for CEF which was subsequently showing a greater level of overspend than would be the case once the virement was included in the next report.

During discussion there was agreement that staffing data needed to be treated with caution.

Councillor Corkin added that during the recent practice week he had spent time with the Early Years Team. He commended them on the work they were doing with pre-schools to raise standards and assist them to prepare children for more formal learning.

RESOLVED:  to:

(a)     note the contents of the report;

(b)     approve the virements set out in Annex D (2a) and note the virements set out in Annex D (2b).