Agenda item

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

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/

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 (CA6).

This report sets out Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC’s) progress towards Corporate Plan priorities for 2020/21 – January2021.

 Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)       To note this month’s business management and monitoring report.

(b)       Approve virement set out in Annex C-2b relating to the planned use of the Public Health Savings to fund appropriate expenditure in other services, and the virement from the COVID-19 Budget to the services for the period November 2020 to March2021;

(c)       Note the virements set out in Annex C-2c;

(d)       Approve the bad debt write-offs set out in AnnexC.

(e)       Approve the 2021/22 Charges set out in paragraph 33 and Annex C-6

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Chairman of Performance Scrutiny Committee detailed comments from the Performance Scrutiny Committee including concerns with the LED lighting contract and performance with highway’s resurfacing. Councillor Brighouse outlined the further information they had asked for in relation to these issues. The Committee had also requested changes to simplify the information in the commentary for listening to residents under the number of pothole enquiries and a request to see the average time for repairs, noting that this work was underway. Councillor Brighouse commented that the Committee had raised the number of drainage issues raised through Fix My Street that did not meet the criteria and that they had queried whether the criteria needed to be reviewed given the importance of this issue to many residents. Questions had been raised over the Skanska contract and noted the assurance given that the new contract would be brought to the Performance Committee for scrutiny. Referring to the backlog in assessments for Education and Health Care Plans the Committee had noted the shortage of educational psychologists and had queried whether this shortage could be addressed using apprenticeships. The Committee had also highlighted as a priority for the Committee to look at this issue and the operation of the CAMHS service.

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, highlighted the need for a robust and sustainable action plan to tackle delays to EHCPs. Councillor Phillips noted the positive activity detailed in the report including the recruitment of an air  quality programme manager and commented that it would be helpful to know when the County Strategic Framework for Managing Air Quality with partners and service areas would be published in order to support a number of important initiatives. She noted the positive impact of the Family Solutions Programme in families getting help sooner although there had been an increase in referrals to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub linked to a high level of domestic abuse. Councillor Phillips also highlighted the work of the library staff in relation to Making Every Contact Count with the aim of encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Staff needed to have the expertise, confidence and knowledge to have those conversations and the Council could do more to build on the work of the libraries by including such training in the induction programme for new staff.

Councillor Phillips referred to the budget noting that Oxfordshire had received £1.3m for the covid winter grants scheme to support children, families and the most vulnerable and that the funding should be used in the period early December to 31 March. Having worked with Districts Councils on distributing funds she queried whether the spending was being monitored to see that allocations were on track.

Councillor Phillips expressed concern at the changes to the budget set out in the recommendations. The budget and the review of charges was agreed by Full Council only in February and she queried what explanation there was for making such a change so soon. Councillor Phillips expressed thanks for the efforts of the finance team in achieving a balanced budget but noted that the impact of covid would continue into the next financial year.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Deputy Leader of the Council, introduced the performance and risk assessment elements of the report. Councillor Heathcoat commented on the largely positive picture of performance that was due in no small part to the Council’s workforce and she thanked them for their service. Councillor Heathcoat detailed that of 27 performance indicators, 14 were green, 12 were able and 1 indicator was unable to be reported on due to covid. No indicators were reported red. Councillor Heathcoat highlighted positive performance in relation to trading standards and referred to the positive inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) of OFRS in relation to their response to covid.

Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the finance element of the report that outlined the forecast revenue budget at the end of January 2021 and an update on the Medium Term Financial Strategy The report included information on the financial impact of COVID-19 and Councillor Bartholomew stated that there would be additional costs into 2021/22. Councillor Bartholomew moved the recommendations.

During discussion Cabinet responded to the points raised by Councillor Phillips and highlighted positive performance

 RESOLVED:          to:

(a)       To note this month’s business management and monitoring report.

(b)       Approve virement set out in Annex C-2b relating to the planned use of the Public Health Savings to fund appropriate expenditure in other services, and the virement from the COVID-19 Budget to the services for the period November 2020 to March 2021;

(c)       Note the virements set out in Annex C-2c; and

(d)       Approve the bad debt write-offs set out in Annex C.

(e)       Approve the 2021/22 Charges set out in paragraph 33 and Annex C-6