Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/137

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Head of Financial Strategy

Kathy.wilcox@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer (CA8)

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)            Approve the productivity plan for submission to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

(b)            Approve the additional barriers to efficiency document for submission to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet received a report recommending the approval of the productivity plan for Oxfordshire County Council. The plan had been produced in response to the DLUHC's request for councils to share their current plans to transform services, use technology and data, reduce spend and identify barriers to efficiency.  The plans were a requirement for all Councils as part of the Government’s 2024/25 Local Government Finance Settlement

The Chair presented the report and outlined a number of the positive achievements of the Council including “Delivering the Future Together” the response to the SEND improvement plan and the “Oxfordshire Way” programme within Adult Social Care. The council has also prepared an additional document to be submitted to the DLUHC alongside the productivity plan. This document highlighted the areas where central government intervention could unlock barriers to efficiency, such as inconsistent and short-term funding, complex and overlapping regulations, and lack of flexibility and autonomy.

During discussion members referred to the anomalies concerning Government policy on Home to School transport.

Councillor Leffman moved and Councillor Sudbury seconded the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:

(a)            approve the productivity plan for submission to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

(b)            approve the additional barriers to efficiency document for submission to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities