Meeting documents

Councillors:

Marilyn Badcock

Nick Carter

Mrs Anda Fitzgerald-O’Connor

Jean Fooks

Deborah Glass Woodin

Pete Handley

Steve Hayward

David Nimmo-Smith

Val Smith

David Turner

Carol Viney

Co-opted Members:

Mr Chris Bevan

Mr Ben Jackson

Mrs Sue Matthew

one vacancy

What does this Committee review or scrutinise?

·                     Services for children, young people and families; preventative services; child protection; family support, educational policy; youth service; youth justice

·                     Primary & secondary schools; special education; pupil services; school transport; music service

·                     Conduct of best value reviews as specified in Paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 to the Functions Regulations

How can I have my say?

We welcome the views of the community on any issues in relation to the responsibilities of this Committee.  Members of the public may ask to speak for up to 5 minutes on any item on the agenda or may suggest matters which they would like the Committee to look at.  Requests to speak must be submitted to the Committee Services no later than 9 am on the working day before the date of the meeting.

For more information about this Committee please contact:

Chairman                                         -      Councillor Ann Bonner

                                                            E.Mail: ann.bonner@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Committee Officer                             -      Julie Dean, Tel: (01865) 815322

                                                            E.Mail: julie.dean@oxfordshire.gov.uk

• schools

• social & health care

·        libraries and museums

• the fire service

• roads

·        trading standards

• land use

• transport planning

·        waste management

Background Information:

The attached report (CH5) is one in a series informing members on the service and resource planning process and budget issues for 2009/10 and the medium term and provides information that will lead to the Council agreeing a budget requirement and council tax for 2009/10 in February 2009.
(CH5 - download as .doc file)
(CH5 - Annex 1 - download as .xls file)
(CH5 - Annex 1 - download as .xls file)
(CH5 - Annex 1 - download as .xls file)

The report includes schedules detailing proposed priorities, pressures, efficiencies and service reprioritisations for this scrutiny committee’s programme area. The current financial context for 2009/10 and the medium term is also set out in the report against which the proposals need to be considered.

Comments from each scrutiny committee will be collated and fed back to the Cabinet by the Corporate  Governance Scrutiny Committee which meets on 15 January 2009.

The Committee are advised that the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on 26 November 2008, agreed that, in order to relieve pressures across the total budget, to suggest to each scrutiny committee that:

(a)           they look for reductions in net costs in each budget area of 1% to 2% through, for example, inflation/efficiency savings/delayed expenditure, which could achieve up to £3m total savings;

(b)           they aim to reduce the engagement of agency and contract staff and consultants and consider replacing them with permanent staff where necessary;

(c)            directorates should review project management arrangements to ensure that projects are within budget; and

(d)           a robust review be conducted of all vacant posts.

The Committee might also wish to be advised that the Corporate Governance Committee, at their meeting on 26 November, also decided that:

(a)              a review be conducted into ‘one-off’ ICT investment at their 18 December 2008 meeting; and

(b)              at their 15 January 2009 meeting, to:

(1)              receive information about the number of consultants and the total consultancy budget; and look at ways of making savings by not using consultants and improving staff recruitment;

(2)              consider a suggestion to bring in a consultant to look at the Council as a whole in order to achieve savings.

Why has it been included?

(1)   The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment upon:

(a)     the identified budget priorities and pressures and the choices as to how these could be funded for their programme area;

(b)     how the target of savings for the programme area should be prioritised; and

(c)     what further savings could be achieved to meet the overall funding gap currently being considered;

(2)   The Committee may also wish to provide advice to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee in relation to the money management service.

How is the Committee going to deal with it?

During a one meeting session.

Members of the Committee will have the opportunity to question the Cabinet Members for Children, Young People & Families and Schools Improvement, respectively, together with the Director for Children, Young People & Families, and her heads of service.

Officers from Financial Services will also be present at the meeting to answer any questions that the Committee may wish to ask.

In relation to Annex 3, the Committee should consider:

·                 whether it endorses the proposed pressures and priorities;

·                 whether the savings proposed are acceptable; and what the priority for each one is;

·                 whether the imbalance should be funded by:

(a)            additional savings from the directorate and stating how these would be met; and

(b)            removing proposed priorities and pressures.

Work to be done prior to the meeting:

Members’ attention is drawn to the ‘Effective Budget Scrutiny’ guide which is part of the Scrutiny Handbook, as an aid to the scrutiny process.

Background Information:

Members of the Committee have received representations from a member of the public, expressing concern about the future of the Homestart service within the county. The Chairman duly agreed that the matter be included on the agenda for this meeting.

A briefing paper, produced by the Assistant Head of Service, Children & Families, Amanda Smith, setting  out the context to recent discussions and correspondence about Homestart contracts with Oxfordshire County Council is attached at CH6.

Why has it been included?

The item has been included in response to concerns expressed by a member of the public with regard to this matter.

How is the Committee going to deal with it?

By means of a Question and Answer session. The Cabinet member for Children, Young People & Families, together with Andy Couldrick, Head of Service, Children & Families, will be in attendance for this item.

Background Information:

Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) currently has a contract with Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust (ORH) for the provision of termination of pregnancy services. The ORH has sub-contracted the service to Marie Stopes International(MSI). The contract with MSI has no volume specification and ends in 2010.

In 2007-08, MSI carried out 74% of the total number of terminations (TOP) for Oxfordshire. The service is provided in Reading and Ealing. The ORH , operates mainly at the John Radcliffe site and provides a service for the remaining 26% of patients. This consists mainly for people under the age of 16 and women with associated co-morbidities.

Currently there is no consistent service provided in the north of the county. There is a service provided at the Horton Hospital site but this can be provided only when bed and theatre capacity is available. However, from January 2009, the ORH will be implementing a consistent service at the Horton. This will provide another option for women across the county enabling those in the Horton area to choose a service nearer to home.

Currently a full service review of the provision of TOP for Oxfordshire is being undertaken by the PCT. A Health Needs Analysis has been undertaken that will inform the work of the review group. Within this work the group will identify the current gaps in the service provision, review best practice and produce a draft strategy for future service provision.

Why has it been included?

It is planned that the draft strategy should be reported to the PCT’s Clinical Executive in January 2009.  Before that happens, it is proposed that a joint working group, drawn from the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee and the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee should examine the draft strategy and produce a response that can be passed on to the Clinical Executive.

How is the Committee going to deal with it?

It is suggested that there should be two volunteers from each of the Committees who would be able to participate in a discussion with PCT representatives. The aim would be to consider whether the service to be provided would be both equitable and suitable; and whether it would include proper provision of not just terminations, but also support/advice pre and post termination.

If you have any special requirements (such as a large print version of these papers or special access facilities) please contact the officer named on the front page, but please give as much notice as possible before the meeting