Agenda item

The report (which is to be considered by each of the Scrutiny Committees on 20 December) forms part of a series relating to the Service and Resource Planning process for 2011/12 to 2015/16.  

Each Committee will meet in turn to consider the Business Strategies and savings proposed for their service areas.  Comments from each Committee will then be considered by Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee on 13 January 2011 prior to being fed back to Cabinet in order that they can take the comments into consideration in proposing their budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) in January 2011.

The following annexes are attached:

The Chief Fire Officer and Director for Social & Community Services will be available to respond to questions, together with the Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities.

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

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment upon the Directorate Business Strategy and proposed savings

The Committee considered a report (SSC5) containing the Business Strategies and savings proposed for their service areas.

During discussion there was overall support for the proposals put forward – locality and partnership working were seen as key to the future provision of services covered by this Committee’s remit.

Community Safety (Community Safety, Fire and Rescue and Emergency

Planning, Trading Standards, Safer Communities)

During discussion there was overall support for the proposals put forward. Discussion took place to reassure the future capability of the fire service. The potential of further and future partnership working arrangements were seen as critical in terms of Trading Standards and Safer Communities.

Social and Community Services (Library services, Museum services,

Heritage and arts mgmt, History services, Victoria County History,

Partnerships with arts orgs, The Mill and Cultural Development)

Briony Newport, a resident of Botley spoke against the proposal to close Botley Library. It would be difficult to get to other libraries by public transport and it was devastating news that it might close. She commented that the saving made was small in comparison to what was needed and the library served as a place of learning , community and solace. Local people valued the expert professional staff and the library was valued across all social groupings. Responding to a query from Councillor tilley as to whether the community could take it over Ms Newport replied that they did not yet know the costings; the Parish Council was to meet in January but that local people liked the library as it was.

Geron Swann, OFVM film oxford, spoke in support of the publically funded charity outlining the work that they had done. This included training 554 people and being involved in 17 productions. 

During discussion there was overall support for the proposals put forward. There was much discussion regarding the future vision of a modernised library service – including a review of the mobile library services. A member raised concerns over the library proposals in terms of the continued free provision of internet services, rotation of books and loss of staff with professional library skills. A member suggested a working group review the longer term options for the Mill and Banbury Library and it was AGREED that this be picked up as part of the localities reviews.