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To Members of the Best Value Committee

Notice of Meeting

Chris Impey
Assistant Chief Executive

15 June 2004

Membership

Chair – Councillor Alan Bryden

Councillors:

Co-opted Members:

AGENDA

Addenda

1. Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments
   
   
2. Declarations of Interest – see guidance note
   
   
3. Minutes
   
   (See also Addenda)
   

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2004 (BV3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

4. Petitions and Public Address
   
   (See Addenda)
   
5. Financial Control Within Social & Health Care Directorate
   
   (See also Addenda)
   
   (BV5)
   

11:15

Executive Member: Leader of the Council: Councillor Keith R. Mitchell
Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council: Councillor Dermot Roaf
Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Ken Harper
Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Jean Fooks

The report considers further progress in addressing the financial control issues within the Social & Health Care Directorate.

DR(C. Gray/M. Rolton)

6. "Internal Audit Services – Strategic Plan 2004/05 to 2006/07
   
   (BV6)
   

11:30

Executive Member: Leader of the Council: Councillor Keith R. Mitchell
Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council: Councillor Dermot Roaf
Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Ken Harper

Report on further developments.

DR(K. Bellew)

7. Risk Management Process
   
   (BV7)
   

11:45

Executive Member: Leader of the Council: Councillor Keith R. Mitchell
Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council: Councillor Dermot Roaf
Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Ken Harper

Report outlining the improvements made to the risk management process for service planning for 2004/05 and how the effective monitoring and review of risks and uncertainties will be incorporated into the Council’s performance monitoring arrangements.

DR(D. Lines/E. Kaluza)

8. Draft Interim Statement on Internal Control
   
   (See also Addenda)
   
   (BV8)
   

12:05

Executive Member: Leader of the Council: Councillor Keith R. Mitchell
Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council: Councillor Dermot Roaf
Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Ken Harper

The report presents the Interim Statement for comment.

DR (C. Gray/P. Clark/H. Cameron)

9. Best Value Review Programme
   
   (See also Addenda)
   
   (BV9)
   

12:20

Value for Money Best Value Review Programme

DR(D. Lines/P. Clark)

10. Best Value Review of Property Services - Update

12:35

Designated Member: Councillor Sylvia Tompkins
Executive member: Leader of the Council: Councillor Keith R. Mitchell
Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Ken Harper

Report by Head of Property Services (BV10).

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:

1. note progress on the service improvements arising from the Best Value Review of Property Services;
2. agree that a review of Facilities Management should be undertaken as part of the review of efficiency savings and development of a Procurement Strategy;
3. note that a review of financing and accounting for Property costs is to be undertaken which will consider options for accounting for property treated as a Corporate resource; and
4. ask the Chair of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee to consult the Deputy Chair on scrutiny committee consideration.

12:50 Lunch

11. Best Value Review of Children’s Services in Oxfordshire
    
    (See also Addenda)
    

1:50

Designated Members: Councillor Margaret Godden
Councillor Margaret MacKenzie
Executive Member for Children & Young People: Councillor Janet Godden
Executive Member for Schools: Councillor Tony Crabbe
Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Lesley Legge
Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Margaret Ferriman
Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Jean Fooks

The Committee are RECOMMENDED to approve the Review Specification (BV11) (download as .doc file).

12. Best Value Review and Inspection of Highways Management – Progress on Action Plans

2:20

Designated Member: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Executive Member for Transport: Councillor David Robertson
Environment Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor C.H. Shouler

Report by Assistant Head of Transport (Highways Management) (BV12).

The Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

1. support the actions being taken by the Assistant Head of Service to improve the performance of the Highway Management Service;
2. ask officers to report progress again in 12 months time;
3. identify whether there are any matters in the report which should be drawn to the attention of the Executive Member; and
4. ask the Chairman of the Environment Scrutiny Committee to consult the Deputy Chair on scrutiny committee consideration.

 

13. Best Value Review of the Impact of Central Education Services on the Quality of Leadership and Management In Schools

2:35

Designated Member: Councillor Neville F. Harris
Executive Member for Schools: Councillor Tony Crabbe
Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Margaret Ferriman

Report by Director for Learning & Culture (BV13).

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:

1. receive the update report and acknowledge that the implementation plans are now embedded in existing monitoring and evaluation practices;
2. agree that an Annual Report on Standards and Quality in Oxfordshire schools should be implemented;
3. identify whether there are any further matters in the report which should be drawn to the attention of the Executive Member; and
4. ask the Chair of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee to consult the Deputy Chair on scrutiny committee consideration.

14. Fire Service Command and Control

Report by Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer (BV14).

As part of the modernisation agenda, the government commissioned Matt McDonald to review the needs of the modern Fire Service for providing control room facilities. As a result of their recommendations, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) have directed that fire control rooms will function for each region of the country. This is encompassed in the National Framework Document for the modernised Fire & Rescue Service.

The report updates the Committee on the Regional Control project (BV14B).

2:50

Executive Member for Community Safety: Councillor John Farrow
Community Safety Scrutiny Committee Chair: Councillor Ray Jelf

A report on the current position on regional proposals.

15. In conclusion, it is now apparent that the Regional Fire Control project will now be enacted in a manner, which renders obsolete the recommendations of individual Fire authorities Best Value Reviews. Cllr John Farrow, representing Oxfordshire’s FRA on the Regional Management Board will be responsible for the management of this project via the regional project board. It will be appropriate to bring key decisions forward to the Executive, when required in the future.
16. Consequently it is RECOMMENDED that this written report is the last one to be presented to the best Value committee.
    
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