Return to Agenda

ITEM BV3

BEST VALUE COMMITTEE– 22 OCTOBER 2003

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 1.10 pm

Present:

The Committee considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting and decided as set out below. Except insofar as otherwise specified, the reasons for the decisions are contained in the agenda and reports, copies of which are attached to the signed Minutes.

47/03. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

Councillor Shouler resigned as Deputy Chairman.

Councillor Shouler moved and Councillor Law seconded that Councillor Wilmshurst be elected Deputy Chairman for the remainder of the Council year. Councillor Hodgson, duly seconded, proposed Councillor Margaret Ferriman.

RESOLVED: (by 5 votes to 4, the Chair having exercised a second vote) to elect Councillor Wilmshurst Deputy Chairman for the remainder of the Council year.

48/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS

Apologies for absence and temporary appointments were received as follows:

Apology from	Temporary Appointments
Councillor Legge	Councillor Bryden
Councillor Segaran	Councillor Hodgson

49/03. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cllr Brian Hodgson declared a personal non prejudicial interest in item 8-Best Value review Specification: Customer Service in Environment & Economy-by virtue of membership of the Ramblers’ Association

50/03. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 September 2003 were approved and signed.

Minute 41/03 – Minutes

Membership: The Chair had reviewed co-opted member attendance at meetings since September 2002. Since the last meeting Mr Wilkinson had resigned from the Committee due to work commitments.

The Director for Resources circulated a description of the role of the Committee’s co-opted members (a copy of which is attached to the signed Minutes).

The Chair invited members, and would write to the business community, to suggest nominations for the vacancy and together with the Deputy Chairman and 3^rd Group Spokesperson would meet informally to make a nomination for Council’s consideration.

BV Review Programme: The Committee expressed the strong view that the Best Value Review on Road Casualty Reduction should be brought forward in the Programme and asked officers to report to the next meeting on how this could be achieved.

Minute 45/03(d) - Fire Service Command & Control

Officers were asked to make the brief update which had been requested to the next meeting.

51/03. RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

(Agenda Item 5)

The Council’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment recognised the good work that had started in relation to risk management, but identified the need to have a more embedded approach to identifying, assessing and managing risks. This included the need for risk registers to record the risk management assessments and more involvement of members.

The Committee considered a report (BV5) which introduced a Strategic Risk Profile which had been developed by the Council’s Risk Manager based on the Oxfordshire Plan priorities. This included an assessment of risk and action taken by directorates which would be used as evidence in the next Auditor Judgement.

Mr Barker introduced the report. The Strategy was at an early stage and would be developed in the light of key issues arising from workshops, seminars and member comment. The aim was to make the plans reasonable against the level of risk.

RESOLVED: to note the report and the development of the Strategy to ensure that our approach to risk management complied with guidance from the Audit Commission.

52/03. REVIEW OF KEY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS

(Agenda Item 6)

In July 2003 the Committee had agreed to consider at alternate meetings progress on the action being taken to consider and implement the main findings of the 2002/03 reviews of four Key Financial Systems (payroll, creditors, main accounting and budgetary control by cost centre managers) and the management response to the findings.

The Committee considered a report (BV6) on progress since July with implementing the 107 recommendations and other work to ensure that the outstanding recommendations were addressed.

RESOLVED: to note:

1. the report and detailed progress to date; and
2. implications for present CPA/ASJ 2003 and progress towards CPA 2004.
   
   

53/03. IMPLEMENTATION OF BEST VALUE REVIEWS: PERSONNEL AND DEVELOPING OUR STAFF

(Agenda Item 7)

The Committee considered a report (BV7) which concerned the implementation of two separate but related reviews: Personnel, which reported to the Committee in February 2001, and Developing Our Staff which reported in February 2003. The majority of the key actions identified in the Personnel review had been implemented. It outlined the limited progress in responding to the three very broad recommendations in the Developing Our Staff review.

Members raised issues around appraisal, the role of the consultants and line managers and commitment by top management. Ms Corrigan responded to comments and questions, drawing attention to County Personnel’s other commitments, the resources available and the fact that performance management was already undertaken. Coaching managers in a large organisation was a huge task and new initiatives took time to implement.

RESOLVED to instruct the Chief Executive and the Director for Resources to attend the Committee’s next meeting (scheduled for 10 December, provisionally all day) to discuss the paper.

54/03. BEST VALUE REVIEW SPECIFICATION: CUSTOMER SERVICE IN ENVIRONMENT & ECONOMY

(Agenda Item 8)

The Committee considered the Specification for the Customer Service in Environment & Economy Best Value review (BV8). Mr Gerrish introduced the paper and responded to comments including the positive approach to formal and informal complaints as shown on page 14 and the need for clarity about definitions.

RESOLVED: to approve the Review Specification (BV8) and thank Mr Gerrish and team for their work.

55/03. BEST VALUE REVIEW OF ACHIEVEMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS – AN UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS

(Agenda Item 9)

The Committee considered a report (BV9). Ms Goll introduced the paper which indicated that overall the programme for implementing the actions arising from the review, with one exception, was progressing within the specified timescales.

RESOLVED: to:

1. thank Ms Goll and team for their work and instruct officer to report back to the Committee in one year on further progress;
2. draw to the attention of the Executive Member that Task 1 (to appoint a Senior Adviser for secondary Schools) was outstanding; and
3. ask the Chair of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee to consult the Deputy Chair on scrutiny committee consideration.
   
   

56/03. STUDENT SUPPORT BEST VALUE REVIEW – PROGRESS REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION

(Agenda Item 10)

The Committee considered a report (BV10). Ms Miller introduced the paper which set out in detail the further progress to improve the efficiency of the Student Support Service and implement good practice.

RESOLVED: to:

1. thank Ms Miller and team for their work and agree that that there was no need for report back to the Committee on further progress;
2. note that there were no matters in the report which should be drawn to the attention of the Executive Member; and
3. ask the Chair of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee to consult the Deputy Chair on scrutiny committee consideration
   
   

57/03. BEST VALUE REVIEW SPECIFICATION: HERITAGE SERVICES

(Agenda Item 11)

The Committee considered the Specification for the Heritage Services Best Value review (BV11). Mr Brown introduced the paper and drew attention to the areas being reviewed. Members considered that the reporting date was tight and noted the links with an Abingdon Town Council review.

RESOLVED: to approve the Review Speciation (BV11) and thank Mr Brown and team for their work.

58/03. BEST VALUE REVIEW SPECIFICATION: ADULT LEARNING DISABILITY SERVICES REVIEW SPECIFICATION

(Agenda Item 12(a))

The Committee considered the Specification for the Adult Learning Disability Services Best Value review (BV12(a)). Mr Sinclair introduced the paper and responded to comments about the absence of a team member from outside the Oxfordshire services, the scope of the review, good practice in other authorities and consultation and advocacy. Page 16 was amended at paragraph 7(a) bullet point 3 by the deletion of ‘is likely to’ and substitution of ‘may’. Links with the review at Minute 59/03 below were noted.

RESOLVED: to approve the Review Specification (BV12(a)); the Committee supported the addition of a Review Team member from outside the Oxfordshire services.

59/03. JOINT COMMISSIONING LEARNING DISABILITY (ADULT) BEST VALUE REVIEW: PROGRESS REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION TO SEPTEMBER 2003

(Agenda Item 12(b)

The Committee considered a report (BV12(b)). Mr Sinclair introduced the paper which set out further positive progress with achieving the set targets. Overall progress to implement the action plan had been good with actions having been completed, on target or given new target dates. Since the review there had been a major shift in emphasis within the Service to address budgetary issues and he outlined the continuing work to achieve the budget set.

RESOLVED to:

1. thank Mr Sinclair and team for their work and agree that that there was no need for report back to the Committee on further progress on the understanding that any outstanding actions would be dealt with as part of the Specification at 12(a) above;
2. note that there were no matters in the report which should be drawn to the attention of the Executive Member; and
3. ask the Chair of the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee to consult the Deputy Chair on scrutiny committee consideration.

in the Chair

Date of signing 2003

Return to TOP