Cabinet Members: Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/022

Contacts: Steven Fairhurst Jones, Corporate Performance & Risk Manager Tel: 07932 318890/Katy Jurczyszyn, Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy and Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518

Report by Policy & Performance Service Manager (CA7 - to follow).

The report demonstrates Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC’S) progress towards Corporate Plan priorities and an update on the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Plan at the end of March 2019. Please note this is not the final financial outturn position: year end transactions are still being processed at the time of writing. The Provisional Revenue Outturn 2018/19 Report will be considered by Cabinet on 18 June 2019

The report is the first of a monthly reporting cycle, replacing the previous quarterly cycle. This report concerns the month ending 31 March 2019.

The report summarises “what” the Council is doing – progress towards the objectives in the Corporate Plan – and “how” the Council is doing – our organisational health. 

The report covers four elements of business management: performance, risk, human resources and finance. The main body of the report summarises these elements to show how they collectively affect progress towards the achievement of outcomes in the Corporate Plan. Further detail is then provided in each of the four annexes:  

• Annex A: performance 
• Annex B: risk 
• Annex C: human resources (HR) 
• Annex D: finance 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the contents of this report.

Recommendation agreed

Cabinet had before them a report that demonstrated Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC’S) progress towards Corporate Plan priorities and an update on the delivery of the Medium-Term Financial Plan at the end of March 2019. This was not the final financial outturn position as year-end transactions were still being processed at the time of writing. The Provisional Revenue Outturn 2018/19 Report will be considered by Cabinet on 18 June 2019

The report summarised “what” the Council is doing – progress towards the objectives in the Corporate Plan – and “how” the Council is doing – our organisational health. 

The report covered four elements of business management: performance, risk, human resources and finance. The main body of the report summarised these elements to show how they collectively affect progress towards the achievement of outcomes in the Corporate Plan. Further detail is then provided in each of the four annexes:  

• Annex A: performance 
• Annex B: risk 
• Annex C: human resources (HR) 
• Annex D: finance 

Councillor Laura Price, Opposition Deputy Leader commented that the report following on from the draft Outcomes Framework and gave more information and commentary. She asked how the objectives of the Corporate Plan could be integrated into the report and how there could be an effective conversation about transformation. Transformation had a dedicated budget. Councillor Price highlighted the red status of children’s services but stated that people were enthused and excited to see how the remodelling proposals will effect changes and noting changes were already happening.

On staffing Councillor Price was disappointed that the report seemed to be a backwards step with less detail available. She felt it was very top level and hoped it will improve as she had been told it was getting a rethink. It had been good previously to follow what was happening on agency posts by Directorate. Councillor Price stressed the need to be clear with interim posts. She understood that with the agency contract more data than ever was available and hoped that as the report evolved that detail would be there.

Councillor Hudspeth, on behalf of Councillor Heathcoat introduced the contents of the report in relation to business monitoring and HR matters, noting that Councillor Bartholomew would introduce the finance elements of the report. Councillor Hudspeth noted that the report was the first to be made on a monthly basis and would continue to develop. The new method of reporting would enhance clarity in relation to the direction of travel and against corporate objectives and would support reporting towards the transformation plan.

Councillor Hudspeth summarised the progress towards the Corporate Plan outcomes.

Councillor Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the contents of the report.

Cabinet Members commented on individual items in the report.

RESOLVED:             to note the contents of this report.