Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Peter Skolar (Councillor Peter Jones substituting), Councillor Sarah Hutchinson (Councillor Richard Stevens substituting) and Councillor Tim Hallchurch (Councillor Melinda Tilley substituting).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2010 (AS3 (to be circulated separately)) and to note for information any matters arising on them.

Agreed that the minutes be considered at the next meeting.

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 Director for Social & Community Services will be available to respond to questions. The Cabinet Member for Growth & Infrastructure will attend on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services.

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 (AS5) containing the Business Strategies and savings proposed for their service areas.

The Director for Social & Community Services commented that the proposed approach had been set out in earlier meetings. The approach was based on the broad policy direction established in previous years and which had received the support of the Committee. He noted that there were relatively few efficiency savings but that the delivery of the business strategy would be challenging.

During discussion Members commented on the implications of personal budgets including  the challenge of providing support to the elderly and vulnerable in society. and the effect on transport provision. A member commented that whilst she was in agreement with the transforming agenda it was about ensuring the safe monitoring of the change and also the swiftness of what was being done.

There was discussion about the proposals relating to Community Development. There was some concern that the implications of the business strategy were not clearly set out.

The Committee noted that the focus of discussion of the meeting was required to be on policy areas that may depart from this Committee’s understanding of the business strategy as expressed at previous Adult Services Scrutiny meetings. 

With that in mind the key policy areas were set out by the Chairman, Councillor Seale as follows:

·        An emphasis on finding alternatives to residential care for older people with a focus on providing domiciliary care, with a greater reliance on extra care housing. 

·        The introduction of all who qualify to self directed support, with efficiency savings implemented using the resource allocation system.

·        Moving to the voluntary and community provision of transport for those who use day services or choose alternative day opportunities with a personal budget.

·        Community development team reducing and a refocus on supporting community based services such as the currently funded Good Neighbour Scheme

·        Reduction in funding for Supporting People services of 5% per annum

·        Moving from internally provided support to agency or self purchased domiciliary care.

·        Limits on contract inflation allowances

·        Redesign of services for those with mental health needs

·        Review the Contract with the Oxfordshire Care Partnership

It was understood that this business strategy sought to deliver savings by pursuing a strategy of prevention, increased focus on personalisation, and the delivery of services that offer protection for people through better partnership working.

There were no comments on the capital proposals set out in the strategy.

The Committee  AGREED that

(a)               The proposals set out in the business strategy are acceptable to this committee (Vote carried by 6 votes to 2 with 1 abstention).

(b)               Capital proposals were agreed by the committee (Vote carried by 8 votes to 1).