Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2015  (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2015 were approved and signed subject to the following correction:

Minute 90/15 – Last sentence of the preamble to read: “Councillor Heathcoat added that no partner or agency would agree to funding a provision in perpetuity.”

Councillor Pressel had given notice of the following question to Councillor Hibbert Biles

“Councillor Biles gave the following answer to a supplementary question from me in Council on 8 September (page 28 on the agenda of our last Council meeting):

"I think children's centres do promote oral health but in actual fact it is the responsibility of the NHS not this Council. We are a monitoring organisation."

Please could you tell me if this is correct?

The latest Public Health Annual Report in its section on oral health says that the local authority "has an emphasis on prevention". It gives a long list (page 55 to 56) of what we do, with much of the work being in pre-school settings, so I'm puzzled by the Cabinet member's statement. I hope this work won’t be lost if the children’s centres are closed.”

Councillor Hibbert Biles replied:

“On 1st April 2013 the statutory responsibility for the commissioning of commissioning dental epidemiology transferred from the NHS to local government.

The dental public health functions of LAs are described in regulations and include a statutory requirement to provide or secure provision of oral surveys. The statutory instrument states that:

A local authority shall provide, or shall make arrangements to secure the provision of, the following within its area—

Oral health surveys to facilitate—

                                                    i.     the assessment and monitoring of oral health needs,

                                                   ii.     the planning and evaluation of oral health promotion programmes,

                                                 iii.     the planning and evaluation of the arrangements for provision of dental services as part of the health service, and

                                                 iv.     where there are water fluoridation programmes affecting the authority’s area, the monitoring and reporting of the effect of water fluoridation programmes.

                                                  v.     The local authority shall participate in any oral health survey conducted or commissioned by the Secretary of State under paragraph 13(1) of Schedule 1 to the 2006 Act (powers in relation to research etc.) so far as that survey is conducted within the authority’s area.

Domain 4 (Healthcare public health and preventing premature mortality) of the Public Health Outcomes Framework includes and indicator relating to “tooth decay in children aged 5.” Continued local dental epidemiology survey provision will be required for the monitoring of this indicator.

Oxfordshire County Council have a requirement to provide a capacity to collect dental epidemiology (surveys) which help inform on the local oral health of the population. This information can help NHS England in understanding the need for dental services locally.

In April 2015 OCC let a contract to Community Dental Services CIC for the collection of dental epidemiology, thus meeting the Council’s statutory requirement. The County Council collect data in line with the National Dental Intelligence Programme which provides a scientifically robust methodology and allows comparability of local data with regional and national data.

All Dental Services are commissioned by NHS England, which does include an element of oral health promotion in these contracts. Oral health promotion is on the same footing as providing dental services which is a clear NHSE  ...  view the full minutes text for item 102/15

The following requests to speak had been agreed and the following petition received:

Item 6 – Mr Barry Finch, Oxfordshire Action for Transport Group

Councillor Roy McMillan, Chairman of South Stoke Parish Council

Mr Hugh Jaeger, Chair of Bus Users Oxford and a Director of Bus Users UK

Councillor Roz Smith, local councillor for Headington & Quarry            

Councillor Susanna Pressel*, local councillor for Jericho & Osney

Councillor Kieron Mallon, local councillor for Bloxham & Easington     

Councillor Laura Price, local councillor for Witney South & Central      

Councillor Steve Curran, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment

Cllr Liz Brighouse, Chairman of Performance Scrutiny Committee

* submitted a petition in support of the No 17 bus route

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/095

Contact: Alexandra Bailey, Service Manager, Business Development & Fleet Management Tel: (01865) 797228

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA6).

On 26th May 2015, the Cabinet approved the launch of a full public consultation on proposed changes to subsidised bus services and Dial a Ride. This report details the consultation process that was followed and summarises the main themes which arose throughout the consultation. Finally it offers a number of recommendations for cabinet to consider.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Delivery of the agreed Medium Term Financial Plan savings

In order to deliver the savings required in the MTFP, the Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)  Consider the consultation feedback regarding subsidised bus services.

(b)Proceed with reducing bus subsidies by £2.3 million and:

1.     Consider the consultation feedback regarding subsidised bus services and decide which services to prioritise – off-peak, peak, or other.

2.     Update the methodology used for ranking services in the following ways:

                                    i.          Include additional criteria which ensure that rurally isolated and deprived areas are also prioritised.         

                                  ii.          Agree to continue to pay for (i.e. protect in the methodology) subsidised bus routes which are used to take entitled students from home to school, where on the whole it is cheaper for us to do so, instead of paying for separate dedicated school transport. (This will vary routes available on a year by year basis as school cohorts change).

                                iii.          Ensure a consistent methodology by treating all providers in the same way, whether they are external providers, OCC fleet or community transport providers.

If cabinet approves this request, then approximately two-thirds of the subsidies due to be withdrawn would cease in April 2016, and the remaining third would cease in June 2016. The £2.3m savings under option 2 would be realised in financial year 16/17, assuming notice was served in November / December 2015. 

The exact details cannot be finalised at this stage due to variables including whether contract renewal renegotiations are required, which could alter costs.

(c)  Cease funding the Dial a Ride service as of April 2016.

Delivery of further savings subject to Council approval

(d)  The withdrawal of all bus subsidies would deliver the full £3.7m savings if the cabinet makes this decision, subject to full council’s approval in February 2016 to further reduce the Supported Transport budget. The full £3.7m savings, would be realised once all contract termination processes have been completed. 

If Council approves this request, then the subsidies would cease at the following time:

Ø  50% of subsidies (59/118 services) require 17 weeks' notice and could terminate on 20^th June 2016, assuming notice was served on 22^nd February 2016.

Ø  31% of subsidies (37/118 services) require 16 weeks' notice but also require 16 weeks to modify the "Authorised Change Date". This means they would take 32 weeks to terminate. They could therefore terminate on 3^rd October 2016, assuming notice to change the "Authorised Change Date" was served on 22^nd February 2016, and notice  ...  view the full agenda text for item 104/15

On 26th May 2015, the Cabinet approved the launch of a full public consultation on proposed changes to subsidised bus services and Dial a Ride. Cabinet had before them a report that detailed the consultation process that was followed and which summarised the main themes that arose throughout the consultation. Finally it offered a number of recommendations for cabinet to consider.

Barry Finch speaking on behalf of the Oxfordshire ATG spoke against the proposal which would affect the most vulnerable. It would affect people’s ability to transfer between transport nodes. The report suggested only limited extra money to support alternative provision at a time when such resources were already over stretched. He highlighted the County Voluntary Drivers Scheme which depended on volunteers, often retired people. The use of cars would increase congestion and mini buses were expensive to run. He queried whether the proposals met the requirements of the, Disability Discrimination and Equality Acts to provide no lesser services for elderly and disabled people.

Councillor McMillan whilst recognising the difficulties faced by the County Council, highlighted the importance of continuing the subsidy for the 139 route. No other public service served the route between Wallingford and Goring. Without it people would be locked into the village without access to services. The route has proved successful, tripling its use and halving its subsidy. He accepted that there was scope for reduction. He asked that the Council advise quickly on specifics in order to bring clarity on the effects and timing. He welcomed the offer of pump priming and advice on mitigating the worst effects.

Mr Hugh Jaeger spoke on Option 2 and referred to the types of route receiving subsidy. There were: those routes receiving only a small subsidy; those routes that linked strategic points along busy roads and those routes that serve villages such as Stanford-in-the-Vale. There was a need to ensure these buses were better co-ordinated to encourage use and therefore reduce the need for subsidy. He supported revising option 2 to include peak travel.

Councillor Roz Smith thanked the ORCC for collating the high number of responses and spoke in support of the local service linking Sandhills to Headington. This was the only available local service and although off peak was highly regarded and valued. The service was due to end in June next year. She accepted that it may run for less days each week. She was pleased to see the pump priming funding and queried how the decision on successful schemes would be made.

Councillor Pressel and Margaret Donaldson, a local elderly resident, submitted a petition and spoke in support of the No. 17 bus service. Margaret Donaldson spoke of the impact on elderly people if the service did not run with them becoming isolated and unable to access services such as the hospital. Children too would be affected as they used the bus to get to Cutteslowe School. Mrs Donaldson queried the use of the older persons buss pass if there was no bus  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104/15

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/060

Contact: Lewis Gosling, Financial Manager - Treasury Management Tel: (01865) 323988

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA7).

The report sets out the Treasury Management activity undertaken in the first half of the financial year 2015/16 in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice.  The report includes Debt and Investment activity, Prudential Indicator monitoring and forecast interest receivable and payable for the financial year.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report, and to RECOMMEND Council to note the Council’s Mid-Term Treasury Management Review 2015/16.

Cabinet considered a report that set out the Treasury Management activity undertaken in the first half of the financial year 2015/16 in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice. The report included Debt and Investment activity, Prudential Indicator monitoring and forecast interest receivable and payable for the financial year.

Councillor Stratford introduced the contents of the report. In moving the recommendation he thanked the Treasury Management Team for their work. A view endorsed by cabinet who appreciated the careful approach that also gave decent returns

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report, and to RECOMMEND Council to note the Council’s Mid-Term Treasury Management Review 2015/16.

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/061

Contact: Sue Corrigan, County HR Manager Tel: (01865) 810280

Report by Chief Human Resources Officer (CA8).

The report provides an update on staffing numbers and related activity for the period 1 July 2015 to 30 September 2015. Progress is being tracked throughout the year on the movement of staffing numbers from those reported at 31 March 2015 as we continue to deliver required budget savings.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

Cabinet considered an update on staffing numbers and related activity for the period 1 July 2015 to 30 September 2015.

Cabinet RESOLVED to note the report.

The Cabinet considered a list of items for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.