Oxfordshire County Council logo

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Rooms 1&2 - County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND. View directions

Contact: Sue Whitehead  Tel: 07393 001213; E-Mail:  sue.whitehead@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

18/19

Minutes pdf icon PDF 201 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2019 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 26 February were approved and signed by the Chairman.

19/19

Questions from County Councillors pdf icon PDF 116 KB

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working days before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the Cabinet’s delegated powers.

 

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

 

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

Minutes:

Councillor Howson had given notice of the following question to Councillor Bartholomew:

 

“What is the grant for 2019-20 for the Youth Offending Team in Oxfordshire from central government and how does it compare to the grant for last year from the government?”

 

Councillor Bartholomew replied:

 

“We have not had the figure for 2019/20 – we expect to receive notification in May – so cannot offer a comparison.”

 

Supplementary: In response to a further question Councillor Bartholomew agreed that the late announcement of grant funding did frustrate the efficient running of the Council’s finances.

 

Councillor Pressel had given notice of the following question to Councillor Constance:

 

“In our response To the Oxfordshire Plan 2050, please ask for much more emphasis on the need to combat climate change. This needs to be included in the Vision (which mentions only the need to build in resilience) and it needs to run like a golden thread through the whole document. Our future depends on it!

 

Councillor Constance replied:

 

We can include a comment along these lines in our final response on the Oxfordshire Plan 2050.

 

Councillor Pressel had given notice of the following question to Councillor Constance:

 

“I was surprised and disappointed to find that one can’t respond to the consultation on the Oxfordshire Plan through our website. Please can this be remedied?”

 

Councillor Constance replied:

 

“The Oxfordshire Plan 2050 process is the responsibility of the Growth Board. OCC is a consultee in this process and so it would not be appropriate for us to hold the consultation on our website.

 

For this stage of the consultation however (up to 25 March) OCC has been promoting the opportunity to respond to the consultation via OCC’s Facebook page and via its Twitter feed. We will continue to do this in future consultations.”

20/19

Petitions and Public Address pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman had agreed the following requests to address the meeting:

 

The Leader of the Council had agreed the following requests to address the meeting: -Item

Speaker

Item 6 – Capital Finance Monitoring Report

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance

Item 7 – Financial Monitoring and Medium Term Financial Plan Delivery Report

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance

Item 8 – Home Care Options Appraisal

Councillor Sobia Afridi, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health

Item 9 – Older Peoples Strategy

Councillor Sobia Afridi, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health

Item 10 - Innovation Fund for Daytime Support Grant Awards

Councillor Sobia Afridi, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health

Item 11 – Reg 18 Consultation on Oxfordshire Plan 2015 and Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report: OCC Response

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment

Item 12 – Community Risk Management Plan – Action Plan 2019-20

Councillor Laura Price, Opposition Deputy Leader

Item 13 – Business Management & Monitoring Report

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Chairman of Performance Scrutiny Committee

 

 

The Chairman proposed and it was agreed to vary the order of the agenda to take Agenda Item 13 as the next item.

21/19

Business Management & Monitoring Report for Quarter 3 - 2018/19 - March 2019 pdf icon PDF 313 KB

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader of the Council

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/179

Contact: Steven Jones, Corporate Performance & Risk Manager Tel: 07392 318890

 

Report by Policy & Performance Service Manager (CA13).

 

The report and its two annexes demonstrate the state of Oxfordshire County Council's progress towards Corporate Plan priorities at the end of Quarter 3 2018-19.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the performance reported.

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

Cabinet had before it a report that demonstrated the state of Oxfordshire County Council's progress towards Corporate Plan priorities at the end of Quarter 3, 2018-19.

 

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Chairman of Performance Scrutiny Committee summarised the comments of the Committee following its consideration of the information on 14 March. In particular she highlighted requests for more information from the Committee on the sites of road traffic collisions, waste management information by District Council area and educational attainment. Educations Scrutiny Committee would be taking up some these at future meetings. The Committee had queried the information on air quality as although it was rated green councillors were aware of areas that were not good. Councillor Brighouse added that in the meeting as a whole there had been a focus on adult social care and in particular home care issues such as the differentiation between the highest and lowest rates and the issues around travel time. Councillor Brighouse highlighted the need to monitor the One Public Estate through the transformation process. She welcomed the move to monthly monitoring reports for Cabinet but would need to consider how best to scrutinise and bring comments to Cabinet. It would be important for all councillors to receive the information.

 

Councillor Heathcoat, in moving the recommendations welcomed the move to monthly reporting which would provide more vigour in the monitoring process. She noted that she had been present at the Performance Scrutiny Committee meeting to hear the discussion. The report demonstrated a positive direction of travel with red indicators moving to amber and a stable or improving outlook. Councillor Heathcoat recognised the slow progress on One Public Estate and that the indicator on looked after children should be red.

 

Councillor Hudspeth responding to the comments on air quality explained that the indicator was green not because of the air quality but because of the knowledge of the problems and the quality of the work addressing those issues.

 

RESOLVED:            to note the performance reported.

22/19

Capital Programme Monitoring Report - January 2019 pdf icon PDF 168 KB

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/170

Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518

 

Report by Director of Finance (CA6).

 

This report focuses on the delivery of the 2018/19 capital programme based on projections at the end of January 2019 and new inclusions within the overall ten-year capital programme. The programme also includes all changes approved by Council in February 2019 as part of the Service & Resource Planning process.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)         note the report;

(b)         approve the changes to the programme in Annex 1c;

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report that focused on the delivery of the 2018/19 capital programme based on projections at the end of January 2019 and new inclusions within the overall ten-year capital programme. The programme also included all changes approved by Council in February 2019 as part of the Service & Resource Planning process.

 

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, commented that with the 10-year programme it was possible to see the longer-term picture and the regular reports gave assurance that money was being spent appropriately. The report illustrated the increasing need for school places and Council’s were unable to force academies to expand. Councillor Price noted that all final decisions were with the Secretary of State for Education and expressed the view that it would be good to see the restoration of local decision making.

 

Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, responding to the comments made stated that the reports would enable fluctuations in the programme to be monitored, adjusted and controlled. He noted that the Council had no control over Government policy.

 

Councillor Bartholomew introduced the contents of the report and moved the recommendations. Councillor Hudspeth referred to the successful £218m bid for projects for Didcot Garden Town projects that should be recognised in noting the report. He added that a further bid would be submitted for HIF2.

 

RESOLVED:             to:

 

(a)                  note the report subject to also noting the recent successful £218m bid for Didcot Garden Town projects; and

(b)                  approve the changes to the programme in Annex 1c;

 

 

23/19

Financial Monitoring and Medium Term Financial Delivery Report - January 2019 pdf icon PDF 394 KB

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/169

Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518

 

Report by Director of Finance (CA7).

 

This report sets out the forecast position of the revenue budget as at the end of January 2019.  This report also includes an update on the delivery of savings, plus a forecast of reserves and balances.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)      note the report;

(b)      approve the virements set out in Annex 2a and note the virements set out in Annex 2b; and

(c)       approve the bad debt write-offs as set out in paragraphs 69 and 70;

(d)      note the treasury management lending list as set out in Annex 6;

(e)      approve the fees and charges set out in paragraph 77 and Annex 7;

(f)        approve the Children’s Services Action Plan as set out in Annex 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report that set out the forecast position of the revenue budget as at the end of January 2019.  The report also included an update on the delivery of savings, plus a forecast of reserves and balances.

 

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, highlighted her main area of concern as being Children Education & Families (CEF) and congratulated the otherwise broadly balanced budgets being delivered in difficult circumstances. Councillor Phillips made detailed comments on the position with regard to CEF. Councillor Phillips referred to the in year funding received.

 

Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, responded to the comments made noting that children’s services were a national and ongoing issue. He detailed the steps being taken to address the situation. Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Leader of the Council, added that in respect of the in-year funding whilst it was welcomed it made planning difficult and it would be better to have long term planning. Individual Cabinet Members responded to the points made.

In particular Councillor Lindsay-Gale referred to the work being carried out by the Cabinet Advisory Group looking at SEN transport who were hoping to report in the Summer. Councillor Lindsay-Gale also referred to the plans for new schools that were designed to cut down journey times for children.

 

Councillor Bartholomew introduced the contents of the report and moved the recommendations.

 

RESOLVED:             to:

 

(a)      note the report;

(b)      approve the virements set out in Annex 2a and note the virements set out in Annex 2b; and

(c)       approve the bad debt write-offs as set out in paragraphs 69 and 70;

(d)      note the treasury management lending list as set out in Annex 6;

(e)      approve the fees and charges set out in paragraph 77 and Annex 7;

(f)        approve the Children’s Services Action Plan as set out in Annex 8.

 

24/19

Home Care Options Appraisal pdf icon PDF 179 KB

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care & Public Health

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/006

Contact: Rachel Pirie, Lead for Older People Commissioning Markets Tel: 07917 534410

 

Report by Director for Adult Services (CA8).

 

The Care Act places a duty on the Council to maintain an efficient and effective care market for the population of Oxfordshire, including people funding their own care

 

Between Autumn 2016 – Spring 2017 five home care agencies in Oxfordshire exited the care market. In order to explore this issue in more detail full council passed a motion asking officers to explore the feasibility of establishing a small flexible home care service

 

A comprehensive review of all options has been undertaken ranging from the Council becoming a large provider of home care, establishing a small home care service, to continuing with the status quo.

 

The report also reflects the work we have been doing locally and regionally to strengthen our assessment of the care market and ability to effectively respond when provider failure occurs.

 

Cabinet are asked to consider and agree the issues raised in this report and the recommendations to improve the capability and capacity of the home care market in Oxfordshire.

 

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to continue with the current care purchasing and provision arrangements and whilst doing so it also commits to:

(i)        support and develop the home care market by creating a new partnership model;

(ii)      developing alternative models of home care;

(iii)     improving outcomes for people receiving reablement and reviewing our arrangements for contingency.

Minutes:

The Care Act places a duty on the Council to maintain an efficient and effective care market for the population of Oxfordshire, including people funding their own care

 

Between Autumn 2016 – Spring 2017 five home care agencies in Oxfordshire exited the care market. In order to explore this issue in more detail full council passed a motion asking officers to explore the feasibility of establishing a small flexible home care service

 

A comprehensive review of all options has been undertaken ranging from the Council becoming a large provider of home care, establishing a small home care service, to continuing with the status quo.

 

Cabinet considered a report on the work of the review. The report also reflected the work done locally and regionally to strengthen the Council’s assessment of the care market and ability to effectively respond when provider failure occurs.

 

Councillor Laura Price, Opposition Deputy Leader whilst disappointed not to be welcoming new home care provision welcomed the wide-ranging nature of the report. She referred to reablement provision as a core element of the offer and highlighted the need for details. Councillor Price hoped that the report would be the start of something and that the door was not closed to taking a more innovative look.

 

Councillor Lawrie Stratford, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health, introduced the contents of the report, thanking Council for the motion that had led to the report. Councillor Stratford highlighted the challenges in the current market and in moving the recommendations he commended the proposals.

 

During discussion Cabinet welcomed the proposals. In response to questions members were advised that the proposals were not aimed at undercutting or disturbing existing partners who were doing an excellent job. However, there was a challenge around obtaining sufficient hours and there was a need to work together to move away from being so transactional.

 

RESOLVED:            to continue with the current care purchasing and provision arrangements and whilst doing so it also commits to:

(a)      support and develop the home care market by creating a new partnership model;

(b)      developing alternative models of home care;

(c)       improving outcomes for people receiving reablement and reviewing our arrangements for contingency.

25/19

Older People's Strategy pdf icon PDF 354 KB

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care & Public Health

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/197

Contact: Rachel Pirie, Lead for Older People Commissioning Markets Tel: 07917 534410

 

Report by Director for Adult Social Care (CA9).

 

Cabinet are asked to support the final version of ‘Living Longer, Living Better: Oxfordshire’s Older People’s Strategy”, which is also scheduled for approval at the Health & Wellbeing Board in March 2019.

 

Cabinet are also asked to support the ‘Report of the Older People’s Strategy Consultation’ which will also be submitted to the Health & Wellbeing Board.

 

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(i)         support the final version of ‘Living Longer, Living Better: Oxfordshire’s Older People’s Strategy”, which is also submitted for approval at the Health & Wellbeing Board and Cabinet in March 2019;

(ii)      support the ‘Report of the Older People’s Strategy Consultation’ which will also be submitted to the Health & Wellbeing Board.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report seeking support for the final version of ‘Living Longer, Living Better: Oxfordshire’s Older People’s Strategy”, which is also scheduled for approval at the Health & Wellbeing Board in March 2019.

 

Cabinet were also asked to support the ‘Report of the Older People’s Strategy Consultation’ which will also be submitted to the Health & Wellbeing Board.

 

Councillor Laura Price, Opposition Deputy Leader, stated she was glad to see the number of responses to the consultation and welcomed the provision of paper copies, which was important in reaching the target audience. Councillor Price queried when she and the public would be able to access the implementation plan. There were a number of challenges in delivering the strategy including those around staffing (both paid and volunteers), cuts to core delivery and funding issues in the face of increasing demand. A lot would depend on the implementation plan.

 

Councillor Lawrie Stratford, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health agreed with comments made by Councillor Price about the dependence on volunteers. The strategy recognised the value of their support.

 

Councillor Stratford in moving the recommendations proposed an amendment to include within the strategy a paragraph on the advantages of cultural activities for older people. Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services spoke in support of the amendment commenting that cultural activities were a way of combatting loneliness.

 

Benedict Leigh, Deputy Director Commissioning, added that once the Strategy was agreed then work would begin on the implementation plan. This would involve working groups and working together to look at what needed to be done differently to implement the Strategy.

 

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)      approve the final version of ‘Living Longer, Living Better: Oxfordshire’s Older People’s Strategy’, subject to the addition of a paragraph on the advantages of cultural activities for older people such as book clubs, choirs and the home library service, which is also submitted for approval at the Health & Wellbeing Board in March 2019;

 

(b)      Support the ‘Report of the Older People’s Strategy Consultation’, which will also be submitted to the Health & Wellbeing Board.

26/19

Innovation Fund for Daytime Support Grant Awards - March 2019 pdf icon PDF 184 KB

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care & Public Health

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/171

Contact: Rebecca Lanchbury, Strategic Commissioning Officer Tel: 07584 481255

 

Report by Deputy Director – Joint Commissioning (CA10).

 

The Innovation Fund for Daytime Support 2018-19 was open to applications from all community and voluntary organisations to deliver new innovative projects for daytime support in Oxfordshire.  The aim of the funding is to provide one-off funding to support the development of self-sustaining projects, delivering new opportunities for adults in Oxfordshire.

 

This report relates to the third round of the Innovation Fund which opened on 1 December 2018 and closed on 18 January 2019. There is £54,440.40 available in this fund.  As per the agreed cross-party decision-making process, the cross-party panel reviewed the applications and assessed them against grant criteria. Decisions on recommendations for award were coproduced with people who use services and supported by officer recommendations.

 

This report sets out the final cross-party panel recommendations for allocation of the Innovation Fund for Daytime Support 2018-19, for decision by Cabinet.

 

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve:

 

(a)      for funding the bid listed under 23 (a) below;

(b)      the recommendation funding amounts for the bids listed under 23 (b) below;

(c)       the recommendation funding amount for the bid listed under 23 (c) below, subject to conditions as set out in the cross-party panel recommendations table below;

(d)      the recommendation to reject the bids listed under 23 (d) below.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Innovation Fund for Daytime Support 2018-19 was open to applications from all community and voluntary organisations to deliver new innovative projects for daytime support in Oxfordshire.  The aim of the funding is to provide one-off funding to support the development of self-sustaining projects, delivering new opportunities for adults in Oxfordshire.

 

Cabinet had before them a report on the third round of the Innovation Fund. As per the agreed cross-party decision-making process, the cross-party panel reviewed the applications and assessed them against grant criteria. Decisions on recommendations for award were coproduced with people who use services and supported by officer recommendations.

 

The report set out the final cross-party panel recommendations for allocation of the Innovation Fund for Daytime Support 2018-19, for decision by Cabinet.

 

Councillor Laura Price, Opposition Deputy Leader, applauded the truly different types of provision emerging but expressed concern at the sustainability of projects. She felt that people would be seeking further funds down the line and that projects could stop if the Council could not find some way to continue funding. She noted that the Sustainability Fund was already over subscribed. Councillor Price also expressed concern that in funding individual projects there was consideration of the criteria of need for the project but no vision for the County as a whole. Councillor Price believed that there was a need for a clear county wide strategy, of mapping of that provision and a long term vision on how provision could survive.

 

Councillor Stratford accepted the challenge of sustainability. He paid tribute to the service users on the Panel who had robustly questioned applicants on their long term viability.

 

Councillor Reeves corrected the recommendation that should refer throughout to paragraph 24.

 

RESOLVED:             to approve:

 

(a)      for funding the bid listed under 24 (a) below;

(b)      the recommendation funding amounts for the bids listed under 24 (b) below;

(c)        the recommendation funding amount for the bid listed under 24 (c) below, subject to conditions as set out in the cross-party panel recommendations table below;

(d)      the recommendation to reject the bids listed under 24 (d) below.

 

N.B A list of projects agreed is attached as Annex 1to the Minutes.

27/19

Reg 18 Consultation on the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 and the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report: County Council Response to the Consultation pdf icon PDF 222 KB

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/011

Contact: Dawn Pettis, Strategic Planning Team Leader Tel: 07771 983395

 

Report by Director for Planning & Place (CA11).

 

On 11 February the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 (Vision, Aspirations and Objectives) was published for public consultation for a period of six weeks to 25 March. This report sets out the County Council’s draft response to this consultation, together with a draft response on the accompanying Sustsinability Appriasal Scoping Report.

 

The Oxfordshire Plan 2050 contains a draft Vison, five Aspirations and a number of Objectives aligned to the Aspirations. It also outlines a range of potential spatial options for growth up to 2050.

 

The County Council strongly supports the Vision, Aspirations and Objectives of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050. The key themes in the draft response include:

 

        Overall support for the draft Objectives but further strengthening key messages about the need for an increase in sustainable modes of travel, and to enhancing messages around public health and the environment;

        Highlighting concepts such as the need for charging points for Electric Vehicles into all premises together with full fibre broadband;

        A real focus on the need to ensure that cycling and walking levels and traffic reduction are radically improved;

        The aspiration to retain Oxfordshire’s status as being amongst one of the best areas in the country for recycling and waste prevention;

           A recognition that Oxfordshire is part of a wider region.

 

The comments on the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report relate to in particular the need to further strengthen and reinforce the importance of the public health agenda throughout the document in line with the emerging Joint Health and Well Being Strategy, which has specific proposals around healthy place-shaping.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)      note and endorse the draft response to the consultation of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 (Vision, Aspirations and Objectives) contained in Annex 2, taking into account any changes agreed at Cabinet;

(b)      note and endorse the draft response to the consultation of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Document, contained in Annex 3, taking into account any changes agreed at Cabinet.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

On 11 February the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 (Vision, Aspirations and Objectives) was published for public consultation for a period of six weeks to 25 March. Cabinet considered a report that set out the County Council’s draft response to the consultation, together with a draft response on the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report.

 

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, in supporting the Plan drew attention to the following: major highway projects needed to include a dedicated cycle path; parking and traffic congestion were worsening and there was a need for a vision for traffic in 2050; rail infrastructure should include plans for combined bus and rail. He drew attention to the need for the Cowley line. Councillor Sanders commented that it was essential for the Plan to have a timetable for delivery of the vision. He suggested target milestones set over a 30-year rolling programme.

 

Councillor Hudspeth, Leader of the Council, referred to the £218m funding for infrastructure projects in the Didcot area and that cycle paths would be an integral part of those plans. It was more difficult with existing infrastructure and it was about making best use of available funding. The bid for the A40 would also include cycle paths. On the Cowley Branch line he was pressing but this project was reliant on Network Rail.

 

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the contents of the report. The Plan was intended to encourage co-operation between the County, District and City Councils. Councillor Constance thanked Councillor Pressel for a very good contribution and following her earlier question there would be comment on the need to combat climate change in the Council’s response. In commending the Vision Councillor Constance drew attention to the focus on public health. The Plan was building for a future of motor transport that will be post zero emissions and to address congestion. There was a significant commitment to congestion management.

During discussion Cabinet:

 

·           *Councillor Bartholomew highlighted the need for a clear definition of ‘sustainable’ and also of ‘affordable housing’.

·           *Explored the extent of housing growth and concerns raised with them by the public, through parish meetings and specifically by the CPRE to Councillor Bartholomew that the scale of housing would undermine the rural nature of some areas and put a strain on services. Bev Hindle clarified that the figure of 300,000 houses that had appeared in some places was not an official number although there would be a large number of houses. He was pleased that the CPRE was taking an active role and the Council and partners needed to find a better way to engage such groups to ensure the information they had was accurate. This was a real opportunity to shape and guide the vision.

·           Noted that more detail would be part of the next stage of the plan.

·           Raised the issue of key worker housing and it was agreed that this be included in the response.

·           Drew attention to paragraph 75 relating to the provision of schools as part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27/19

28/19

Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) Action Plan 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 170 KB

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader of the Council

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/153

Contact: Paul Bremble, Group Manager – Strategic Risk & Assurance

 

Report by Chief Fire Officer (CA12).

 

The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a Fire and Rescue National Framework to which Fire Authorities must have regard when discharging their functions. The 2018 Framework requires each Fire and Rescue Authority to produce a publicly available Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). Within Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) we have called this our Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) to make it more meaningful to the public. In April 2017 OFRS published the CRMP 5-year strategy of Oxfordshire, this will cover the period from 2017 to 2022.

 

Each year the fire authority creates an action plan which proposes a number of projects to support the CRMP 5-year strategy.  This report outlines the proposed projects for 2019-20 and the consultation that has been undertaken on those projects.

 

The proposals in this report were presented to the Performance Scrutiny Committee in October 2018.

 

The agreed proposals within the 2019-20 action plan have been subjected to full internal and external consultation for a period of 12 weeks. Cabinet is therefore invited to comment on the proposed action plan, consultation responses and management responses to the consultation responses.

 

The following projects will be included within the fire authority’s CRMP for the fiscal year 2019-20:

 

• Project 1 - Risk profiling local communities.

• Project 2 - Prevention Review

• Project 3 - On-Call retention review

• Project 4 - Proactive Role in improving standards in rented housing

• Project 5: Establishing Community Safety Advocates or Wardens. 

• Project 6: To increase the diversity of the Operational Workforce to reflect the community that we serve.

 

Our medium-term financial plan and supporting business strategies underpin the proposals within our CRMP action plan.

 

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to accept the proposed projects and adopt in the final version of the CRMP Action Plan 2019-20.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a Fire and Rescue National Framework to which Fire Authorities must have regard when discharging their functions. The 2018 Framework requires each Fire and Rescue Authority to produce a publicly available Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). Within Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) we have called this our Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) to make it more meaningful to the public. In April 2017 OFRS published the CRMP 5-year strategy of Oxfordshire, this will cover the period from 2017 to 2022.

 

Each year the fire authority creates an action plan which proposes a number of projects to support the CRMP 5-year strategy.  Cabinet considered a report that outlined the proposed projects for 2019-20 and the consultation that has been undertaken on those projects.

 

Councillor Laura Price, Opposition Deputy Leader, appreciated the job done in increasing engagement. Referring to the valued wider communities role that the Fire Service undertook Councillor Price was concerned whether there was a need at a time of financial constraint to preserve the core offering. She noted that this concern seemed to come through in responses to the consultation. Councillor Price queried whether there was an official FBU response and that it would be good to see their response feature more strongly. Councillor Price referred to the general comments in the report and asked about the comments that whole-time staff were leaving more quickly.

 

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Deputy Leader of the Council, and Simon Furlong, Chief Fire Officer responded to the comments made. The core role within a broader role was recognised. There was some tension in taking on call fire fighters away from their usual employment to do non-emergency work.One of the projects was aimed at addressing this issue. It was confirmed that the FBU had responded to the consultation.  People leaving more quickly was a societal changes but one which concerned the Chief Fire Officer and one which he sought understand.

 

Councillor Heathcoat moved the recommendations.

 

RESOLVED:             to accept the proposed projects and adopt the final version of the CRMP Action Plan 2019-20.

29/19

Forward Plan and Future Business pdf icon PDF 154 KB

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Sue Whitehead, Committee Services Manager Tel: 07393 001213

 

The Cabinet Procedure Rules provide that the business of each meeting at the Cabinet is to include “updating of the Forward Plan and proposals for business to be conducted at the following meeting”.   Items from the Forward Plan for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet appear in the Schedule at CA15.  This includes any updated information relating to the business for those meetings that has already been identified for inclusion in the next Forward Plan update.

 

The Schedule is for noting, but Cabinet Members may also wish to take this opportunity to identify any further changes they would wish to be incorporated in the next Forward Plan update.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a list of items for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet together with changes and additions set out in the schedule of addenda.

 

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