Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 455 KBVenue: Rooms 1&2 - County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND. View directions
Contact: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh Tel: 07393 001096; E-Mail: colm.ocaomhanaigh@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Link: video link https://oxon.cc/Cabinet18042023
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hannaby. |
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Declarations of Interest - guidance note below Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record. |
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Questions from County Councillors 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: See Annex. |
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Petitions and Public Address Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.
To facilitate ‘hybrid’ meetings we are asking that requests to speak or present a petition are submitted by no later than 9am four working days before the meeting i.e., 9am on Wednesday 12 April 2023. Requests to speak should be sent to chris.reynolds@oxfordshire.gov.uk
If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that your views are taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.
Minutes: 5 Petition – “Save our bus seats”
Annalisa Miller
6 Reports from Scrutiny Committees – Home to School Transport Policy Working Group
Grant Cawte Peter Walker Katrina Randon Sarah Obinna Cllr John Howson
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Questions from County Councillors Cabinet will receive four scrutiny reports:-
- From the Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Cost of Living
- From the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Transitions to Adult Social Care
- From the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Children and Adults’ Social Care Workforce
- From the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Home to School Transport Policy Working Group
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Additional documents:
Minutes: On behalf of the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Tom Hudson, Principal Scrutiny Officer introduced the report “Cost of Living Performance”, which summarised the Committee’s consideration of the interventions in place and in development to support those facing challenges with the cost of living and comparing them with LGA advice on the role that Councils should play in this area. He referred to the recommendation regarding regular liaison with Locality meetings on cost-of-living activity.
Councillor Nigel Simpson, Chair of the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, introduced the report “Transitions to Adult Social Care” which summarised the Committee’s consideration of Oxfordshire’s approach to supporting young people through their transition into adult services. He referred to the recommendation regarding the potential opportunities for Section 106 capital funding for housing needs.
Councillor Simpson also introduced the report “Children and Adult Social Care Workforce” which summarised the Committee’s consideration of the children and adults’ social care workforce (both internal and external), recruitment and retention challenges and opportunities. He referred to the recommendations the Council introduces a Council-wide staff retention strategy and to develop a partnership approach to key-worker housing with the District Councils.
Councillor Andy Graham, Chair of the Home to School Transport Working Group, introduced the report from the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee which summarised the Working Group’s findings from its review of the Home to School Transport Policy. He gave details of the various factors which had led to the 9 recommendations in the report. Councillor Simpson, Chair of the Scrutiny Committee confirmed that the recommendations had been carried with cross-party support.
Councillor Liz Brighouse, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services responded to the report and thanked Councillor Graham and the members of the Working Group for their work which had led to the recommendations. She made the following points:
- The Council had been provided with information about the alternative bus provision in a number of schools - There had been considerable work on mitigation in response to the reduced numbers of spare seats in some schools - The Council would continue to support the spare seats policy - A report on the policy would be brought to the Cabinet meeting in May
During discussion members made the following points:
- The provision of public transport was an important element of the Council’s environmental strategy to tackle the impact of climate change and all possible steps should be taken to reduce the number of car journeys and mitigate the loss of spare seats in some areas of the County - Parents attending the meeting were encouraged to hold discussions with the Director of Children’s Services regarding the concerns expressed at the meeting
Cabinet will respond to the four Scrutiny Committee reports in due course.
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Cabinet Member: Finance Forward Plan Ref: 2023/080 Contact: Claire Taylor, Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources, claire.taylor@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA 7).
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to
(a) Note the progress set out in the report below.
(b) Note the that the ‘Likely Case’ timetable set out in appendix 1 remains the probable timeframe for decision making.
Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet had before it a report which provided an update on progress with negotiations with Oxford United Football Club on the future use of Council-owned land and timetable for provision of a new stadium.
Councillor Glynis Phillips, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, introduced the report and explained the progress that had been made with stakeholder engagement on the proposals as detailed in the report.
The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Phillips, seconded by Councillor Miller and agreed.
RESOLVED to note :-
a) the progress set out in the report
b) that the “likely case” timetable set out in appendix 1 remains the probable timeframe for decision making. |
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Cabinet Members: Finance and Corporate Services Forward Plan Ref: 2023/029 Contact:Tim Spiers, Director of IT, Innovation, Digital and Transformation, tim.spiers@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA 8).
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to
b. Approve funding of £1.57m for programme resources to prepare requirements for a transformation and potential procurement process. This funding will be drawn from the council’s transformation reserve.
c. Note that a further Cabinet decision to commit capital funding and progress to the next stage will be required in due course, which will be based on a full business case.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet had before it a report presenting an outline business case to transform finance, procurement, HR and payroll services and systems within the authority. These services were currently delivered in partnership with Hampshire County Council.
Councillor Glynis Phillips, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services introduced the report and explained the reasons for transferring the services to an in-house model which would better meet the Council’s needs going forward.
During discussion, the following points were made:-
- The importance of involving staff at all levels in the organisation in the transformation process - The process should be conducted through a sequential approach to ensure sustainability and that the financial, capability and delivery aspects of the project were given adequate consideration
Councillor Phillips proposed the recommendations, Councillor Sudbury seconded and they were approved.
RESOLVED to:-
a) approve the development of detailed requirements and a full business case to review delivery options for corporate support services and underpinning technology including human resources, finance, payroll and procurement in order to deliver services more efficiently, modernise business processes and upgrade current IT systems.
b) approve funding of £1.57m for programme resources to prepare requirements for a transformation and potential procurement process. This funding will be drawn from the council’s transformation reserve.
c) note that a further Cabinet decision to commit capital funding and progress to the next stage will be required in due course, which will be based on a full business case.
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Delegated Powers Report for January to March 2023 Cabinet Member: Leader Forward Plan Ref: 2022/188 Contact: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh, Committee Officer, 07393 001096
Report by Director of Law & Governance (CA 9).
To report on a quarterly basis any executive decisions taken under the specific powers and functions delegated under the terms of Part 7.1 (Scheme of Delegation to Officers) of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 6.3(c)(i). It is not for Scrutiny call-in.
Minutes: RESOLVED to note the executive decision taken under the specific powers and functions delegated under the terms of Part 7.1 (Scheme of Delegation to Officers) of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 6.3(c)(i). It is not for Scrutiny call-in
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Forward Plan and Future Business Cabinet Member: All Contact Officer: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh, Committee Officer Tel: 07393 001096
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 CA. 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. Minutes: The Cabinet considered a list of items (CA10) for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet.
RESOLVED to:
a) note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.
b) add the decision on the Home to School Transport Policy to the Forward Plan for the Cabinet meeting in May 2023
c) note that the Portfolios listed for the non-key decision on Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Strategy should be the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Equalities and the Cabinet member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment
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