To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2012 (to be circulated separately) and to receive information arising from them.

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.

Councillor  Jean Fooks had given notice of the following question to Councillor Rodney Rose:

“The addenda to Cabinet on Dec 18^th listed key announcements in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. Under capital investment, paragraph 18 mentioned an extra £1bn funding for the road programme and £42m for cycling infrastructure. There is also the Community Linking places fund and money for Improving Cycle Safety at junctions.

I should very much like to know what bids for cycling projects the County Council has made to these funds – which projects were successful and which might be on the long list for which extra money was announced on November 28^th 2012?

Please can you give me the details?”

Councillor Rose replied:

“We have bid to the DfT Cycle Safety Fund for a scheme in the Wotton Road area of Abingdon, one of the main objectives being the need to reduce casualties at this location.  The scheme value is just over £300,000.  At present, there are no further bids planned for purely cycling schemes, as we are focusing resources on securing investment for larger infrastructure projects, for example from the national pinch-points funding programme.

The extra £1bn that was announced in the Autumn Statement was mostly allocated to a small number of large national trunk road schemes (none of which are in Oxfordshire or neighbouring areas), but some of it is funding the Local Pinch Point Fund, for which we are preparing a bid  for converting Milton Interchange into a “hamburger” design.

Although “extra” funds were allocated for cycling infrastructure in the statement part of this appears to be through additional funding being made for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and part through making funding available to match fund private initiatives to which the County Council is not eligible to bid.”

Supplementary: Councillor Jean Fooks found the answer disappointing and asked whether it was not thought a good idea to apply for all possible funding from central government to give greater priority to  cycle safety. Councillor Rose replied that they were applying for all possible funding but with the proviso that it did not affect the effectiveness of the highway network for all users. Careful consideration was also needed where funding required match funding.

Councillor John Goddard had given notice of the following question to Councillor Rodney Rose:

“Today’s papers for Cabinet rightly give prominence to transport policy and improvements but there is a an ominous silence on the A40 between Witney and Oxford, the previously mentioned link between the A40 and the A44 just west of the Wolvercote roundabout and the consequent reduction of overload on that dangerous and accident-prone roundabout.

Will the Cabinet member explain what priority he will give to obtaining funding for this link and its early implementation as an essential part of any strategic plan for transport improvement in the county?”  

Councillor Rose replied:

“The problems on the A40 west of Oxford and as it passes through North Oxford are recognised as among the most serious transport problems  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2/13

The following requests to speak had been agreed by the Chairman

Item 6 – Councillor Zoe Patrick, Opposition Leader

Item 8 – Councillor Alan Armitage, Opposition Deputy Leader

Item 10 - Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services

Item 11 – Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/120

Contact: John Courouble, Corporate Policy Manager Tel: (01865) 896163

Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CA6).

This report and Annex provides Cabinet with a draft of the Corporate Plan for 2013/4-2017/18.The Plan is due to publish in March 2013 and Cabinet's approval of it is needed to do this. The report provides the detail of what changes have been made to the Plan in this edition.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the draft Corporate Plan going before Council on 19 February 2013.

Cabinet considered a draft of the Corporate Plan for 2013/4-2017/18 together with a report that provided the detail of what changes had been made to the Plan in this edition.

Councillor Zoe Patrick, Opposition Leader, commented that the Corporate Plan was a chance for the Leader to make his mark and highlighted and commented on a number of aspects in the Plan. In particular she referred to the Leader’s reference to Thriving Families where examples of its impact would be helpful; the need to address problems on the A34; that she felt there was little evidence of progress on improving skills; and that in welcoming the close working on bus transport she noted the lack of an Oyster type card.

The Leader in introducing the contents of the Plan responded to the points made. He stated that in this his first Plan he had not wanted a major overhaul. On the A34 he indicated that he had worked with the City Council to include improvements in the City Deal bid. With regard to public transport there was a lot going on in relation to the rail network. Now that the technology was capable he was keen to support the introduction of an Oyster type card going forward.

RESOLVED:                        to approve the draft Corporate Plan going before Council on 19 February 2013.

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/116

Contact: Andrew Colling, Quality & Contracts Manager Tel: (01865) 323682

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA10).

The Council has a statutory duty to make arrangements for persons aged 18 or over who it assesses are in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to them.

Consequently the Council pays for approximately 1,700 older people in care homes for older people at any one time, at a cost of circa £48m per annum.

Each year we set a rate for care home fees – in Oxfordshire we have bandings representing different payments for different levels of client need.

Recently Care Home providers have mounted successful and unsuccessful challenges to the way their local authority set the fee rate. Judgements were made on:

• the consultation process;

• the Service and Community Impact Assessment;

• the assessment of the cost of care.

As a result there has been debate nationally about the ‘usual cost of care’ and the extent to which local authorities can take account of both their own resources and of market factors, such as the number of private payers (who generally pay more), when setting the rates.

There is no nationally agreed methodology for calculating the cost of care but the Association of Directors of Adult Services is developing its own model.

This paper proposes that the Banding System in Oxfordshire be simplified.

It proposes that we should

   a. Confirm the interim payment 3% already paid to care homes in 2012/13 and

   b. increase the payments for residential homes and for the lower band for nursing homes from 1st April 2013.

The cost of the proposed increases in 2013 /14 is £405,000 which will increase the pressures on the Older People pooled budget next year.

We are not offering a general inflation increase for 2013/14 in the light of the 3% increase earlier this year (cost to the council was £900k).?

Our new rates are within the range of neighbouring authorities, but remain considerably below what we routinely pay for care in Oxfordshire today.

We will be carrying out further consultation with our providers on these proposals.

Any provider who is not happy with the rate has the option of trying to challenge us through the courts if they have grounds for believing that we have acted unreasonably.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED that in view of the above:

(a)   for 2012/13 and for Care Home Placements in Oxfordshire to:

1.      Confirm the 3% uplift agreed as an interim payment for all existing placements in care homes from April 2012.

2.      Confirm the 3% uplift agreed as an interim payment for all new placements in care homes from April 2012.

(b)  for 2013/14 to:

·        Revise our Target banding Rates from April 2013 and

                           (i).            Delete the Residential-Substantial Target Banding Rate

                         (ii).            Increase the Target Banding rate for the Residential-Extensive Specialist Category to £452 per week for new placements.

                       (iii).            Increase all existing weekly Residential payment rates  ...  view the full agenda text for item 5/13

At this point Cabinet agreed to vary the order of the agenda to take the next two items before the Service & Resource Planning report.

The Council has a statutory duty to make arrangements for persons aged 18 or over who it assesses are in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to them. Consequently the Council pays for approximately 1,700 older people in care homes for older people at any one time, at a cost of circa £48m per annum. Each year we set a rate for care home fees Cabinet considered a report that proposed that the Banding System for Care Home Fees in Oxfordshire be simplified.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services, stated that at the last review when there had been a reduction in fees concerns had been expressed at the Scrutiny Committee about the possible impact on the quality and viability of homes and on the quality of nursing and care. She welcomed the current review and the efforts to consult providers. She noted the disappointment of officers at the lack of response to the consultation and queried whether this was either a lack of interest in what was being offered by the Council or a feeling that their views would not be taken on board. Councillor Hannaby expressed concern that Homes would top up their income from self funders. She referred to the letter from OCA that expressed the concerns she also had.

Responding to questions from Cabinet Members Councillor Hannaby clarified that she was not saying that self funders should be subsidised but rather that a business would need to cover its costs and someone would pick up the slack and that this could be the self funders. She could not confirm that the Liberal Democrat would pay more indicating that they were putting their budget proposals together.

Councillor Fatemian, introduced the contents of the report emphasising that extensive work had been undertaken to come to a robust answer. He noted that through out the country self funders pay more than local authority users. He accepted that care homes needed to make a profit and that they kept a close eye on homes; overall Oxfordshire care homes were financially healthy. He expressed disappointment that more care homes did not take part in the consultation. They did not engage and did not share data. The model used was based on the National model and he proposed the recommendation to Cabinet as the right solution for Oxfordshire.

John Jackson, Director for Social and Community Services, detailed the contents of the report. He explained that the report set out a number of factors that had been considered including the results of the consultation.  He highlighted the issues and key points set out in the report. These included:

(1) The Council had received very limited information from only 5 providers.  As a result there is  not sufficient information to justify the significant increase that providers are seeking. 

(2) The County  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5/13

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/126

Contact: Alan Sinclair, Lead Commissioner – Older People Joint Commissioning Tel: (01865) 323665

Report by Deputy Director, Adult Social Care (CA11).

Public consultation took place from 1st June to 31st October 2012 in Tier 2 and Tier 3 services providing day opportunities for older people and people with a physical disability.

In Tier 2 services, which are provided by small and medium sized voluntary sector organisations in small local venues such as village halls or community centres, the proposal is to introduce daily transport charges of £5 for a return journey.

In Tier 3 services, which are the 8 larger resource centres providing support to people with higher needs (7 of which are run by the County Council internal service and 1 by Leonard Cheshire in Witney), the proposals are:

1.  To increase the attendance charge (from £4.18 per day to £15.00 per day) for a 5 hour     day (10am-3pm).

2.  To introduce the option of a 3 hour day for £9, (11am to 2pm)

3.  To increase the transport charge from 82p to £5 for a daily return journey

4.  An offer of additional subsidised services to support health & wellbeing such as basic foot care, massage and seated exercise classes.

The report provides details of the consultation that took place, who took part, stakeholder feedback, comments and suggestions .

The report gives a financial summary of the implications of the proposals.

The report sets out recommendations for consideration and approval with regards to the proposed increases of charges.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposals set out in paragraphs 53 and 54.

Cabinet considered a report that provided details of the consultation that took place on day opportunities and the transport charging model; it included who took part, stakeholder feedback, comments and suggestions . The report gave a financial summary of the implications of the proposals and set out recommendations with regards to the proposed increases of charges.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services, expressed her great disappointment at the proposals which dealt with the most vulnerable people. The health & wellbeing centres and day centres provided a real feeling of community with companionship, skills training, and health and wellbeing benefits. She highlighted the Social and Community Impact assessment which noted concerns with rising prices. The prices people would pay would be higher as they did not include lunch and there would be a reduced 3 hour day which was disappointing.

Councillor Fatemian, introduced the report and stressed his total, resolute and unwavering commitment to day care services. He was in no way considering privatisation over the course of the Service & Resource Plan. The most vulnerable people received support through personal budgets and anyone struggling should contact the Social & Community Services Directorate. He accepted that any price increase needed to be carefully considered but pointed out that the charges had not been increased for so long that he could find no record of any increase. Councillor Fatemian referred to the extensive consultation process thanking all those that took part. There was a good response rate and over two thirds of respondents said that they would continue to attend and a majority would not reduce the numbers of times they attended. He added that even with the increase in charges there was a 50% subsidy for attendance and 75% for transport. He had taken on board requests to phase the increase.

During discussion Cabinet noted the impressive number of respondents and that the consultation had highlighted how valuable these services were. People had recognised the need for increases but had been afraid of it going up immediately and this fear had been addressed.

Councillor Carter commented on the need to monitor centres that were within Oxfordshire but administered outside to ensure that there was some degree of comparability.  

RESOLVED:            to approve the proposals set out in paragraphs 53 and 54 of the report.

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/119

Contact: Lorna Baxter, Deputy Chief Finance Officer Tel: (01865) 323971

Report of The Leader of the Council (CA7Leader)

Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CA7).

This report is the final report to Cabinet in the series on the service & resource planning process for 2013/14 to 2016/17, providing councillors with information on budget issues for 2013/14 and the medium term. Information outstanding at the time of the Cabinet meeting will be reported to Council when it considers the budget on 19 February 2013.

The report sets out the latest information on the Council’s financial position, including the treasury management strategy for 2013/14 and an updated capital programme.

The Leader of the Council has prepared a separate report, circulated alongside this report, which sets out the basis for the Cabinet’s proposals. The proposals take into account comments to date from the public consultation on the budget (which closes on 1 February 2013) as well as the latest information on the Council’s financial position outlined in this report, and also comments on the draft budget proposals from the individual Scrutiny Committees on 10 January 2013.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)   (in respect of revenue) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         a budget for 2013/14 and a medium term plan to 2016/17, based on the proposals set out by the Leader of the Council;

(2)         a council tax requirement (precept) for 2013/14;

(3)         a council tax for band D equivalent properties;

(4)         virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget;

(b)  (in respect of treasury management) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         the Treasury Management Strategy Statement ;

(2)         that any further changes required to the 2013/14 strategy be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(c)   RECOMMEND Council to approve the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of Annex 7.

(d)  RECOMMEND Council to approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Appendix B of Annex 7.

(e)   (in respect of capital) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         the updated Capital Strategy, Corporate Asset Management Plan and Transport Asset Management Plan;

(2)         a Capital Programme for 2012/13 to 2016/17;

(f)     delegate authority to the Leader of the Council, following consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to make appropriate changes to the proposed budget.

Cabinet considered the final report in the series on the service & resource planning process for 2013/14 to 2016/17. It provided information on budget issues for 2013/14 and the medium term. The report set out the latest information on the Council’s financial position, including the treasury management strategy for 2013/14 and an updated capital programme.

Cabinet also considered: a report by the Leader of the Council which set out the basis for the Cabinet’s proposals and an addenda by the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer on the collection rate.

During discussion Cabinet noted that there was still uncertainty and that information was still to be received from central government. Cabinet thanked Sue Scane, Lorna Baxter and the Finance Team for their work during a difficult and challenging process. The Leader also thanked Councillor Shouler who before ill health had been Cabinet Member for Finance and had done a lot of preparatory period during that period.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)   (in respect of revenue) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         a budget for 2013/14 and a medium term plan to 2016/17, based on the proposals set out by the Leader of the Council;

(2)         a council tax requirement (precept) for 2013/14;

(3)         a council tax for band D equivalent properties;

(4)         virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget;

(b)   (in respect of treasury management) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         the Treasury Management Strategy Statement ;

(2)         that any further changes required to the 2013/14 strategy be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(c)   RECOMMEND Council to approve the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of Annex 7.

(d)   RECOMMEND Council to approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Appendix B of Annex 7.

(e)   (in respect of capital) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         the updated Capital Strategy, Corporate Asset Management Plan and Transport Asset Management Plan;

(2)         a Capital Programme for 2012/13 to 2016/17; and

(f)     delegate authority to the Leader of the Council, following consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to make appropriate changes to the proposed budget.

Cabinet Member:  Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/153

Contact: Tom Flanagan, Service Manager – Planning & Transport Policy Tel: (01865) 815691

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA8).

The purpose of this paper is to provide CCMT/Cabinet with the details of the proposals from the Department of Transport to devolve local major scheme funding to functional economic areas and the requirement to establish a Local Transport Board with a detailed Assurance Framework, that sets out the governance and working arrangements, to manage the capital grant that will be received should the County Council opt to become the accountable body.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the following:

(a)                  that the County Council supports the proposal to devolve the funding of local major schemes and facilitates the creation of a Local Transport Board under the auspices of the SPIP Board.

(b)                  the County Council seeks views on the Assurance Framework set out in the Annex from District Councils, the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the SEMLEP, Network Rail, Highways Agency and the public transport operators;

(c)                   that the Director of Environment & Economy, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, be authorised to develop the Scheme Prioritisation Process and progress the Assurance Framework to completion for submission to the Department of Transport in accordance with their timetable in consultation with the Section 151 and Monitoring Officer.

Cabinet considered a report that detailed proposals from the Department of Transport to devolve local major scheme funding to functional economic areas and the requirement to establish a Local Transport Board with a detailed Assurance Framework, that set out the governance and working arrangements, to manage the capital grant that will be received should the County Council opt to become the accountable body.

Councillor Alan Armitage, Opposition Deputy Leader, welcomed the proposals if they were a manifestation of localism and commented that it was sensible and desirable to dovetail local plans. He agreed with specific recommendations about the role of the Spatial Planning & Infrastructure Partnership Board (SPIP), the County Council as accountable body and as the legal body. However he felt that there was a gap in terms of democratic transparency and scrutiny and suggested that this was best filled by the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Rose replied that that was something that would need to be looked at. In moving the recommendations Councillor Rose that it was the start of an interesting and fruitful journey that would bring in additional funding.

RESOLVED:                        to approve the following:

(a)                   that the County Council supports the proposal to devolve the funding of local major schemes and facilitates the creation of a Local Transport Board under the auspices of the SPIP Board.

(b)                   the County Council seeks views on the Assurance Framework set out in the Annex from District Councils, the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the SEMLEP, Network Rail, Highways Agency and the public transport operators;

(c)                   that the Director of Environment & Economy, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, be authorised to develop the Scheme Prioritisation Process and progress the Assurance Framework to completion for submission to the Department of Transport in accordance with their timetable in consultation with the Section 151 and Monitoring Officer.

Cabinet Member: Growth & Infrastructure

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/149

Contact: Tom Flanagan, Service Manager – Planning & Transport Policy Tel: (01865) 815691

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA9).

The report seeks approval to authorise officers to enter into a funding agreement with the Diocese of Oxford for their direct delivery of the school construction project and enables transfer in stages of a maximum capital grant of £6.664m from S106 resources forward funded from the Council's capital programme reserve, having deducted any direct costs incurred by the County Council in supporting delivery of the project.

This is due to increasing pupil place pressures which lead to demand for places in advance of delivery timescales for the new primary school which would otherwise be possible if the Council awaits funding through the Section 106 agreement.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)               authorise the Director of Environment & Economy to enter into a funding agreement with the Diocese of Oxford which enables transfer in stages of a maximum capital grant of £6.664m; and

(b)                          transfer (in accordance with such funding agreement) funds from developer contributions forward funded from the Capital Programme reserve, having deducted any direct costs incurred by the County Council in supporting delivery of the project.

Cabinet considered a report that sought approval to authorise officers to enter into a funding agreement with the Diocese of Oxford for their direct delivery of the school construction project and enables transfer in stages of a maximum capital grant of £6.664m from S106 resources forward funded from the Council's capital programme reserve, having deducted any direct costs incurred by the County Council in supporting delivery of the project.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)               authorise the Director of Environment & Economy to enter into a funding agreement with the Diocese of Oxford which enables transfer in stages of a maximum capital grant of £6.664m; and

(b)               transfer (in accordance with such funding agreement) funds from developer contributions forward funded from the Capital Programme reserve, having deducted any direct costs incurred by the County Council in supporting delivery of the project.

Cabinet Member: Police & Policies

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/144

Contact: Philip Alderton, Analyst Tel: (01865) 816394

Report by Research & Major Programmes, Unit Manager (CA12).

This report sets out the Council’s progress in the first year of the 'Equality Policy 2012-2017'. The Council is required to set specific, measurable equality objectives, and report at least annually on its progress towards its objectives. It must also regularly provide information about actual and potential service users. The equality objectives themselves must be revised at least every four years. 

 In the Equality Policy, the Council set out four objectives, and for each one set out priority actions for the year intended to meet them. The objectives are:

Objective 1: Understanding the needs of individuals and communities

Objective 2: Providing accessible, local and personalised services

Objective 3: Supporting thriving and cohesive communities

Objective 4: Promoting a culture of fairness in employment and service delivery.

The 'Equality Policy' set out 27 priority actions across the four objectives. This is first annual update on the Council's progress towards its goals.

There is also a legal obligation to regularly provide information about actual or potential users.  The attached update includes an appendix detailing new information about the people of Oxfordshire from the 2011 Census. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)              Accept the first update on the ‘Equality Policy 2012-2017’

(b)              Agree to the adjustment of the reporting timetable for future updates on the ‘Equality Policy 2012-2017’

Cabinet considered a report that set out the Council’s progress in the first year of the 'Equality Policy 2012-2017'. There is also a legal obligation to regularly provide information about actual or potential users and the annex detailed new information about the people of Oxfordshire from the 2011 Census. 

RESOLVED:            to

(a)               Accept the first update on the ‘Equality Policy 2012-2017’; and

(b)               Agree to the adjustment of the reporting timetable for future updates on the ‘Equality Policy 2012-2017’

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Sue Whitehead, Committee Services Manager (01865 810262)

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 CA13.  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.

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.

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/122

Contact: Sue Whitehead, Committee Services Manager Tel (01865) 810262

To report on a quarterly basis any executive decision taken by the Chief Executive under the specific powers and functions delegated to her under the terms of Part 7.4 of the Council’s Constitution - Paragraph 1(A)(c)(i).  It is not for scrutiny call in.

RESOLVED:             to note executive decisions taken by the Chief Executive under the specific powers and functions delegated to her under the terms of Part 7.4 of the Council’s Constitution - Paragraph 1(A)(c)(i).

RESOLVED:                        that the public be excluded for the duration of item 13 in the Agenda since it is likely that if they were present during that item there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and specified in relation to that item in the Agenda and it is considered that, in all the circumstances of each case, the public interest in exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

PUBLIC SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2013/001

Contact: Simon Kearey, Porgramme Manager Tel: (01865) 323571

Report by Director for Social & Community Services, Director for Environment & Economy and Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CA15).

The information contained in the report and annexes is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

3    –    information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

It is considered that in this case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, in that such disclosure would distort the proper process of free negotiations between the authority with another party for the purposes described and would prejudice the position of the authority in those negotiations and other negotiations of a similar nature in future.

This report sets out proposals for developments in the relationship that the Council has with the Oxfordshire Care Partnership  for the provision of services for the care and support of older people in Oxfordshire.

The contract with the Oxfordshire Care Partnership, known as the Project Agreement, was signed in December 2001 (see Background Paper 1).  Since then there have been significant changes in the needs of older people, important developments in the services and facilities that older people can choose and in the aspirations and choices that older people make for their care. There have also been significant changes in the financial circumstances facing the public sector.

It is important that the Council and the Oxfordshire Care Partnership respond to these changes and continue to meet the needs of older people to the same high standards under the Project Agreement as effectively as they have since the Project Agreement was signed. Therefore, a number of service developments are required to meet the range of needs with which increasing numbers of older people need help, to give older people and their families’ real choice about how their care needs are met and to meet the financial challenges facing the Council.

Meeting these challenges will require some revision of the Project Agreement, whilst ensuring that the Oxfordshire Care Partnership continues to have a secure basis from which to operate therefore ensuring the contract remains viable. This report summarises the proposed revisions to the Agreement and the service developments that will be supported by these changes.

The information contained in the report and annexes is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

3    –    information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

It is considered that in this case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, in that such disclosure would distort the proper process of free negotiations between the authority with another party for the purposes described and would prejudice the position of the authority in those negotiations and other negotiations of a similar nature in future.

Cabinet considered a report that set out proposals for developments in the relationship that the Council has with the Oxfordshire Care Partnership  for the provision of services for the care and support of older people in Oxfordshire. Meeting recent challenges required some revision of the Project Agreement so that the Partnership continued to have a secure basis from which to operate therefore ensuring the contract remained viable. The report summarised the proposed revisions to the Agreement and the service developments that will be supported by these changes.

Cabinet agreed the proposed revisions and service developments as set out in the exempt report.