Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2015 (CA3 to be circulated separately) and to receive information arising from them.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2015 were approved and signed.

Councillor Howson had given notice of the following question to Councillor Melinda Tilley:

"Can the Cabinet member identify by local authority district where the school is situated those secondary schools in Oxfordshire where any of the following groups performed below the county average for the % of pupils in the group making the expected progress for that group between Key Stages 2 & 4 in either English or Mathematics in 2014? The groups are: Low attainers, middle attainers, high attainers?"

Councillor Melinda Tilley supplied the figures requested which are attached as an annex to the minutes.

Supplementary: Councillor Howson expressed disappointment at some of the figures and in light of the fact that Oxfordshire was in the bottom 10% of funding from Government asked what attempts were being made to increase funding. Councillor Tilley replied that the County Council was a member of the F40 Group of Councils who considered they were underfunded and they did put pressure on Government but the situation was unlikely to change.

The following requests to address the meeting had been agreed:

Item 5 - Petition submitted by Professor Allport relating to a freeze on investment in fossil fuels and a call for a divestment of current holdings.

Item 6  – Councillor Nick Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance

Item 7 – Councillor Laura Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Mr Hugh-Jones, Secretary of Oxfordshire Pensioners Action Group

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/150

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Chief Accountant Tel: (01865) 323981

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA6).

This report focuses on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2014/15 – 2017/18.  Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of December 2014.   Capital Programme monitoring is included at Part 3 and changes to Fees and Charges are set out in Part 4.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)   Note the report and annexes including the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 4 and changes set out in paragraphs 66 - 67;

(b)   Approve the virements request set out in Annex 2a;

(c)   Approve the write off of client income totalling £31,638 relating to unpaid client contributions for residential care as set out in paragraph 64 and the write of £50,002 relating to capital works at a school as set out in paragraph 65;

(d)   Approve the creation of the Oxford Western Conveyance Reserve and the initial contribution of £0.350m as set out in paragraph 76;

(e)   Approve the fees for hiring the Riverside Centre as set out in paragraph 93 and Annex 7;

(f)    Approve the release of the revised capital budgets of £4.100m Cuttleslowe roundabout and £4.824m Wolvercote roundabout  to proceed to detailed design and procurement as set out in paragraph 89;

(g)   Approve the entry of the A44 – A40 Loop Farm Link Road into the capital programme and the release of a £0.676m project development budget as set out in paragraph 90;

(h)   Approve the changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 8c.

Cabinet considered a report that focused on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2014/15 – 2017/18. Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of December 2014. Capital Programme monitoring is included at Part 3 and changes to Fees and Charges are set out in Part 4.

Councillor Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, highlighted a number of areas of concern and in particular the over spend in the area of Children, Education & Families. He highlighted the cost of taking children into care and recognised the work being done to attract foster parents. He queried whether the Council was satisfied that it had the money right to find these people as the long term benefits were enormous. Whilst welcoming the improving trend in Adult Social Care he questioned whether it was a sustainable improvement. He highlighted the uncertainties created by the Care Act and referred to a recent press report. He noted the review being carried out with regard to home to school transport where it was hoped savings could be delivered and asked how far this review had got.

Councillor Stratford replied that the transport review was ongoing and would be looking to make the most efficient use of taxis and other transport. Overall he was optimistic that the final outcome would be close to budget. Cabinet Members responded to the points made.

Councillor Stratford introduced the contents of the report and moved the recommendations. He paid tribute to officers in all directorates for their work which meant that the Council was looking at a good end of year position.

During discussion Cabinet welcomed the capital schemes referred to in the report.

RESOLVED:to:

(a)    note the report and annexes including the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 4 and changes set out in paragraphs 66 - 67;

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

(c)    approve the write off of client income totalling £31,638 relating to unpaid client contributions for residential care as set out in paragraph 64 and the write of £50,002 relating to capital works at a school as set out in paragraph 65;

(d)    approve the creation of the Oxford Western Conveyance Reserve and the initial contribution of £0.350m as set out in paragraph 76;

(e)    approve the fees for hiring the Riverside Centre as set out in paragraph 93 and Annex 7;

(f)      approve the release of the revised capital budgets of £4.100m Cuttleslowe roundabout and £4.824m Wolvercote roundabout to proceed to detailed design and procurement as set out in paragraph 89;

(g)    approve the entry of the A44 – A40 Loop Farm Link Road into the capital programme and the release of a £0.676m project development budget as set out in paragraph 90;

(h)    approve the changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 8c.

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/157

Contact: Ben Threadgold, Policy & Performance Service Manager Tel: (01865) 328219

Report by Director of Adult Services (CA7).

The purpose of this report is to seek agreement on the new Adult Social Care Policy framework, to highlight its impact and to request decisions on some key areas where the framework either proposes change to current practice or confirms practice not previously included in formal policy.

The policy framework has been developed to address changes coming from the Care Act 2014 alongside other relevant legislation, (including the Children and Families Act 2014 where appropriate), government directives and the council's Adult Social Care Business Strategy and commissioning strategies. Much of what is proposed consolidates the approach that is already being taken in Oxfordshire.

 The policy framework is composed of five high level policies that define the council’s approach to Adult Social Care in Oxfordshire: 

• Assessment and Review

• Support Planning

• Contributions (paying for support and care)

• Appeals and Complaints

• Safeguarding.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the proposed Adult Social Care policy framework, and in particular the following specific recommendations outlined in this report:

·       Authorises others to carry out reviews when appropriate while retaining oversight and responsibility

·       It is proposed that the council charges a single, flat arrangement fee for Deferred Payment Agreements of £680

·       Charges interest in relation to Deferred Payment Agreements at the maximum national rate (2.6% currently) and this is adjusted to reflect any changes in this level every six months

·       Passes property valuation costs to the individual in relation to setting up Deferred Payment Agreements and that they have the option to pay up front and in full or to add to the loan, in which case interest will be charged at the level set for the deferred payment agreement

·       Charges people who pay the full cost for their support and care other than in a care home a one-off fee for arranging this.  There will be two levels to this fee reflecting differing cost to the council incurred of simply negotiating a contract with a provider, or actively helping to manage the relationship between the provider and the individual:

o   £150 where the council acts as a broker, negotiating and agreeing care with a provider or providers on behalf of the individual

o   £500 where the council acts as a broker as above, and also manages the provision of the care and support on behalf of the individual (including paying the provider, quality and contract monitoring)

·       From 1^st April 2015, backdates charges for non-residential care as well as for residential care to the point at which the person started to have the support and care, while remaining committed to assessing people as soon as possible once eligible needs have been identified

·       Accepts complaints from people paying for their own care and support including through a Direct Payment, accepting that this may involve asking organisations providing care to investigate or sign posting to an  ...  view the full agenda text for item 17/15

Cabinet considered a report seeking agreement on the new Adult Social Care Policy framework, highlighting its impact and requesting decisions on some key areas where the framework either proposes change to current practice or confirms practice not previously included in formal policy.

Mr Hugh-Jones, Secretary of Oxfordshire Pensioners' Action Group, expressed concern at the method of assessing income referred to at paragraph 65 of the report. In particular the notional addition added to assessed income would mean pensioners would be put in a position of having to pay. He asked for a simple graph that would show the weekly income plotted against the weekly contribution. The Director for Adult Social Services undertook to provide the information requested. Councillor Heathcoat noted that both she and officers had explained the position previously but she was sure that it could be explained further.

Councillor Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, referred to the implications of the Care Act and the uncertainties that it created that would only be resolved once it was implemented. There was a need to ensure that there was funding. She asked a number of detailed questions relating to the eligibility criteria, interest on deferred charges, capping and brokers for care.

Responding to the comments made Councillor Heathcoat stated that the Council would have to meet its statutory obligations. The report was very full but at this stage there would always be some elements unanswered. She emphasised that they were in a good place with others interested in the work Oxfordshire was doing.

Councillor Heathcoat introduced the contents of the report and corrected the figure in paragraph 54 of the report which should read '1.49m'.

RESOLVED:          to agree the proposed Adult Social Care policy framework, and in particular the following specific recommendations outlined in this report:

·       Authorises others to carry out reviews when appropriate while retaining oversight and responsibility

·       It is proposed that the council charges a single, flat arrangement fee for Deferred Payment Agreements of £680

·       Charges interest in relation to Deferred Payment Agreements at the maximum national rate (2.6% currently) and this is adjusted to reflect any changes in this level every six months

·       Passes property valuation costs to the individual in relation to setting up Deferred Payment Agreements and that they have the option to pay up front and in full or to add to the loan, in which case interest will be charged at the level set for the deferred payment agreement

·       Charges people who pay the full cost for their support and care other than in a care home a one-off fee for arranging this. There will be two levels to this fee reflecting differing cost to the council incurred of simply negotiating a contract with a provider, or actively helping to manage the relationship between the provider and the individual:

o   £150 where the council acts as a broker, negotiating and agreeing care with a provider or providers on behalf of the individual

o   £500 where the council acts as a broker  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17/15

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/165

Contact: Nathan Travis, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tel: (01865) 855206

Report by Chief Fire Officer (CA8).

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 2012 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. This report proposes a number of projects to be included within the Fire Authority’s CRMP for the fiscal year 2015-16.

The proposals in this report were presented to the Performance Scrutiny Committee on 25 September 2014.

The agreed proposals within this Action Plan 2015-16 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.

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

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree that all of the project proposals within this report are accepted and adopted in the final version of the CRMP Action Plan 2015-16.

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 2012 Framework requires each Fire and Rescue Authority to produce a publicly available Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). Within Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) this is our Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP).

Cabinet had before them for approval the Action Plan 2015-16 which had 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.

Nathan Travis, Deputy Chief Fire Officer detailed the projects outlined in the report.

During discussion Cabinet welcomed the 4 projects and emphasised that in respect to Project 1 that the Fire and Rescue Service not be seen as a substitute for the ambulance service they were working alongside. Nathan Travis confirmed that it was clear to all involved that they provided a support service and not a replacement service.

Cabinet congratulated the Fire and Rescue Service on their work on the community safety hub, which would allow them to benefit the local community and to further enhance their already excellent reputation.

RESOLVED:           to agree that all of the project proposals within this report are accepted and adopted in the final version of the CRMP Action Plan 2015-16.

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/151

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

Report by Chief Human Resources Officer (CA9).

This report gives an update on staffing numbers and related activity during the period 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2014.  It gives details of the agreed staffing numbers and establishment at 31 December 2014 in terms of Full Time Equivalents.  These are also shown by directorate in Appendix 1. In addition, the report provides information on vacancies and the cost of posts being covered by agency staff.  Appendix 2 shows a breakdown by service area of agency spend.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a) note the report; and

(b)  confirm that the Staffing Report meets the Cabinet’s requirements in reporting and managing staffing numbers.

Cabinet considered a report that gave an update on staffing numbers and related activity during the period 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2014. It gave details of the agreed staffing numbers and establishment at 31 December 2014.  The report also provided information on vacancies and the cost of posts being covered by agency staff.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)      note the report; and

(b)      confirm that the Staffing Report meets the Cabinet’s requirements in reporting and managing staffing numbers.

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 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.

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.