Agenda item

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

“It is good that we have a screen in the reception area giving information about meetings  in County Hall. However, it would be much more useful if it listed meetings in time order, giving the room involved, rather than in room order as at present. Please can you change this to help people find the meeting they want to attend?”

Councillor Rose replied:

“I thank the Councillor for this enquiry and take on board the request for a more user friendly screen presentation. Once this is established I will be consulting the group leaders before going forward.”

Councillor Nick Hards had given notice of the following question to Councillor Heathcoat

“How helpful or otherwise is the delivery of personal budgets through self-directed support in Oxfordshire?”

Councillor Heathcoat replied:

·       “We strongly support the use of personal budgets as a way of allowing people more choice and control over their care.

·       Oxfordshire performs extremely well on the numbers of people receiving self-directed support.

o   In the national outcome framework for adult social care for 12/13, 71% of adults, older people and carers receiving community based services are receiving self-directed support compared to 56.2% nationally.

o   45.5% of adults, older people and carers receiving community based services are receiving a direct payment, the highest percentage in the country and significantly higher than the national average of 16.8%.   

·       Each year we take part in a national survey of people who use social care. Last year over 500 people in Oxfordshire responded to the survey.

o   93.7% said they were satisfied with the service they got (compared to 90.4% nationally).

o   62.7% said they were very satisfied (compared to 64.1% nationally)

·       There was a specific evaluation of people in Oxfordshire receiving a direct payment at the end of 2012.

o   People felt they had increased choice and control,  and they found support networks of other people who receive direct payments really helpful.

o   They also highlighted the need to improve the customer journey from assessment to management of direct payments, and to provide more information and training around how to manage direct payments.

·       Since this survey we have done a great deal of work to improve information and advice, including the introduction of community information networks, and the Adult Services Improvement Programme will simplify the process of accessing and managing personal budgets and direct payments further.”

Councillor Nick Hards had given notice of the following question to Councillor Rose

“I see that a new approval and adoption scheme is being put in place for sustainable drainage systems on new developments (Annex 9 on page 53 of the Cabinet papers). How hopeful are you that this scheme will reduce the incidence of flash flooding associated with new developments in the county?”

Councillor Rose replied:

“Sustainable Drainage (SUDS) is being promoted on all new developments as a method of restricting the discharge from the development to the green field run off rate only, by doing this any new development is not increasing the flooding risk downstream.

The methods which can be used are soakaways, swales, porous pavements underground storage, retention ponds and detention ponds, all these methods follow the Government recommendations and guidelines. All these methods cleanse the water which improves water quality and biodiversity.

At the present time intense storms or prolonged rainfall events that we are experiencing are surcharging our existing drainage systems and causing flooding, the only cost effective way of holding and storing rainfall or floods is by sustainable methods.  Whilst this will reduce the incidence of flash flooding it will not prevent it entirely.

In 2007 we had major flooding in Oxfordshire, within these flooded areas, where we had porous pavements flooding did not occur. The flood flows were stored and discharged slowly under the pavement surfaces.

Oxfordshire are looked on as one of the leading Authorities in promoting and adopting SUDS systems within the Country.”

Councillor Glynis Phillips had given notice of the following question to Councillor Hibbert Biles

'We have been promised an improved integrated sexual health service bringing together Contraception & Sexual Health services with Genito-Urinary Medicine. There is universal support for an integrated service but one obvious requirement is that these services are easily accessible in community settings. The service for Oxford City which serves the whole county is now on the Churchill Hospital site which is difficult to get to by public transport. Can you advise when a genuine community based service will be provided in Oxford City and what are the lessons that have been learned from this experience? '

Councillor Hibbert Biles had provided the following written answer:

“The new provider was keen to continue to deliver services from the site; unfortunately they have reported that this is not possible as the site will not be made available to them. Since OUHT were informed that the current site was not available to them they have been working to identify and secure an appropriate site in East Oxford to replace the Raglan House clinic. We are advised that OUHT have identified a suitable location, when the lease is secured an announcement will be made.”

Supplementary: Councillor Phillips asked, that given the importance of continuity, what the length of lease would be on the new community facility. Councillor Hudspeth replied that he would let Councillor Phillips have this information when it was available.