Decisions

The Committee considered the report on financial activities for the 2023/24 financial year.

Richard Hodby summarised the report.  There had been little activity in the period of the report.  The Trust received garage rental income and higher than expected interest. There had been no expenditure.  The County Council donated back the accountancy fees so makes no profit from the accountancy work.

The Chair put the recommendations to the Committee and they were agreed.

RESOLVED to

(a)                  Approve the Statement of Financial Activities for the year to 31 March 2024 annexed to this report; and

(b)                  Authorise a Council officer to submit data from the Statement to the Charity Commission online before midnight on 31 January 2025 so that annual financial reporting obligations are complied with.

To agree for a contract extension to be granted on existing contract.

The Chair approved the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to authorise the extension of the following contracts for a further two years:

i.               Contract for the Provision of Specialist Learning Disability Supported Living Services at Culver Lodge, Oxford between Oxfordshire County Council and Autism at Kingwood dated 03 June 2019. The 2-year extension would be from 29 September 2025 to 29 September 2027.

ii.             Contract for the Provision of Specialist Learning Disability Supported Living Services at Abingdon, Didcot, Oxford, between Oxfordshire County Council and Autism at Kingwood dated 01 April 2019. The 2-year extension would be from 29 September 2025 to 29 September 2027.

iii.            Contract for the provision of Specialist Learning Disability Supported Living Services at Wallingford, Carterton and North Leigh. The 2-year extension would be from 06 September 2025 to 06 September 2027.

The Chair remarked that analysis demonstrated that the real impact to providers of adult social care of the government’s budget last year potentially exceeded £2 billion, given an increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions and a rise in the National Living Wage. He said that local government had not been given the necessary funds to cope with these changes, which put local government in an invidious position.

The Chair approved the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to agree to a continued extension of the contract with Brandon Trust to deliver the Adult Learning Disability Respite contract with the Council for an additional 7 months, from 1st September 2025 to 31st March 2026.

The Chair introduced the item as the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee Terms of Reference.

The Chair noted this had been agreed at the Future Oxfordshire Partnership, which she attended alongside District Council Leaders. The Chair noted her support for these terms of reference.

The Chair thanked officers and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

a)    Approve the revised Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding for the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee, set out in Appendices 1 and 2. These will take effect following approval by each of the six Oxfordshire councils.

To deliver a trusted assessor service to support the discharge of residents who have Adults Social Care input back to where they were living prior to going into hospital.

To approve the Trusted Assessor service for 2 years supporting with hospital discharges across all hospital bases including community hospitals and hub beds.

The contract value is £125,000.00 per year for 2 years (Total Value £250,000.00).

To convert a residential property owned by OCC into a Children’s Home to fulfil grant funding conditions from Department for Education (DfE) under match funding agreement. The property will accommodate 2 children as well as adult carers.

To give effect to the award of and to enter into a contract under seal for the provision of construction works including contractor’s design to convert a residential property into a Children’s Home at Willow Bank, Sutton Lane, Sutton, Witney, OX29 5RY, for the value of £848,599.75 (excluding VAT).