Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests, and any Party Whip.

Councillor Andy Fry declared an Other Disclosable Interest in relation to Agenda Item 9 (Working Groups – Update Reports) as detailed at Minute 50 below.

There were no declarations of any party whip.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting held on 25^th October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive an update on progress with the preparation of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

(Sustainability and Transformation Plan Summary attached, presentation to follow)

The Chair welcomed back Sue Harris from Worcestershire Health and Care Trust and Sarah Smith from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust who were in attendance at the meeting. 

The Committee received a presentation (copy of presentation slides attached at Appendix 1) from Ms Harris and Ms Smith on the preparation progress of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) further to their attendance at the Committee meeting of the 5^th July 2016.  Ms Smith advised that the STP had progressed significantly since the last presentation, the outcomes of which had led to a Draft Plan that Members had been issued with a summary of in their agenda papers.  The Chair reminded Members that a copy of the full Draft STP was available in the Group Rooms and electronically. 

Following the presentation, for which the Chair thanked Ms Smith and Ms Harris, further information was sought on a number of matters. 

Clarification was provided on who would have overall responsibility for the Plan and when it would be delivered.  Ms Harris reported that there would be a two year Plan cycle.  Collectively all Plans were required to be submitted by the end of December 2016 to enable operations to start in April 2017.  The Custodian Board for the STP would be the Health and Wellbeing Board.   It was noted that a Programme Board was due to meet the following week to consider the Governance Structure that would need to be worked through.  

Further information was given on the future of the Stroke Unit currently based a Worcester Royal with Members being informed that the Stroke Unit would remain at Worcester Royal for immediate acute care treatment.  There were, however, proposals to move post-stroke rehabilitation care to Evesham. 

Clarification was also provided in respect of Care in the Home, particularly in respect of the GP and carer’s involvement.  Ms Smith advised that GP’s were under a lot of pressure and that discussions were being undertaken to look into the issue with consideration being given to the feasibility of pooling  resources, including nurse practitioners, nursing staff and carers to redesign the provision of care in the home with the aim of enabling GP’s to have time to provide more specific care.   Members were advised that the STP was committed to providing care at home but that it would take time to develop and evidence what was needed to achieve the outcomes required. 

Additional information was discussed in relation to the finance challenges facing both Herefordshire and Worcestershire Trusts, in terms of identifying how to improve care and quality outcomes and remain within the financial allocations available.   It was suggested by Members that future housing developments and the potential implications for population growth should be taken into account as part of the plan process when considering demand for areas such as Maternity Services.   Members were informed that the STP was still a draft and there were a number of discussions to undertake, including more in-depth conversations with other Districts. In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To pre-scrutinise the proposed fees and charges for the Council’s services in 2017/18.

(Report attached)

The Committee received a report which set out the fees and charges to be levied on services provided by the Council which were to be used as the basis for income targets in the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2017/18 to 2019/20.

Members were advised that the Medium Term Financial Plan had been prepared on the basis that additional income would be generated from fees and charges and that the guideline increase provided to Heads of Service was 3%.   Members were informed that a number of increases being proposed were in excess of 3%, as identified in Appendix 1 attached to the report.  It was also reported that a number of fees and charges had not been increased and others increased at less than 3%.  Heads of Service comments as to the reasons for the increases were also provided.

On behalf of the Head of Environmental Services, the Environmental Services Manager provided additional clarification in relation to the Crematorium / Cemetery fees and charges, specifically in regard to the proposed 20% increases to allow the removal of the triple fee option and non-residential Cremation fees.  Members’ attention was also drawn to proposals for different price time-slots to make the service more accessible to all changes to the scattering of cremation remains.  In respect of interment arrangements for adults aged over 18 Members expressed some concerns about the increase of these fees by 20 per cent.  However, Members were advised that, even with the proposed increases, the Council compared favourably with its neighbouring authorities and national figures, currently being 260th out of 278 in terms of low costs. 

In relation to the proposed increase in charges for Bulky Waste collections, a proposal was made to increase the proposed fee of £8.20 to £10 for single unit bulky waste collections.  Members argued that this would still provide exceptional value for money and would not be prohibitively expensive for the customer.  The Committee supported this recommendation being taken to the Executive Committee for consideration.    

The Head of Leisure Services reported that, in the context of leisure, the proposed fees and charges had resulted following benchmarking exercises with other local authorities and leisure providers. Justifications had been provided in the Fees and Charges report in relation to the various proposed fees and charges that did not conform to the corporate 3% increase.

RECOMMENDED that

the charge for a single unit bulky waste collection be increased from the proposed fee of £8.20 to £10.00; and

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.                

To receive an update on the subject of the Medium Term Financial Plan 2017/18 to 2019/20.

(Report and presentation to follow)

Officers delivered a short presentation update on the Medium Term Financial Plan 2017/2018 to 2019/2020 (copy of presentation slides attached at Appendix 2 to the minutes). 

The Committee noted progress made as highlighted in the presentation.

Officers provided additional clarification on the tabled figures for the Council’s current position, including the figures for incremental progression and inflation on utilities in respect of the rise from £261,000 in 2018/2019 to £515,000 in 2019/2020.  Members had sought further explanation as to how the 2019/2020 figure had been arrived at and suggested that this could be presented more clearly in future.  

Members also noted brief updates in relation to Non-Domestic Rates changes, New Homes Bonus and Business Rates and the expected settlement figures due prior to Christmas.   Officers concluded this item by highlighting the next steps in terms of reporting timescales to the Overview and Scrutiny and Executive Committees in January and February. 

RESOLVED that

the presentation in respect of the Medium Term Financial Plan be noted.

To consider the minutes of the latest meeting(s) of the Executive Committee and also to consider whether any items on the Executive Committee’s Work Programme are suitable for scrutiny.

(Executive Committee Minutes and November edition of the Executive Committee Work Programme attached, December of the Executive Committee’s Work Programme to follow).

The Committee was informed that the proposal from the Budget Scrutiny Working Group in relation to the Capital Programme had been approved.

Members noted various updates within the Executive Committee Work Programme as follows:

Three additional matters for the 17^th January 2017 meeting, namely:

·         Council Procurement Rules;

·         Independent Remuneration Panel Report and Recommendations;

·         Shopmobility Service;

Two matters postponed from the 13^th December meeting to the 17^th January 2017 meeting, namely:

·         Economic Priorities for Redditch – Annual Report

·         Staff Survey – Preliminary actions

The the following matters had been postponed to the 7^th February 2017 meeting,

·         Financial Regulations 

·         Engagement Strategy

No matters for pre-scrutiny were agreed.

RESOLVED that

the Executive Committee Minutes of the 1^st November 2016, together with the various updates provided on the latest edition of the Executive Committee’s Work Programme, be noted.

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme was moved without comment.

To receive verbal updates on the latest activities of the following working groups:

1)        Budget Scrutiny Working Group – Chair, Councillor Jane Potter; and

2)        Performance Scrutiny Working Group – Chair, Councillor Tom Baker-Price.

(Reports attached)

Budget Scrutiny Working Group – Chair, Councillor Jane Potter

Councillor Potter reported that the Working Group had been looking at the Council’s current arrangements and methodology for internal recharges between Council departments and services which, it was understood, was historical in nature.  During the discussions with Officers, Members had expressed concerns that the recharging process had not been regularly reviewed to ensure the process was working effectively and that all internal recharges were being processed between departments.   The Working Group had been advised by Officers that an Officer Working Group was currently reviewing the recharge framework.  Councillor Potter reported that, whilst the Working Group had appreciated and welcomed the work being undertaken by the Officer Group,  the Working Group Members  had still expressed the view that they could have an input into the process.    

Councillor Potter also reported that the Working Group had also been looking at other matters, such as housing, including the Right to Buy and Buy Back Schemes and their financial implications for the Council.

Performance Scrutiny Working Group – Chair: Councillor Tom Baker-Price

Lifeline Service - Proposals

Councillor Baker-Price reported that the Working Group had been looking at the Council’s Lifeline Service as part of the Group’s consideration of a measure on the dashboard for the service, which appeared to indicate a decline in the number of customers using the service.  Members noted that the withdrawal of funding from Worcestershire County Council’s Supporting People funding had been a key contributory factor for the reduction in use. Councillor Baker-Price advised that the Working Group had been focusing on methods to effectively market and promote the Lifeline Service, by utilising the marketing skills of staff in the Council already. 

The Head of Community Services confirmed the loss of County Council funding had been a key issue for the service.  She advised however, that there was scope to increase service’s customer base and that options were being looked at, including the potential to deliver the various Lifeline Services that can be provided to other local authorities such as Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, which currently provided no Lifeline Service.  It was noted that a contract to provide Lifeline Services for Kettering Borough Council was already in place.

The Committee noted and supported Councillor Baker-Price’s proposed amendment to the Working Group’s recommendation that had been tabled at the meeting.  Councillor Yvonne Smith, Portfolio for Community Safety and Regulatory Services advised that she was very supportive of the proposed amendment.

Monitoring of Members’ Training Attendances on Corporate Dashboard – Proposals

Councillor Baker-Price reported on discussions that had taken place with the Democratic Services Manager in relation to Members’ attendance at training sessions and at Committee meetings, highlighting that the Working Group had observed varying levels of attendance at Member training sessions.  Members were advised that, whilst recognising the need to put training into context – training being seen as good practice or mandatory in order to serve on a Committee or as a substitute, such as for the Council’s Planning Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To consider progress to date on the current reviews against the terms agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The current reviews in progress are:

a)        Mental Health Services for Young People – Chair, Councillor Nina Wood-Ford; and

b)        Staff Survey Joint Scrutiny – lead Redditch representative, Councillor Jane Potter

 (Verbal reports)

Mental Health Services for Young People Task Group – Chair, Councillor Nina Wood-Ford

Councillor Wood-Ford provided a brief update on the work of the Task Group to date, as follows:

·         There had, unfortunately, only been a small number of returns on a school survey that had been sent out to local schools on the level of demand for support on mental health issues from students at the schools.

·         Councillor Wood-Ford, accompanied by a Democratic Services Officer, had visited Barnsley Hall, Bromsgrove on the 25^th November 2016 and met with various health representatives.  The meeting had been very productive.

·         A meeting had been held on the 5^th December with a Focus Group of front-line staff at the Town Hall on how they were delivering their services in regard to helping young people and adults with mental health issues. 

·         A meeting had been held with Sue Harris from the Worcestershire Health and Care Trust and other Health representatives earlier that evening.  Discussions had highlighted that schools and General Practices were an integral part of addressing the issues.  Members further noted that a Mental Health Schools Tool kit was being developed and also that, an online counselling service, Kooth, had been commissioned to support young people in Worcestershire.

Staff Survey Joint Scrutiny – Vice-Chair: Councillor Jane Potter

Councillor Potter advised that at the first meeting of the Staff Survey Joint Scrutiny, the Terms of Reference were discussed.  It was noted that the next meeting of the Task Group was due to be held the following evening (Wednesday 7^th December).

Councillor Wood-Ford, the Council’s representative on the Worcestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC), provided a brief update on various matters that had been discussed at the last meeting of HOSC on the 25th November in relation to:

·         a presentation on the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP);

·         an update on the quality of the Acute Hospital Services – including waiting times, pressures etc.;

·         nursing roles, including the use of nursing assistants who could go on to train up as nurses;

·         proposals for changes and reform to support the Public Health financial plan; and

·         an update on “Futurefit” – a review of spending.

.  

To receive an update on the latest work of the West Midlands Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(Verbal report)

Councillor Jenny Wheeler, the Council’s representative on the West Midlands Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee, provided Members with an outline of the workshop session meeting she attended on the 25th November 2016. 

Members were informed that various matters had been discussed, including the work of the West Midlands Combined Authority Board and ways that scrutiny could add value to the Combined Authority.   Consideration had also been given to the draft regulations for Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committees, which were due to come into force in May 2017.  These regulations stipulated that:

·                The majority of Members of the Committee would need to be Members of a constituent authority.

·                The quorum would need to be two-thirds of the Committee Members.

·                Only Members from constituent authorities would have voting rights.  Members from non-constituent authorities could be given voting rights if agreed by the Combined Authority’s Board.

·                Membership needed to “reflect so far as reasonably practicable” the overall political balance across Constituent Councils.

·                Once the elected Mayor was in post (May 2017) for the area, the Committee would be responsible for holding him/her to account and pre-scrutinising their programme.

·                The elected Mayor would be required to respond to reports / recommendations made by the Committee.

·                The Combined Authority had to designate one of its officers as the Scrutiny Officer for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The Scrutiny Officer could not be an Officer of a Constituent Council. 

The work programme for the Committee had also been discussed, with three potential areas having been identified:

·                Mental Health Commission

·                Land Commission

·                Productivity and Skills Commission.

Councillor Wheeler advised that it had been generally agreed that the planned four meetings per year would be insufficient and that more frequent meetings would be required.    She further advised that as she was not able to attend the 16th December meeting, a Democratic Services Officer would be attending on her behalf as an observer.