Agenda and minutes

The apologies for absence were noted as listed above.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

No declaration of interest was received.

•           The Chair reported that following his nomination as the Committee’s representative on the Corporate Safeguarding Board he had attended a meeting on the 8th February. A number of matters had been considered including an update on the Safeguarding Action Plan; the Corporate Safeguarding Governance Framework; the Policy for the use of physical restraint, the availability of training resources for the four key priority areas encompassing the Prevent programme, modern slavery, sexual exploitation of children and domestic abuse and an update on the programme for Laming visits. The Chair said that the Committee can be assured   that key safeguarding matters are being addressed and are receiving attention within the Authority. Should any Member wish to raise a specific matter, then he/she would be welcome to discuss it with the Chair or it could be considered for inclusion within the Work Programme for a future meeting of the Committee.

•           The Chair confirmed that he had presented the Scrutiny viewpoint on the final 2017/18 Budget proposals to the Executive at its meeting held on 14th February, 2017.

To present the minutes of the previous meetings of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on –

·         6 February, 2017 (morning)

·         6 February, 2017 (afternoon)

The minutes of the previous meetings of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on the morning of 6th February, 2017, and the afternoon of 6th February, 2017 were presented and confirmed as correct.

Arising on the minutes of the 6th February, 2017 morning meeting –

•           The Committee sought clarification on the position with regard to the publication and presentation of the Wales Audit Office report on sickness/absence management. The Committee noted that it had been pressing for the report to be issued for some time as an important report in the context of both this Committee and the Authority’s prioritisation of sickness rates as an area for improvement. The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvement) confirmed that the report had not been received and that the matter is being followed up with the Wales Audit Office on a regular basis.

•           The Committee sought clarification of the £490k efficiency savings in respect of teaching assistant costs or other savings to the schools delegated budgets in 2018/19. The Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer confirmed that schools have the flexibility to identify efficiency savings of £490k by other means if these were not to be realised by way of reducing teaching assistant costs.

•           The Committee sought clarification of the timing for including the Learning Disability Service as one of the subjects for the monthly Members’ Briefing sessions. The Programme, Business Planning and Performance Manager confirmed that the Learning Disability Service is scheduled to be considered at a Members briefing session on 21 March, 2017.

ACTION ENSUING: The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvement) to follow up the report on sickness management with the WAO.

To present the Corporate Scorecard for Quarter 3 2016/17.

The report of the Head of Transformation incorporating the Corporate Scorecard which set out the Council’s position against its operational objectives as outlined and agreed collaboratively between the Senior Leadership Team/Executive and Shadow Executive at the end of Quarter 3 2016/17 was presented for the Committee's consideration.

The Programme, Business Planning and Performance Manager reported on the following matters –

•           That with regard to Performance Management, a great deal of work had been done in Quarter 3 with regard to mitigation activity and this is reflected in an improved position with the majority of indicators showing to be performing well against their targets. However, 5 indicators are underperforming as Amber or Red against their annual targets; three of these are within Adults’ Services and are outlined in section 2.1.3 of the report; one indicator in Children’s Services continues to show an underperformance from Quarter 2 details of which are given in section 2.14, and one new indicator which is now showing as Amber is from Regulation and Economic Development and is outlined in section 2.1.5. The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) recognises that these areas are underperforming and is ensuring that appropriate measures are put in place to mitigate against risks arising and to improve performance.

•           That with regard to People Management, the performance of the Council’s sickness rates at the end of Quarter 3 shows a significant improvement (7.21 days sick per FTE) when compared with last year (8.4 days sick per FTE). This indicates that the projected end of year sickness level if the past two years’ trend of higher sickness results in Qtrs.3 and 4 as opposed to Qtrs. 1 and 2 was to continue, would equate to 10.5 days per FTE. However, if the strong performance in Quarter 3 is sustained into Quarter 4, then it is likely that the target of 10 days per FTE will be met. The Authority will seek further guidance from the Wales Audit Office with regard to good practices it has identified in relation to the management of sickness levels.

•           Children’s Services have been the subject of an inspection by CSSIW and the implementation of the resulting Improvement Plan to address the recommendations made will be overseen by the Senior Leadership Team and the Children’s Panel.

•           It is proposed that the processes of collating Education/Learning indicators are evaluated in Quarter 4 and into the new financial year. Additional support to enable this to be undertaken has been provided.

The Committee considered the information presented and made the following points –

•           The Committee noted the missed targets with regard to three indicators within Adults’ Services and it questioned whether staff capacity was a factor in the underperformance. The Programme, Business Planning and Performance Manager said that the mitigating measures do not indicate that capacity is considered an issue apart from in relation to PM19 – The rate of delayed transfers of care for social care reasons per 1,000 population aged 75 or over – where a lack  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To present the Revenue Budget monitoring report for Quarter 3 2016/17.

The report of the Head of Resources and Section 151 Officer setting out the financial performance of the Council’s services for the third quarter of 2016/17 along with the projected position at year end was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

The Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer reported that the overall projected financial position at Quarter 3 for 2016/17 including Corporate Finance and the Council Tax fund is for an overspend of £16k which marks a significant improvement on the position predicted during Quarter 2. However, an overspend of £756k (0.70%) on services is projected for 31 March, 2017 with the most significant variances occurring in the Lifelong Learning and Children’s Social Care budgets where overspends of £700k and £718k are forecast respectively. An underspend is projected on capital financing due to reduced borrowing costs from the Authority’s use of surplus cash balances rather than external borrowing on the capital programme. Also, the way in which costs are apportioned has been revised so that the Housing Revenue Account takes on an increased proportion of interest charges thereby reducing the costs on the Council Fund. The revision of charges seeks to apportion costs between the HRA and the Council Fund more fairly; it does not increase risk to the HRA Business Plan which has been prepared on the revised basis. This has generated a one off saving which has contributed towards the delivery of a balanced budget in 2016/17 and it has been taken into account in setting the 2017/8 budget. This cushion will not be available in 2017/18 so any service overspends during 2017/18 could potentially pose a problem. While the current situation could change in Quarter 4 as the pressure of demand continues in Children’s Services and in specialist out of county placements in the Lifelong Learning Service, with the winter period and the additional costs which that can bring having passed, it is envisaged that the overall end of year position will be one of marginal overspend which can be met by the Council’s reserves.

The Committee considered the information and made the following points –

•           The Committee noted the projected overspends in Children’s Services particularly with regard to Looked After Children and in the Lifelong Learning Service in relation to specialist out of county placements. The Committee sought clarification of the Authority’s mitigation strategy to deal with the pressure on these services especially in a context where local authority budgets are in effect   decreasing year on year. The Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer said that the pressure experienced by these service budgets is a national problem. Other outcomes within the overall budget have been favourable thereby lessening the effect of the over expenditure in these services. However, the underlying pressure on these two services will continue and could become more acute unless the demand is managed. To that end, greater investment is being made in preventative services e.g. the Edge of Care Team in Children’s Services to provide early intervention where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To present the Capital Budget monitoring report for Quarter 3 2016/17.

The report of the Head of Resources and Section 151 Officer setting out the financial performance of the capital budget for the third quarter of the 2016/17 financial year was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

The Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer reported on the actual expenditure to date (£14m) against a capital budget of £52.8m as set out in detail in Table 4.1 of the report. The Officer referred to the projects that carry the most significant risks with regard to Capital Grant funding as documented in section 3.1.2 of the report and he updated the Committee as to their current status.

The Committee noted the progress made to date and the projected position at year end.

It was resolved to note the progress of expenditure and receipts to date against the Capital Budget.

NO FURTHER ACTION ENSUING

To present the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.

The Committee’s updated Forward Work Programme to April, 2017 was presented for information and comment.

The Interim Scrutiny Manager reported that as the Committee was scheduled to consider one matter only at its April, 2017 meeting, the Head of Democratic Services had asked the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs’ Forum to consider items for consideration by the Committee in April.

It was resolved to accept and to note the updated Forward Work Programme.

ACTION ENSUING: Interim Scrutiny Manager to confirm the continuation or otherwise of the April meeting following the meeting of the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs’ Forum.

In concluding the business of the meeting, the Chair on behalf of his fellow Members, thanked all the Officers who had provided guidance and support to the Committee during the course of the year.