Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Peter Wharf (Cabinet Member for Workforce), David Phillips (Director of Public Health, Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole) and Jonathan Mair (Service Director – Organisational Development). Grace Evans (Legal Service Manager) attended the meeting for Jonathan Mair.

There were no declarations by members of disclosable pecuniary interests under the Code of Conduct.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2018 were confirmed and signed.

Public Speaking

There were no public questions received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 21(1).

There were no public statements received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 21(2).

Petitions

There were no petitions received at the meeting in accordance with the County Council’s Petition Scheme.

The Cabinet considered the draft Forward Plan, which identified key decisions to be taken by the Cabinet on or after the next meeting. 

The Leader of the Council highlighted that a piece of work was underway to ensure that any items coming to future Cabinet meetings that would have an impact on the new Council in 2019 would go forward to the Shadow Executive Committee.

To consider a report by the Cabinet Member for Community and Resources.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Resources which provided the first update of the new financial year, and the national and local issues impacting on the County Council’s finances and covered matters that would need to be taken into account when developing the MTFP in readiness for the transition to the new unitary authority. 

The report also summarised information for consideration by the Audit and Governance Committee on 29 June 2018 related to the 2017/18 outturn, balances at 31 March 2018, and the most recent 2018/19 forecast of outturn.

Cllr Ferrari highlighted the good job on the part of officers in achieving the £0.2m underspend for 2017/18. He also congratulated officers on the achievement of finalising the end of year accounts about a month earlier than in previous years which represented a good piece of work and asked that his thanks be passed on to all financial officers.

To date there was a £3.7m overspend forecasted, with the areas of pressure being in Adults and Children’s Services.  This was still a huge improvement on the previous year and everybody recognised the increased pressures across both of the services.  This remained a risk as they were both demand led services but Cabinet members and officers were working hard to keep it under control.  Cllr Ferrari highlighted recommendation 7 in the report and the use of capital available to make service improvements.  He would therefore be seeking Cabinet approval to transfer £5m into a transformation fund.

Cllr Haynes supported the movement of money through to the transformation fund and felt this was vital in view of the considerable challenges moving forward.  She took the opportunity to highlight that the pressure on the adults budget came predominantly from the market and that the Council was being charged more than other counties.  Cllr Knox, as the Leader of the Council, felt it would be helpful to send out a communications brief to explain exactly what the challenges were.

Cllr Butler noted that Children’s Services were working on the overspends and driving hard to try and bring the pressures down.

Cllr Turner asked that the last sentence from paragraph 7.8 of the report be added to the recommendation in order to be more transparent, which was agreed.

The Chief Financial Officer noted that the financial year was very difficult, but the work across the whole of the County Council needed to be recognised.   Officers would be working again this year to close the budget and the expectation was that there would be a balanced budget by the end of the year.

Resolved

1. That the unaudited outturn position for 2017/18, specifically the financial performance in service Directorates be noted;

2. That the Directors’ early estimates included in the forecast of outturn for the current year be noted;

3. That the latest savings expectations from the Forward Together programme and contribute ideas for short-term and longer-term savings be noted;

4. That the starting position for the current MTFP and budget  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

To consider a report by the Cabinet Member for Community and Resources.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Community and Resources on the issues related to the various asset classes of Property, Highways, ICT, Fleet and Waste.

Cllr Ferrari highlighted some of the key issues in the report and noted the good progress being made across a number of areas.

Members of the Cabinet received a statement from Cllr Clare Sutton, County Councillor for Rodwell, in respect of the Quarterly Asset Management report.  The statement is attached as an annexure to these minutes.

In respect of the statement, the Director for Children’s Services highlighted the background to the transfers of youth centres into community ownership. The Youth Centre mentioned in the county councillor’s statement was different and he went on to explain this difference. 

The Cabinet Member for Safeguarding welcomed the work STEPs were providing for young people in Weymouth, and confirmed that the Council understood that it would take longer to transfer the asset because of the extra time required to negotiate with the Department for Education (DfE).  As long as the Charity kept the Cabinet informed he was content for this to continue.  He added that he felt that the asset transfers in connection with the youth service had been a successful move by the County Council.

In respect of St Andrews, Cllr Haynes was pleased to see that it was progressing but wanted to clarify that the County Council was not considering closing the day centre but would seek to re-provide the facility within a new care village in Bridport.

Cllr Parry, on behalf of Cllr Pauline Batstone, as the County Councillor for the Blackmore Vale asked for an addition to recommendation 7 in respect of the Thomas Hardy items to include ‘museum or other suitable safe places’, which was agreed.

Resolved

1. That the completion dates for the transfer of the listed Youth Centres to the respective community bodies be approved; and furthermore, that if any of these dates are not achieved, the County Council will either agree an immutable date for completion of the transfer, or withdraw from any further negotiations, after consultation with the portfolio holder for Community and Resources (para 3.2.8);

2. That Baileys, 131 Barrack Road Christchurch be declared surplus and that the listing authority for assets of community value be notified immediately thereafter of the intention to sell, allowing time for discussions with The Water Lily Project to progress during the moratorium period prior to any formal marketing process (para 3.3.5) be approved;

3. That Horizon West, Cromwell Road, Weymouth be declared surplus and disposed of on the open market on terms to be agreed by the Chief Financial Officer (para 3.4.2) be approved;

4. That the County Council enters into a contract with NHS Dorset on terms to be agreed by the Chief Financial Officer, to enable NHS Dorset to progress plans for constructing a new GP Surgery on part of the Wareham Middle School site (para 3.5.5) be approved;

5. That the transfer the land between no’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

To consider a report by the Cabinet Member for Economy, Education, Learning and Skills.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Education, Learning and Skills which provided a progress report on the significant impact that the improvement plan had so far made in enabling a three year improvement drive within the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Services for children and young people.

Cllr Parry presented the report and noted that the budget was on track and would be successfully deployed over the 3 year period.  He highlighted the progress of timescales in respect of Education and Health Care Plans (EHCPs)

Cllr Haynes appreciated that this report had come back to Cabinet as there had been serious concerns in the past.

Cllr Knox, as the Leader of the Council, highlighted the importance of keeping this on the top of the list of priorities.

Following a question about a good communication programme in place with schools, the Director for Children’s Service advised that there was a regular bulletin that went out to all parents. SEND was a difficult place for parents and carers and schools were very involved but the nature of circumstances sometimes were very difficult.

Resolved

1. That the significant progress that has been made in improving the service provided to children and young people and their carers with SEND be noted.

2. That the continued focus on service improvement over the next two year period be supported.

Reason for Decision

To build on the improvements that had been achieved in improving the Special Educational Needs and Disability Service for children and young people in Dorset.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:-

The following minutes were received:-

Cllr Haynes highlighted Minute 26 and advised that a Task and Finish Group would be set up, proposals would then go forward to the Shadow Council. It would be important to look at how we would work with the other 2 authorities in the future to continue with the prevention work.

Noted

The Chairman of the County Council highlighted that the need for additional storage space was still pressing, it was big project and a statutory duty.  A temporary fix had been sourced but this area needed more work.

Noted

To answer any questions received in writing by the Chief Executive by not later than 10.00am on Friday 22 June 2018.

A question was received from Cllr Nick Ireland to the Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Education, Learning and Skills in relation to schools in Weymouth. The question and answer are attached as an annexure to these minutes

Cllr Ireland asked a further question regarding budget cuts at Budmouth College and how they had impacted on the school.  He felt that the funding was not on a level playing field.  Cllr Parry, as the Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Education, Learning and Skills, responded that the Council was on a journey of moving the school forward, officers from the council had met with staff and parents and he was sure that future visits would be planned.  The Director for Children’s Services added that the age weighted pupil unit (APWU) was identical to any other secondary school in Dorset.  He emphasised the need to be clear to members that the powers that the Council had were very limited and had been used effectively. Budmouth College was a foundation school, and therefore an employer of its own staff and premises. The Local Authority had done everything it could within its powers but the quantum of funding for any other school could not be influenced by the County Council.

Cllr Ireland also made reference to the County Council insisting that Budmouth College paid their outstanding debts within 3 years.  The Director advised as an automatic consequence of receiving an ‘inadequate’ judgement.  Work was ongoing with the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) towards academy status. The Governors were employers of the staff, and the Interim Executive Board was there to provide any assurance between the employer and employee.