Agenda item

Members of the Committee are requested to bring their copy of the agenda for the Executive meeting on 16^th July 2014.

 

Report CSD14097

 

The Committee considered the following reports on the part 1 agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 16^th July 2014.

 

(5)  Budget Monitoring

Report FSD14047

 

The Committee considered the first budget monitoring report for 2014/15, based on expenditure and activity levels up to May 2014. The report sought authorisation for the release of various sums from Central Contingency.

 

The Chairman expressed concern that significant overspends were already being identified, and urged PDS Committees to scrutinise budgets in their areas. The Care Services PDS Committee Chairman reported that her Committee was setting up a Budget Sub-Committee to look at expenditure in their Portfolio. The Environment PDS Chairman added that although the Environment Portfolio was not overspent there was a significant risk of not reaching targets for parking income – this would be examined by the Parking Working Group. The Committee also noted the projected shortfall of £1.476k in investment income as it had not been possible to purchase investment properties quickly enough. 

 

It was suggested that the Council should look more closely at best practice in other authorities and take advantage of CIPFA benchmarking statistics, especially for contract monitoring. 

 

The Leader assured the Committee that the Council had not been overspent for several years and that he held a monthly finance steering group meeting to hold Portfolio Holders and Chief Officers to account for budgets to ensure that this continued. Officers confirmed that work was on-going to ensure that costs were contained.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(6)  Capital Programme Monitoring – 1^st Quarter 2014/15

Report FSD14049

 

The report summarised the current position on capital expenditure and receipts following the first quarter of 2014/15 and sought the Executive’s approval for a revised capital programme. 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(7)  One Section 75 Agreement with Bromley CCG

Report CS14048

 

It was proposed that all existing and future joint commissioning and joint service delivery be streamlined into one overarching agreement under Section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006.

 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(8)   Public Health Contract Framework

 Report CS14067

 

The report provided an update on the administration of Public Health contracts following the transition from the now abolished Bromley PCT in April 2013.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(9)  Section 106 Funding for Health Provision

Report CS14067

 

The report reviewed arrangements for processing Section 106 funding secured for health provision to secure best value and quality health provision for residents.  The Committee considered that the money secured through Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was still too low, and the Government should be continuously lobbied on this point. The Chairman suggested a report to the Committee on these issues.

 

The Chairman commented that where the report referred to delivery of the agreed schemes against the agreed spending plan being “monitored” it would be more appropriate to say “managed.”

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(10)  Proposal to extend the Contracts for Delivery of Substance Misuse Services

Report CS14063

 

The Executive was asked to agree the extension of three existing contracts with Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) to provide an integrated drug and alcohol service for one year (January to December 2015.) The Care Services PDS Committee had some reservations about the proposals, but had nevertheless supported them. 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(11)  Outsourcing of Financial Assessment Teams and Appointeeship and Deputyship Team

Report FSD14050

 

It was proposed to transfer the Financial Assessment and Appointee and Guardianship teams to Liberata, generating full-year savings of £121k. The proposals would also free up management time to focus on strategy and contract delivery.  

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(12)  Transport Gateway Review

Report ES14062

 

Following soft market testing, the Executive was recommended to approve the tendering of contracts for the provision of transport services for adults and children.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(13)  Invest to Save – Training Statemented Pupils to Travel Independently

Report ED15060

 

The report provided an update on the invest to save travel training programme and recommended investing £60k per annum to continue to provide the travel training programme through a three year contract with Bexley Accessible Transport Services. The Committee considered that more pupils should be trained 

 

RESOLVED that the Executive be recommended to increase the funding available to £120k to allow up to 40 pupils to be trained per annum.

 

(14)  Update on the Process for Market Testing Education Services

Report ED15073

 

The report proposed expanding the scope of the market testing of Education Services to encompass additional services including Special Educational Needs provision, Adult Education provision and strategic management functions relating to sufficiency, access and quality of education provision in Bromley.

 

Members questioned how contracts for these services could be monitored when the outcomes from these services were difficult to quantify. Officers reassured the Committee that performance measures were already in place and detailed specifications would be drawn up. Quality would be carefully evaluated throughout the tendering process and method statements would become part of the final contract. The Resources Portfolio Holder added that much preparation work had already been undertaken and that it was important not to rush the process. 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(15)  Corporate Parenting Strategy

Report CS14066

 

A new multi-agency corporate parenting strategy was presented which aimed to build services around the needs of children and young people in the care of the Council in order to maximise opportunities and improve outcomes.

 

Subject to approval by the Executive, the Strategy would be recommended for endorsement by full Council.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(16)  Supporting Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to prepare for Adult Life – Funding Proposal

Report ED15058

 

(This report was withdrawn from the Executive’s agenda.)

 

(17)  Lead Local Flood Authority (Flooding and Water Management Act 2010)

Report ES14042

 

The report considered the impact of recent groundwater flooding and sought agreement from the Executive to release Central Contingency funding to ensure that the Council met its statutory duties as the Lead Local Flood Authority under the Flooding and Water Management Act 2010. The report had been considered by the Environment PDS Committee, which had supported the concept that the Council’s role was to encourage and facilitate rather than to attempt to do everything. It was also important that the planning framework supported measures to ensure that there was less water run-off from development.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(18)  Bromley Library Service – Outcome of Consultation

Report DRR14/054

 

Following extensive consultation with library users and staff a number of changes were proposed in order to meet budget savings for 2014/15, including changes to opening hours and extension of Radio Frequency Identification Data (RFID) equipment from four libraries to the remainder of the service. The proposals had been scrutinised by Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee prior to decisions by the Portfolio Holder, but the Executive was asked to approve the deletion of the mobile library service. 

 

Members commented that more publicity was needed for the home library service.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.