Minutes:
The Chief Executive, Mr Doug Patterson, attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Committee. Mr Patterson gave a brief introduction highlighting the following issues –
· Consideration had been given to succession planning. The Chief Executive was confident that following his departure at the end of the year the organisation would be secure in the short-term whilst Members took decisions regarding the future Council and management structure. Directors were conscious of the need to develop heads of service and the risks around succession planning were understood and managed.
· Financial challenges continued. The budget setting process was starting and there was a great deal of work to do around addressing future budget deficits.
· Although not confirmed, a further Ofsted inspection of Children’s Services was anticipated in November.
· The Waste Contract was near completion and management processes were now settled.
· Issues around Adult Social Care and the further integration with Health Services would need to be monitored.
· The Local Authority would be subject to a Boundary Review in June 2019.
· In relation to Emergency Planning, London boroughs would be expected to meet enhanced standards which had recently been rolled out.
· The Diocese had requested loan of the Lead Cistern which was currently located outside the Well Bar. It was believed that the Cistern dated back to 1792 and Bishop Thomas.
Mr Patterson then responded to questions, making the following comments –
· Emergency planning was stabilising. Although both current members of staff would be leaving, planning for recruitment was taking place and options for ensuring a robust service, such as linking with other Boroughs, were under consideration.
· The Council’s Building Control Service would be joining with LB Bexley in due course. It was hoped that this would address some of the recent issues with the Service.
· In the short to medium term the Council would not have to consider radically redesigning its services. Finances had been reviewed and Officers had been looking at what was required in terms of transformation projects. Reports would be provided to Members in due course. £80m-£90m had been taken out of the Council’s budget to date and there were now very few savings left to make. There was a fundamental requirement to look after children, provide services for the elderly, and protect the environment. The Chief Executive stated that he did not have the answers as to how these services could continue to be delivered with the ongoing pressure on local government budgets. Small savings could be made through changes to ICT, relocation of the Council Officers and the paperless agenda but it was unlikely these would go a long way to addressing future budget deficits.
· In recent years the Local Authority had developed a good relationship with local health services. However, the NHS was pursuing a structure that was based on regions and this caused concern in terms of how some of the future challenges could be addressed locally with the move away from localisation. The Chief Executive stated that he fundamentally believed that the NHS should be democratically accountable in a similar way to Local Government.
Noting that this was the last meeting that the Chief Executive was due to attend before his departure at the end of the year, the Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the Chief Executive for his service to both the Committee and the Borough and wished him well for the future.