| OSC.267 | Councillor Carter declared a personal interest in Minute OSC.275 below, Plan for Change Update, as the spouse of the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Tourism and Culture. |
| OSC.268 | There were no members of the public present at the meeting to ask questions under this item. |
| OSC.270 | The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources submitted a report which provided information on the Council’s financial position for the period up to June 2012 and projected the likely outturn at the end of 2012/2013.
The report included details of Prudential Indicators in accordance with CIPFA’s Prudential Code.
Questions and comments were invited and the following issues were raised:
• In response to a question concerning vacancy management within Adult Care Services, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources highlighted that all positions were reviewed when posts become vacant and acknowledged the challenges of maintaining current levels of service with reduced staffing numbers.
• With regard to the issue of income derived from planning applications, the Cabinet Member accepted that income had reduced but stressed that all potential developments were examined on the merits of the actual application. It was further explained that a delay in legislation had impacted on the level of planning income received.
• In response to a question from Councillor Heneghan, the Executive Director of Resources undertook to provide the net financial position, including the subsidy, of the Council’s Civic Halls
• The Executive Director of Resources undertook to provide the Chair, Councillor Hankey, with further detail in respect of the £100,000 budget adjustment for Civic Halls.
• The Cabinet Member responded to concerns about the demand pressures relating to Children’s Agency Placements. It was reported that a range of preventative strategies had been introduced and it was hoped to reduce the overspend by £600,000.
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| OSC.271 |
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources submitted a report providing Members with details of the:
• The capital outturn figures in respect of the last financial year 2011/12;
• Major variances between the Revised Estimate and the Outturn;
• The financing of the Capital Programme in 2011/12;
• Re-profile of budgets/allocations and funding into 2012/13; and
• Details of the capital receipts received during the year.
Questions and comments were invited and the following issues were raised:
• Members of the Committee question the Cabinet Member on the acquisition of the former Town Centre Fire Station. It was explained that the Council had purchased the land as a strategic town centre site.
• In response to a question concerning the status of the Extended Schools programme, Councillor Parnell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People undertook to provide the information.
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| OSC.272 | The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources submitted a report providing Members with details of:
• the revenue outturn figures in respect of the last financial year, 2011/2012, detailing specific carry-forward requests and the proposed application of the carry-forward rules;
• major variances between the revised estimate and the outturn;
• the level of school balances;
• transfers to / from reserves;
• HRA outturn for the year;
• The minimum level of balances in the light of risk assessments
The figures in the report are consistent with the figures included within the Statement of Accounts which were both approved by the Responsible Finance Officer and presented to Audit Committee on 26 June 2012.
In response to a question concerning the issue of schools carrying forward surpluses, it was explained that the issue is monitored and schools are required to provide the rationale behind building up balances.
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| OSC.273 | The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources submitted a report providing details of Treasury Management activities during 2011/12. The Council undertakes Treasury Management Activities in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management, which requires that the Council receives an annual strategy report by 31 March for the year ahead and an annual review report of the previous year by 30 September.
In response to a question from Councillor Walker, the Executive Director of Resources explained that investments were undertaken by officers within the parameters and policy set by Elected Members.
In considering the report the Chair, Councillor Hankey, congratulated the officers involved in the report for their work.
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| OSC.274 | The Cabinet Member for Leisure, Tourism and Culture and the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration submitted a report providing an update on the Plan for Change reviews in respect of Leisure and Parks and Countryside. The report set out a number of proposals that had been developed prior to a range of engagement and consultation activities with stakeholders and members of the public. It was reported that final proposals and recommendations would be submitted to this Committee in advance of a decision by Cabinet.
During discussion of the review report, the following comments and suggestions were put forward by Members of the Committee in respect of the individual reviews:
Leisure Parks and Countryside
Consideration should be given to other ways of providing the crèche/cafeteria services in a viable way. Discontinuation should be last resort. Any self managed groups must be clearly aware that they are managing services on behalf of the Council and ensure equality of usage
Explore local provision with a view to looking at possible partnership working with nearby nurseries. Look at possibility of allocating rangers in relation to the amount of identified green space within individual townships
Focus leisure centre promotion/marketing on current non users Council must offer a high level of support and help to volunteers who initially take on self management of facilities/provision.
Market specific features offered by the leisure centre for particular groups e.g families; young people; elderly When looking at future provision of play areas in the borough, safety of equipment must be of paramount concern
Look at use of volunteers, with the Council offering help/incentives to encourage volunteers to run certain aspects of the service.
Consider niche marketing which focuses on what can be offered that differs from what is available through private provision
Further questions and comments were invited and the following issues were raised:
• The Chair, Councillor Hankey, commented that more detail, including further financial information, was required to enable the Committee to input into the review process.
• Councillor O’Hanlon suggested that the reviews should include details of invest to save schemes.
• The Chair, Councillor Hankey, commented that major budget savings were not identified or proposed within the report. In response to a question concerning operational decisions, the Cabinet Member confirmed that these were not part of the review process.
• In response to a suggestion that a working group be set up to be involved in the review process the Chair, Councillor Hankey, commented that a Group could meaningfully be set up to look at the long term Leisure Strategy of the Council, but at this stage the whole Committee should be involved in scrutinising the proposals coming forward as part of the Plan for Change.
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| OSC.275 | A report was submitted by the Leader of the Council outlining the progress during quarter one 2012-2013 for the corporate performance indicators and projects within the Bury Council Corporate Plan. The information is extracted from the Performance Information Management System (PIMS) and provided by the responsible services. |
| OSC.276 | The Cabinet Member for Children and Families submitted a report providing details of the recent report from Ofsted on Safeguarding and Looked After Children Services, which was published on 13 June 2012, and a draft action plan to respond to the issues raised. |
| OSC.277 |
Further to Minute JCC.02, of the meeting of JCC Teachers held on 21 June 2012, the Committee considered a request to re-constitute the Schools of Concern Sub Group.
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| OSC.278 | Jane Whittam, Complaints Co-ordinator, submitted a report setting out information in respect of complaints related to Children’s Services covering the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012. |