There were no announcements from the Chairman or Head of Paid Service.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are required to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Mr Hemsley declared an interest in item 7 of the agenda as he had a child that had been diagnosed with dyslexia.

To confirm the Record of Decisions made at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16 May 2017.

The Record of Decisions made by the Cabinet on 16 May 2017, copies of which had been previously circulated were confirmed by Cabinet.

To receive items raised by members of scrutiny which have been submitted to the Leader (copied to Chief Executive and Corporate Support) by 4.30 pm on Friday 16 June 2017.

The Chairman had not been formally notified of any items raised by Scrutiny.

Report No. 98/2017

Report No. 98/2017 from the Chief Executive was received.

Mr Della Rocca, Assistant Director - Finance, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to provide Cabinet with strategic oversight of the Council’s performance for 2016/17.  Members were accountable for the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan and the monitoring information reported on progress and highlighted any key challenges.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)     The increase in employee absence was being monitored and human Resources had put an action plan in place to manage and reduce these figures.  The figures were still below the national average and were attributable to  longer periods of absence (10 – 15 days); and

ii)    Clarification was requested from Mr Walters regarding the purpose of including figures on the percentage of calls answered in 5 minutes minus abandoned calls.  Mr Della Rocca would provide this information outside of the meeting.

DECISION

1.    Cabinet NOTED the overall position in relation to performance during 2016/17 and the action being taken to address areas of underperformance.

Reasons for Decision

1.    At the end of 2016/17, 85% of indicators measured were on or above target.  10% of indicators were below target and main areas for concern had been highlighted in the report and the remedial action being undertaken to improve performance had been identified.

2.    Overall performance based on activity in 2016/17 was satisfactory.

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 111/2017

(Report to follow)

Report No. 111/2017 from the Director for Resources was received.

Mr S Della Rocca, Assistant Director – Finance, introduced the report the purpose of which was to inform Cabinet of the draft outturn figures (subject to audit) for the financial year 2016/17 and to provide an update on the status of the 2017/18 budget.  In reporting the outturn, Cabinet and where necessary Council was being asked to carry forward some budgets to 2017/18, approve some additional requests for funding for 2017/18, and put aside some additional funding in earmarked reserves.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)     The revenue budget was set in February, but it is normal practice that this was adjusted to take account of additional government funding and other emerging issues;

ii)    The Medium Term Financial Plan had also been revised and adjustments made to the assumptions taking into account latest information;

iii)   The Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel on 15 June 2017 had discussed the demand in Social Care, the continuing costs of maintaining Oakham Cemetery, increasing costs of waste collection and disposal and the increase in insurance claims;

iv)   Mr Brown advised that there was a statutory defence to highways insurance claims as long as there is a highways maintenance scheme and an adequate inspection regime in place;

v)    The additional funding received for Home to School Transport was for the purpose of assisting those living in homes with low incomes with school transport costs, this funding had been received in previous years, but there had been no indication as to whether the funding would continue, which is why it had not been included originally; and

vi)   Mr Walters was concerned that work on increasing school places was currently focused towards just one secondary school – Catmose College and would like to see consideration given to other secondary school establishments in future projects.

DECISION

1)    Cabinet APPROVED:

i)             The transfer of £786k from 16/17 underspends to earmarked reserves for future use of which £487k related to the ring fenced Better Care Fund and Public Health budget;

ii)            The revenue budget carry forwards of £948k as outlined in Appendix A to Report No. 111/2017, para 1.3.2, 1.3.3 and 1.4.3; and

iii)           The changes to the 17/18 revenue budget (as outlined in Appendix H to Report No. 111/2017) which had a net General Fund impact of £9k.

2)    Cabinet NOTED:

i)             The outturn on the revenue budget and capital programme;

ii)            The updated version of the capital programme as set out in Appendix A to Report No. 111/2017, para 4.1 including an extra £17k received for Disabled Facilities Grants;

iii)           The additional transfer to earmarked reserves made by the Assistant Director (Finance) in line with the approval given in report (44/2017); and

iv)           The indicative plans for the Better Care Fund (Appendix 1 to Report No. 111/2017).

3)    Cabinet AUTHORISED the Director for Resources to allocate the IT capital allocation of £150k.

4)    Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

i)             The changes to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 112/2017

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 112/2017 from the Director for People was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Wilby, introduced the report.  A brief summary was provided by Mr Quinn, Service Manager – Early Intervention and Inclusion, regarding the purpose of the report which was to update Members on the current contractual arrangements for the provision of Educational Psychology services in Rutland, and to seek approval from Cabinet to provide a direct award to Partners in Psychology for the delivery of educational psychology services until 31^st August 2018.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)     There was currently a back log in non-statutory assessments from schools due to increase in referrals from schools and the need to prioritise statutory Education and Health and Care assessments.  The intention was to increase the provision of the Educational Psychology Service from 3 to 5 days for a short period in order to review the back log and clear those cases that still required assessments;

ii)    Mr Hemsley was concerned that the focus should be on giving children what they need and providing the right kind of support;

iii)   The direct award of this service for a further year would allow the time required to ensure that sufficient consultation could take place in order to ensure that any new service tendered was fit for purpose and meets the needs identified by parents educational establishments and delivers flexible and adaptable support;

iv)   Mr Wilby identified that children receiving support and their families should be asked to provide feedback to ensure they are receiving the right sort of support and are in the right educational setting for them;

v)    There had been improvement in the provision of this service since moving from an employed educational psychologist to using Partners in Psychology as it provided access to a variety of practitioners.  Educational psychologist were in short supply which limited the ability to employ to a specific post;

vi)   Mr Walters highlighted that there was some dissatisfaction from parents with children in main stream schools who felt that the schools had not reacted in a timely/appropriate manner.  There was also some confusion regarding referrals to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services preventing referrals to Educational Psychology services;

vii) Schools were able to buy in additional support and were not bound by provision from the Local Authority alone;

viii)                Mrs Curtis highlighted that there was also the opportunity to improve support in schools by focusing on classroom practice and training and developing teachers to improve their skills so that they can better support children in the classroom.  Supporting teachers to become specialists in certain areas (e.g. support for dyslexia) so that they can visit other schools to share knowledge and best practice; and

ix)   Head teachers had been invited to join a panel which would look at the practice, delivery and provision of the Educational Psychology service to ensure that delivery was as effective and efficient as possible for children and families.  The work done by this panel would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

Report No. 114/2017

Report No. 114/2017 from the Director for People was received.

Mrs G Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to identify the progress made in addressing the priorities for Rutland identified through the 2016 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment and the activities to be completed within the timespan of Plan.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)     Work was being completed in the area of out of school and holiday childcare provision in order to identify and promote all Rutland providers, there had been some delay caused by changes in teams and staffing and allocation of areas of responsibility.  This piece of work had now been allocated in the Learning and Skills Team;

ii)    The Child Sufficiency Survey this year had also identified some concerns raised by parents regarding availability of pre-school and early evening provision;

iii)   Mr Hemsley highlighted that it was important to understand the type and timing of childcare that is required in order to accommodate a variety of needs;

iv)   Mrs Curtis agreed that once there was a clear picture of what was currently on offer, it was important to work with providers, parents and businesses to ensure services were suitable, with proper checks in place and delivered in line with requirements;

v)    Mr Wilby was keen that the impact of the extended 30 hour provision on providers was monitored to ensure that they were able to remain viable; and

vi)   The 2017 Annual Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Report would come to Cabinet in October and include findings from the review of out of school and holiday provision.

DECISION

1.    Cabinet NOTED the priorities for childcare sufficiency in Rutland as identified in the Childcare Sufficiency Action Plan (Appendix A to Report No. 114/2017).

2.    Cabinet NOTED the progress made in addressing the priorities, the actions taken to date and actions still to be completed.

Reasons for Decision

1.    Rutland County Council had a statutory duty under the Childcare Act 2006 to secure ‘as far as is reasonably practicable’, sufficient childcare to meet the requirements of working parents/carers, or parents/carers undertaking education or training that would lead to work.

2.    The Childcare Sufficiency Action Plan provided Cabinet with an updated report on the progress being made in addressing the priorities identified in the 2016 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment.

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Mr K Quinn left the meeting and did not return.

Mrs G Curtis left the meeting and did not return.

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Cabinet is recommended to determine whether the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and in accordance with the Access to Information provisions of Procedure Rule 239, as the following item of business is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 113/2017

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 113/2017 from the Director for People was received.

Mr M Andrews, Deputy Director for People, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to set out the procurement and related funding requirements for the remodelled Mental Health Recovery and Resilience Local Service for Rutland, and request approval for Rutland County Council to receive funding from East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (ELRCCG) via a Section 256 Agreement, and to make the contract award.

During the discussion the following points were raised:

i)     The preferred provider scored significantly higher in the service user and carer score;

ii)    The provider would support people with drug and alcohol problems and there was a potential overlap with existing services in this element of support, but there were people that did not fall within the remit for receiving treatment for drug and alcohol misuse, but still required some support where this was having a negative impact on mental health; and

iii)   Mr Clifton, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, had forwarded comments in support of the award of the contract as outlined in the report to ensure that the mental health needs of the Rutland residents are met.

--o0o--

The meeting returned to public session

--o0o--

DECISION

1.    Cabinet APPROVED the contract award to the provider as set out in Appendix A to Report No. 113/2017.

2.    Cabinet APPROVED the Section 256 Agreement for Rutland County Council to receive funding from East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group for the service set out in Appendix B to Report No. 113/2017.

Reasons for Decision

1.    The recommended provider outscored the other shortlisted providers and more importantly had the highest score from the Service User and Care panel.

2.    The model would ensure that the mental health needs of Rutland residents are better met by East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (ELRCCG) commissioned services.  Rutland County Council’s receipt of the funding from the ELRCCG, under Section 256, would ensure better contractual control over the providers work.

To receive items of urgent business which have previously been notified to the person presiding.

No items of urgent business had previously been notified to the Chairman.