Agenda and minutes

County Councillor V Taylor replaced County Councillor S Charles at this meeting.

None.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary or Non-pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

None.

Resolved:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Committee considered the following decisions due to be taken by the Cabinet:

The Committee considered an update on the County Council's response to the recommendations made by the independent Lancashire Fairness Commission and the ways in which the Council was working to address fairness in Lancashire. 

The Committee's attention was drawn to Appendix 'B' of the report and in particular to the section referring to the finalisation of the Lancashire Skills and Employment Strategic Framework 2016/21.  It was reported that the first paragraph of that section should have referred to an "opt-out" rather than an "opt-in" with the Big Lottery 'Building Better Opportunities'. 

It was noted that the report suggested the staging of the 'Fairness in Lancashire, One Year On' event in June 2016.  The opportunity would be taken at this event to present the corporate strategy as the County Council's strategic approach to fairness across Lancashire.  Members felt that the event should also be used to highlight successes and achievements, as well as any future risks.

The Committee acknowledged the challenges posed by increased costs and demands, as well as the worsening financial position of the County Council and across the public sector.  The ever changing picture meant that careful consideration needed to be given to ensuring that a proportional level of resource was targeted towards communities and individuals who were most in need.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet be noted and that apart from the above, no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

The Committee considered a report on the financial sustainability of the Council and the proposed review of the Council's Operating and Business Model.

Members were reminded that the budget report to Cabinet in November 2015 identified the need for a review of the Council's operating and business model and proposed that external consultants be appointed in the New Year to assist the Council in scoping and undertaking the review of its operating model.  The report identified that a key part of the brief would be the development of a public service operating model for the Council to enable it to be sustainable, within its forecast financial resource envelope, by 2020/21.

The Committee was informed that the report now presented set out the context for the review, the proposed initial brief for the consultants and recommended that the remit of the Political Governance Working Group be extended to include the future public service operating model for the Council and for it to make recommendations to the Cabinet and Full Council.  It was confirmed that the Working Group would receive reports from the consultants, as well as the views of officers thereon.

It was noted that a separate report would be presented to the Leader of the Council setting out the results of the procurement exercise to appoint the consultants.  A copy of that report was presented for consideration by the Committee later in the agenda.

Several members expressed reservations about the appointment of consultants to review the Council's business model.  In response officers advised that the Council could not plan its future in isolation and it was important to develop a future public service model for Lancashire in conjunction with its partners including district councils, the health sector and a combined authority for Lancashire.  Furthermore, it was important that the Council was not constrained in its thinking and that it had the benefit of independent challenge and a breadth of knowledge and experience of alternative business and operating models to draw upon in planning its future.  The Committee was informed that the Council did not have the capacity to do that alone and it was felt that the appointment of independent consultants would help the Council to review and develop a sustainable operating model.  It would also assist the Council in presenting its response to the Treasury and DCLG review of the future needs assessment/allocation formula and on the absolute level of resources required to meet statutory services. 

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

The Committee considered a report on the development of a Lancashire and South Cumbria Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP).

A key requirement of the STP was that the County Council and all other partners including District Councils should work together to create a more efficient and sustainable health and social care system. 

Whilst the Planning Guidance required the NHS to produce the STP, it was important that the County Council fully engaged with the process to help shape and direct it.  To enable the Council to participate effectively, it was felt that the Council's approach to health and social care integration should be clearly set out and the report to Cabinet proposed the adoption of a set of Operating Principles to be shared with partners.  These covered:

·  Governance;

·  Citizen focused integration;

·  Local Health Economies;

·  Joint Strategic Needs Assessment;

·  Pooled Budgets; and

·  Single commissioning arrangements within pooled budget arrangements.

The report also drew attention to other on-going initiatives that needed to sensibly integrate or align with the STP process. These included Healthier Lancashire, the Lancashire Combined Authority and on-going work within the five Health Economies in Lancashire.

Members discussed the problems faced by people having to travel cross boundary to access health services It was agreed that this was an important issue which needed to be addressed.  The Committee also agreed that the lack of democratic accountability on CCG Boards and Acute Trusts was a barrier to improved integration.

It was agreed that a series of bite size briefings should be held to enable members to discuss and have a better understanding of the issues raised in the report including the development of the STP, the options for improved integration and joint working, and initiatives such as Healthier Lancashire and the five health economies. 

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet be noted and that apart from the above, no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

The Committee considered the following reports on Key Decisions due to be taken by individual Cabinet Members.

The Committee considered a report on the proposed projects for inclusion in the 2016/17 Highway Maintenance, Road Safety and Public Rights of Way New Starts Capital Programme.  Details of the criteria used to select the proposed projects was also presented.

In accordance with Standing Order 19(1) the Committee agreed that County Councillor A Schofield be permitted to speak on this item.  In response to comments about a 2015/16 road safety scheme Councillor Schofield was asked to raise the matter with officers.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

In accordance with Standing Order 19(1) the Committee agreed that County Councillor B Yates be permitted to speak on this item. 

The Committee considered a report on the proposed schemes to be funded from the 2016/17 Local Priority Response Fund.

Following a lengthy discussion on the list of schemes selected by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, it was moved and seconded "That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made." 

To which the following amendment was moved and seconded "That the Cabinet Member be requested to defer consideration of the report, and to pay proper regard to the asset management rankings identified by officers."

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was lost and it was:

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency. Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member's intention to raise a matter under this heading.

None.

The next meeting of the Executive Scrutiny Committee will be held on Tuesday, 10 May 2016 at 2pm at the County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Tuesday 10 May 2016 2.00 p.m. at County Hall, Preston.

The Committee is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, it considers that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972, as indicated against the heading to the item.

Resolved: - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 and that in all circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee considered the following reports on Key Decisions due to be taken by individual Cabinet Members.

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.)

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed appointment of a single provider framework for Consultancy Services to the County Council.

There was a discussion on the use of procurement processes to promote tax compliance.  It was noted that a report on the option of introducing the requirements of the Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note: Measures to Promote tax Compliance 03/14 within the County Council's procurement procedures would be presented to members for further consideration.

Resolved:  That the recommendation set out in the report to the Leader of the County Council be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.)

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed use of a framework agreement for the purchase of street lighting connections.

Resolved:  That the recommendation set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.