Agenda and minutes

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.

There were no interests declared.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2013 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The committee considered the following reports to be presented for decision by the Cabinet on 8 November 2013.

The Committee considered a report on the introduction of the Living Wage for Lancashire County Council employees. It was reported that the 2014/15 Living Wage figure outside of London had been set by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University at £7.65.

It was confirmed that the decision would be considered by Full Council in December, should Cabinet agree to recommend it. Following the adoption of the Living Wage for the Council's centrally employed staff, the next steps would be to work towards its adoption by schools and council contractors. A dialogue had already begun with schools through the schools forum, although it was emphasised that the final decision for an individual school for staff working in schools would be that of the Governing Body. Further work would take place to assess the impact of the Living Wage on the council's contractors to understand the full economic, financial and social implications.

In response to queries raised, it was clarified that the introduction and maintenance of the Living Wage would not lead to differential pay rises for staff. Rather, in the same way as the Minimum Wage already requires, there would simply be an annual review and adjustment of the council's pay scale for those scale points for the lowest paid members of staff  affected by the Living Wage calculation.

The Committee confirmed the recommendations to Cabinet without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet be confirmed without amendment or modification.

The "Money Matters" update on the Council's financial position was presented. It was confirmed, that, although the report presented an improvement on the previous report, work was ongoing to bring spending back into line with the overall revenue budget by the end of the year.

It was confirmed that a detailed report on procurement issues was in preparation, and it was hoped that it would be available as soon as possible.

The Committee confirmed the recommendations to Cabinet without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet be confirmed without amendment or modification.

The Committee considered the "Money Matters" financial strategy report to be presented to cabinet. The Committee noted the scale of the challenge facing the council and the steps already being taken to address it. It was reported that there would be a one year budget set for 2014/15, with an intention to set a three year budget from 2015-2018. It was noted that the Budget Scrutiny Working Group would shortly begin its work, and that it would need to keep in mind the significant savings and major transformation to the way the council could do business necessary to achieve the required level of svaings.

The Committee confirmed the recommendations to Cabinet without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet be confirmed without amendment or modification.

A report on the Lancashire County Council Armed Forces Community Covenant was presented. The Committee confirmed the recommendations to Cabinet without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet be confirmed without amendment or modification.

The Committee considered the following Key Decision due to be taken by individual Cabinet Members.

The Committee received a report on progress on delivering the new statutory entitlement to eligible two year old children. It was confirmed that the Schools Forum was supportive, and that Lancashire was in line with the approach being  taken by other local authorities. The Committee confirmed the recommendations to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

The Committee received a report on the relocation of Sir Tom Finney Community High School.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet Member expressed his congratulations to Shaun Jukes, the Headteacher at Sir Tom Finney, for being named as the Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School un the recent National Teaching Awards.

The Committee confirmed the recommendation to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendation to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

A report was presented on the commissioning of fostering and residential care. The Committee confirmed the recommendation to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendation to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

The Committee considered a report on a proposal to provide funding to district councils to enable them to take action to reduce the significant negative health impact in winter of cold and damp homes. In presenting the report, the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing advised that he was minded to agree an alternative proposal to that contained in the report. The Cabinet Member proposed that, rather than making £40,000 available to each district council, that amount should be reduced to £30,000, with the remaining £120,000 distributed to projects in accordance with the Marmot principle of targeting those most in need.

It was made clear that the funding was for one year only, and replaced funding withdrawn by the Department of Health.

The Committee expressed support for the Cabinet Member's alternative proposal, although emphasised that assessments and allocation of funding needed to be made quickly with winter approaching.

Resolved: That

i)  the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet Member be noted

ii)  the committee supported the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing's alternative proposal for recommendation i) in the report, to provide £30,000 as a grant to each district council, and make the remaining £120,000 available to support appropriate projects to help address the areas of greatest need

The committee received a report outlining the need to review the Preferred Provider Scheme for learning disability services. The Committee confirmed the recommendations to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

A report outlining proposed changes to the Registration Services fees for the delivering of ceremonies and provision of copies of certificates was considered. The Committee confirmed the recommendation to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendation to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

A proposed cycle safety scheme between M6 Junction 31 and BAe Salmesbury was presented for consideration. It was agreed that consideration would be given to the surface treatment in the light of concerns about horses slipping on tarmac. It was also confirmed that future maintenance of the scheme would be the responsibility of the County Council. The Committee confirmed the recommendations to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

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.

There was no Urgent Business

The next meeting of the Executive Scrutiny Committee will be held on Tuesday 3 December 2013 at 2pm at the County Hall, Preston.

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the committee would be held at 2pm on Tuesday 3 December 2013 at the County Hall, Preston.

Resolved : That the press and members of the public 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 relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972 as set out in the reports. It was considered that in all the circumstances the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

(Exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972. It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on Public Health Commissioned Services. The Committee confirmed the recommendations to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

(Exempt information as defined in paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972. It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the transfer of mental health services and associated county council employees to Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. The Committee confirmed the recommendations to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

(Exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972. It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee received a report on the implementation of an interim improvement plan and reduced weekly charge for Telecare services. The Committee confirmed the recommendation to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendation to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.

(Exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972. It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee received a report on the extension of the North Lancashire contract and principles of variations to the North and East Contracts with Creative Support. The Committee confirmed the recommendations to the Cabinet Member without modification or amendment.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet Member be confirmed without amendment or modification.