Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest that they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Members declared interests in the following agenda items:

6. Award of Contract for the Provision of the following Voluntary Services to Cherwell District Council: 1) Debt and Money Advice; 2) Services to Increase Volunteering; 3) Voluntary Driving Service.

Councillor John Donaldson, Personal, as the council's appointed elected member representative to Cherwell Community and Voluntary Services (CCVS) and the WRVS and as his wife is an employee of Age Concern UK.

Councillor Ken Atack, Personal, as the council's elected member representative to Cherwell Community and Voluntary Services (CCVS) and the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) and through this appointment a board member of this organisation.

Councillor Lawrie Stratford, Personal, as Chairman of Trustees for Bicester Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2011.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2011 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of John Hoad, Head of Service

Summary

To seek approval for the award of a contract for the provision of voluntary services across three thematic areas:

1. Debt and money advice
2. Services to increase volunteering
3. Voluntary driving services

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Award a contract for the provision of voluntary services across all three thematic and geographical areas to Banbury CAB, whose bid involves arrangements and partnerships with five other voluntary organisations, for a period of three years from 1 April 2012 with the option to extend by up to a further two years.

(2)               Confirm the cessation of existing funding arrangements for organisations funded through the Council’s Voluntary Sector (Community Development) Grants Programme and Community Transport Grants Programme as from 31 March 2012.

Recommendations approved, with the additional resolution:

(3)       That officers be requested to work with flexibility to ensure implementation of the underlying contract structures and to ensure the SLA reports evidence sub contractor performances and input to the new voluntary service ideals.

Head of Service 8 submitted a report which sought approval for the award of a contract for the provision of voluntary services across three thematic areas:

1. Debt and money advice
2. Services to increase volunteering
3. Voluntary driving services

At the discretion of the Chairman Councillor Lawrie Stratford addressed Executive stressing the importance of transitional arrangements being put in place to ensure a smooth transfer and the need for post-transfer monitoring.

Councillor Les Sibley, Leader of the Labour Group, addressed Executive commenting that there was a lack of clarity regarding the future of voluntary organisations which had previously relied on grants and querying if the reliance on volunteers was sustainable in the long term.

Councillor Tim Emptage, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, addressed Executive querying the measures that would be put in place to ensure no cut in services.

In response to the Members’ addresses, Head of Service 8 explained that the aim of the process which had been approved by Executive in May 2011 was to cease the existing funding arrangements of grants and to commission services through a tender process which adhered to EU regulations and the council’s contract procedure rules. He confirmed that there would be regular post-implementation monitoring and that officers were keen to work with the new commissioning arrangements regarding volunteers. It was acknowledged that the cessation of grants may impact on voluntary organisations and a report would be submitted to Executive in due course regarding the transport association and possible transfer to Oxfordshire County Council.

The Chairman acknowledged that the process represented a fundamental change to service delivery and would have implications on voluntary organisations which had previously relied on grants. The council was protecting service delivery through the procurement of service specific deliverables to suit the specific needs of the district which represented better value for money.

Resolved

(1)               That a contract for the provision of voluntary services across all three thematic and geographical areas be awarded to Banbury CAB, whose bid involves arrangements and partnerships with five other voluntary organisations, for a period of three years from 1 April 2012 with the option to extend by up to a further two years.

(2)               That the cessation of existing funding arrangements for organisations funded through the Council’s Voluntary Sector (Community Development) Grants Programme and Community Transport Grants Programme as from 31 March 2012 be confirmed.

(3)               That officers be requested to work with flexibility to ensure implementation of the underlying contract structures and to ensure the SLA reports evidence sub contractor performances and input to the new voluntary service ideals.

Councillor Atack requested that his abstention from the vote be recorded.

Report of Karen Curtin, Head of Service

Summary

This report summarises the Council’s Revenue and Capital performance for the first six months of the financial year 2011/12 and projections for the full 2011/12 period. These are measured by the budget monitoring function and reported via the Performance Management Framework (PMF) informing the 2011/12 budget process currently underway.

This report also reviews the treasury and procurement action plan performance for the first six months of 2011/12.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Note the projected revenue & capital position at September 2011.

(2)               Note the Capital Slippage of £5.853m from the 2011/12 capital programme as detailed in the main body of this report.

(3)               Note the Quarter 2 performance against 2011/12 investment strategy.

(4)               Note progress against the Procurement Action plan detailed in Appendix 1 and the savings recorded in Appendix 2.

Recommendations approved.

Head of Service 4 submitted a report which summarised the Council’s Revenue and Capital performance for the first six months of the financial year 2011/12 and projections for the full 2011/12 period. These were measured by the budget monitoring function and reported via the Performance Management Framework (PMF) informing the 2011/12 budget process currently underway. The report also reviewed the treasury and procurement action plan performance for the first six months of 2011/12.

Councillor Les Sibley, Leader of the Labour Group, addressed Executive regarding the financial performance update. In response to the address, the Lead Member for Financial Management confirmed that the council would recover all of the £6.5m it had invested in the failed Icelandic bank Glitnir. This money was not required for Capital schemes which would be considered through the usual process. Members thanked Head of Service 4, the Finance Team and Legal Officers for their hard work throughout the legal process.

Resolved

(1)               That the projected revenue & capital position at September 2011 be noted.

(2)               That the Capital Slippage of £5.853m from the 2011/12 capital programme be noted.

(3)               That the Quarter 2 performance against 2011/12 investment strategy be noted.

(4)               That the progress against the Procurement Action plan and the savings recorded be noted.