Agenda and minutes

Apologies were submitted by Councillor Paul Wray.

None

Councillors Jane Kidd declared a nonpecuniary interest in Agenda Item

No.5, by virtue of being employed by an association that provided services for those with disabilities.

The minutes of the meetings held on 4th April, 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that: The minutes be approved as a correct record.

There were no public statements made.

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee was presented with the Finance and Performance Report for Quarter 1 2018/19 which provided an overview of progress made since the last report.

Finance and Performance

The Assistant Director of Finance was in attendance at the meeting, and responded to key issues of concern raised within the report.

It was explained that overall performance in Quarter 4 and throughout the year had been good although challenging at times.  It was outlined that finances had been well managed with an overspend amounting to 0.5% of total spend.  It was reported that at year-end, the Council overspent by £2.5m a £1.3 reduction from the Quarter 3 forecast. 

It was stated that £2.8m National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) earmarked reserve was released to general reserves increasing the balance to £12.3m uncommitted reserves; it was acknowledged that it would have been good if this had been higher. 

It was recognised that the main reason for the Councils overspend was due to increased demands and pressures on Doncaster Children’s Services Trust.   It was outlined that Regeneration and Environment, had experienced an improved position in terms of overspend from Quarter 3 and that there had been a reasonable underspend in Corporate Resources, which have provided some balance.  In terms of the Capital Programme there had been expenditure for 2017/18 of £101.7m compared to revised budget of £115.2m, most of which is general slippage in the programme.

In terms of capital receipts, it was explained that not as much had come in as thought. It was reported that there had been a shortfall of capital receipts of £1.3m, which are expected in 2018/19.

·         In terms of housing, the Council had delivered a further 280 Net Additional Homes built in Quarter 4 bringing the latest figure to 1,173 during the last 12 months. 

·         More people have been helped to remain at home.

·         Local authority spend with local businesses, that more was being undertaken with suppliers to use local chains and encourage local firms etc. 

·         It was added that overall staff sickness for the year-end stood at an average of 9 days per employee.  It was reported that had been a reduction on the previous year but had not met the target due to a number of different reasons. 

Uses of consultants – Members were informed that a requirement to develop better workforce planning had been identified.  It was recognised that there had been difficulties in recruiting to certain areas such as IT that necessitated specific expertise.  It was shared that there was a desire to take this work forward and formulate recommendations.

Capital Receipts – It was outlined that long term effect on slippages would occur further down the line with most slippages to be seen in IT areas.

Doncaster Children’s Services Trust (DCST) – It was explained that the Council did not own the Trust and that future arrangements were being considered in order to gain greater control and influence. 

In respect of recruitment to Senior Management Level, it was outlined that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

There were no public statements made.

Members gave detailed consideration to the Youth Offending Service Plan in Doncaster for 2018/19 prior to deliberation by Cabinet and Full Council and confirmed their support of the Plan.  An overview was provided on the background to the plan and performance during the year.

Members heard about the work that had been undertaken to address issues within the Borough and how positive impacts had been made within the service for children and young people affected.  It was explained that performance was strong and had improved as indicated throughout the report.  It was recognised that there were challenges around lags in the reporting of information but Members noted the steps taken in response that included live tracking.

There was a brief discussion around Doncaster’s binary re-offending performance.  It was explained that the latest rate of 30.4% was close to where it was for the same quarter during the previous year.  It was explained that as cohorts were now measured quarterly rather than annual, the membership was much smaller leading to greater volatility in the rates from one cohort to the next.  It was advised that further work needed to be done to look at the underlying trend although Doncaster’s re-offending rate was consistently lower than the regional and national rates.

Members were pleased to hear how there was no young person at completion of an order who was without appropriate or suitable accommodation.  It was also outlined that the team benefited from a very good Education, Employment or Training (EET) service, a range of Personal Advisers and dedicated Under 16 staff to support the young person accessing suitable education.

Members heard about the ongoing and positive impact of EPIC who worked with those young people who might have become first time entrants and often focused on more than one approach.  The Committee was told how EPIC looked at cases where it was felt that there were no further options and ensures that the young person would be directed to the right resource. It was explained how work had been undertaken which included targeted action in youth crime hotspots, involved young people in a wide range of activities and engaged with communities and schools.  The Panel found the report interesting and were pleased to hear how the work of EPIC was constantly evolving and how the team was always striving for more through its forward thinking and innovative work.  For example, it was heard how that in relation to school exclusion, the team endeavoured to start with the young person at an earlier point before they reached that stage in the process.

In terms of other challenges on the horizon, Members were informed that more was being done to raise awareness about child criminal exploitation with professionals and that colleagues were developing a better understanding of issues, such as who was at risk.  Members were told of the increasing problem in Doncaster of gangs recruiting young people with view to selling drugs.

In conclusion to the above, Members were told about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Committee considered the Scrutiny Work Plan, noted the current position and work to be undertaken by the Committee and Panel’s for the remainder of the 2017/18 Civic Year.

RESOLVED that;

·         The 2018/2019 work programme be approved.

·         The report and verbal update be noted

·         The Committee support further discussions regarding work addressing the use of consultants and agencies and to look at Value for Money and employee resource workplanning and development.