Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Humby.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code.  Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

No deputations were received to the meeting.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman noted that the deadline for BREXIT was fast approaching and confirmed that conversations were being held to ensure the County Council would be positioned to respond to any consequences arising from it.

A recently published list of Councils judged to be in financial difficulty was highlighted. It was noted that Hampshire County Council was not included on the list, which the Chairman attributed to a strong track record of prudent financial management. However concern was also expressed regarding the overall financial picture within Local Government.

The Chairman confirmed he had been elected Chairman of South East England Councils (SEEC), explaining that the Group sought to make the case for the South East region.

A number of recent meetings were highlighted to Cabinet, including with local and national MPs, and the initial meetings of the Commission for the Future of Hampshire.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive regarding the Transformation to 2019 programme.

Cabinet received a report of the Chief Executive regarding the Transformation to 2019 programme.

The report was introduced and in particular the pressures on the County Council were noted, through the examples of the additional 2500 people each year aged over 85, as well as increasing number of children in care.

Key points from the report were highlighted and it was confirmed that strong progress against the programme was being made, with £50 million of savings secured. Particular achievements in the areas of digital transformation and the on boarding of new partners were recognised. Challenges within the areas of Adults’ and Children’s social care were addressed and it was acknowledged that many issues were faced nationally.

Cabinet welcomed the report, highlighting the diagram at paragraph 3.5 to demonstrate the scale of the challenge. Clarification was given on how inflation was accounted for and also on the ability for departments to use cash savings to fund further cost of change where opportunities exist. With reference to appendix one, Cabinet noted the strength of the investment programme.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. It was additionally noted that lobbying of Government was continuously underway to highlight the pressures on other core services as a result of the increasing costs of social care provision. The decision record is attached.

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Resources regarding the progress made on the Digital Portfolio to support departments with their T17 and T19 transformation.

Cabinet received a report of the Director of Corporate Resources regarding the progress made on the Digital Portfolio to support departments with their T17 and T19 transformation.

A number of significant areas were highlighted as set out in the report. In particular website updates to improve customer service and engagement, the use of robotics and the roll out of the enabling productivity programme were identified. The case studies included in the report were recognised and the financial benefits identified welcomed by Cabinet, who noted that these came alongside an improved service delivery to customers and vulnerable people.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. It was furthermore agreed that the report should be sent to all Hampshire MPs and to the Secretary of State for their information. The decision record is attached.  

To consider a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care regarding the CQC Hampshire Local System Review

[In relation to this item, Councillor Reid declared a personal interest as the County’s representative on a Hospital Trust]

Cabinet received a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care regarding the CQC Hampshire Local System Review.

It was confirmed that the review was one of 20 carried out nationally. The focus of the review had been on people aged over 65, but also picked up related areas. Work was identified around the issue of delayed discharge and assisting getting people out of acute care and the positive impact of this was already being felt.

Officers were congratulated on the outcomes achieved and effort put in to the review. The benefit of bringing partners together was recognised and it was also noted and welcomed that there was no need for a re-visit as no concerns had been identified.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. The decision record is attached.

RESOLVED:

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during these items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report.

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Resources regarding the creation of a Joint Venture Local Authority Trading Company

Cabinet received an exempt report of the Director of Corporate Resources regarding the creation of a Joint Venture Local Authority Trading Company.

The context and background to the report and the creation of a Trading Company for the provision of agency staff was set out, including challenges relating to the needs of service provision and the needs of the workforce. It was confirmed that this was not a move to zero hours contracts and that agency workers would always be able to transfer to become permanent members of staff if a suitable vacancy existed.

It was heard that the proposal was to go into partnership with Kent County Council because of organisationally similar issues and objectives. Furthermore joint working in this way would enable a much speedier and reliable establishment of the new arrangements and Kent’s existing success in this market was noted. Other options, including establishing Hampshire’s own agency, or buying an existing agency were outlined and the reasons why they were less desirable set out.

It was questioned why the item was exempt and clarified that this was essential to maintain commercial confidentiality. However should the recommendations be agreed, subsequent discussions would be necessary which remove the need for such confidentiality.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. The decision record is attached.