In the interest of transparency Members disclosed the following interests:

(i)            In relation to the item on Commissioning of Specialist Services (Minute 8), Councillor Duffy disclosed that she had involvement with learning disabilities.

(ii)          In relation to the Finance reports (Minutes 6 & 7), Councillor Kamran Hussain disclosed that a family member was employed as an accountant in a school.  Together with the Chair he also a stated that he was a private sector landlord.

(iii)         Also in relation to the Finance reports, Councillor Sunderland disclosed that her aunt was in receipt of residential care services.

ACTION:       Interim City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2018 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2018 be signed as a correct record.

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents. 

The following referrals have been made to this Committee up to and including the date of publication of this agenda.

The Committee is asked to note the referrals listed above and decide how it wishes to proceed, for example by incorporating the item into the work programme, requesting that it be subject to more detailed examination, or refer it to an appropriate Working Group/Committee.

There were no referrals made to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Interim Strategic Director for Corporate Resources will submit a report (Document “A”) which provides members an insight into the Council’s overall finance and performance position at the end of the 2017-18 financial year.

The report is also being considered by the Executive at its meeting on 10 July 2018.

Recommended –

That the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee review and comment on the 2017-18 Annual Finance and Performance Report.

(Andrew Cross / Philip Witcherley – 01274 436823 / 1241)

The Interim Strategic Director for Corporate Resources submitted a report (Document “A”) which provided members with an insight into the Council’s overall finance and performance position at the end of the 2017-18 financial year.

The report was also considered by the Executive at its meeting on 10 July 2018.

In relation to Performance, the Head of Policy and Performance summarised the Council’s overall performance over the last 12 months, the Council and the wider district had had a number of successes which had been validated by external sources and partners.  It was noted that performance against the Council Plan indicators was good, with most of the targets being met, notable successes were alluded to including the Care Quality Commission praising both the NHS and the Council for its strong and mature partnership working; the district being the fourth most improved area on education attainment; the district was also rated as the best place to start a business in the UK by Barclays as well as the Council being rated as one of the top 10 most productive Councils in England. 

In relation to the financial performance, the headline financial result showed that the Council underspent the £375.2m approved net budget by £0.3 million in line with previous forecasts.  Despite the overall underspend, there were a number of significant departmental budget variances, particularly in the area of Adults and Children’s Services.

During the discussion Members asked a number of questions, the questions together with the responses are detailed below:

In relation to a question on what was being done to address the low number of staff performance appraisals being undertaken, it was stated that current figures showed that only 15% of appraisals were recorded on the system.  In order to improve this situation, Human Resources had recently introduced a new Performance Management System, which will be mandatory and therefore this low uptake should be addressed as the programme is rolled out.

In relation to a question regarding the parameters of the £500k housing allocations, it was explained that this amount would go towards unlocking housing sites and work with developers to bring developments into fruition and stop the practice of land banking.

In relation to road accidents, a Member stated that it was important to track this further via the Area Committee framework. A Member added that dangerous driving and the running of red lights was a particular issue in parts of the district.  However Members acknowledged the success of ‘Operation Steerside’ in addressing dangerous driving.

A Member commented that the number of empty homes in the district was still very high and landlords should be compelled to rectify their properties.

In relation to the impact of fly tipping  and the costs associated with dealing with the problem, the Assistant Director Sport and Leisure agreed to provide Members with the costs involved outside of this meeting.

In relation to a question on the take up of 2 year old nursery places, it was explained by the Strategic Director Children’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Assistant Director of Finance and Procurement will submit a report (Document “B”) which provides Members with an overview of the forecast financial position of the Council for 2018-19.

It examines the latest spend against revenue and capital budgets and forecasts the financial position at the year end. It states the Council’s current balances and reserves and forecasts school balances for the year. 

The report is also being considered by the Executive at its meeting on 10 July 2018.

Recommended –

That the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee review and comment on the Qtr 1 Finance Position Statement for 2018-19.

(Andrew Cross - 01274 436823)

The Assistant Director of Finance and Procurement submitted a report (Document “B”) which provided Members with an overview of the forecast financial position of the Council for 2018-19.

It examined the latest spend against revenue and capital budgets and forecasted the financial position at the year end. It stated the Council’s current balances and reserves and forecasted school balances for the year. 

The report was also considered by the Executive at its meeting on 10 July 2018.

The Business Advisor Management Accounting gave an overview of the main financial messages contained in the report.  Based on the 31 May projection, the Council was forecasting to spend £5.8m above the approved budget of £358.1m.  The projected overspends related to the continued pressures within Adults and Children’s Services, as well in the Department of Place.

In relation to a question on the overspend, it was pointed out that Strategic Directors were taking the necessary action to address the overspend, such as looking at the use of agency staff and consultants.  In addition there was also a monthly exceptions reporting to CMT.

In response to a question on Member input into the overspend, it was explained that the Leader was keen on having a Member challenge group  looking at the budget process in September.

In relation to the overspend in Waste Management, it was suggested that the Regeneration and Environment O&S Committee should consider the issue in more detail and how the overspend could be addressed.

Resolved –

(1)       That the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviewed            and commented on the Qtr 1 Finance Position Statement for

            2018-19, and that officers be thanked for submitting a detailed    report.

(2)       That this Committee requests that the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee considers the        approaches being used to address the overspend on the area of           Waste Management.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place / Overview and Scrutiny Lead

The Strategic Director Health and Wellbeing will submit a report (Document “C”) which provides information to advise members of the forthcoming procurement of a contract with a value of in excess of £2million.

Bradford Council and the combined Clinical Commissioning Groups provide funding for a range of specialist services to support people who are or who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence or who may have multiple needs and be working in /or at risk of working in the sex industry.

These contracts are due to expire on the 31st March 2019 and it is important that a re commissioning programme, leading to a formal procurement process, is run to identify and purchase these services for the future.  Officers have already started to review and evaluate existing services and other models of service delivery; working with providers, service users and stakeholders to understand need better.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Committee recognise the breadth, importance and        complexity of the work undertaken by providers in relation to the      above services and support the continuation of these via the new   commissioning programme.

(2)       That the Committee consider any equality and diversity, TUPE and      social value implications at this pre- procurement  stage in          accordance with Council Standing Orders in 4.6 to Document “C”.

(Sarah Possingham/ Kerry James  - 01274 431319 & 432576)

The Strategic Director Health and Wellbeing submitted a report (Document “C”) which provided information to advise members of the forthcoming procurement of a contract with a value of in excess of £2million.

Bradford Council and the combined Clinical Commissioning Groups provides funding for a range of specialist services to support people who are or who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence, or who may have multiple needs and be working in /or at risk of working in the sex industry.

These contracts were due to expire on the 31st March 2019 and it was important that a re commissioning programme, leading to a formal procurement process, is run to identify and purchase these services for the future.  Officers had already started to review and evaluate existing services and other models of service delivery; working with providers, service users and stakeholders to understand need better.

In response to a question on how the commissioning process worked and responsibilities around it, it was explained that the Joint Commission Team comprised of a number of partners, including  representatives from the Health, Police and the Local Authority as well as staff within Children’s Services and representatives from the CCGs, however the contract ultimately resided with the Local Authority .

In relation to a question on refuges and the involvement of Mannigham Housing, it was explained that further discussions will be had with the Association on how this facility can be kept open.

A Member ascertained what the outcomes were in relation to the contract, and it was explained that at this stage of the process the outcomes referred to were high level outcomes and that these will then be broken down into more tangible outcomes, following discussions through the contract specification phase.

In relation to a question on the experience of service users and there main concerns, it was explained that by far the biggest issue for service users exiting the service was around housing options.

A Member commended the work being done by the different agencies in supporting the most vulnerable in our society.

Resolved –

That the Committee recognises the breadth, importance and complexity of the work undertaken by providers in relation to the above services and supports the continuation of these via the new commissioning programme.

ACTION: No Action

The Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee will submit a report (Document “D”) which includes proposed items for the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee DRAFT work programme for 2018/19.  The Committee is asked to consider which items it wishes to include in the work programme.

Recommended –

(1)       That members consider and comment on the areas of work to be          carried forward into this municipal year.

(2)       That members consider any detailed scrutiny reviews that they             may wish to conduct.

(3)       That the work plan for the committee be approved.

(Mustansir Butt - 01274 432574)

The Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee submitted a report (Document “D”) which included proposed items for the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee DRAFT work programme for 2018/19.  The Committee was asked to consider which items it wished to include in the work programme.

The Chair stated that if Members had any further suggestions for the work programme that they contact the Overview and Scrutiny Lead.

Resolved –

(1)       That the work plan for the committee be approved.

(2)       That the work programme 2018-19 continues to be reviewed      regularly during the remainder of this Municipal Year.

ACTION:       Overview and Scrutiny Lead