Agenda

Agenda

Value and Performance Scrutiny Committee - Monday 28 January 2013 6.00 pm, NEW

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Speaking at a Council or Committee meeting

Venue: St Aldate's Room, Town Hall

Contact: Pat Jones, Principal Scrutiny Officer 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence and Substitutions

The Quorum for this Committee is four Members and substitutes are allowed.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in any of the following agenda items. Guidance on this is set out at the end of these agenda pages.

3.

Standing Item: Work Programme and Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Pat Jones, Principal Scrutiny Officer, Tel: (01865) 252191,

Email phjones@oxford.gov.uk;

 

Mathew Metcalfe, Democratic and Electoral Services Officer, Tel: (01865) 252214, Email: mmetcalfe@oxford.gov.uk

 

Background information

 

The work programme needs to reflect the wishes and interests of the Committee.  It is presented here and at every meeting to allow members to lead and shape their work. 

 

Why is the item on the agenda?

 

To agree the lines of inquiry for forthcoming meetings and to take an overview of progress.

 

A verbal update will be given on the Covered Market Review.

 

Included also is the latest Forward Plan to allow the Committee to identify any decisions they may wish to pre-scrutinise. 

 

Who has been invited to comment?

 

The Principal Scrutiny Officer, will present the work programme and answer questions from the Committee.

 

What will happen after the meeting?

 

The Chair and Vice-Chair will continue to monitor the Committee’s work programme and report to future meetings.

 

 

Additional documents:

4.

Standing Item: Report back on the Committee's recommendations to the City Executive Board and on matters of interest to the Committee pdf icon PDF 181 KB

Pat Jones, Principal Scrutiny Officer

Tel: (01865) 252191, email phjones@oxford.gov.uk;

 

Mathew Metcalfe, Democratic and Electoral Services Officer

Tel: (01865) 252214, email: mmetcalfe@oxford.gov.uk

 

Background information

 

This Committee has made a number of recommendations to the City Executive Board and officers. This item reports on the outcomes from these.

 

Why is the item on the agenda?

 

To present to the committee:

 

  • The table of responses to all recommendations to date.
  • The full text of reports made since the last meeting, approved by the Chair and other Lead Members of the committee, and the results of these.

 

Four reports has been produced since the last meeting:

 

  • Integrated report Qtr.2
  • Procurement Strategy
  • Treasury Management mid year review
  • Local Council Tax Support  Scheme

 

The full text of the reports and responses are presented.

 

Who has been invited to comment?

 

Officers will go through the outcomes and answer questions.

 

What will happen after the meeting?

 

Any further follow up will be pursued within the work programme.

 

 

5.

Finance and Performance Panel Budget Review - Update

Contact Officer: Pat Jones, Principal Scrutiny Officer

Tel: 01865 252191, email: phjones@oxford.gov.uk

 

Background Information

The Budget Review Group was established to review the proposals and principles within the Medium Term Financial Strategy and budget for robustness and deliverability.

 

Why is it on the agenda?

To update the Committee on the work of the Review Group with regard to the proposed 2013/17 budget.

 

Who has been invited to comment?

The Chair of the Review Group (Councillor Mike Rowley) and Pat Jones will update the Committee on the current position.

 

What will happen after the meeting?

Comments from the Committee will be passed back to the Review Group.

 

 

6.

Welfare Reform Update: Department for Work and Pensions Pilot Schemes pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Contact Officer: Helen Bishop, Head of Customer Services

Tel: 01865 252233, email: hbishop@oxford.gov.uk

 

Background Information

From April 2013 Local Councils are required to agree their own Council Tax Benefit Scheme.  Alongside this, proposals for major welfare reform are also being developed.   The Committee has seen and commented on proposals for the Council Tax Benefit Scheme and heard details of two pilot projects linked to Direct Payments and the Local Authority role in Universal Credit. 

 

Why is it on the agenda?

Committee asked for an update on the Direct Payments project in particular and had two specific lines of inquiry:

 

  • The effects on rent arrears and tenancy management.
  • Support and debt advice.

 

The report also provides an update on the pilot scheme looking at the Local Authority role in Universal Credit.

 

Who has been invited to comment?

Councillor Ed Turner, Board Member, Finance and Efficiency, the Head of Customer Services, Helen Bishop and the Head of Finance, Nigel Kennedy.

 

What will happen after the meeting?

Any comments will be passed to the City Executive or Board Members.

 

 

7.

Landlords Survey Results pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Contact Officer: Ian Wright, Environmental Development

Tel: 01865 252553, email: iwright@oxford.gov.uk

 

Background Information

At its meeting on 27th November 2012, the Value and Performance Scrutiny Committee received a report which provided an update on the introduction of the mandatory licensing scheme for HMOs The first stage in Oxford begun in January 2011 with the second stage in January 2012.  Following the introduction the Council conducted a survey of landlords.

 

Why is it on the agenda?

The Committee asked to see the results of the survey of landlords in Oxford.

 

Who has been invited to comment?

Councillor Ed Turner, Board Member Finance and Efficiency and Ian Wright, Environmental Development.

 

What will happen after the meeting?

Requirements for further reporting will be reflected in the Committees work programme.

 

 

8.

Equalities & Diversity: Update report pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Contact Officer: Jarlath Brine, Equalities & Diversity Business Partner/Apprentice Project Leader

Tel: 01865 252848, email: jbrine@oxford.gov.uk

 

Background Information

The Committees work programme for this year included a continuing item to monitor the Councils workforce and its match to the population of Oxford.

 

Why is it on the agenda?

The Committee asked for an update on the Councils work force data.  The specific lines of enquiry raised by the Committee are:

 

·         How our workforce matches to the population it serves across the equality strands

·         What we are doing to try to bridge any gaps and how successful are we being

·         What is the representation of our workforce when looked at across grade bandings and what issues does this show

·         Our latest recruitment data

 

The Committee also asked for a further update on the Councils Apprentice Scheme.

 

Who has been invited to comment?

Councillor Bob Price, Simon Howick (Head of Human Resources and Facilities) and Jarlath Brine (Human Resources and Facilities)

 

What will happen after the meeting?

Requirements for further reporting will be reflected in the Committees work programme.

 

 

 

Additional documents:

9.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 43 KB

Minutes of the meeting held on 27th November 2012

10.

Dates of Future Meetings

The Committee is scheduled to meet on the following dates:

 

Wednesday 3rd April 2013