Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personal interest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it. If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

1.1     In accordance with the code of conduct Cllr Bob Lanzer declared a personal interest as a member of Crawley Borough Council in relation to item 7, The Sussex Shared Delivery Plan: Improving Lives Together.

Cabinet Members are asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March(cream paper).

2.1        Resolved – that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2023 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

Report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Support Services.

Each of the Scrutiny Committee Chairmen will be invited to speak for up to three minutes to provide the views of their Committee on respective parts of the Quarter 4 Performance and Resources Report.

Each of the main Minority Group Leaders will be invited to speak for up to three minutes on the Quarter 4 Performance and Resources Report.

The Cabinet will discuss the report prior to taking any decision.

Following consideration of the report, the Cabinet resolved to:

1. Agree the following transactions to cover the £10.541m Portfolio overspend position:

a)   Utilise the remaining £4.747m Contingency Budget

b)   Utilise the £0.665m Sources of Financing additional income

c)   Utilise the £4.947m additional income within Non-Portfolio budgets

d)   Utilise £0.182m from the Inflation Contingency Reserve

2. Agree the proposed changes to the Key Performance Indicator measures detailed in Annex C.

The call-in deadline is 29 June 2023.

3.1     Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Support Services. The report was introduced by Cllr Jeremy Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property who outlined the performance and finance summaries for the quarter. The outturn position reports an overspend of £182k which will be managed through inflationary contingency reserves. Adults and Children Social Care continue to be the biggest pressure areas and support from Government going forward will be required to help manage this. The statutory override for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit remains for three years, however plans are needed to deal with this challenge. The Cabinet Member highlighted that some capital projects had been accelerated.

3.2     Cllr Kevin Boram, Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee congratulated the service on its performance and highlighted the importance of retained firefighters and their dedication to keeping people safe.

3.3     Cllr Paul Linehan, Chairman of the Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committee recognised the financial pressures and challenges around placements for children cared for by the local authority reflecting market and national challenges. The Committee welcomed improvements in care leavers in employment, education and training and were pleased to hear the KPI relating to child protection plans is being revised for 2023/24 to better reflect performance in this area. The challenge of Education and Health Care needs assessments was noted but the Committee was pleased that funding will be released to schools at the 20-week mark. The Committee recognised the impact of Covid-19 on attainment for disadvantaged pupils and KS2 and the pressure of the DSG.

3.4     Cllr Pieter Montyn, Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee advised the Committee had noted the impact of inflation and cost of living pressures on the Council’s operations and that increased demand on most services is likely to present budget challenges. The Committee sought reassurance that effort is made to lobby the Government for increased funding in all areas and particularly in social care. Non delivery of savings is a concern and the Committee will monitor doubtful debt provision. The Committee requested to be informed on the cost of workforce absence to the Council.

3.5     The following points were made by Cabinet Members in discussion:

Ø  Cllr Paul Marshall, Leader of the Council set out the aims in the Council Plan to deliver service priorities and to protect the environment. He highlighted the unbudgeted and unexpected challenges faced in recent months and the Council’s ability to respond to these. He explained the positive achievements throughout the year including a good or outstanding Ofsted rating for all in-house residential children’s homes, the ongoing delivery of many highway schemes and the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), improved Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision through the capital programme and carbon tonnage savings for schools.

Ø  Cllr Steve Waight, Cabinet Member for Support Services and Economic Development advised of the portfolio underspend despite changes and additional costs to the statutory complaints services. The SmartCore project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Report by the Chief Fire Officer.

The Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee will be invited to speak for up to three minutes to provide the views of their Committee on the Fire and Rescue Service Statement of Assurance.

Each of the main Minority Group Leaders will be invited to speak for up to three minutes each on the Fire and Rescue Service Statement of Assurance.

The Cabinet will discuss the report prior to taking any decision.

Following consideration of the report, the Cabinet resolved to approve the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Annual Statement of Assurance 2022-23.

The call-in deadline is 29 June 2023.

4.1     Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Fire Officer. The report was introduced by Cllr Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue who outlined the requirement of the Statement of Assurance on financial, governance and operational matters and how that has due regard to the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). The Cabinet Member outlined the strategic priorities contained within the Statement and set out the performance of the 29 core measures in the assurance framework. The Horsham live fire training centre will become operational next month and ongoing improvements are taking place in the fire estate.

4.2     Cllr Kevin Boram, Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee thanked the service and team for the preparation of the complex document which clarifies important issues. Cllr Boram noted the journey ahead for the CRMP, the education of residents through consultation exercises and reflecting the needs of the community, partnership and joint working to deliver these services. The Committee will continue to look at issues related to workforce.

4.3     Cabinet Members noted the importance of the retained firefighter cohort and the need to increase their numbers.

4.4     Resolved – that Cabinet approve the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Annual Statement of Assurance 2022-23.

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance. The Cabinet will discuss the proposal prior to taking any decision to agree the recommendation as set out in the report.

Following consideration of the report, the Cabinet resolved to:

1.   Remove the Shadow Sussex Integrated Care System Partnership Forum from the Outside Bodies list, following establishment of the Sussex Integrated Care System through an Integrated Care Board and the Health and Care Assembly.

2.   Appoint Cllr Greenway to the Bognor Regis Regeneration Board for the remainder of the Council term (May 2025.)

The call-in deadline is 29 June 2023.

5.1        Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

5.2        Resolved – that Cabinet agrees to:

1.   Remove the Shadow Sussex Integrated Care System Partnership Forum from the Outside Bodies list, following establishment of the Sussex Integrated Care System through an Integrated Care Board and the Health and Care Assembly.

2.   Appoint Cllr Greenway to the Bognor Regis Regeneration Board for the remainder of the Council term (May 2025.)

The Cabinet are invited to provide their feedback on the Shared Delivery Plan ahead of it being considered by the Sussex Health and Care Assembly on 5 July 2023.

6.1     Cabinet considered a report by the Assistant Director for Health Integration. The report was introduced by Cllr Bob Lanzer, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing who set out the overview, structure and priorities of the Sussex Shared Delivery Plan. The Cabinet Member thanked officers in public health for their involvement and input into the strategy and delivery plan, which included putting a greater emphasis on prevention work, references to the Adult Social Care Strategy and Children First health priorities, amongst other key areas. Alan Sinclair, Director of Adults and Health added that the delivery plan was the product of positive joint working giving it a place-based focus. Work with the West Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board will be critical as the plan is delivered.

6.2     Cabinet Members agreed the importance of recognising place-based priorities and noted the pressure on acute systems, including waiting times and lists. Cabinet were pleased with the focus on immediate and longer-term improvement priorities and agreed the importance of managing demand and working on a preventative approach.

6.3     Resolved – That Cabinet give their support for the Sussex Shared Delivery Plan ahead of the Sussex Integrated Care Board on 5 July 2023.

The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on 25 July 2023.

7.1        The next meeting of Cabinet will be held on 25 July 2023.