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.

14.1     No declarations of interest were made.

Cabinet Members are asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2024 (cream paper).

15.1     Resolved – that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2024 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

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

The Cabinet is invited to consider and comment on the Quarter 1 Performance and Resources Report, and consider the outlined recommendations within the report.

Following consideration of the report the Cabinet agreed the proposed changes to the KPI measures detailed in Table 1.

The call-in deadline is 10 October 2024.

16.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive and Interim Director of Finance and Support Services (copy appended to the signed minutes).

16.2     The Leader introduced the report which outlined the Council performance for the first quarter of 2024/25 and how it is delivering priorities.

16.3     Cllr Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, highlighted proposed changes to Key Performance Indicators.  Actions within the quarter were highlighted, such as a fire training exercise at Chichester Cathedral and updates to Real Time Passenger Information digital bus displays.  Upgrades were also being made at the Mechanical and Biological Treatment plant in Horsham in preparation for food waste collection.  Finances for the quarter were challenging, with overspend predicted.  Social care cost pressures in particular were highlighted.  The staff pay award was noted, the union not accepting the recent offer, and so the final settlement remains unknown.

16.4     Mr Suarez, Interim Director of Finance and Support Services, spoke on staff recruitment and retention activities, and how vacancy management is considered.  Agency staff in vacant posts are encouraged to consider employment contracts with the County Council.

16.5     The following points were made by Scrutiny Committee Chairmen.

a.  Cllr Bradbury, Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee (PFSC) gave his apologies but provided a statement.  PFSC fully supported the views expressed by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property regarding scrutiny committees holding their respective areas of scrutiny to account in respect of delivering savings.

b.  Cllr Wall, Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee (HASC), welcomed the preparation work ahead of the upcoming Care Quality Commission CQC assessment.  HASC noted the rising adult social care costs and the financial pressure this caused and welcomed the lobbying activity to government on this.

16.6     The following points were made by Cabinet Members in discussion.

a.  Cllr A Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults Services, spoke about the CQC assessment.  Staff had submitted the requested information back to the CQC alongside the self-assessment report by the deadline.  The onsite assurance visit would follow within 6 months.  Cllr Jupp passed on her thanks to the team for their hard work. With regard to the report, Cllr Jupp noted that KPIs had shown some improvements.  It was hoped that the ongoing improvement plan would help with addressing the overspend in the medium term.

b.  Cllr J Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, reported no significant finance concerns were highlighted due to the significant revenue investment in road repairs.  A high level of drainage issues were being reported.  There had been over 14,500 road repairs, but defect levels had increased in June due to poor weather.

c.  Cllr Waight, Cabinet Member for Support Services and Economic Development, referred to the Customer Service Centre KPI rating.  The Centre had recently had a new telephony system installed which would bring improvements in the quarter 3 report.  It was noted that academy conversions had led to a reduction in income from school service level agreements.  Discussions were taking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Report by the Interim Director of Children, Young People and Learning.

The Cabinet is asked to note and comment on the report and Ofsted focused visit letter.

17.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Interim Director of Children, Young People and Learning (copy appended to the signed minutes).

17.2     Cllr Russell introduced the report and praised the positive elements within the report which covered the recent Ofsted inspection.  Care leavers were recognised as receiving a good level of support.  Corporate Parenting arrangements were noted as being strong.  Care leaver parents were being well supported financially and emotionally.

17.3     The following points were made by Cabinet Members in discussion.

a.  The Leader thanked officers for their work in this area and also praised the collaborative working with District and Boroughs for the housing project that was being provided to care leavers.

b.  Cllr Jupp welcomed the pace of improvements that were being reported.

17.4     Cllr Russell added that she had brought a notice of motion to the Mid Sussex District Council to help being further collaboration activity.  The motion would be going to other District and Borough councils to spread the commitment to collaboration further.

17.5     Resolved that the Cabinet notes the report.

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

The Cabinet is asked to nominate Councillor Bob Woodman, a member of Littlehampton Town Council, to represent West Sussex County Council on the Littlehampton Harbour Advisory Body.

Following consideration of the report the Cabinet approved the nomination of Councillor Bob Woodman, a member of Littlehampton Town Council, to represent West Sussex County Council on the Littlehampton Harbour Advisory Body.

The call-in deadline is 10 October 2024.

18.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes).

18.2     The Leader introduced the report and confirmed that Councillor Bob Woodman, a member of Littlehampton Town Council, was being proposed to represent West Sussex County Council on the Littlehampton Harbour Advisory Body.

18.3     Mr Kershaw, Director of Law and Assurance, confirmed that that the advisory body was a non-decision making body and a consultee of the Littlehampton Harbour Board, on which the County Council already had representation.  The appointment was a new request from the Harbour Board.

18.4     Resolved that the Cabinet approves the nomination of Councillor Bob Woodman, a member of Littlehampton Town Council, to represent West Sussex County Council on the Littlehampton Harbour Advisory Body.

Cabinet Members are invited to provide any verbal updates on current, significant issues for their respective portfolios which may benefit from discussion.

19.1     The Leader invited Cabinet Members to provide any verbal updates on current, significant issues from their respective portfolios that may benefit from discussion.

19.2     No updates were required.

The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on 29 October 2024.

20.1     The Cabinet noted that its next scheduled meeting will be held on 29 October 2024.