Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr K Hitchen, Mrs H Carrick, Mr W McEwan, Mr M Hawkins and Mrs S Evans.

To report any changes to the membership of the Board.

There were no changes to membership to note.

Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises

1          Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

2          Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3          Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority

(a)     Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

(b)     Which has not been fully discharged.

4          Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority. 

5          Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer. 

6          Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge)

(a)     The landlord is the authority; and

(b)     The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial interest.

7          Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

(a)     That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the area of the authority; and

(b)     Either –

(i)        The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

(ii)          If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

In addition, you must also disclose other non-pecuniary interests set out in the Code of Conduct where these have not already been registered.

Note

A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners).

There were no disclosures of interest made at the meeting.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED,that the press and public be not excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 8 September 2022 (copy enclosed).

After a short discussion on the direction of the Cumbria LEP, it was

RESOLVED,that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2022 be agreed as a true record of the meeting.

For members to be informed of any call-in items received by the County Council and to consider whether any further action needs to be taken by the Board.

The Chair advised that there were no call-in items for the Board to consider.

To consider a report by the Assistant Director - Workforce and Organisational Development (copy enclosed).

Members received a presentation from the Manager - Operational Delivery highlighting that employee wellbeing and sickness absence remained a key priority for the council and members and emphasising the opportunities to integrate approaches to health and wellbeing.

The Manager recapped information given to members at the March meeting, the challenging context of the pandemic, high absence rates and the need to understand the root causes.  A people plan had been developed to integrate approaches to health and wellbeing and included support and engagement, enabling, growth and success measures and impacts.  The Plan was ready to be deployed and would be shared with the two new authorities, with encouragement to adopt the Plan. 

The Service Manager, Organisational Development and Workforce Training outlined the final phase of the Workplace Stressors Root Cause Analysis.  It was acknowledged that there were concerns around culture, systemic concerns over high demands and peer and management support.  Members were informed of the next steps in the process which included sharing the findings with all three Chief Executives (County Council and the two new authority ones).  The Service Manager concluded by outlining the work undertaken on Hard to Recruit Roles – Social Workers and Occupational Therapists.

To conclude the item, the Manager - Operational Delivery advised on the latest absence figures. 

Members, in discussion, questioned attendance incentives.  The Manager said incentives had been proven not to work so this approach had not been adopted by the Council.  The Social Worker Academy – “grow your own” and the use of popular social media sites to help with recruitment were discussed.  A member suggested public transport barriers being a deterrent for recruitment.  Members noted the streamlining of the application process to aid recruitment.  Cultural absences, manager training, repeated absence and the management of these were raised.  The Manager outlined the person centred and trust approach taken by the Council but acknowledged some cultural changes were needed.  A recent survey had shown that a large percentage of staff would not recommend working for the Council.  It was acknowledged that the LGR process and all the changes taking place may be responsible for this.  The impact of absence and the pressures put on other staff members were raised.

The officers were thanked for their attendance.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

To consider a report by the Chair of the No Child Goes Hungry – Task Group Review (copy enclosed).

Members received a report from the Chair of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group established by the Board in September 2022 to explore options for extending access to adequate nutritious food, to ensure that no child goes hungry at any point, building on the work of the Council’s Cost of Living Crisis fund and work undertaken during the pandemic.  The establishment of the Task and Finish Group was in response to a motion agreed by the Council on 7 September 2022.

The Scrutiny Task and Finish Group’s report was attached as Appendix 1 and included the evidence Scrutiny Members received during the review, their findings based on the evidence received, and their recommendations to Cabinet.  It was noted that the report was debated by Council on 3 November 2022.  Members supported the recommendations in the report and referred the report to Cabinet to consider the outcomes and allocate funding as part of the Quarter 2 budget monitoring report.   Members requested that the decision be taken as soon as possible.

Members noted the findings and recommendations of the No Child Goes Hungry Scrutiny Task Group Review as set out in paragraphs 3.4 – 3.5 of the report and in Appendix 1, and the agreement of Council on 3 November 2022 to refer the report to Cabinet to consider the outcomes and allocate funding as part of the Quarter 2 budget monitoring report.

Members welcomed the recommendations and outlined various initiatives that were taking place around the county to help ensure no child goes hungry.  One member cautioned there were more initiatives and schemes in some areas than others.  The Local Member for Risedale outlined work taking place in Barrow, making a special commendation to the work undertaken by Sacred Heart School.  It was agreed that a letter be sent to the school thanking them for their contribution. 

The importance of building on and utilising the community networks established during the pandemic was highlighted, with members also recognising that “warm hubs” and clubs would assist with social isolation.  The signposting and training on food preparation was discussed.

The Chair of the Task and Finish Group thanked members for their comments.  The Chair of the Board advised members that the Leader had made assurances that provisions would be put in place, if necessary, before the Cabinet meeting in December. 

RESOLVED, that

(1)  the findings and recommendations of the No Child Goes Hungry Scrutiny Task Group Review as set out in paragraphs 3.4 – 3.5 in the report and in Appendix 1 be noted;

(2)  the agreement of Council on 3 November 2022 to refer the report to Cabinet to consider the outcomes and allocate funding as part of the Quarter 2 budget monitoring report be noted.

To consider a report by the Assistant Director – Customer and Community Services (copy enclosed).

Members received the draft Final Scrutiny Report to approve, attached as Appendix 1, prior to its submission to Full Council in January 2023.  Members were asked to agree that the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board agree the final version of the Final Scrutiny report before it is submitted to Full Council.  It was acknowledged that an annual Scrutiny report to summarise the key areas of work the Boards had focussed on over the previous year, including Task and Finish Group activity was a constitutional requirement.

As this was the final year of the County Council Scrutiny, the report included a reflective look back by the Chairs at the scrutiny activity undertaken over the last few years.

A member made two recommendations to the new authorities when establishing scrutiny which were having a clear definition of scrutiny and putting statistical presentation training in place for officers and members.

RESOLVED, that

(1)  the draft Final Scrutiny report attached as Appendix 1 be agreed;

(2)  the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board agree the final version of the Final Scrutiny report before it is submitted to Full Council.

To consider a report by the Assistant Director – Customer and Community Services (copy enclosed).

This report provides the Scrutiny Management Board with an update from the Scrutiny Performance Working Group, including the draft minutes of the last meeting of the Group attached as Appendix 1.

RESOLVED,that the report be noted.

To receive updates from the Chair of each of the following:-

Cumbria Police and Crime Panel                                           Mr W McEwan

Scrutiny Panel - Children and Young People                    Mr P Dew

Scrutiny Panel - Communities and Place                              Mr S Collins

Cumbria LEP Scrutiny                                                              Mr W Wearing

Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee                                 Ms C McCarron Holmes

Scrutiny Panel - Adults                                                             Mr M Wilson

(1)  Cumbria Police and Crime Panel

The Chair advised members that the Police and Crime Panel last met on the 14 October 2022 and received an update on Update on Fire Governance and a Performance Update on the Police and Crime Plan:

It was noted that the next Police and Crime Panel meeting was scheduled for 26 January 2023 and items for the agenda included the Police and Crime Commissioner’s annual proposed council tax precept for both police and fire for 2023/24.

(2)  Scrutiny Advisory Board – Children and Young People

The Chair reported that the last meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Advisory Board took place on 21 October 2022 where the following reports and presentations had been received:-

• Update on SEND Improvement and preparation for the imminent SEND

inspection.

• Ofsted update – including the annual Ofsted letter, School Ofsted

inspection outcomes and Children’s Homes Ofsted inspection

outcomes.

• Six monthly Child Exploitation update.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Board was being rescheduled for January 2023 to enable Scrutiny to hold an all-Member briefing on the published ILACS report, together with the SEND Transport Policy and 2022 Public Examination Results.

(3)  Scrutiny Advisory Board – Communities and Place

Members noted that the SAB Communities and Place meeting had taken place on 15 September and considered the Future of the Fire Service Governance and Nature Recovery and the County Council’s Role.

The next meeting was scheduled for 30 November and the agenda included the handling of Electronic Waste and an exploration of Community Power.

(4)  Cumbria LEP Scrutiny Committee

The Chair reported that the LEP Scrutiny Board last met on the 20 September 2022 and received items including Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) Overview and Implications of the LEP Review, the CLEP Delivery Plan and Cumbria Clean Energy Strategy.

The date of the next meeting was still be arranged.

(5)  Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee

Members noted that Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee had been monitoring changes across a number of Health Services and would continue to do this through regular meetings with System Leaders in both areas. The last meeting of the Committee took place on 3 October 2022 where specific items had been considered.  The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for the 13 December and the items on the draft agenda included Stroke Care and Rehabilitation across North and South Cumbria, the minutes of the Cumbria and Lancashire Joint Health Scrutiny Committee meeting held in September and Digital Strategies.

A member agreed to raise the re-establishment of meetings between lead health members and health providers at the next meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee.

(6)  Scrutiny Advisory Board – Adults

The Chair of the Advisory Board informed members that their last meeting took place on 14 October 2022 and had considered numerous items.

The next meeting would take place on 4 January 2023 and issues to be considered would be discussed at a planning meeting with the Executive Director –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To receive a report from the Senior Manager – Policy and Scrutiny (copy enclosed).

Members received a report with an update on issues and developments that have occurred since the last meeting of the Board in September 2022.  The report also provided Board Members with the current Scrutiny Work Programme for 2022/23 attached as Appendix 1, and the current Forward Plan of Key Decisions 1 December 2022 – 31 January 2023, also attached as Appendix 2.

Following a request from a member, a briefing note on the proposed transition from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) over to the BT Digital Voice Network and its implications for Members’ consideration had been circulated as Appendix 3 to the report.  The Resilience Manager reported that the advantages of the Digital Voice rollout, such as a massive reduction in Spam calls and improved call quality, were seemingly universally welcomed. However, in March 2022, partly as learning from Storm Arwen, the rollout of Digital Voice was then “Paused” whilst resilient resolutions were sought.  Whilst looking for solutions, BT were still noting 2025 as their ambition for the removal of the analogue network.  Members noted that this was a national issue being dealt with at national level.  In the meantime, the officer informed members that Cumbria had and would continue to try and identify issues in advance.  It was noted that work continued in parallel on the Vulnerable Persons database (VIPER) which was being designed to assist in the earliest possible identification and prioritisation of vulnerable people in emergencies.  This would include trying to identify the most vulnerable from loss of telephony.  The member who requested the item also highlighted that the loss of electricity had led to the loss of water in a specific area as it was powered by an electric pump.

The officer was thanked for his briefing and attendance.

RESOLVED, that

(1)  the activity set out in the report be noted;

(2)  the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2022/23 attached as Appendix 1 be noted;

(3)  the Forward Plan of key Decisions 1 December 2022 – 31 January 2023 attached as Appendix 2 be noted; and,

(4)   the briefing note on the proposed transition from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) over to the BT Digital Voice Network and its implications, attached as Appendix 3 to the report be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will take place on 6 March 2023 at 10 am at Cumbria House, Carlisle.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Board was scheduled to take place on 6 March 2023 at 10 am at Cumbria House, Carlisle but that this date could change.