To receive any apologies for absence.

None.

None.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2017.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To agree recommendation for passenger transport services required for the saving plan.

The cabinet member for transport and roads presented the report.  He highlighted:

·         That the recommended approach would deliver £740k savings over three years.

·         The report does not include any proposals to withdraw subsidy for passenger services but here would be a need for review of subsidy in line with the adopted policies in the local transport plan.  

·         Bus users were consulted and the strong view was that rural services should be retained.   

·         Bus services in Herefordshire scored 95% for satisfaction according to the Transport Focus annual bus passenger survey.

·         He thanked the head of transport and access for the work of his team in carrying out such a successful review.

All group leaders present thought that the report was positive and thorough.

A group leader agreed with the cabinet member for transport and roads that public transport needed to be retained and queried whether any shortfall in the use of the rural grant could be used for rural transport.   The chief finance and S151 officer agreed to check the conditions of the grant.

The chairman of general overview and scrutiny was pleased to see that the views of the committee had been reflected in the report.   He further noted that bus transport was essential and that it was also useful for tourists.  

A group leader raised a concern about the views put forward that it would be acceptable to put bus fares up as the majority of the residents who had responded to the consultation do not pay to travel.  

A group leader queried when the review into the system for looking at real time passenger information would be implemented.   The head of transportation and access confirmed that work would be undertaken in conjunction with Stagecoach over the next two years and there would be a need to investigate which system would work best for Herefordshire.  

A group leader noted that the majority of bus services were subsided and that if they were not used, then they could be lost and that parish councils needed to be aware of this.   The cabinet member for transport and roads confirmed that there was ongoing communication with the parish councils in connection with this issue. 

Resolved that:

c.       that dedicated support is made available to work with parish councils and community groups to develop local solutions to transport problems in rural areas of the county.

To agree the activities and measures within the 2017/18 corporate delivery plan.

The cabinet member for economy and corporate services presented the report.   He noted that the corporate delivery plan was aligned to the corporate plan.   He further noted that the plan would be revised over the year to reflect any changes in priorities so that resources could be re-directed as appropriate.    Cabinet would be presented with regular reports on performance against delivery of the key activity and achievement of the measures and there would be an annual report at June cabinet.  

The directorate services team leader outlined the key projects which would take place over the forthcoming year.    

The cabinet member for financial management and ICT queried whether the accommodation objective on page 95 would be delivered on budget.   The cabinet member for contracts and assets confirmed that the works on Nelson House and Elgar House had been delivered under budget.   However, it was anticipated that work on Blue School House would overspend.    Officers were currently reviewing the specification for this piece of work to identify savings.    However, it was anticipated that the budget shortfall on this project would be found from within the overall accommodation strategy.  

The cabinet member for young people and children’s wellbeing proposed an amendment to box 5 and 6 under the keep children and young people safe and give them a great start in life section to include the words “particularly those with disabilities.    It was agreed to amend this section to read “Increase the number of young people and families, particularly those with disabilities,  accessing the local offer information and finding it useful”.

A group leader commented it was an ambitious plan.  He noted that estimated number of 8,620 children and young people  that require support with mental health or emotional resilience appeared high.   The interim director for children’s wellbeing stated this was a significant number and that it reflects the national trend of identification.   This was a priority in the children and young people’s plan and a working group was delivering activities to improve the understanding of and support for mental health and emotional wellbeing.  The Ofsted inspection last year had also covered aspects of mental health.   The CAMHS service had been mentioned as a positive and exemplary example in terms of its initial response to a referral.    The current health and social care overview and scrutiny task and finish group’s report in connection with children and young people’s mental health would also provide further insight into this area.  

A group leader queried the progress in connect with the fire damaged building in High Town.   The cabinet member for contracts and assets confirmed that there had been infrastructure issues with the site but these were being addressed and there would be movement once these issues had been resolved.

A group leader commented that the target on page 87 of 19.6 (maintain, and seek to improve still further, the quality of life for people with care and support needs) did not make sense.   The director for adults and wellbeing explained that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.