Apologies for absence were received for Councillor RJ Phillips, Cabinet Member Enterprise and Culture.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2013.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 April be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To progress the Council’s change programme, to report on the service plan reviews for 2013/14 conducted in March/ April aimed at de-risking identified areas of weakness to ensure the Council’s plans are resilient and remain within its overall funding envelope of £150.296 million, and to seek Cabinet agreement on next steps. 

The Cabinet Member, Financial Management, recommended to Cabinet that the Service Budget Reductions and Future Financial Planning report is put to the meeting of the full Council on 24 May, to allow all Members the opportunity to debate the budget proposals.  The Leader seconded the recommendation.

RESOLVED

THAT:            Cabinet refered the proposed actions in Agenda Item 4 to an extraordinary Council meeting to be held on 24 May 2013 concerning the reshaping of Council services and to ensure the necessary steps are taken to deliver a balanced budget in 2013/14.

To approve the financial schedule between Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group for 2013 to 2014 attached as Appendix D to the Section 75 and agree the extension to the existing Section 75, until the 30 June 2013, whilst work continues to develop a ‘fit-for-purpose’ new Partnership Agreement for 2013/16.

The Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing presented the Assistant Directors’ for Children’s and Adult services report on the Section 75 Partnership Agreement.  This is the financial agreement between Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group for 2013 to 2014, which agrees the extension to the existing Section 75 until the 30 June 2013, whilst work continues to develop a ‘fit-for-purpose’ new partnership agreement for 2013/16.

The following comments were made in discussion:

·         In response to a question on Government proposals for integrated working, Cabinet was reminded that the Council had and would continue to facilitate integrated working, which provided officers with clear pathways for working.

·         It was felt that the partnership between the Council and the PCT (Primary Care Trust) had cost the Council financially a considerable sum of money. 

·         In response to a question on the involvement of scrutiny with regards to accountability, the director advised that this was not relevant to the document before Cabinet, however, scrutiny would have a role in overseeing activity. 

·         In response to a question on finance the director advised that pooled budgets would be in operation, which was made up of funds from each organisation and managed by the Council for all parties.  Any risk or increases would then be shared by the parties involved.  The Rag rating provided an indication of how monitoring would be carried out to ensure everything was on track.

·         Concern was raised regarding contract monitoring.  The director advised that individual officers would be responsible for the monitoring.

·         Members agreed the recommendations, which would include an additional recommendation ‘d’ regarding delegated authority.

RESOLVED

          THAT:

a)    the financial schedule for 2013/14 at Appendix D of the report (page 26) be approved on behalf of the Council;

b)    an extension and novation of the existing Section 75 was agreed until June 30 2013;

c)    the work in progress on a new Section 75 Agreement was endorsed, with a final document to be approved by 1 June; and

d)    delegated authority be given to the Director for People’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing to sign off the final Section 75 Agreement on behalf of the Council.