Issue - meetings

That the Forward Work Programme be approved with the inclusion of a report on the costs for out of county placements on 24 September 2014 and a report on the Council’s banking arrangements on 10 December 2014.

The Internal Audit Manager presented the report to consider the Forward Work Programme for the next year.

A request was made by Councillor Alison Halford for the Committee to consider the costs for out of county placements, as this had previously been an area of concern.  The Chief Executive explained that this had been the subject of extensive consideration by the Lifelong Learning Overview & Scrutiny Committee due to the complexity of the issue and costs.  He said that value for money work to reduce costs had provided assurance on the way that the service was now commissioned and that a report could be brought to the Committee.

As Chairman of the Lifelong Learning Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Ian Roberts spoke in support of this suggestion and referred to cost implications of the out of county placements service as a result of local government reorganisation.  It was agreed that a report would be submitted to the next meeting in September 2014.

Councillor Roberts asked for an update on the Council’s banking arrangements following discussion at the Committee in January 2014.  The Finance Manager - Technical Accountancy reported on the tendering exercise carried out by the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) and that following this, work was due to commence on progressing the Council’s tenders over the coming months.  She agreed to bring an update report to the Committee, which was anticipated to be the December 2014 meeting.

Councillor Halford referred to concerns which had been raised by the Head Teacher of a secondary school about value for money on the school catering service.  Councillor Roberts said that the Lifelong Learning Overview & Scrutiny Committee had considered reports covering primary and secondary schools which indicated positive feedback on the catering service, but was aware of concerns around some of the smaller primary schools due to the low number of pupils.  The Chief Executive offered to follow up this issue outside of the meeting.

The Internal Audit Manager commented that this appeared to be a performance issue which was perhaps best dealt with by Overview & Scrutiny.  Councillor Halford pointed out that the school in question was a larger secondary school and that the Head Teacher had felt that a more cost-effect option could be sourced.

The Chairman suggested that the Chief Executive liaise with Councillor Halford outside the meeting.  The Chief Executive said that professional communication channels such as the Secondary Heads Federation were in place to raise such issues.  He agreed to follow this up to see if the same concerns were shared by other Head Teachers.

RESOLVED:

That the Forward Work Programme be approved with the inclusion of a report on the costs for out of county placements on 24 September 2014 and a report on the Council’s banking arrangements on 10 December 2014.