Agenda and draft minutes

None. 

Minority Group Leaders in attendance at the meeting are able to ask a question on a report on the agenda. Any questions should be provided in writing by 12 noon at least 2 working days before the meeting.

Councillor J Dixon, Leader of the Labour Group, had submitted the following questions in advance of the meeting:

Agenda item 7 - Capital budget monitoring and forecast as at Quarter 2 2024-25

“According to the report the cost of the Belper Integrated Specialist Facilities Centre aka Ada Belfield cost £15.613 million and opened in 2020.  In your 2021 Manifesto you reaffirmed your commitment to the people of Derbyshire that ”no care home will close without replacement provision reflecting modern care needs.”  You also promised a Care Programme to provide new modern care homes.  With your plan to now close or sell off what remains of the County’s care homes, have you not fundamentally broken your promise to the people of Derbyshire?”

Councillor Dixon requested a written respnse to the question.

Agenda Item 8 - Performance monitoring and budget monitoring

“In the report it states that the council is forecasting a net overspend of £28.104 m against the approved Revenue Budget 2024-25 which will require a further call on earmarked reserves.  However, is it also not the case that in-year the Council has already dipped further into the earmarked reserves using £20.952 million, of which only £10.977 was planned.  Therefore, is not the total projected overspend for 2024-25 - nearer £49.056 million, which is in-line with the outturn positions for 2022-23 and 2023-24, which resulted in the council utilising £53.789 m and £58.763 m in each financial year respectively in order to balance this budget, which means over £150 m of reserves have been used up since 2022-23? If this figure is not correct what is the total projected overspend for 2024-25, including planned as well as unplanned figures?”

Agenda Item 10 - Design services for Disabled Facilities Grants

“The response to the consultation on design service for DSG by the Derbyshire and Derby Integrated Care Board (DDICB) states that if the service is withdrawn then:

?         more people could face more frequent injuries, falls etc increasing demands on hospitals and GPs

?         social care may be required to complete more home visits and/or personal care diverting resources from others

?         Adaptations could potentially have a significant impact as 75% of deaths relating to falls happen in the home

?         it could cause bed-blocking

?         exacerbate health inequalities for those who can’t pay for their own adaptations

?         some individuals may struggle to work from home or commute, limiting employment prospects and causing financial hardship

Is this proposed cessation of service by the county not only going to fall on the taxpayer but also have potentially life-changing outcomes for the sick and elderly?”

Agenda item 12 - Children’s Services SEND Capital Budget (High Needs Provision Capital) Allocation

“At a time when the council is under the spotlight for its poor performance with regards to SEND, both from the Ombudsman and OFSTED, can you explain why the County Council is currently sat on £18,240,439 of funding to support local authorities to invest in provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 179/24

RESOLVED:

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the above meeting.

Councillor B Lewis introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval to submit a summary report on the Adaptation Reporting Power (Fourth Round) Local Authority Pilot Climate Change to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note the work carried out on climate change risks and adaptation with regards to Council services and functions; and

2)      Approve the submission of the summary report (included as Appendix 2) on this work to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the Adaptation Reporting Power (Fourth Round) Local Authority Pilot.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, providing details of Treasury Management activities during the first half of 2024-25.

RESOLVED to:

Note the report on Treasury Management activities during the first six months of 2024-25, to 30 September 2024, and the Council’s compliance with the prudential indicators set by Council at its meeting of 14 February 2024, in accordance with the CIPFA Code.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, informing members of the latest capital budget monitoring position as at 30 September 2024. 

The Leader advised that the question asked by Councillor Dixon would be answered in writing as it more closely related to the adult care portfolio.

RESOLVED:

To note the current position on the monitoring of capital schemes.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, providing members with an update of Council Plan performance and the Revenue Budget/forecast outturn for 2024-25, as at 30 September 2024 (Quarter 2).

Councillor Spencer advised that due to the technical nature of the question, it would be more appropriate to provide a written response to Councillor Dixon’s question.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note the update of Council Plan performance, progress with the delivery of savings, and the Revenue Budget position/forecast outturn for 2024-25 as at 30 September 2024 (Quarter 2);

2)      Note the position on Reserves;

3)      Note the significant actions, set out in the report, which will be undertaken across the Council, and are required to reduce the significant revenue overspend detailed in this report, and to ensure the delivery of planned savings; and

4)      Approve the adjustments in respect of historic invoices as set out in paragraph 4.46 of the report.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval for the proposed timetable for the Council’s 2025-26 budget preparation and procedures and the associated consultation arrangements. 

RESOLVED to:

1)      Approve the timetable for completion of the 2025-26 budget, including arrangements for consultation with stakeholders and the carrying out of an assessment of the need for a full equality impact assessment on budget saving proposals;

2)      Note the commencement of annual pre-budget engagement activities including the Your Council, Your Voice Survey;

3)      Note the proposals for reviewing and updating the Five Year Financial Plan; and

4)      Note the arrangements for reviewing Earmarked Reserves and updating the General Reserve projections.

Councillor C Hart introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, informing members of the outcome of the public consultation and review of design services for Disabled Facilities Grants.

Councillor Hart advised hat Councillor Dixon’s question would be answered in writing by Councillor Hoy.

RESOLVED to

1)      Approve the proposal to discontinue funding the discretionary element provided by the Council’s DDT service, which currently supports the DFG programme in Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash and North East Derbyshire by 31 March 2025;

2)      Approve the implementation of a reduced DDT service operational from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026, the scope of the work undertaken being limited to those individual cases where it has been identified that the County Council has a statutory duty to meet an eligible need by way of the adaption following an assessment to support and oversee projects which are already in transition and/or cases which are otherwise considered suitable for or merits DDT involvement and oversight. Activity beyond the 31 March 2026 for services that fit within our statutory duties will continue to be funded via the MAB.

3)      Note that a Cabinet Report is planned for January 2025 seeking approval to publicly consult on a new adaptations funding policy and procedure governing projects which seek ‘top-up’ funding over the DFG financial threshold, by way of meeting assessed eligible needs under the Care Act 2014 or pursuant to s2(1)(e) Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

4)      Note that the Council shall, by 12 December 2024 write to the six District and Boroughs affected by the above, giving formal notice of the Council’s intention to discontinue funding the discretionary activity of the DDT supporting DFG projects on 31 March 2025, providing them with a two-week deadline to confirm whether they wish to wholly fund, for a 12 month period commencing 1st April 2025, the discretionary service the DDT provides supporting DFG funded projects.  If they wish to do so, discussions would take place with a view to a service level agreement being finalised on or before 31 March 2025.

Councillor C Hart introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval of the Derbyshire Community Safety Agreement for 2024-2027.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the Derbyshire Community Safety Agreement, 2024-2027.

Councillor A Dale introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval of allocations from the Children’s Services SEND Capital allocation for projects at Bennerley Fields School, Stanton Vale School and the Whitemoor Centre, part of the Holbrook School for Autism (Esteem Multi Academy Trust).

In response to the question from Councillor Dixon, Councillor Dale advised that this subject was covered at a recent Council meeting but went on to describe the long process necessary to allocate the funding in a geographical area such as Derbyshire. It was necessary to meet with providers to understand the needs of communities and there was also an ongoing revenue implication to bear in mind when opening new school places.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note receipt of funding from the Department for Education as detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report;

2)      Note all previously approved allocations within Appendix 1 to the report;

3)      Approve the allocation of £2,600,000 for a project at Bennerley Fields, detailed at Appendix 2 to the report;

4)      Approve the further allocation of £230,000 to Stanton Vale School, detailed at Appendix 2 to the report; and

5)      Approves the further allocation of £365,777 (Phase 2) to Holbrook School for Autism, The Whitemoor Centre part of the Esteem Multi Academy Trust, detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

To move “That under Regulation 4 (2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England)  Regulations 2012, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that in view of the nature of the items of business, that if members of the public were present, exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 would be disclosed to them.”

RESOLVED:

That under Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the public are excluded from the meeting for the remaining business on the grounds that in view of the nature of the items of business, that if members of the public were present, exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 would be disclosed to them.

RESOLVED:

To approve, as a correct record, the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2024.

Councillor C Cupit introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval to procure a project that was not included in the latest 2023-2024 Departmental Forward Plan to undertake a programme of maintenance work to the five Council Highways depots located throughout the County.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Authorise the procurement of the projects outlined in the body of the report; and

2)      Delegate authority to award the contracts to the Executive Director – Place under the scheme of delegation.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval for the direct award of a contract with Microsoft.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the recommendations in the not for publication report.