Agenda item

Questions on Cabinet Minutes

(time limit 15 minutes)

 

21St June 2021

26th July 2021

Minutes:

The Council was requested to note the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on the undermentioned dates and to receive any questions on any items within the minutes from members of the Council who were not members of the Cabinet, and receive responses from Cabinet members. The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 21st June 2021 and 26th July 2021 were submitted.

 

Members raised the following questions:-

 

Councillor Kenyon asked the following question in relation to Cabinet 21st June 2021 – Item 7 - Council Performance Report March 2021

“I understand from the approved budget reductions and deliverability report for 21/22, that the Councils £9M spending cuts for this year are forecast to miss their target by £1.3 million. Can the Cabinet Member tell us which services are to be cut to make up the difference, and how this will affect their future performance?”

 

Councillor Jabbar, Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon replied that at this point in the financial year, the projection was that that £1.3m of the savings were off track and would not be delivered.  However, there was just over 6 months remaining in the financial year. Therefore, work was taking place with the Community Health and Adult Social Care Directorate with regard to a recovery plan so that the shortfall was reduced by the year end.  The intention was that any shortfall in the savings will be made good by the Directorate and work was taking place to identify offsetting reductions in expenditure or increases in income. Until the recovery plan had been agreed, it was not possible to determine any specific impacts.

 

Councillor Hamblett asked the following question in relation to Item 8 – Special Education Needs (Sen) Travel Assistance Service - Contract Extension

“With regards to the contract extension, what consideration did the Cabinet Member give to whether tendering companies were based locally and / or employed people locally, and did that consideration result in contracts being awarded to local businesses?”

 

Councillor Mushtaq, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills responded that, with regards to the contract extension:

·         A dynamic purchasing system was used for procuring routes which was accessed via the Chest. Both a quality assurance score and price check were used to ensure that operators offered value for money for the local authority. Contractors were awarded routes via this process. Routes could change daily due to availability of personal assistants, change of school, change of home address and change of composition of group pick-ups.

·         In accordance with the Council’s Procurement regulations and European Legislation, Oldham Council put out to tender routes for home to school transport for children and young people.

·         Bidders were requested to review and complete the following documents:

o   Standard Questionnaire

o   Mini Competition

·         The standard questionnaire looked to assess the quality aspect of bidders and their eligibility to perform the services.

·         All tender submissions had been done via the Chest and evaluated by both Procurement and Transport.

·         Routes were awarded to the lowest bidder, this provided the most cost effective model for the Council. Any company could bid for a route, however they must register to qualify as a Contractor

The criteria supported local contractors, who were encouraged to come forward and a number had been successful.

 

RESOLVED that:

1.         The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 21st June 2021 and 26th July 2021 be noted.

2.         The questions and responses provided be noted.

 

Supporting documents: