Hello,
Next week the peer review will take place and we’ve been preparing for this over the last few weeks. The invited reviewers will be looking at a number of areas including our leadership (political and management), our financial planning, governance and whether we are using our resources in the most effective way. We would like to say thank you to all of you that have been involved in the preparation next week, and to those of you who will be part of the review in meetings and focus groups. The peer review team will take on the role of critical friends and we look forward to their challenge and feedback on areas where we know we need to do more, including transformation of adult care services, offering more digital options and becoming more commercial in how we do business and deliver services.
Yesterday we had a good meeting with cabinet members discussing next week’s cabinet meeting which will be held in the Council Chamber due to the expected high level of attendance by members of the public for the discussion on special schools provision and for the feedback from service users on our adult social care services.
The special schools provision involves us working with the schools to establish how we can meet the future needs of children and young people with special educational needs. We need to find around 220 additional places for those aged five to 16 by 2026, and as you can imagine this will be quite a challenge. We are working with schools to find a practical solution that avoids having to send children to schools outside of the county, or across the county. We are proposing that cabinet approves launching an extensive consultation on the options to meet the demand. This will conclude next year and see a report on the feedback to cabinet in March 2018.
Whilst these two reports will be of public interest, cabinet will also be reviewing the council’s assets sold and still available for sale. Some of these assets may be considered as community asset transfers to local town or parish councils. We have always been clear that we will rationalise our estate to deliver capital receipts that can be reinvested where needed.
Yesterday we also discussed gypsy and traveller sites and the need to review how the sites in our ownership will be managed in the future. There are a number of options that could be considered and we will look into these in more detail before making recommendations to cabinet.
The development of the Boscombe MOD site, which will be a key site for economic growth and investment, was also discussed, as this site will need the right infrastructure including roads investment if we are to maximise its use. Cabinet will consider what’s required for this site in December.
The budget remains at the forefront of our discussions with CLT. Yesterday we talked through the need to make around £45 million savings over the next three years, and, more importantly, how we intend to do this. As well as delivering savings, we also need to focus on the opportunities to generate more income. All the directors will be expected to look at both of these, and, with their heads of service provide ideas and an update to us at budget summit meetings in the next few weeks. We will talk about the budget and our plans for delivering the savings and more income at the upcoming staff forums.
This week we are meeting with groups of staff to update on the adult social care transformation programme. This is a really ambitious programme that aims to improve service delivery for users, reduce demand and reduce costs. You can find out more in the latest newsletter.
999 – What’s Your Emergency featuring Wiltshire’s emergency services returned to channel 4 last night. This week’s episode looked at crimes against woman; particularly sex crimes and harassment. Next week focuses on the military. Our concern remains how Wiltshire as a place is portrayed, and that the crime and matters featured are set in context reminding viewers that our county is still one of the safest in the country and that we work in partnership to support those who are most vulnerable.
Have a good week.
Alison, Alistair, Carlton and Terence
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