Issue - meetings

Question submitted by Councillor H. J. Jones

Can I ask the Leader as Portfolio Holder for Health will she be stepping in to do all she can to bring back maternity services to the Alexandra Hospital as soon as possible and do we have confidence that there are ambulances to cope with the extra strain caused by mothers not being able to get to other hospitals to give birth?

Councillor C. B. Taylor responded on behalf of the Leader that everything possible was being done to ensure Maternity Services were re-established at the Alexandra Hospital and that stable and safe Health services were available in North Worcestershire.

Question submitted by Councillor P. M. McDonald

In light of Worcestershire County Council withdrawing Trading Standards from Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) how does this affect the future of the service?

Councillor P. J. Whittaker responded that the County Council’s decision would have no long term impact on the viability and sustainability of WRS. Worcestershire Shared Services Partnership had invested considerable time and effort in reviewing the business model to meet the financial challenges and ensure the long term future of WRS. A new partnership had been set up comprising the six Worcestershire Districts which would work with the County Council under a Service Level Agreement.

Transitional financial arrangements had been put in place to ensure that the loss of income from the new partnership undertaking would not impose any additional burdens upon Districts. The changes would not affect the role of this Council as the host Authority of the new partnership.

Question submitted by Councillor L. C. R. Mallett

To ask the Leader, further to the requests made by Members at the last three Council meetings and the failure of her administration to provide the answer despite promises to the contrary.  What is the full cost of the months of delay in moving to Parkside including staff costs, additional meetings and the delay of the promised annual savings Parkside would accrue (previously claimed as £200k per annum), what steps has she taken to recover this loss from WCC and the Contractors and does she agree with me that this huge delay represents a significant failure of project management?

On behalf of the Leader Councillor G. N. Denaro responded that there was a saving of £250,000 included in the budget projections for a full year from the move to Parkside and it was anticipated that some of this saving would be realised following the move in December. A reserve was currently set aside for £105,000 from last year to fund any office moves which would be used to offset the reduction in savings for 2015/16.

Councillor Denaro added that having reviewed the financial position at the end of October and projecting this forward, it was anticipated that the year end position would be £25,000 overspent. This excluded any potential rebate in relation to the delays.

Councillor Denaro reported that this Council was working with the County Council to ensure that where appropriate any costs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74