To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak.
Minutes:
The following members of the public and councillors had registered to address the committee.
Paul Mayhew-Archer asked a number of questions:
a) How many public scrutiny meetings had Capita attended since being awarded the Five Council’s Partnership contract?
In response, the head of partnership and insight reported that this was the first time that a Capita performance report had been submitted to the scrutiny committee but that such reports had been considered by the Five Councils’ Partnership scrutiny committee.
b) Why, in view of Capita’s unsatisfactory performance, had the council not cancelled the IT contract and why were the five councils paying Capita compensation?
In response, the chief executive reported that officers did not believe that Capita’s level of performance, which had improved in recent months, required the council to take back control of the IT contracts. The council was not paying Capita compensation. Renegotiation of the contract had resulted in increased costs to the council which would be set out in the accounts
c) Heasked about the level of financial benefit to the council from the contract, what future contract problems had been identified and what safeguards had been put in place to ensure that these problems were neutralised?
In response, the chief executive reported that the savings to the council were set out in the committee report. Capita would be working with the council to make further improvements to the contract.
d) Who had authority to scrutinise the partnership?
In response, the head of partnership and insight reported that a performance report had gone to Five Councils’ Partnership joint scrutiny committee in May 2017, and that the committee had subsequently been disbanded as it had no executive function and it was felt that local scrutiny was the appropriate forum for discussion of local issues. The council’s scrutiny committee and/or the South and Vale joint scrutiny committee, had the authority to scrutinise contractor performance at any time as part of its planned programme.
e) Was there was a culture of secrecy in the council?
In response, the chief executive reported that there was no culture of secrecy and that Capita’s performance had been monitored and would continue to be monitored at meetings of scrutiny and joint audit and governance committee which were open to the public.
Jim Halliday asked if there were contractual penalty clauses that could be invoked by the council to obtain compensation from Capita and how much longer would the council put up with a sub-standard service?
In response, the head of partnership and insight reported that there were three stages of contractual remedy 1) an agreed rectification plan, 2) the appointment of an independent remedial adviser, and 3) step-in. Stage 2) had been reached and the council was working with Capita to avoid further escalation.
The chief executive added that Capita had made significant improvements to the IT service in recent months.
Councillor Emily Smith asked who should be held accountable for the outsourcing of services and who was now responsible for trying to recoup costs and bringing services back in house?
In response, the chief executive reported that officers were responsible for the operational performance and he bore ultimate responsibility.
Councillor Bob Johnston asked a number of questions:
a) Were officers aware of the council’s poor performance in supplying information to the Oxfordshire Local Pension Board?
In response, the chief executive reported that he was aware of particular issues and that not all of them were Capita’s responsibility.
b) Were officers aware of how chaotic the expenses system was and was this due to a lack of resources?
In response, the chief executive reported that payroll performance had not been acceptable but was now improving. He undertook to look into particular problems experienced by Councillor Johnston.
c) Was there any possibility of taking the IT contract back in house?
In response, the chief executive reiterated previous comments about Capita’s improved performance and the renegotiation of the contract.