Meeting documents

ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 27 NOVEMBER 2001

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 4.00 pm and finishing at 6.20 pm

Present:

The Executive considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with a schedule of addenda tabled at the meeting, and decided as set out below. Except insofar as otherwise specified, the reasons for the decisions are contained in the agenda and reports and schedule, copies of which are attached to the signed Minutes.

19.01 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 November 2001 were approved and signed.

20.1. ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS - LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL FOR THE MILTON KEYNES, OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AREA

This item was added to the Agenda at the request of Councillor Fawcett. At the 20 November Council meeting, in response to a question by Councillor Brian Hodgson, Councillor Fawcett, as the Executive Member for Learning and Culture, had undertaken to put a proposal to the Executive that the Learning and Skills Council for the Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Area should be urged to hold its policy meetings in public, and that Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Borough Council be invited to do likewise. It was understood that the Learning and Skills Council would be meeting on the same day as the next meeting of the Executive and Councillor Fawcett had undertaken to seek consideration of this proposal at this meeting, so that representations could be made accordingly.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to request the Learning & Skills Council for the Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Area to hold its policy meetings in public and to invite Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Borough Council to do likewise.

21.1. MONTHLY FINANCIAL MONITORING UPDATE
(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive considered a report (EX5) which showed the latest position on the carry forward reserves and the variations that had occurred since October.

RESOLVED: to note the report.

22.01. ORDER OF BUSINESS

RESOLVED: to consider Item 14 immediately after Item 5.

23.1. OXFORDSHIRE COMMUNITY NETWORK
(Agenda Item 14)

The Executive considered a report (EX14) which updated members on the tendering process undertaken for the provision of a broadband network serving the whole county and which sought approval to proceed with the placing of a contract with the preferred contractor.

The Executive noted that this matter would need to be considered at a special meeting of full Council, because the degree of financial commitment involved was outside any provision in the approved revenue budget and capital programme.

The Director of Cultural Services reported that the County Council needed urgently to make a commitment to this project to enable implementation to commence before the end of the year in order to secure outside funding.

Members generally supported the proposal because, in spite of the initial cost, the project would result in the co-ordinated provision of a higher level of service to schools, libraries, other parts of the organisation and other sectors than if similar services were sought piecemeal. The project offered substantial improvements in efficiency and would considerably enhance access to networks for all parts of the community.

Councillor Janet Godden was concerned that this item should not be considered in isolation from the County Council’s other budget commitments.

RESOLVED: (by 8 votes to 0, Councillor Janet Godden abstaining) to RECOMMEND Council to:

1. approve the Resource Appraisal OP47, together with the commentary contained in the body of the report, as the detailed Project Appraisal required for the purpose of the Council’s Financial Regulations;
2. authorise the completion of a contract with the firm identified in the report and Annex 2 as "Tenderer D" for the creation and support of the Oxfordshire Community Network;
3. note the financial implications, including the need to meet a pressure of £1.5 million a year from 2002/03, to be addressed in the forthcoming budget setting process.

24.01. UPDATE ON THE MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL FORECAST
(Agenda Item 6)

The Executive considered a report (EX6) together with a Draft Budget Strategy prepared by the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to:

1. agree the recommendations in the Draft Budget Strategy as submitted by the Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader of the Council;
2. refer the Director’s report and the Draft Budget Strategy, together with its conclusions thereon, to the five Scrutiny Committees as the Executive’s Initial proposals for the budget for the purpose of paragraph (2) of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, on the basis that their response was required in time for the Executive to consider the Scrutiny Committees’ views and its recommendations to the Council, at its scheduled meeting on 22 January 2002, subject to amending:

1. paragraph 11 to reflect the need for Council approval for the expenditure involved in the provision of an Oxfordshire Community Network;

2. paragraph 15 to require the officers’ report also to assess the impact on Oxfordshire’s Social services of the forthcoming Local Government Settlement, and give a firm indication of the likely financial position relative to other shire counties, especially in the south east.
   
   
   

25.01. OXFORD CASTLE
(Agenda Item 7)

The Executive considered a report (EX6) on the progress of the grant application to SEEDA and other aspects of the development. Mr Monaghan reported an informal offer made by SEEDA of £4.5m, subject to terms to be agreed.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to:

1. accept the offer of grant funding for the redevelopment of the Oxford Castle site made by SEEDA and authorise the completion with SEEDA of any formal agreement necessary to secure such grant, subject to consultation on the terms with the Oxford Castle Member/Officer Working Group;
2. agree that the site of 11 – 13 Tidmarsh Lane be included within the Castle development site and disposed of to the Oxford Castle Company Limited on terms to be agreed by the Director of Environmental Services following consultation with the Oxford Castle Member/Officer Working Group and that an area of adjoining land owned by St Peter’s College be acquired at no cost to the County Council for inclusion in the site;
3. authorise the making, publication and submission to the Secretary of State for confirmation of a Compulsory Purchase Order for the acquisition of the leasehold interest in 35 Castle Street;
4. authorise the Assistant Chief Executive & Solicitor to the Council in consultation with the Director of Environmental Services and the Director for Business Support & County Treasurer to conclude any further Agreements necessary with the Oxford Castle Company Limited and The Trevor Osborne Property Group Limited to amend or supplement the existing Development Agreement following consultation with the Oxford Castle Member/Officer Working Group;

5. formally authorise disposal in accordance with section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 of the Oxford Castle site by way of granting a long leasehold interest to the Oxford Castle Company and authorise officers to proceed accordingly by procuring the execution of the necessary documents.
   
   
   

26.01. TRANSPORT NETWORKS REVIEW & TERM CONSULTANCY
(Agenda Item 8)

The Executive considered a report (EX8) which proposed procedures for the appointment of a term consultancy to undertake the additional transport planning requirement that had arisen from the increased capital programme secured through the Local Transport Plan.

RESOLVED: to:

1. approve the arrangements for the appointment of a consultant as set out in the report;
2. approve the relative weighting of the quality criteria for use in short-listing and selection of the term consultant;
3. appoint a panel of members and officers as described in paragraph 7 of the report comprising Councillor Tudor Hughes, Councillor Purse and the Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Committee or his permanent appointee;
4. authorise the Director of Environmental Services to appoint a consultant on the basis of the tenders and taking into account the advice of the panel on the quality assessment.
   
   
   
27.01. WITNEY WEST END LINK ROAD STAGE 1
(Agenda Item 9)

The Executive considered a report (EX9) which dealt with the current progress on the West End Links Road, Witney – Stage 1 Scheme and which sought approval of an outline project appraisal.

RESOLVED (nem con) to approve the outline project appraisal for Witney: West End Link Road Stage 1 (Scheme No 1909).

28.01. A4130 MILTON INTERCHANGE TO DIDCOT CYCLEWAY
(Agenda Item 10)

The Executive considered a report (EX10) which detailed proposed improvements to cycling facilities on the A4130, between Milton Interchange and Didcot.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to:

1. approve the proposal to construct a new shared use cycleway as shown on drawing no. 1340/B300; and

2. approve the conversion to shared use footway/cycle track of the lengths of footway as shown on drawing no 1340/B300 and as set out in the schedule, Annex 1, under Sections 66(4) & 65(1) of the Highways Act 1980.
   
   
   

29.01. REVIEW OF EDUCATION, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES

• write to the Political Group Leaders drawing their attention to bullet point one of Phase 1 of the proposed outline review process; "Initial meeting of the Review Team (including Executive members) to agree the review process and consultation arrangements’ and to invite them to participate fully in this exercise; and

• attend or be represented at meetings of the Scrutiny Committee commencing January 2002 in order to report progress to date on the Review.

30.01. RECONFIGURATION OF PUPIL REFERRAL UNITS
(Agenda Item 12)

The Executive considered a report (EX12) which detailed the proposed structure and costings for a Countywide PRU Service.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to approve the proposed new structure for the establishment of a Countywide PRU Service as detailed in the report, for consultation with the schools and other bodies listed in Annex 4 to EX12.

31.01. BOTLEY EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENTS
(Agenda Item 13)

The Executive considered a report (EX13) which set out proposals to develop and implement Early Years and Childcare provision within the Botley area.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to:

1. approve in principle the proposals outlined in the report and detailed in Annex B to EX13;
2. request officers to produce detailed costed proposals and seek planning approval, and undertake wider local consultation before the full scheme was brought to the Executive for approval in June 2002.
   
   
   

32.01. DISPOSAL/TRANSFERRED MUSEUM OBJECTS FROM OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL COLLECTION – DISPOSAL OF HORSE DRAWN TRAM
(Agenda Item 15)

The Executive considered a proposal to transfer a horse drawn tram and to donate timber purchased for its restoration to the Oxford Bus Museum.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to agree the transfer of the Oxford tram (OXCMS: 1975.123) to the collections of the Oxford Bus Museum and to the donation of the timber for its restoration.

33.01 STRATEGIC OUTSIDE BODIES
(Agenda Item 16)

On 6 November the Executive had agreed a list (EX16) of outside bodies of strategic importance to the Council which had been endorsed by the Council on 20 November. The Executive was now required to confirm appointments to those bodies.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to appoint County Council representatives to serve on strategic outside bodies as listed in the schedule EX16 for the remainder of the Council Year, subject to the following additions:-

ACTVAR Labour substitute Councillor Sandra Mold

South East Employers Labour substitute Councillor Sylvia Tompkins

Liberal Democrat substitute Councillor Richard Farrell

34.01 FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

1. note the possibility of further changes to the Agenda for the next meeting including deletion of the Cross Thames Travel Study (Forward Plan Ref 62/2001);
2. to ask officers to report on the issues raised by Councillor MacKenzie’s motion as agreed by Council with a view to establishing in the first instance, whether the problems identified were limited to Sutton Courtenay or required a more general review.

35.01. EXEMPT ITEMS

RESOLVED: that the public be excluded during the consideration of item 18E in the Agenda since it was likely that if they were present during that item there would be a disclosure of "exempt" information as described in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 and specified below the item in the Agenda, i.e. information relating to a particular employee, former employee or applicant to become an employee of, or a particular office-holder, former office-holder or applicant to become an office-holder under, the Authority).

PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

36.01. ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES AT A MAINTAINED SCHOOL
(Agenda Item 18E)

The Executive considered a report (EX18E) on staffing issues and other organisational issues in connection with a particular maintained school and identified possible options for future consideration.

RESOLVED: to:

1. approve recommendations (a) to (e) as set out in the report EX18E;
2. authorise the Chief education Officer, in consultation with the relevant Executive Member and Local Members, to take any necessary consequential action pending further report to the Executive.

in the Chair

Date of signing 2001

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