Agenda and minutes

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 August 2009 (CC1) and to receive for information any matters arising from them.

Members are reminded that they must declare their interests orally at the meeting and specify (a) the nature of the interest and (b) which items on the agenda are the relevant items.

(Please note: this applies also to items where members have interests by virtue of their membership of a district council in Oxfordshire.)

Anne Griffiths was appointed as the Independent Chairman of the Standards Committee at its meeting on 24 July. In the absence of the former Chairman due to ill health she will attend to present the Annual Report which summarises the work of the Committee over the last year.

The Council is RECOMMENDED to receive the report.

Annual Report by a Director of Public Health for Oxfordshire (jointly appointed by the NHS and the County Council) (CC10).

The report of the Assistant Head of Legal & Democratic Services containing the schedule of meeting dates proposed for the 2009/10 Council year is attached for approval (CC11). Directors and Political Groups have been consulted on a draft schedule. The schedule has been drawn up to reflect the various rules about frequency of meetings set out in the Council’s Constitution.

Report by Chief Executive, Assistant Chief Executive - Strategy and Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CC12)

The Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)              note the report;

(b)              provide advice to Cabinet on the development of the Financial Strategy.

“This Council is fully aware of the effects of the current national economic situation, in particular pressures on Oxfordshire due to the high number of public service employees. Council also notes the projected high unemployment among young people, and that at a time of recession, vulnerable people are more than ever in need of our services.

Council recognises that this means that every pound spent by Oxfordshire County Council and its partners must “punch above its weight”.

Council resolves to

(i) Encourage young people to stay in education by working with schools, FE colleges and local universities to provide imaginative and useful courses offering qualifications to help them when they enter the workplace, including valuable work experience.

(ii) Through the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership seek to maximise any initiatives in which the County can, alone or with its partners, provide jobs and spark the economic recovery. Jobs which help to minimize the effects of climate change and form the basis of recovery, such as jobs in sustainable tourism, should be the priority.

(iii) Make every effort to protect the services we provide to all our vulnerable people, including people with disabilities and mental health problems

(iv) When vacancies occur wherever possible fill those posts with permanent employees rather than agency staff

(v) Work collaboratively across political parties on the Council to ensure we all share an active role in helping to identify cost savings in the budget process, which includes ensuring that the impacts of any proposed savings are clearly understood.”

“This Council, having grave concerns about the proposals about Secondary Education in East Oxford communicated to Councillors, Parents and the Community through the media asks the Cabinet Member for School Improvement to look at all options for the improvement of Education in the area served by Oxford Community School rather than rushing into one option which may not necessarily meet the needs of young people and their parents. It further asks that these options should be the subject of consultation with all parents and young people who are or could be affected.”

“The Council asks the Cabinet Member for School Improvement not to make changes to the structure or location of St Christopher's C.E. Primary School but to support the staff, children, parents and governors in their commitment to improve over the coming year by giving appropriate back up from the Educational Improvement Professionals employed by the Authority.”

“Council welcomes the recent report from ATOC (Association of Train Operating Companies) to re-open branch lines, some of which are in Oxfordshire. This would give more people the option of using public transport, thus reducing the traffic congestion on our roads. Rail links would also provide vital infrastructure to possible housing development giving access to jobs and leisure activities with minimal consequent carbon emissions."

Council resolves therefore to work together with the rail companies, Network Rail and the Department of Transport to ensure we are planning for the future in developing the next Local Transport Plan (LTP3) to include these proposals.”

“This Council recognises the immense contribution made by the members of the Armed Forces based in Oxfordshire who are on deployment in other countries, particularly in areas of conflict. The Council also recognises the burden these deployments place on the families of those soldiers and members of the RAF. In order to demonstrate the Council’s support for our local servicemen and their families, this Council will work with each of the major Army and RAF bases in the County to provide hospitality to the families of those on deployment, in a similar way to that for dependents from the Bicester Garrison on 24th August, at a time and in a way appropriate to each Unit. A suitable budget will be identified. “

“This Council resolves that Oxfordshire County Council withdraw the ‘expression of interest’ it has sent to the DCSF with regard to closing Oxford School and St Christopher’s Primary School to create a new Academy because:

- St Christopher’s School is entitled to a year in which it can, with assistance, substantially improve its running and results

- Parents of St Christopher’s children are overwhelmingly opposed to their young children sharing a campus with children of Secondary School age

- Giving the two Schools to a non-elected and self-perpetuating Group is a derogation of democracy

- The proposed sponsor, United Learning Trust, is under considerable stress because of the recent failures of two of its fifteen schools and its inability to keep Head Teachers from leaving at an unacceptable rate, and should not be given control of two of Oxfordshire’s Schools

- Replacing Oxford School, which has no religious attachment, with a ULT-run School means that most East Oxford parents would be unable to choose a non-Church School for their children

- The new Academy would not gain new buildings because Oxford School was already in line for the necessary capital investment

- The destruction of the good buildings, some very recent, at St Christopher’s would be wasteful

- The East Oxford/Cowley community would be deprived of much-needed green space and playing fields at St Christopher’s and Iffley Mead Schools, a large chunk of Oxford School’s land and part of the Cowley Marsh Park.”