Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday, 18 July 2017 2.00 pm

Venue: Rooms 1&2 - County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND. View directions

Contact: Sue Whitehead  Tel: 07393 001213; E-Mail:  sue.whitehead@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

48/17

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Constance.

49/17

Minutes pdf icon PDF 159 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2017 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2017 were approved agreed and signed as a correct record, subject to it being noted under Minute 43/17 that it was the first bid for transition funding that Aspire had been involved in.

50/17

Questions from County Councillors pdf icon PDF 223 KB

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working days before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the Cabinet’s delegated powers.

 

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

 

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

Minutes:

Questions from County Councillors together with responses are set out in the attached annex.

51/17

Petitions and Public Address pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Minutes:

The following requests to petition or to address the Committee had been agreed by the Chairman:

 

Item 6 – Financial Monitoring and Business Delivery Report -           Councillor Helen Evans, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance

Councillor Jamila Begum Azad, local councillor for St Clements & Cowley Marsh

 

Item 8 – City Centre Improvements and Experimental Queen Street Closure -John Paine   Secretary, Oxfordshire NPC Group

Phil Southall

Graham Jones, ROX and the Oxford High Street Association

Sara Fuge, Westgate Oxford Alliance

Dan Levy, Cyclox

Councillor Sajjad Malik

Martin Sutton, Stagecoach at Oxfordshire

Sajad Khan

Councillor Paul Buckley, local councillor for Wolvercote & Summertown

Councillor John Howson, local councillor for St Margaret’s

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment

 

Item 9 -  The Future of Chiltern Edge School -   David Bullivant

Clare Bentata

Christine Atkinson

Moira Green, Headteacher at Chiltern Edge

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Opposition Leader

 

Item 10 – Transition Fund  - Councillor John Sanders, local councillor for Cowley

 

Item 11 – Minerals and Waste Local Plan - Councillor Adrian Lloyd, Wallingford Town Council

Councillor Lynda Atkins, local councillor for Wallingford

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment

 

Item 12 – East West Rail Western Section Phase 2 – Public Consultation –

Councillor John Howson, local councillor for St Margaret’s

Councillor Bob Johnston, local councillor for Kennington & Radley

Councillor Paul Buckley, local councillor for Wolvercote & Summertown

 

 

52/17

2017/18 Financial Monitoring & Business Strategy Delivery Report - May 2017 pdf icon PDF 221 KB

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/014

Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Strategic Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518

 

Report by Director of Finance (CA6).

 

This is the first financial monitoring report for 2017/18 and focuses on the delivery of the 2017/18 budget based on projections at the end of May 2017.  Part 1 sets out the projections for revenue; part 2 includes the forecast position for reserves and balances; part 3 sets out the Capital Programme monitoring and update. 

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)  note the report;

(b)approve the virement requests set out in Annex 2a;

(c)  note the Virements set out in Annex 2b;

(d)approve the use of the £6.3m improved Better Care Fund ring-fenced grant funding detailed in paragraph 32:

·         £1.2m Improving Flow

·         £1.7m Market Resilience

·         £0.6m Strategic Review of Home Support

·         £2.1m Additional Capacity

·         £0.7m balance to be allocated as required;

(e)  note the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 3;

(f)   approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 7 and the associated changes to the programme in Annex 6c;

(g)delegate authority to the Director of Finance and Strategic Director for Communities, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to contractually commit to the construction of the Faringdon Community College two form entry expansion project, with a total budget of £6.290m; and

(h)approve the capital funding allocation of £1.04m for the A4155 Henley Road (Flowing Springs) embankment repair works.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the first in a series of financial monitoring reports for 2017/18 and focused on the delivery of the 2017/18 budget based on projections at the end of May 2017.  Part 1 set out the projections for revenue; part 2 included the forecast position for reserves and balances; part 3 set out the Capital Programme monitoring and update. 

 

Councillor Jamila Begum Azad, local councillor for St Clements & Cowley Marsh highlighted the overspend in the Children, Education and Families (CEF) budget and particularly that relating to early intervention and also to home to school transport. Despite additional money demand continued to grow and she questioned how Cabinet would ensure that the early help needed was available. Councillor Begum Azad also referred to the significant increase in looked after children and highlighted out of county placements seeking assurances that children received the support they needed.

 

Councillor Helen Evans, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance also highlighted the underspend overspend*  in CEF. She commented that this was not unexpected given that demand was growing nationally and queried why more money had not been budgeted. There was concern in the Labour Group that the Council would struggle to deliver the ambitious plans for change and queried whether the expected reductions were realistic and what would happen in the event of a shortfall. With regard to adult social care she noted the break even position which was in part due to the underspend in the Support at Home budget. She referred to the increase in the Better Care Funding and hoped that serious consideration would be given to bringing this element back in house. Councillor Evans also expressed Labour Group concern at the continuing underspend in the public health budget.

 

Cabinet Members responded to the points made noting that this was a very early stage in the year and that overspends and underspends at this point were usual. Cabinet  stressed its commitment to safeguarding issues and that everything possible would always be done to ensure the safety of the children of Oxfordshire. Cabinet noted that Councillor Hilary Hibbert-Biles had previously given the Labour Group a detailed note on the public health budget.

 

Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the contents of the report and moved the recommendations. He thanked Lorna Baxter and the financial team for their work highlighting the Council’s strong record in financial budgeting.

 

Cabinet’s attention was drawn in particular to recommendation (d) in the report relating to the Better Care Fund

 

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)  note the report;

(b)  approve the virement requests set out in Annex 2a;

(c)  note the Virements set out in Annex 2b;

(d)  approve the use of the £6.3m improved Better Care Fund ring-fenced grant funding detailed in paragraph 32:

·         £1.2m Improving Flow

·         £1.7m Market Resilience

·         £0.6m Strategic Review of Home Support

·         £2.1m Additional Capacity

·         £0.7m balance to be allocated as required;

(e)  note the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 3;

(f)   approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 7 and the associated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52/17

53/17

Treasury Management 2016/17 Outturn pdf icon PDF 618 KB

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/015

Contact: Donna Ross, Principal Finance Manager - Treasury Pension Tel: (01865) 323976

 

Report by Director of Finance (CA7).

 

The report sets out the Treasury Management activity undertaken in the financial year 2016/17 in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice.  The report includes Debt and Investment activity, Prudential Indicator Outturn, Investment Strategy, and interest receivable and payable for the financial year.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report, and to RECOMMEND Council to note the Council’s Treasury Management Activity in 2016/17.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report that set out the Treasury Management activity undertaken in the financial year 2016/17 in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice.  The report included Debt and Investment activity, Prudential Indicator Outturn, Investment Strategy, and interest receivable and payable for the financial year.

 

RESOLVED:                        to note the report, and to RECOMMEND Council to note the Council’s Treasury Management Activity in 2016/17.

 

54/17

The Future of Chiltern Edge School pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Cabinet Member: Public Health & Education

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/057

Contact: Diane Cameron, School Organisation Officer Tel: 07795 301254

 

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA9).

 

Chiltern Edge School has been placed in Special Measures following an Ofsted rating of ‘Inadequate’. The council’s number one priority is to ensure good educational opportunities are available to local families.  To this end the council has undertaken an extensive consultation exercise about the future of Chiltern Edge School in order to inform what action(s) the council should take to ensure that the priority is met.

 

The report summarises the responses received and provides an update on developments since the consultation was launched on the 27 April 2017. Annexes set out the process followed.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)   not proceed at this time with the publication of a statutory notice proposing the closure of Chiltern Edge School;

(b)   commission, ideally from Ofsted, an external review of the progress made by October 2017 towards addressing the weaknesses identified by Ofsted and the construction of an in-year balanced budget;

(c)   consider a further report on the progress identified by the external review at its November meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chiltern Edge School has been placed in Special Measures following an Ofsted rating of ‘Inadequate’. The council’s number one priority is to ensure good educational opportunities are available to local families.  To this end the council has undertaken an extensive consultation exercise about the future of Chiltern Edge School in order to inform what action(s) the council should take to ensure that the priority is met.

 

Cabinet considered a report that summarised the responses received and that provided an update on developments since the consultation was launched on the 27 April 2017.

 

David Bullivant, spoke as a parent of a child at Chiltern Edge School and a member of the save Our Edge campaign. He thanked Councillor Biles and Councillor Bartholomew for being willing to work with the group and to meet them. He spoke in support of keeping the school open, referring to its previous history of good Ofsted inspections and that the head teacher had a clear improvement plan.

 

Clare Bentata, submitted a petition against the closure of the school referring the support for the school.

 

Christine Atkinson, speaking as a parent of children who had attended the school spoke of the importance of it to the village community.

 

Moira Green, Headteacher at Chiltern Edge School, highlighted the steps being taken to improve the situation at the school.

 

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Opposition Leader, welcomed the recommendation in the report not to proceed with a notice to close at this stage.

 

RESOLVED:            to:

 

(a)             not proceed at this time with the publication of a statutory notice proposing the closure of Chiltern Edge School;

(b)             commission, ideally from Ofsted, an external review of the progress made by October 2017 towards addressing the weaknesses identified by Ofsted and the construction of an in-year balanced budget;

(c)             consider a further report on the progress identified by the external review at its November meeting.

 

55/17

City Centre Transport Improvements and Experimental Queen Street Closure pdf icon PDF 188 KB

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/064

Contact: Martin Kraftl, Principal Infrastructure Co-ordinator Tel: 07920 084336

 

Report by Director for Planning & Place (CA8).

 

This report summarises the results of the formal public consultation on the proposed experimental Traffic Regulation Order to prohibit buses, taxis and private hire vehicles from Queen Street, Oxford and amendments to permanent Traffic Regulation Orders on the surrounding network. Other proposals include amendments to bus stops and layover points, including bus stop clearways, adjustments to three key junctions and the installation of 5 no. zebra crossings. The report supplies recommendations and seeks approval on moving the project forward in a timely manner to achieve the desired delivery date of October 2017 to coincide with the opening of the re-developed Westgate.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)             consider the contents of this report, including the consultation responses received, in the context of the statutory framework as set out in Annex 5;

(b)             approve the proposal for an experimental TRO restricting bus, taxi and private hire access to Queen Street as advertised, subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Transport;

(c)             instruct officers to develop a monitoring framework for the experimental closure of Queen Street, in consultation with (amongst others) the bus operators, city council, and Cabinet Member for Environment;

(d)             instruct officers to continue to develop options for city centre bus routeing – including options for Queen Street – in partnership with Oxford City Council and bus operators and drawing on monitoring of the experimental closure when available;

(e)             approve the retention of the existing cycle access arrangements in Queen Street (cycling permitted 18:00 – 10:00);

(f)              approve the proposal for zebra crossings in St Aldate’s, Speedwell Street, New Road, Park End Street and Worcester Street as advertised;

(g)             approve the proposal for changes to loading, waiting and stopping in High Street and St Aldate’s as advertised;

(h)             approve the changes to bus stop clearways as advertised;

(i)               note that design changes may be made to the published proposals to deal with concerns raised in the consultation and as part of the safety audit process.  Certain changes may require further consultation.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet had before them a report summarising the results of the formal public consultation on the proposed experimental Traffic Regulation Order to prohibit buses, taxis and private hire vehicles from Queen Street, Oxford and amendments to permanent Traffic Regulation Orders on the surrounding network. Other proposals included amendments to bus stops and layover points, including bus stop clearways, adjustments to three key junctions and the installation of 5 no. zebra crossings. The report sought approval on moving the project forward in a timely manner to achieve the desired delivery date of October 2017 to coincide with the opening of the re-developed Westgate.

 

Barrie Finch, Oxfordshire NPC Group, commented that the Group would be looking for Councillor Constance to hold informal and to monitor the experiment with local bus groups, pedestrians etc. He suggested that the experiment would be better if it was an experimental opening rather than closure to buses and taxis. Referring to the consultation he felt that the responses had been cherry picked to give a particular picture. He added that there was a lack of detail and clarity in the report. For example there was no indication where bus stops would be sighted. There was a lack of consideration of the needs of the partially sighted, wheelchair users and the elderly.

 

Dan Levy, Cyclox, stated that whilst accepting that what was being proposed was an experiment, their Group would wish to see during part of the period an experimental trial of cyclists in Queen Street. He added that it was odd that a prime cycle route should be closed to cycles at any time but asked that if it was then serious consideration be given to a safe alternative route from the station to High Street. He welcomed the improvements to the teardrop but added that there were still technical issues requiring improvement. Dan Levy suggested that if looking at the whole area one solution would be to close one of either  Park End Street or Hyth Bridge Street to all except cycles or to make them a a one way system.

 

Sajad Khan, COTA, spoke in support of the taxi rank on Cornmarket which they saw as a vital improvement. The Group did not support the positioning of the rank on High Street which was too far down the road making it inaccessible. They would prefer to see a small rank for one or two taxi’s at the Cornmarket end of High Street. Sajid Khan also requested that consideration be given to a small rank on New Road for people exiting The Westgate Centre.

 

Graham Jones, ROX and the Oxford High Street Association spoke in support of the arguments put forward by the bus companies as to why Queen Street could not be pedestrianised as yet. He highlighted the congestion to High Street caused by additional buses using and stopping there. This would add to pollution levels and affect delivery times for businesses. Graham Jones also referred to safety issues on the High Street and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55/17

56/17

Transititon Fund for Community Initiatives for Open Access Children's Services pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Cabinet Member: Local Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/083

Contact: Sarah Jelley, Senior Policy & Performance Officer Tel: 07554 103437

 

Report by Assistant Chief Executive (CA10).

 

In February 2016 the council agreed to set aside £1m for creating a ‘one off’ fund to provide pump priming to support open access children's services.  It was agreed that a cross party group of county councillors would consider maximum benefit of this fund and bring proposals back to Cabinet for decision.

 

In considering the third round of bids against the criteria during discussion Cabinet noted that the issue for the St Mary’s bid was the level of duplication with the ACE Centre.  Councillor Gray suggested that it would be sensible to defer a decision in order to undertake further investigation and review the services available and to be provided. This report outlines this work with recommendations to Cabinet.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)  Approve for funding the following bids:

a.    St Mary’s Church, Chipping Norton

(b)Defer the decision until September Cabinet for the following bids:

a.    Aspire & The Nature Effect (Florence  Park Children’s Centre)

(c)  Defer the decision until September Cabinet for the asset transfer for the following proposal:

a.    Aflah Nursery (Florence Park Children’s Centre)

 

Minutes:

In February 2016 the council agreed to set aside £1m for creating a ‘one off’ fund to provide pump priming to support open access children's services.  It was agreed that a cross party group of county councillors would consider maximum benefit of this fund and bring proposals back to Cabinet for decision.

 

In June during consideration of the third round of bids against the criteria following discussion Cabinet deferred a decision on a number of matters in order to undertake further investigation. Cabinet had before them a report outlining this work to date with recommendations to Cabinet.

 

Councillor John Sanders, local councillor for Cowley welcomed the deferral of the decision on Florence Park. He emphasised that the Fund was to provide open access services for local people.

 

Councillor Gray in moving the recommendations advised that meetings were being held under the auspices of the OCVA with a view to a possible joint bid.

 

RESOLVED:                        to:

(a)             Approve for funding the following bids:

a.    St Mary’s Church, Chipping Norton

(b)             Defer the decision until September Cabinet for the following bids:

a.    Aspire & The Nature Effect (Florence  Park Children’s Centre)

(c)             Defer the decision until September Cabinet for the asset transfer for the following proposal:

a.    Aflah Nursery (Florence Park Children’s Centre)

 

57/17

Minerals and Waste Local Plan, Part 1 (Core Strategy) pdf icon PDF 181 KB

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/058

Contact: Peter Day, Minerals & Waste Policy Team Leader Tel: 07392 318899

 

Report by Director for Planning & Place (CA11).

 

The County Council has a statutory duty to prepare a new Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan, to provide an effective planning strategy and policies for the supply of minerals and management of waste in the county, consistent with environmental, social and economic needs, to replace the existing Minerals and Waste Local Plan which was adopted in 1996. The Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Part 1 – Core Strategy (the Plan) was approved by the County Council in March 2015 and submitted for independent examination by a planning inspector in December 2015. Following a hearing held in September 2016, the Inspector issued an Interim Report.

 

The Interim Report provided the Inspector’s conclusions on the amounts of provision that need to be made for mineral working and waste management over the Plan period to 2031. He concluded that the provision for mineral working should be as the Council proposed in the submitted Plan, based on the Local Aggregate Assessment 2014. The Interim Report also covered certain legal and procedural matters, including the need for further Strategic Environmental Assessment / Sustainability Appraisal (SEA/SA) work to be undertaken and stated that modifications to the Plan needed to be proposed.

 

The further SEA/SA work required was undertaken and a comprehensive new SEA/SA report prepared. Proposed modifications to the Plan were drafted in response to the Inspector's Interim Report and in the light of representatons made on the Plan and discussion at the examination hearing and the further SA/SEA work. Following agreement by Cabinet in January 2017, the proposed modifications and the new SEA/SA report were published for public consultation in February 2017.

 

All responses to this consultation that were received by the Council were passed to the Inspector. The Inspector considered these responses and issued his Final Report on the examination of the Plan on 15 June 2017. The Inspector concludes that the Plan as submitted has a number of deficiencies in respect of soundness and legal compliance, which means that he recommends non-adoption of it as submitted, but that with his recommended main modifications the Plan satisfies legal requirements and meets the criteria for soundness and is capable of adoption.

 

The Inspector's Final Report confirms the findings of his Interim Report. His recommended main modifications are largely the same as the Council's proposed modifications that were published in February 2017 but he has made a small number of alterations to bring certain polices into line with national policy and ensure soundness of the Plan. The Council may now adopt the Plan but may only do so with the main modifications recommended by the Inspector (and any additional modifications that do not affect the polices). Adoption of the Plan requires a resolution of the Council.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

 

(a)   recommend to Council to:

 

          i.          adopt the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Part  ...  view the full agenda text for item 57/17

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The County Council has a statutory duty to prepare a new Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan, to provide an effective planning strategy and policies for the supply of minerals and management of waste in the county, consistent with environmental, social and economic needs, to replace the existing Minerals and Waste Local Plan which was adopted in 1996. Following an extensive statutory process Cabinet considered a report on the outcomes.

 

Councillor Adrian Lloyd, Wallingford Town Council,  spoke in connection with the aggregate assessment figures stating that in his view the figures was too high and wold not be realised. Changes to the regulations on re-use of demolition materials meant that there ws a replacement for sharp sand and gravel. He feared that the effect would be that pits opened and then were forced to close.

 

Councillor Lynda Atkins, local councillor for Wallingford whilst accepting that a Mineral & Waste Plan was desperately needed spoke against the aggregate assessment figures which she felt were unnecessarily high and did not protect local residents in her division from applications for new pits.

 

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment expressed disappointment that the Plan had taken 4 years to reach this stage and hoped that the development of site allocations would happen without delay in order to provide certainty and to protect from speculative proposals.

 

Asked by Cabinet to comment on the Local Aggregate Assessment Peter Day explained that the LAA had been subject to much discussion over a lengthy period of time. It had taken a whole day at the examination and the Inspector had concluded that it was an appropriate basis on which to plan for 2031. The Inspector’s recommended modifications included the LAA figures and the modifications could only be agreed as a total package.

 

Peter Day responded to concerns from Councillor Lindsay-Gale who stated that she had fought the proposals since 2003 and communities in her Division were upset at the proposed split between West and South Oxfordshire. She added that the Cabinet Advisory Group had opposed the plan at every single stage. Peter Day stressed that the Inspector had been required to consider all representations and he had done so, including those from local residents and groups. Bev Hindle added that Cabinet were being asked to put it forward today for Council adoption taking into account the views of the CAG.

 

During discussion Cabinet explored the impact of not having a Plan in place which would be to continue to base decisions on national policy leading to less protection for local people from inappropriate proposals.

 

RESOLVED:                        (by 5 votes for and 3 abstensions) to

 

(a)             recommend to Council to:

 

                    i.          adopt the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Part 1 – Core Strategy with the main modifications recommended by the Inspector in his final report (Appendix B) at Annex 3B and such additional modifications as are required, in accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 section 23(3) (as amended);

 

                  ii.          authorise the Director for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57/17

58/17

East West Rail Western Section Phase 2: Public Consultation pdf icon PDF 157 KB

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/042

 

Contact: John Disley, Policy Strategy Manager Tel: 07767 006742

 

Report by Strategic Director for Communities (CA12).

 

East West Rail is a strategic national rail infrastructure proposal to reopen and upgrade the rail corridor connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge, extending on to Ipswich and Norwich.  It is split into three distinct sections covering Oxford to Bedford and Milton Keynes to Princes Risborough (Western); Bedford to Cambridge (Central) and Cambridge to Norwich and Ipswich (Eastern).  This report is primarily concerned with the Western Section, which includes the EWR route in Oxfordshire.

                              

Phase 1 of the Western section, connecting Oxford to Bicester via Oxford Parkway, with services extending to London Marylebone, has already been constructed with services now running.  The powers are now being sought by Network Rail to construct and operate phase 2 of the Western section, which in Oxfordshire runs from east of Bicester town centre to the County Boundary.

 

The Western section has been developed and refined over many years by a Consortium of local authorities, of which Oxfordshire County Council is a founder Member, all of which are also providing significant local financial contributions to the project.  The Western section scheme was approved in principle by central Government in its 2012 'High Level Output Statement' for the railway.  Since then, further design and development work has taken place, with an initial public consultation held in autumn 2015.   A Strategic Alliance led by Network Rail is taking the project through approvals and implementation, and is seeking powers under the Transport & Works Act process to construct the railway.  This process necessitates the production of a draft Environmental Statement for the scheme, for consultation with the public and Stakeholders.  These include individual Councils on the route and the EWR Consortium as a whole.

 

The consultation started on 30th June and runs until 11th August.  The purpose of this report is to set out the proposed Oxfordshire County Council response to the Consultation, both in principle and highlighting matters of detail it wishes Network Rail to address and identifying any other issues of relevance.  Consultation events in Oxfordshire are taking place in Bicester (10 July) and Launton (13 July) and an update on any significant issues raised at those events will be provided as an addendum to the meeting. 

 

The report also covers the proposed status and approach to the London Road Level Crossing, which while not within the scope of this stage of the project is closely linked to the future development of East West Rail.

 

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)   Reconfirm the Council’s strong support for the East West Rail scheme set out in the consultation proposals, as a strategic investment priority;

 

(b)   Submit a response to the Western Section Phase 2 consultation, based on the points outlined in paragraph 21 above, with the final response to be agreed by the Cabinet Member for the Environment in consultation with the Director for Planning & Place;

 

(c)   For this response to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 58/17

Additional documents:

Minutes:

East West Rail is a strategic national rail infrastructure proposal to reopen and upgrade the rail corridor connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge, extending on to Ipswich and Norwich.  It is split into three distinct sections covering Oxford to Bedford and Milton Keynes to Princes Risborough (Western); Bedford to Cambridge (Central) and Cambridge to Norwich and Ipswich (Eastern). Cabinet considered a report that was primarily concerned with the Western Section, which included the EWR route in Oxfordshire and it set out the proposed Oxfordshire County Council response to the Network Rail consultation on the proposals. The report also covered the proposed status and approach to the London Road Level Crossing, which while not within the scope of this stage of the project was closely linked to the future development of East West Rail.

 

Councillor John Howson, expressed disappointment that it would be a diesel line which was far noisier than an electrified line. He commented that there was no indication where the trains would be stored and as it was likely to be somewhere in Oxfordshire this would have an impact on Oxfordshire residents.

 

Councillor Bob Johnston, local councillor for Kennington & Radley, commended the paper but agreed with concerns that the proposals were for diesel trains. Looking forward he expressed concern over where the rolling stock was to come from and hoped that they would not be tired second hand stock from elsewhere.

 

Councillor Paul Buckley, speaking as a local councillor for Wolvercote & Summertown and as a professional engineer stated that he was absolutely behind the concept set oit in the consultation. However he sounded a note of caution about how it might be implemented, drawing on experience of Phase 1.

 

RESOLVED:                        to:

(a)             Reconfirm the Council’s strong support for the East West Rail scheme set out in the consultation proposals, as a strategic investment priority;

 

(b)             Submit a response to the Western Section Phase 2 consultation, based on the points outlined in paragraph 21 above, with the final response to be agreed by the Cabinet Member for the Environment in consultation with the Director for Planning & Place;

 

(c)             For this response to include a schedule of detailed points, as per the addendum circulated to this report.

 

 

59/17

Section 75 Agreement - Update 2017 pdf icon PDF 203 KB

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/077

Contact: Eleanor Crichton, Strategic Commissioner (Older People) Tel: 07774 335652/Natalia Lachkou, Strategic Commissioner (Vulnerable Adults) Tel: 07881 500344

 

Report by Director for Adult Services (CA11).

 

Under Section 75 of the National Health Services Act 2006, the Council has an existing and long-standing agreement with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, to pool resources and deliver shared objectives.  Oxfordshire has amongst the largest genuinely pooled budgets in the country.  That reflects our commitment to joining up our commissioning and using resources flexibly for the benefit of people who need care.

 

The overarching intention is to work together across service areas will lead to better outcomes for service users, more effective decision making, and use of pooled resources. In order to build on our shared work we are now proposing two pooled budgets for 2017/18 and 2018/19, bringing resources together to make a real difference to the people of Oxfordshire and to meet the national Better Care Fund requirements:

 

a)A pool for Adults with Care and Support Needs that that brings together the previous mental health and learning disability pools together with resources that support people living with acquired brain injury and autism.

 

b) A Better Care Fund pool that brings together elements of the former Older People’s and Physical Disability Pooled Budgets. This will be structured around three key elements – care homes, community resilience and hospital avoidance, prevention and carer support.

 

These pooled budgets will deliver the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2015 - 2019 key priorities for adult health and social care.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)       approve the outline proposed pooled budget arrangements with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, including the creation of two pooled budgets for Adults with Care and Support Needs and for the Better Care Fund;

(b)      delegate responsibility for approving the detail of the schedules for 2017/18, including the final contributions and risk share arrangements, to the Director for Adult Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care;

(c)       approve the proposal to hold two joint management groups.

Minutes:

Under Section 75 of the National Health Services Act 2006, the Council has an existing and long-standing agreement with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, to pool resources and deliver shared objectives. In order to build on this shared work Cabinet considered a report proposing two pooled budgets for 2017/18 and 2018/19, bringing resources together to make a real difference to the people of Oxfordshire and to meet the national Better Care Fund requirements

 

RESOLVED:             to:

 

(a)       approve the outline proposed pooled budget arrangements with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, including the creation of two pooled budgets for Adults with Care and Support Needs and for the Better Care Fund;

(b)       delegate responsibility for approving the detail of the schedules for 2017/18, including the final contributions and risk share arrangements, to the Director for Adult Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care;

(c)       approve the proposal to hold two joint management groups.

 

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Delegated Powers - July 2017

Cabinet Member: Leader of the Council

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/017

Contact: Sue Whitehead, Principal Committee Officer Tel: 07393 001213

 

To report on a quarterly basis any executive decisions taken under the specific powers and functions delegated under the terms of Part 7.2 (Scheme of Delegation to Officers) of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 6.3(c)(i).  Any such decisions taken since the last meeting will be included in the schedule of addenda. It is not for scrutiny call-in.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet noted the following executive decision taken under the specific powers and functions delegated under the terms of Part 7.2 (Scheme of Delegation to Officers) of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 6.3(c)(i). 

 

It is not for scrutiny call-in.

 

Date

Subject

Decision

Reasons for Urgency

12 May 2017

Exemption from Contract Procedure Rules – NQ Minds and Zipabout – CASPAR Project

Approved an exemption from the tendering requirements under OCC’s Contract Procedure Rules for the grant of a contract to NQ Minds and Zipabout as a result of a successful bid for funding of £238,928 for 1 year for a one-off project  commencing April 2017 Oxfordshire and the Consortium.

To ensure that the project is not delayed and the funding put at risk

 

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Forward Plan and Future Business pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Sue Whitehead, Committee Services Manager (01865 810262)

 

The Cabinet Procedure Rules provide that the business of each meeting at the Cabinet is to include “updating of the Forward Plan and proposals for business to be conducted at the following meeting”.   Items from the Forward Plan for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet appear in the Schedule at CA15.  This includes any updated information relating to the business for those meetings that has already been identified for inclusion in the next Forward Plan update.

 

The Schedule is for noting, but Cabinet Members may also wish to take this opportunity to identify any further changes they would wish to be incorporated in the next Forward Plan update.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a list of items for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet together with changes and additions set out in the schedule of addenda.

 

RESOLVED:                        to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.