Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor Kieron Mallon and Councillor Rodney Rose.

- guidance note opposite

Councillor Jim Couchman and Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale each declared a personal and prejudicial interest on Item 8, Big Society Fund as sponsors of projects being considered.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 13 and 23 March 2011 (CA3(a) and (b)) and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes of the meetings held on 13 and 23 March 2012 were approved and signed.

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.

Councillor Fooks had given notice of the following question:

"In campaigning leaflets for the city elections, the Conservatives are saying that it is their number one priority to campaign for free residents' parking in Oxford. Would the cabinet member please tell us what would be the financial loss to the county council if the charges for residents’ parking permits in the city were removed? Will he also say whether the city Conservatives are likely to persuade him that this should be a priority?"

Councillor Mitchell replied:

“In the report to Cabinet on 21^st June 2011 on the ‘Provisional Revenue & Capital Outturn 2010/11’ (Agenda Item 6) Annex 7 states that the income from Residents Permits in Oxford in 2010/11 was £448,448.72. The figure for 2011/12 will be published in the same way in due course and will reflect the full-year effect of the increase in permit charge  to £50 (1^st and 2^nd permits) from 1/1/11.If the permit charge was to be removed then this would be the loss to the County Council.

I note there are two questions here, and decline to comment on your second question, as this is a local election issue, and subject to the rules of purdah. I would make the point that party political issues should be dealt with as part of any party election campaign and not as part of County Council business which this “Question and Answer” session is intended to deal with.”

Supplementary: Councillor Fooks asked whether in view of the considerable unhappiness of residents over the charge for residents’ parking the County Council would be likely to agree to the campaign’s request. Councillor Mitchell replied that the second paragraph of Councillor Rose’s response covered the query and he would not comment further.

The following requests to address the meeting had been agreed:

Item 7 – Councillor David Turner,  Opposition spokesman

Item 8 – Councillor Zoe Patrick, local member;

   Councillor David Turner, local member

Item 9 – Councillor David Turner, Opposition spokesman;

   Gwynneth Pedler, Deputy Chair Oxfordshire Unlimited;

   Emily Lewis, Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC)

Item 10 – Councillor John Goddard, Opposition spokesman.

Cabinet Member: Finance & Property

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/207

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Principal Financial Manager Tel: (01865) 323981

Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CA6).

Monthly financial report on revenue and capital spending against budget allocations, including virements between budget heads

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)                       note the report;

b)                      approve the supplementary estimates as set out in Annex 2e;

c)                                            agree the creation of the new reserves as set out in paragraph 44 to 48;

d)                       approve the new capital schemes and budget changes set out in Annex 10c; and

e)                       approve virements for financial year 2012/13 included in Annex 9..

Recommendations agreed.

To:

a)                       note the report;

b)                      approve the supplementary estimates as set out in Annex 2e;

c)                    agree the creation of the new reserves as set out in paragraph 44 to 48;

d)                       approve the new capital schemes and budget changes set out in Annex 10c; and

e)                       approve virements for financial year 2012/13 included in Annex 9

Cabinet Member: Transport

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/032

Contact: Roger O’Neill, Team Leader – Local Transport Plan Tel: (01865) 815659

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Highways & Transport (CA7).

The Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2030 (LTP3) was approved by Cabinet on 15 March 2011 and adopted as Council policy on 5 April 2011.  The 20 year timescale of the Plan gives major benefits in terms of providing a transport strategy that covers the period of the district councils’ Local Development Frameworks and allows for long term planning of major infrastructure but it does present the risk that the Plan would gradually become less relevant as time passed.  A fixed, printed text was therefore rejected for the Plan in favour of a more flexible, internet based document.

To ensure that the Plan was kept up to date it was agreed that LTP3 should be subject to a system of annual review, and also that interim changes could be made by the agreement of the Head of Transport and Cabinet Member for Transport provided that these were presented to County council for approval within 12 months.

This report outlines the changes to LTP3  that have been provisionally agreed during the year together with other suggested changes which have been the result of a review of LTP3 in the light of external events over the last year.  This includes updates to the Local Area Strategies and policy changes and clarifications concerning High Speed Rail, the county rail strategy, network classification and lorry routeing, network improvements,  electric vehicles and controlled parking zones.  

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposed changes to the Local Transport Plan 2011-2030 and to RECOMMEND to County Council that the revised document is adopted to replace the 2011 version.

The report outlined changes to LTP3 that had been agreed provisionally during the year together with other suggested changes which included updates to the Local Area Strategies and policy changes and clarifications concerning High Speed Rail, the county rail strategy, network classification and lorry routeing, network improvements, electric vehicles and controlled parking zones.

Councillor David Turner, Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport declared a personal interest in Culham Site Local Liaison Committee. He welcomed the revised approach to Science Vale UK set out in paragraph 4 of the report but commented that he felt that Culham was not getting an equal share. He had raised previously that Culham had not been included in the earlier Scott’s Report.

RESOLVED:             to approve the proposed changes to the Local Transport Plan 2011-2030 and to RECOMMEND to County Council that the revised document is adopted to replace the 2011 version.

Cabinet Member: Police & Policy Co-ordination

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/015

Contact: Alexandra Bailey, Senior Performance & Improvement Manager Tel: (01865) 816384

Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CA8).

The Big Society Fund was launched in February 2011.  Applications are being considered in four waves during 2011/2012.  The first three waves were considered by Cabinet in July, October 2011 and February 2012.  Applications to the fourth wave closed on 29 February 2012.

This paper

1. details the bids we have received including service and councillors' comments

2. asks Cabinet to consider bids to the Big Society Fund and recommends which bids to fund.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)       Approve those bids which meet the assessment criteria

(b)       Agree a standard award of £5,000 for each of the three community cinema bids

The Cabinet considered a report outlining bids to the Big Society Fund from the third wave of applications.

Councillor Patrick, speaking as a local member spoke in support of the Wantage Independent Advice Centre bid and was pleased to see it recommended for approval.

Councillor David Turner, speaking as a local member, spoke in support of the Play Area Surface Upgrade bid by Cuddesdon and Denton Parish Council. In particular he sought  guidance about what was expected in terms of the business case. He queried whether small villages who have previously done their best to provide some facilities or service will lose out to villages that have done nothing and so can introduce a new facility or service provision. He commented that there had been no discussions with the Parish Council.

The Deputy Leader highlighted the tremendous success of the Big Society Fund and stressed that there were clear criteria to access the fund and to get engaged. He felt that some of the questions could have been asked of officers.

Alexandra Bailey clarified that requests for equipment did not meet the criteria as it was about services and activity. She referred to the annexes setting out the detailed recommendations and updated members in respect of South Stoke Community Shop Ltd. Where additional information had now been received and officers were recommending the bid for approval.

Councillor Jim Couchman spoke in support of Asthall Leigh Memorial Hall and then left the meeting taking no further part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Councillor Lindsay-Gale spoke in support of the Coffee Plus and Lunch Plus – Stadhampton. She outlined the bid and commented that the bid submitted was only part of the picture of a larger project to provide a wide range of activities to the local community. Councillor Lindsay-Gale then left the meeting taking no further part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Alexandra Bailey indicated that in respect of the Coffee Plus and Lunch Plus – Stadhampton she had spoken to the bidders this morning and she agreed that the bid did not accurately reflect the wider picture. There were several elements to the bid which could receive funding such as the community cinema, youth provision and parent and toddler group. The Deputy Leader proposed that in light of the additional information it be agreed that the bid be determined by the Cabinet Member for Police & Policy Coordination.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)                                          approve those bids which meet the assessment criteria as set out in Annex 1; and

(b)                     agree a standard award of £5,000 for each of the three community cinema bids;

(c)                     to approve the bid from South Stoke Community Shop Ltd;

(d)                     to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Police & Policy Coordination to determine the bid for Coffee Plus and Lunch Plus – Stadhampton.

Cabinet Member: Transport

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/020

Contact: Joy White, Senior Transport Planner Tel: (01865) 815882

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Highways & Transport (CA9).

Community transport is a key priority for the county council given its importance in supporting the public transport network and enabling access for people who have greater mobility needs, in the context of an ageing population. This paper focuses on proposals for spending the £514,000 one-off funding we have received from central government to support the development of community transport services, within the context of our existing on-going support to the sector from our revenue budget.

The report describes the current community transport provision in Oxfordshire, and sets out a strategic approach, rationale and recommendations for spending the grant money.  Cabinet is recommended to approve the spending plan, so that implementation of the proposed measures can begin.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)       agree the allocation of Supporting Community Transport funding according to package A, or other option preferred by Cabinet.

(b)       delegate to the Cabinet Member for Transport any amendments considered necessary to the funding proposals according to take-up of funding and need.

(c)       review our approach to the future allocation of revenue funding as a consequence of these funding proposals.

Cabinet considered a report that described the current community transport provision in Oxfordshire, and set out a strategic approach, rationale and recommendations for spending the grant money.

Councillor David Turner, Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport expressed some disappointment at the time taken for this matter to reach Cabinet. He supported Package A which takes account of the decision to support Dial-a-Ride.

Gwynneth Pedler, Deputy Chair Oxfordshire Unlimited, expressed some grave reservations about the approach suggested. She referred to the propping up of Dial-a-Ride but at the expense of others. Cars were being abandoned and nothing was being done for the wheelchair user. For some social activities would not be accessible. The lack of detail made it difficult to assess benefits. She was concerned that the attempt to find volunteers would fail as earlier attempts had failed. She referred to problems faced by even successful schemes in attracting additional volunteers. She felt that the Big Society had not captured the public imagination.

Emily Lewis, Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) commended the framework and welcomed the opportunity to work in partnership. ORCC had made clear their interest in hosting the new role referred to in the report. She commented that Option A was fair but highlighted the need for the £35,000 to be spent on promotion to be targeted at the local level.

Tracey Dow, introduced the contents of the report responding to the points raised. In particular she commented that it was difficult to see that Dial-a-Ride could meet all needs. Age UK were very supportive of the approach taken and wanted to work in partnership to promote the generation of new schemes. The proposals reflected the work undertaken and the input of the voluntary sector. She thanked the Working Group and stakeholders for their involvement.

The Deputy Leader congratulated the Government on the additional one off funding. It was important that the Council recognise this and not allow the service provision to fall off a cliff once this funding was no longer available. The Big Society Fund had been a great success and the use of volunteers had taken off.

RESOLVED: to:

(a)       agree the allocation of Supporting Community Transport funding according to package A, or other option preferred by Cabinet;

(b)       delegate to the Cabinet Member for Transport any amendments considered necessary to the funding proposals according to take-up of funding and need;

(c)        review our approach to the future allocation of revenue funding as a consequence of these funding proposals.

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 CA11.  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.

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.

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/208

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

Report by Head of Law & Governance (CA12).

To report on a quarterly basis any executive decision taken by the Chief Executive under the specific powers and functions delegated to her under the terms of Part 7.4 of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 1(A)(c)(i).  Item not for scrutiny call in.

Cabinet noted the schedule of executive decisions taken by the Chief

Executive under the specific powers and functions delegated to her under

the terms of Part 7.4 of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 1(A)(c)(i) in

the period January to March 2012.

Councillor David Robertson noted that it was Councillor Mitchell’s last meeting as Leader and on behalf of Cabinet thanked Councillor Mitchell for all he had done for the County and wished him well for the future.

RESOLVED:             to agree that the public be excluded for the duration of the item below since it is likely that if they were present during that item there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and specified below in relation to that item and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information on the grounds set out in that item.

Cabinet Member: Safer & Stronger Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/058

Contact: Dave Etheridge, Chief Fire Officer/Colin Thomas, Deputy Chief Fire Officer/Nathan Travis, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tel: (01865) 855205

Report by Chief Fire Officer (CA10).

The information in this report is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The information in the report is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)