Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Louise Chapman.

(a)       To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2013 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

(b)       ERRATUM to Minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2013:

Item 19/13

Final paragraph on page 3, where it states CRMP was formerly known as the Integrated Task management Plan should read ‘Risk’ as opposed to ‘Task’

Final sentence of the first paragraph on page 4– reference to South Oxfordshire – should read  ‘South Central Ambulance Service’

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2013 were approved and signed.

Cabinet noted the following  erratum to the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2013:

Item 19/13

Final paragraph on page 3, where it states CRMP was formerly known as the Integrated Task management Plan should read ‘Risk’ as opposed to ‘Task’

Final sentence of the first paragraph on page 4– reference to South Oxfordshire – should read ‘South Central Ambulance Service’

The following requests to address the meeting had been agreed:

Item 6 – Councillor Roz Smith, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance

Item 7 – Councillor Jean Fooks, local Councillor

Mr Jon Gray, Head Teacher, Cutteslowe Primary School

Item 9 - Councillor Jean Fooks, local Councillor

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/150

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

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

This report focuses on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies which were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2012/13 – 2016/17. This is the penultimate report for the year.  The Provisional Outturn Report will be considered by Cabinet on 18 June 2013.  Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of February 2013.   Capital monitoring is included at Part 3. Fees and Charges are included in Part 4.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)      note the report;

(b)      Approve virements for financial year 2012/13 included in Annex 9;

(c)      Agree the creation of a new reserve for the renewal of Print Machinery as set out in paragraph 37;

(d)      note the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 7;

(e)      approve changes to the programme in Annex 8c;

(f)        approve the use of the additional Capital funding as set out in paragraphs 48 to 50;

(g)      approve the charges for Environment & Economy as set out in paragraph 51 and Annex 10.

Councillor Hudspeth gave notice of his intention to move the following amendment to recommendation (f):

(f)        to approve the use of the additional capital funding as set out in paragraphs 49 and 50 and approve the use of the additional highways capital funding in 2013/14 (referred to in paragraph 48)

Councillor Smith referred to the small underspend in the last financial monitoring report of the 12/13 year which was worrying. She highlighted that of greater concern was the increase in the reserves to £115m with further reserves to be agreed today. She expected to hear that the reserves were there for a reason but year on year they had increased. She hoped that following the election cabinet members would query why the money was not being spent on services.

Responding to a question from Councillor Hudspeth about what changes Councillor Smith would make she replied that each area would be reviewed.

The Leader in moving the recommendations as amended in the addenda and as set out above explained that the money referred to in paragraph 49 had come in and was going to adult services. At the budget County Council meeting they had looked at everything in detail. The reserves were looked at but they were there for a reason. They were not general reserves where the complaint might then have some validity. The Leader thanked Kathy Wilcox and the Finance Team for all the work they did and felt that 0.7% underspend was a good achievement. However the underspend was not treated lightly and specific underspends were closely monitored to see that they did not reoccur each year.

Councillor Rose, Deputy Leader with responsibility for transport welcomed the amendment proposed by Councillor Hudspeth. Although Oxfordshire roads were not as bad as in many areas the weather conditions had caused some problems and the funding was welcome.

Lorna Baxter responded to questions from Councillor Melinda Tilley about the Basic Needs Budget for Schools and provision for disadvantaged two year olds.

During further discussion cabinet members supported the amendment and the use of earmarked reserves

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)       note the report;

(b)       approve virements for financial year 2013/14 included in Annex 9;

(c)       agree the creation of a new reserve for the renewal of Print Machinery as set out in paragraph 37;

(d)       note the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 7;

(e)       approve changes to the programme in Annex 8c;

(f)        approve the use of the additional capital funding as set out in paragraphs 49 and 50 and approve the use of the additional highways capital funding in 2013/14 (referred to in paragraph 48);

(g)       approve the charges for Environment & Economy as set out in paragraph 51 and Annex 10.

Cabinet Member: Education

Forward Plan Ref: 2013/007

Contact: Diane Cameron, School Organisation Officer Tel: (01865) 816445

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA7).

Since starting in post, the current Headteacher of Cutteslowe Primary School, Oxford has raised a concern about the sufficiency of the FSU accommodation.

Officers consider that the school has sufficient floor area for 60 F1 pupils and up to 26fte F2 (Nursery) pupils which would be typical of a 2 Form of Entry (admission number 60) primary school. However, the Headteacher and TCSAT, wish to continue to admit up to 39 fte F2 (Nursery) pupils, which the school has chosen to do for several years. There is an over-sufficiency of childcare for this age group in the area.

An option appraisal was commissioned by Children Education & Families to investigate the FSU area and present options on what work might be carried out, and its cost. No budget is identified to carry out any works to the FSU and so the matter has now been referred to Cabinet to make a decision on whether to allocate funds, and if so, how much.

Cabinet is recommended to:

(a)      decide whether it would wish to financially support The Cherwell School Academy Trust's aspiration to make provision for 78 (39 fte) rather than 52 (26 fte) F2 (nursery pupils); and

(b)      if it decides so to do whether to:

i.          fully fund the expansion of the Cutteslowe School foundation stage area (as per Option 2 in Annex 1); or

ii.       make a maximum contribution towards the scheme and determine what that sum shall be.

In the light of a wish by the Head Teacher and The Cherwell School Academy Trust to continue to provide 39 full time equivalent (fte) F2 nursery places an option appraisal was commissioned by Children Education & Families to investigate the Foundation Stage Unit area and to present options on what work might be carried out, and its cost. Cabinet considered a report on the options appraisal that sought their decision on whether to allocate funds, and if so, how much.

Jon Gray, Head Teacher Cutteslowe Primary School, spoke in support of the extension of the FSU to be able to continue to provide 39fte nursery places. He highlighted that the school had been in special measures for a number of years and that he had taken over late in 2011. In their most recent OFSTED they had been found to making good progress. He explained the background to the recent move under The Cherwell School Academy Trust and highlighted that 40% of pupils were on free school meals and 50% did not have English as a first language. These challenges shaped the curriculum on offer. In referring to the report he stated that the concerns about the size of the nursery unit had been voiced by the school before he had started. The feasibility, procurement and design had all happened at once and he felt that because of that these concerns had been missed. He was aware of only one school of 60 F1 pupils that had only 26 F2 places. The rest were similar to Cutteslowe Primary School and he noted that they already had 39 children in the morning session. The additional provision would allow the school to take children earlier and this would assist in their achievement. With an extended classroom they could take some two year olds in line with the policy around provision for disadvantaged two year olds.

Responding to a question on numbers from Councillor Heathcoat, Mr Gray indicated that they already had 39 children in the morning session and would want 39 in the afternoon session.

Councillor Jean Fooks, speaking as a local councillor expressed surprise that the report referred to over provision in Summertown and Wolvercote and stated that she did not think this was the case. Of the nursery provision taken into account most were private and very few are within one mile of school. Parents would not travel 3 miles with a young child. Cutteslowe Primary School nursery provision was full and there was a waiting list. The school served a deprived area. The extension of the main school to two form was good and The Cherwell School was delighted at the joint Trust status. She felt that it was important that the County Council did what it could and she very much hoped that some support could be found. She referred to the map tabled by Mr Gray and explained where the extended classroom could go. She referred to the additional housing in Wolvercote and that much  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45/13

Cabinet Member: Education

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/180

Contact: Diane Cameron, School Organisation Officer Tel: (01865) 816445

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA8).

he proposal is to permanently increase the school admission number at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School from 45 to 60. This means that each year group would consist of up to 60 places, taught in two classes, making a maximum total of 420 pupils.

The Governing Body has made the decision to admit up to 60 children by arrangement with Oxfordshire County Council for September 2013, however this arrangement is not permanent. This proposal is to formally change the admission number to 60 on a permanent basis from September 2014.

The current capacity of the school is 315 and the proposed capacity will be 420. The current admission number for the school is 45 and the proposed admission number will be 60.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to support the Governing Body in its wish to publish a statutory notice for the expansion of St Joseph’s Catholic (VA) Primary School, Oxford.

Cabinet considered a report detailing a proposal to permanently increase the school admission number at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School from 45 to 60 on a permanent basis from September 2014.

Cabinet noted that the proposals were part of the strategic basic need provision  in Oxford.

RESOLVED: to support the Governing Body in its wish to publish a statutory notice for the expansion of St Joseph’s Catholic (VA) Primary School, Oxford.

Cabinet Member: Education

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/182

Contact: Diane Cameron, School Organisation Officer Tel: (01865) 816445

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

The proposal is to permanently increase the school admission number at Wolvercote Primary School to 45 from 30. This means that each year group would consist of up to 45 places, taught in some single and some mixed year group classes, making a maximum total of 315 pupils.

This proposal is to formally change the admission number to 45 on a permanent basis from September 2014. This proposal is related to a concurrent feasibility study on how the potential additional school accommodation required might be provided.

The current capacity of the school is 210 and the proposed capacity will be 315. The current admission number for the school is 30 and the proposed admission number will be 45.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the publication of a statutory notice for the expansion of Wolvercote Primary School, Oxford

Cabinet considered a report that proposed the permanent increase of the school admission number at Wolvercote Primary School to 45 from 30.

Councillor Jean Fooks, as a local Councillor spoke in support of the proposal but raised concerns over traffic problems. A new travel plan may well be needed and she supported the consultation.

RESOLVED:             to approve the publication of a statutory notice for the expansion of Wolvercote Primary School, Oxford

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 CA10. 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.

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

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/151

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

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).  It is not for scrutiny call in.

RESOLVED: to note the following 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).