Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2015 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 June were approved and signed as a correct record.

Councillor Howson had given notice of the following question to Councillor Tilley:

" Using the last three sets of data available could she list the academies, community school and voluntary schools that would have been regarded as coasting primary or secondary schools? "

Councillor Tilley replied:

“The first set of coasting schools will be defined in 2016.

Based on the DfE's definition of coasting schools, the maximum number of Oxfordshire schools that could meet the definition in 2016 includes:

a) secondary schools - 7

                        of these - 6 academies, 1 community school

a) primary schools - 32 (excluding small schools)

                        of these - 13 academies

                                         10 community school

                                           7 voluntary controlled schools

                                           2 voluntary aided schools

This list of schools is currently based only on 2014 data and will be refined following the release of 2015 and 2016 data. Hence the number of schools on this list can fall but not increase.

Definition of Coasting schools by DfE:

1.For secondary schools, a school will be ‘coasting’ if in 2014 and 2015 fewer than 60% of children achieve 5 A* to C including English and mathematics and they are below the median level of expected progress and in 2016 they fall below a level set against the new progress 8 measure. This level will be set after 2016 results are available to ensure it is set at a suitable level. A school will have to be below those levels in all 3 years to be defined as ‘coasting’. By 2018 the definition of ‘coasting’ will be based entirely on Progress 8 and will not have an attainment element.

2. At primary level the definition will apply to those schools who for the first 2 years have seen fewer than 85% of children achieving level 4, the secondary-ready standard, in reading, writing and maths, and which have also seen below-average proportions of pupils making expected progress between age 7 and age 11, followed by a year below a ‘coasting’ level set against the new accountability regime which will see children being expected to achieve a new higher expected standard and schools being measured against a new measure of progress.

3. The ‘coasting’ definition will capture performance in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Therefore we will not know until 2016 how many schools will be captured within the definition. However, based on current performance we expect the definition to apply to hundreds of schools across the country.

Supplementary: Councillor Tilley responding to a question concerning coasting academies stated that they should be treated the same as any other school and that the Council would need to get in touch with the sponsors or the Education Funding Agency.”

Councillor Pressel had given notice of the following question to Councillor Nimmo Smith

"In the consultation, the City Council expressed a very strong view that we should include “sustainable transport corridors” in the City, to provide better space for buses, cycling and walking.

In fact, there was very little in LTP4 about encouraging walking, which I found most  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60/15

A petition was received from Councillor Howson on behalf of parents requesting an extension of the cycle path to the school along the Woodstock Road.

The following requests to address the meeting had been agreed:

Item 6 – Councillor Nick Hards,  Shadow Cabinet Member For Finance

Councillor Roz Smith, Liberal Democrat Group spokesman

Item 7 - Councillor Nick Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member For Finance

Councillor Roz Smith, Liberal Democrat Group spokesman

Item 8 –Councillor Steve Curran Councillor, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment

Councillor Bob Johnston, local councillor

Councillor John Howson, local councillor

Councillor Roz Smith, local councillor

Councillor Richard Webber, Liberal Democrat Group Leader

Councillor Jean Fooks, local councillor

Councillor Liz Brighouse, local councillor

Councillor Laura Price, local councillor

Councillor Nick Hards, local councillor

Councillor John Christie, local councillor

Simon Pratt, Regional Director, Sustrans South East

Bob Warne, SPADE (Sunningwell Parishioners Against Damage to the Environment

Joanne Blower - Sunningwell Parish councillor

Ticia Lever, North Abingdon Local Plan group

Helen Marshall, Director, CPRE

Item 9  - Councillor Jean Fooks. local councillor

Councillor Laura Price, local councillor

Item 10 - Councillor Steve Curran, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment

Item 12 - Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet member for Public Health and the Voluntary Sector

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/014

Contact: Lewis Gosling, Financial Manager (Trainee) – Treasury Management Tel: (01865) 323988

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA6).

The report sets out the Treasury Management activity undertaken in the financial year 2014/15 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 2014/15.

Cabinet considered a report that set out the Treasury Management activity undertaken in the financial year 2014/15 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.

Councillor Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance commented on the report noting that the historically low interest rates were an indication that the economy was not yet fixed. He referred to paragraph 18 on LOBO loans and concerns raised by a recent television programme. Generally he was satisfied that on average LOBOs were cheaper than PWLB. He would be seeking information on what are the most expensive loans and which are closest to being at a reset point. He also sought information on what would happen with Local Authority loans if those authorities got into difficulty financially. Councillor Stratford undertook to provide a written answer.

Councillor Smith, Liberal Democrat Group spokesman on finance highlighted the good work done internally and pointed to the investment outturn that had exceeded expectations.

RESOLVED:              to note the report, and to RECOMMEND Council to note the Council’s Treasury Management Activity in 2014/15.

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/013

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Chief Accountant Tel: (01865) 323981

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA7).

The report gives the regular update on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2015/16 – 2017/18.  Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of May 2015.   Capital Programme monitoring and update is included at Part 3 and Part 4 sets out a changes to Fees and Charges. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)                              note the report;

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

(c)                              approve the supplementary estimate request in Annex 2e;

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

(e)                              approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 8 and the associated changes to the programme in Annex 7c;

(f)                               approve the fees and charges as set out in Part 4 and Annex 7a and Annex 7b;

(g)                             approve the updated capital programme in Annex 9 (changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 8c);

(h)                             approve the inclusion of a £14.54m budget for the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund programme over three years 2015/16 to 2017/18;

(i)                               approve the Harwell Oxford Entrance City Deal project to proceed to detailed design and procurement with a total budget of £2m; and

(j)                               approve the Hagbourne Hill City Deal project to contractually commit to letting the contract, with a total budget of £6.015m.

Cabinet had before them the regular update on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2015/16 – 2017/18. Parts 1 and 2 included projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of May 2015. Capital Programme monitoring and update is included at Part 3 and Part 4 set out changes to Fees and Charges.

Councillor Nick Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, thanked the Finance Team who were always very helpful. He referred to the pressure on Children, Education & Families (CEF) and Adult Social Care (ASC) and queried whether there was any indication that the position would ease. He also queried whether the postponement of the care cap was likely to have financial implications for the Council. He went on to highlight the position with regard to the capital programme (paragraph 75 onwards). Given there was an increase in projected capital spending he queried whether there were the necessary staff resources in place. Councillor Stratford responded to the points made, advising that he would monitor the situation closely.

Recommendations agreed, subject to the reference to Annex 7c in (e) being amended to read Annex 8c.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)                              note the report;

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

(c)                              approve the supplementary estimate request in Annex 2e;

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

(e)                              approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 8 and the associated changes to the programme in Annex 8c;

(f)                               approve the fees and charges as set out in Part 4 and Annex 7a and Annex 7b;

(g)                              approve the updated capital programme in Annex 9 (changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 8c);

(h)                              approve the inclusion of a £14.54m budget for the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund programme over three years 2015/16 to 2017/18;

(i)                                approve the Harwell Oxford Entrance City Deal project to proceed to detailed design and procurement with a total budget of £2m; and

(j)                                approve the Hagbourne Hill City Deal project to contractually commit to letting the contract, with a total budget of £6.015m.

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/006

Contact: John Disley, Strategic Manager – Policy & Strategy Tel: (01865) 810460

Background documents to the consultation: https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/consult.ti/CO_LTP4/consultationHome

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA8).

Connecting Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire's new Local Transport Plan (LTP4) has been developed over the past 18 months, in response to the rapidly changing national and local growth, economic development, infrastructure planning and funding agendas. LTP4 is a comprehensive policy and strategy framework to maximise opportunities for Oxfordshire.  Development of the Plan has followed on from the Connecting Oxfordshire roadshows held across the County last summer and has been informed by the feedback received from those events. It has been further developed in close partnership with internal and external Stakeholders, including the Local Enterprise Partnership, District Councils and Members. 

A full public and Stakeholder consultation on the draft Plan, published in January, was undertaken over Spring 2015, and generated over 500 responses.  The purpose of this report is to set out the issues raised through the consultation, including the main themes or points which were made, and identify the changes which are proposed to be made to the Plan arising from this and internal and external developments which have taken place since the draft Plan was published.  The report also sets out work undertaken on the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessment of the Plan.

The Plan has been designed as a living document, to be regularly updated as significant changes take place which affect transport in Oxfordshire.  It will also directly inform the update of the Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan proposed for this autumn.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve Connecting Oxfordshire and to RECOMMEND it for  adoption by Full Council at its meeting in September 2015.

Connecting Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire's new Local Transport Plan (LTP4) has been developed over the past 18 months, in response to the rapidly changing national and local growth, economic development, infrastructure planning and funding agendas. LTP4 is a comprehensive policy and strategy framework to maximise opportunities for Oxfordshire. Development of the Plan has followed on from the Connecting Oxfordshire roadshows held across the County last summer and has been informed by the feedback received from those events. It has been further developed in close partnership with internal and external Stakeholders, including the Local Enterprise Partnership, District Councils and Members.

A full public and Stakeholder consultation on the draft Plan, published in January, was undertaken over Spring 2015, and generated over 500 responses. Cabinet considered a report that set out the issues raised through the consultation, including the main themes or points which were made, and that identified the changes which are proposed to be made to the Plan arising from this and internal and external developments which have taken place since the draft Plan was published. The report also set out work undertaken on the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessment of the Plan.

Recommendation agreed subject to amendments to recognise that the proposals for Chipping Norton, Burford and Henley will be included when funding is available.

RESOLVED:           to approve Connecting Oxfordshire and to RECOMMEND it for adoption by Full Council at its meeting in September 2015.

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/049

Contact: Lisa Michelson, Locality Manager Tel: (01865) 815673

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA9).

The A40 is a single carriageway Primary Route linking the M40, Oxford, Cheltenham and South Wales. It is the main route connecting Witney and Carterton, the two biggest towns in West Oxfordshire with Oxford. Both towns have seen considerable growth over the last 30 years. Consequently, the daily flow of vehicles on the A40 exceeds the road's link capacity creating congestions and increasing journey times.

OCC has taken a ‘strategic corridor’ approach to developing solutions to the existing (and projected) congestion issues for the A40 with a number of schemes delivering some capacity and efficiencies on the network in the short term and assessment of the scale and approach for a full ‘access solution’ to the A40 corridor.

This report gives an overview of this on-going and planned multi-million investment. In order to extent the number of short-term measures delivering capacity on the A40, Cabinet's approval to add the A40 Science Transit Public Transport Scheme to the capital programme is required. Furthermore, Cabinet is asked to approve the proposal to consult with the public on the long-term options for a full access solution to the A40 corridor.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)            approve the inclusion of the A40 Science Transit Public Transport Scheme to the capital programme;

(b)            note the context of a wider delivery programme of schemes currently underway which will improve congestion along the A40 corridor; and

(c)            agree that the proposal to schedule a public consultation as part of ‘Connecting Oxfordshire’ on the options for a long term strategy approach for further A40 access improvements be undertaken in Autumn 2015.

The A40 is a single carriageway Primary Route linking the M40, Oxford, Cheltenham and South Wales. It is the main route connecting Witney and Carterton, the two biggest towns in West Oxfordshire with Oxford. Both towns have seen considerable growth over the last 30 years. Consequently, the daily flow of vehicles on the A40 exceeds the road's link capacity creating congestions and increasing journey times.

OCC has taken a ‘strategic corridor’ approach to developing solutions to the existing (and projected) congestion issues for the A40 with a number of schemes delivering some capacity and efficiencies on the network in the short term and assessment of the scale and approach for a full ‘access solution’ to the A40 corridor.

Cabinet considered a report giving an overview of this on-going and planned multi-million investment and seeking approval to add the A40 Science Transit Public Transport Scheme to the capital programme and to approve the proposal to consult with the public on the long-term options for a full access solution to the A40 corridor.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)            approve the inclusion of the A40 Science Transit Public Transport Scheme to the capital programme;

(b)            note the context of a wider delivery programme of schemes currently underway which will improve congestion along the A40 corridor; and

(c)            agree that the proposal to schedule a public consultation as part of ‘Connecting Oxfordshire’ on the options for a long term strategy approach for further A40 access improvements be undertaken in Autumn 2015.

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/064

Contact: Vicky Fletcher, Environment and Resource Efficiency Manager Tel: 07500121866

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA10).

In February 2014 budget savings of £350,000 to be met by 2017/18 were agreed from the Household Waste Recycling Centre budget.   This paper sets out the need for a strategy, the overriding principles on which it will be based and the timetable for agreement

A HWRC strategy is needed to:

- Ensure we have a sustainable network with sites appropriately located to serve the population

- Ensure sites are equipped to maximise recycling rates and manage the changing nature of waste accepted on site.

- Enable Oxfordshire County Council to seek contributions from developers to expand sites where new development will increase users

- Identify how the financial pressures are to be met

In order to allow adequate time to implement a strategy, yet still meet the savings requirements in the medium term financial plan (MTFP), it is proposed that funding from the withdrawal of Green Waste Credits is used both to fill the MTFP gap and provide investment funding to enable the implementation of the longer term strategy.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)            approve a public consultation on a HWRC strategy based on the principals in paragraphs 9 and 10; and

(b)            approve the withdrawal of the non-statutory Green Waste Credit payment from 1 April 2016.

In February 2014 budget savings of £350,000 to be met by 2017/18 were agreed from the Household Waste Recycling Centre budget. Cabinet considered a report that set out the need for a strategy, the overriding principles on which it will be based and the timetable for agreement

RESOLVED:           to

(a)            approve a public consultation on a HWRC strategy based on the principals in paragraphs 9 and 10; and

(b)            approve the withdrawal of the non-statutory Green Waste Credit payment from 1 April 2016.

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/039

Contact: Ruth Ashwell , Youth, Engagement & Opportunities Service Manager Tel: (01865) 810649

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA11).

The National Citizen Service (NCS) programme is a Central Government initiative managed through the NCS Trust. Prime contractors have been awarded contracts for 2015 - 18. The South East contract awarded to The Challenge Network. Oxfordshire County Council has been awarded the local contract to deliver NCS within Oxfordshire following successful delivery since 2011.

A decision is required to enable the County Council to accept the delivery contract for 2015 – 2018.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the contract for delivery of NCS by Oxfordshire County Council for the period 2015-18

The National Citizen Service (NCS) programme is a Central Government initiative managed through the NCS Trust. Prime contractors have been awarded contracts for 2015 - 18. The South East contract awarded to The Challenge Network. Oxfordshire County Council has been awarded the local contract to deliver NCS within Oxfordshire following successful delivery since 2011.

Cabinet had before them a report seeking a decision to enable the County Council to accept the delivery contract for 2015 – 2018.

RESOLVED:           to agree the contract for delivery of NCS by Oxfordshire County Council for the period 2015-18.

Cabinet Member: Public Health & Voluntary Sector

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/019

Contact: Alan Rouse, Business & Planning Manager Tel: (01865) 328603

Report by Director of Public Health (CA12).

The annual report summarises key issues associated with the Public Health of the County. It includes details of progress over the past year as well as information on future work.

It is an independent report for all organisations and individuals.

The report covers the following areas:

Chapter 1: The Demographic Challenge

Chapter 2: Health, Houses and Roads

Chapter 3: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage

Chapter 4: Mental Health

Chapter 5: Lifestyle and Health: We are what we eat, drink, smoke and do

Chapter 6: Fighting Killer Diseases

The report has also been considered at the Oxfordshire Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 2 July and by the time of cabinet at the Oxfordshire Health & Wellbeing Board on 16 July 2015.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to RECOMMEND Council to receive the report and note its recommendations.

Recommendation noted.

Cabinet noted the comments of the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet considered the annual report that summarised key issues associated with the Public Health of the County. It included details of progress over the past year as well as information on future work and covered the following areas:

Chapter 1: The Demographic Challenge

Chapter 2: Health, Houses and Roads

Chapter 3: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage

Chapter 4: Mental Health

Chapter 5: Lifestyle and Health: We are what we eat, drink, smoke and do

Chapter 6: Fighting Killer Diseases

The report had also been considered at the Oxfordshire Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 2 July and by the Oxfordshire Health & Wellbeing Board on 16 July 2015. The comments of the Oxfordshire Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee were before Cabinet

RESOLVED:           to

(a)      note the comments of the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee; and

(b)      to RECOMMEND Council to receive the report and note its recommendations.

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/053

Contact: Paul Fermer, Service Manager – Major Infrastructure Delivery Tel: (01865) 815764

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA13).

The Council’s Major Infrastructure Delivery Commercial Team is managing the delivery of a number of major highway improvement schemes.  Some of these schemes require additional land to enable delivery of the proposed improvements which will reduce congestion, improve movement, access and safety and encourage use of sustainable transport.

This report details the Harwell Oxford Scheme (with supporting CPO land details) that requires additional land.

The report requests the delegation by Cabinet to the Director of Environment and Economy in consultation with the Executive Cabinet member to exercise Compulsory Purchase powers for the purchase of land for this scheme, in the event that this land required cannot be purchased by negotiation.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)            Approve delegation of the exercising of Compulsory Purchase Order Powers to the Director of Environment and Economy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment for the purchase of land required for the delivery of the major infrastructure scheme ‘Harwell Oxford Entrance’ as outlined in this report, in the event that the land cannot be acquired by negotiation so as to keep to the scheme programme; and

(b)            note that in so far as the whole or any part or parts of land required is not acquired by negotiation, the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order under provisions contained in Part X11 of the Highways Act 1980 for the acquisition of the land, will be progressed.  This could include providing the necessary attendance, expert witness provision etc. at a Public Inquiry if required.

The Council’s Major Infrastructure Delivery Commercial Team is managing the delivery of a number of major highway improvement schemes. Some of these schemes require additional land to enable delivery of the proposed improvements which will reduce congestion, improve movement, access and safety and encourage use of sustainable transport.

Cabinet considered a report that detailed the Harwell Oxford Scheme (with supporting CPO land details) and sought delegation by Cabinet to the Director of Environment and Economy in consultation with the Executive Cabinet member to exercise Compulsory Purchase powers for the purchase of land for this scheme, in the event that the land required cannot be purchased by negotiation.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)            Approve delegation of the exercising of Compulsory Purchase Order Powers to the Director of Environment and Economy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment for the purchase of land required for the delivery of the major infrastructure scheme ‘Harwell Oxford Entrance’ as outlined in this report, in the event that the land cannot be acquired by negotiation so as to keep to the scheme programme; and

(b)            note that in so far as the whole or any part or parts of land required is not acquired by negotiation, the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order under provisions contained in Part X11 of the Highways Act 1980 for the acquisition of the land, will be progressed. This could include providing the necessary attendance, expert witness provision etc. at a Public Inquiry if required.

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/015

Contact: Maggie Scott, Head of Policy Tel: (01865) 816081

Report by Head of Policy (CA14).

The report provides details of performance for quarter four (2014-15) for the Cabinet to consider. The report is required so that the Cabinet can monitor the performance of the Council in key service areas and be assured that progress is being made to improve areas where performance is below the expected level.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note and discuss the performance reported in the dashboards.

Cabinet considered a report providing details of performance for quarter four (2014-15) for the Cabinet to consider. The report is required so that the Cabinet can monitor the performance of the Council in key service areas and be assured that progress is being made to improve areas where performance is below the expected level.

RESOLVED:           to note and discuss the performance reported in the dashboards.

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.

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.

In the event that any Member or Officer wishes to discuss the information set out in the Annex to Item 17, the Cabinet will be invited to resolve to exclude the public for the consideration of that Annex by passing a resolution in relation to that item in the following terms:

"that the public be excluded during the consideration of the Annexes since it is likely that if they were present during that discussion 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".

NOTE: The report does not contain exempt information and is available to the public. The exempt information is contained in the confidential annex.

THE ANNEX TO THE ITEM NAMED HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ BY MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THEM.

THIS IS FOR REASONS OF COMMERCIAL SENSITIVITY.

THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THE CONTENTS SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED WITH OTHERS AND NO COPIES SHOULD BE MADE.

RESOLVED:           to agree that the public be excluded during the consideration of the Annexes since it is likely that if they were present during that discussion 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.

PUBLIC SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC.

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/048

Contact: Philippa Patterson, Major Capital Projects Programme Manager Tel: 07891 566051

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA17).

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

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

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, in that where a tender or bidding process is in progress disclosure would distort the proper process of open competition and would prejudice the position of the authority in the process of the transaction and the Council’s standing generally in relation to such transactions in future, to the detriment of the Council’s ability properly to discharge its fiduciary and other duties as a public authority

The Longford Park housing development of 1,070 homes is now being built in Banbury, serve this development a new 1.5 FE primary school, (Admission number 45) is required. In order to ensure that the council has a sufficient supply of school places the new school is required to be complete and ready for use for September 2016.

The school will be built on a site already identified by the county council, using money from the housing developers (Section 106 developer contributions) that has already been negotiated and secured.

Outline Planning consent has been gained for the first phase of this overall development (housing and school) by the developer; associated with which is a S106 agreement securing land and contributions towards various infrastructure, including the proposed primary school.

Funding to construct the primary school has been obtained from a mixture of this S106 developer contributions and funding from Oxfordshire County Council. Design work for this new school project commenced December 2014.

The Scheme has been submitted for detailed planning consent in July 2015 following approval of the Outline Business Case that was granted in June 2015.  The scheme is currently being developed to detailed design to be completed in order to enable construction to start in October 2015, with completion in time to enable pupils to begin school in September 2016.

This report is being submitted for consideration now by the Cabinet in anticipation of an expeditious Final Business Case review and subsequent governance approvals in the third financial quarter 2015, to facilitate mobilisation phases on receipt of the Land transfer agreement expected in July 2015.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)            endorse the progress to date; and

(b)            delegate to the Chief Finance Officer and Director for Environment & Economy in consultation with the Leader the authority to approve the Stage 2 Full Business Case and the award of the construction contract.

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

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

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, in that where a tender or bidding process is in progress disclosure would distort the proper process of open competition and would prejudice the position of the authority in the process of the transaction and the Council’s standing generally in relation to such transactions in future, to the detriment of the Council’s ability properly to discharge its fiduciary and other duties as a public authority

The Longford Park housing development of 1,070 homes is now being built in Banbury, and to serve this development a new 1.5 FE primary school, (Admission number 45) is required. In order to ensure that the council has a sufficient supply of school places the new school is required to be complete and ready for use for September 2016.

The school will be built on a site already identified by the county council, using money from the housing developers (Section 106 developer contributions) that has already been negotiated and secured.

Outline Planning consent had been gained for the first phase of this overall development (housing and school) by the developer; associated with which is a S106 agreement securing land and contributions towards various infrastructure, including the proposed primary school.

Funding to construct the primary school had been obtained from a mixture of this S106 developer contributions and funding from Oxfordshire County Council. Design work for this new school project commenced December 2014.

The Scheme had been submitted for detailed planning consent in July 2015 following approval of the Outline Business Case that was granted in June 2015. The scheme is currently being developed to detailed design to be completed in order to enable construction to start in October 2015, with completion in time to enable pupils to begin school in September 2016.

Cabinet had before them a report in anticipation of an expeditious Final Business Case review and subsequent governance approvals in the third financial quarter 2015, to facilitate mobilisation phases on receipt of the Land transfer agreement expected in July 2015.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)            endorse the progress to date; and

(b)            delegate to the Chief Finance Officer and Director for Environment & Economy in consultation with the Leader the authority to approve the Stage 2 Full Business Case and the award of the construction contract.