Meeting documents
Cabinet
Tuesday, 6 June 2006
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To Members of the Cabinet Notice of a Meeting of the CabinetTuesday 6 June 2006 at 2.00 pm
County Hall, Oxford
Contact officer: Matt Bayliss (Tel: 01865 815384; E-mail)
Membership
Decisions taken at the meeting will become effective at the end of the working day on 14 June 2006 unless called in by that date for review by the appropriate Scrutiny Committee.
Copies of this Notice, Agenda and supporting papers are circulated to all Members of the County Council.
AGENDA
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2006 (CA3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom. Cabinet Member:
Finance Report by Head
of Finance (CA5). On 14 February 2006 the Council agreed a revenue budget for 2006/07, plus a Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and a Capital Programme for 2006/07 and the succeeding years. The report sets out a number of factors which make it necessary to amend the agreed budget for some Services and Directorates for 2006/07. None of the changes affect the budget requirement, but they do represent a different allocation between Directorates and Services or a change in the gross expenditure and income from that agreed in February. With the exception of Shared Services the changes do not alter the level of service provision. These changes also have an impact on the proposed Directorate budgets for future years, and therefore alter the allocations within the MTFP.
Accompanying the report are an amended MTFP 2006/07 – 2010/11, a schedule of the required changes and an amended detailed Revenue Budget 2006/07. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to RECOMMEND Council to approve the changes to the agreed budget for 2006/07, the amended detailed budget for 2006/07, and the amended Medium Term Financial Plan 2006/07 – 2010/11. Cabinet Member:
Leader of the Council The Chief Executive reports as follows: The Annual Report is intended to provide an overview of the previous year highlighting the Council's achievements and successes. The Report complements the forward-looking Corporate Plan 2006-10, which was approved by Council on 4 April 2006. The Report is also designed to fulfil the requirement to produce a Best Value Performance Plan, which government guidance requires to be published by the end of June. It is intended to issue the Annual Report alongside the annual Statement of Accounts, also required to be published by the end of June.
A working draft of the Annual Report was circulated with the agenda for the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee on 1 June. The advice of the Committee will be reported at the meeting. Members are asked to refer to their copy of that draft (CG10).
The Annual Report is one of the strategic plans requiring the approval of Council. A final draft, incorporating any instructions from this meeting, will be submitted to the 20 June Council meeting. Detailed appendices will be added, including outturn performance data for the year, as required for the Best Value Performance Plan element of the document. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any advice from the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, to approve the draft Annual Report as the basis for submission to the Council on 20 June for approval, incorporating the necessary detailed appendices and any presentational and editorial changes agreed by the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive.
Cabinet Member:
Change Management Report by County Council Management Team (CA7). This quarterly report is for our performance to date for 2005/06.
Five of the Council’s 13 priorities from 2004/05 were reported as having achieved target at the end of the fourth quarter. There are 4 priorities that have partially achieved targets, 3 priorities that have shown significant levels of performance but which have not or are unlikely to achieve target and 1 priority that has not achieved target.
There are 104 indicators for which we are required to report for 2005/06, which have targets associated with them. The overall position breaks down as follows:
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report.
Cabinet Member:
Sustainable Development Report by Head of Sustainable Development (CA8) (download as .doc file). The draft South East Plan was submitted by the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) to the Government in March 2006. Consultation on the plan is from 31 March to 23 June. All responses on the revised plan are to be sent direct to the panel who will be conducting an examination in public (EiP), scheduled to commence in November this year. The first part contains region-wide policies. The second part contains the sub-regional policy framework for the nine sub-regions that include Central Oxfordshire. The sub-regional strategy for Central Oxfordshire is based on the County Council’s advice to SEERA, agreed by Cabinet on 6 December 2006. The draft Plan proposes an annual average growth in housing of 28,900 dwellings per annum, region-wide. The annual level of new house building for Oxfordshire is 2,360 dwellings. Of this, the draft Plan proposes that provision should be made for 1,700 dwellings per annum in Central Oxfordshire and 660 dwellings per annum in the rest of Oxfordshire.
This report considers key elements of the revised Plan and makes a number of detailed comments on its policies. Officers will be involved in further work over the next few months in preparation for the EiP, including collaborating with SEERA, the district councils and other local authorities in the South East. The report suggests that that the County Council’s key messages to the Panel undertaking the EiP should be to endorse the strategy that has been developed for the Central Oxfordshire sub-region, and to stress the need for adequate levels of investment and mechanisms to ensure the timely delivery of infrastructure. This is in part addressed by policy but also requires concerted Government attention. Without this the aim of building sustainable communities will not be realised.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
Cabinet Member:
Schools Improvement Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA9). At its meeting on 6 December 2005 the Cabinet had before it a report on discussions about possible options for meeting secondary education needs in the Banbury area, with a specific focus on that part of the town currently served by Drayton School. The discussions had led to the conclusion that of all the options identified only one – the creation of an Academy on the Drayton School campus – would be viable. The Cabinet agreed to proceed with the proposal.
The report summarises the outcome of consultation on the closure of Drayton School linked to the opening of the Academy. The consultation has taken place at the same time as that for the proposed Academy by the United Learning Trust – the Academy sponsors. A series of public meetings has been held and documents have been sent to parents and other stakeholders. This report provides feedback on the responses to the consultation. The consultation closed on 31 May and a further report will be provided for the meeting. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
Cabinet Member:
Community Safety Report by Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer (CA10). This is the second consultation on governance arrangements for the Regional Fire Control Project undertaken by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister/Department for Communities and Local Government. Oxfordshire’s earlier response, endorsed by the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, was that the County Council supported the South East Fire and Rescue Service Regional Management Board position recommending a Local Authority Company proposal as the most effective controlling entity for the Regional Control Centre, subject to outstanding issues on VAT and Tax being resolved.
The present consultation is based on the Government’s view that a Local Authority Company remains the preferred option. The consultation seeks comments on the proposed governance mechanisms and the draft Articles and Memorandum of Association for the prospective Local Authority Companies. While, it is believed that the Memorandum and Articles are broadly acceptable there are significant issues remaining to be resolved. Against this background of concern, the proposed response seeks to clarify the remaining areas requiring resolution. The framework must deliver a resilient control centre network that is effective in meeting national requirements whilst maintaining accountability and with an appropriate level of flexibility for elected members to ensure the service meets the needs of local people.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
(a)
confirm the previous position put forward on behalf
of the Cabinet that a Local
(b) approve the response to the consultation on regional fire control governance arrangements at Annex 1 to the report.
Cabinet Member:
Community Safety Report by Head of Trading Standards & Registration (CA11). The Food Standards Act 1999 requires all local authorities to prepare and publish a Food Law Enforcement Service Plan on an annual basis. Service plans developed under these arrangements will provide the basis on which local authorities will be monitored and audited by the Food Standards Agency. The Department of Trade and Industry also requires a Service Plan to be prepared in respect of all aspects of the local authority Trading Standards Service. In view of the degree to which these requirements overlap a single, formal Service and Performance Plan has been prepared, incorporating all of the elements required by both Government agencies. The draft Service Plan is circulated to Cabinet Member and is available for public inspection.
The statutory Food Law Enforcement element of the Service Plan proposes that activities in 2006/07 should be based on six themes: tackling food poverty; encouraging a healthier diet; improving food standards and choice for consumers at catering establishments; addressing the concerns of our communities; helping to sustain local businesses and safeguarding food standards. The overall Service Plan demonstrates how the wide range of food law enforcement activities undertaken by the County Council’s Trading Standards Service can contribute to the overall corporate objectives of Oxfordshire County Council. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the Food Law Enforcement Service Plan for submission to the Food Standards Agency. Cabinet Member:
Finance Report by Head of Property and Head of Finance & Procurement (CA12). The Capital Steering Group has considered a request from West Oxfordshire District Council that surplus Highways Depot land at Chipping Norton should be sold at less than the best consideration that can be achieved. The report gives details of the offers which have been received, the District Council’s advice, the relevant County Council policies, and the recommendation of the Capital Steering Group.
The County Council does have the power to dispose of land at an under-value where it is satisfied that by doing so it would help to secure the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of its area. In this case, there is strong advice from the District Council that disposing of the former Highways Depot land to CETA Limited would protect existing jobs and enable the expansion of a locally based employer which has employment and training practices which benefit the local community. The Capital Steering Group concluded that there would be significant local economic benefits from he proposed sale. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED:
(a) to authorise acceptance of the offer submitted by CETA Limited for the purchase of the former Highways Depot land at Chipping Norton under the provisions of the General Disposal Consent (England) 2003, on the basis outlined in the report;
(b) that the difference between the highest bid for the purchase of the land and the bid from CETA, be deducted from the funds currently reserved to assist with the generation of new employment in Chipping Norton. Cabinet Member:
Leader of the Council Report by Leader
of the Council (CA13) (download
as .doc file).
It is also intended that the decisions by individual Cabinet Members would be taken at pre-arranged sessions held in public and that the procedures for councillors and members of the public to make representations to the Cabinet in person should apply also to individual Members’ decision sessions.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) confirm the arrangements for the discharge by individual Cabinet Members of executive functions to the extent and in the manner set out in the report, to take effect from 1 September 2006, with the Transport Implementation Committee wound up with effect from the same date;
(b) authorise the Head of Democratic Services to take all necessary steps to bring the arrangements into effect from that date, including: (i) the setting of provisional dates and venues for decision meetings for each Cabinet portfolio, in consultation with the respective Cabinet Members and relevant directors; and (ii) making the arrangements known to other members and to officers;
(c) review the working of the arrangements when they have been in operation for a year, subject to any detailed adjustments that may appear desirable in the interim. Cabinet Member:
Leader of the Council The Head of Democratic Services reports as follows:
On 2 May 2006 the Cabinet considered a report (copied herewith – CA14) on a review of appointments to Strategic Outside Bodies. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations, approving the following replacement appointments under (a):
On 5 May 2006 a request to call in the decision for scrutiny consideration was received, in the following terms: "We, the undersigned, request that the decision made on Item 8 in the Cabinet agenda of 2 May 2006 (Appointments) be called in, on the basis that it is not in the best interests of the Council to ignore the talents of the many opposition members of this Council by refusing to send any of them to regional and national bodies, nor in the best interests politically for the council to be seen to be represented by only one group when so many other councils send proportionally balanced delegations to outside bodies. (signed) M. Altaf-Khan, Alan Armitage, Alan Bryden, Bill Bradshaw, Jean Fooks, Janet Godden, Zoe Patrick, Dermot Roaf, Roz Smith, David Turner, Chris Wise" The request has been placed on the agenda for the Corporate Governance Scrutiny committee meeting on 1 June. If the Scrutiny Committee has material concerns about the decision, then it may refer it back to the Cabinet for reconsideration, setting out the nature of its concerns. In the light of the Scrutiny Committee views the Cabinet may confirm, amend or rescind its decision. If the decision is not referred back to the Cabinet then the decision is effective from the date of the Scrutiny Committee meeting.
Any concerns and other comments or recommendations from the Committee will be reported at the Cabinet’s meeting. Cabinet Member:
All 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. May 2006 |
