Meeting documents
Cabinet
Tuesday, 18 July 2006
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To Members of the Cabinet Notice of a Meeting of the CabinetTuesday 18 July 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 26 July 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.
AGENDAAddenda
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2006 (CA3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom. Cabinet Member:
Finance Report by Head of Finance & Procurement (CA5). The financial monitoring report covers the two-month period ended 31 May 2006 for both revenue and capital and is the first report of the year to include a year-end variation forecast. At this early stage in the year it is difficult to be confident about year-end projections. However, potential current year budget pressures have been identified for monitoring along with known risk areas and will be the subject of ongoing review.
The forecast for general balances stands at £15.690m (net of the City Schools Reorganisation carried forward overspend). A year-end directorate overspend of £0.719m is predicted. A transfer of £0.484m is proposed to the Waste Management earmarked reserve, and a transfer of £0.489m to the Modernisation Fund reserve. There is a supplementary estimate of £0.174m for Adult Learning reported this month.
The report includes an updated Capital Programme (download as .pdf file) . The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
Cabinet Member:
Finance Report by Head of Finance & Procurement (CA6). This report reviews the Treasury Management activity carried out during 2005/6. It covers both debt financing and investment of temporary cash surpluses.
The Council’s debt increased to £348.06 million at 31 March 2006. New borrowing comprised fixed term PWLB debt and £20 million Money Market LOBO loans. Debt Restructuring opportunities were limited by the Council’s current policy not to incur premiums and to only replace existing loans with debt of the same type and similar maturity periods. It is recommended that the debt restructuring policy be amended to enable further savings to be achieved by incurring initial premiums and allowing replacement loans of different types and maturity periods.
The Council achieved an in-house investment return of 4.69% for 2005/6, 0.16% above the seven day interbank benchmark. The Authority terminated its agreement with its External Fund Manager Alliance Capital and selected two new fund managers for 2006/7.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) note
the Council’s Treasury Management activity carried out in 2005/06;
(1) to agree debt restructuring in 2006/07 where premiums will be generated; and
(2) to approve the use of different loan types and maturity periods for debt restructuring.
Cabinet
Member: Social Care & Policy Co-ordination Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA7). The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust (ORH) has issued a consultation on service changes it wishes to introduce at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury and the Trust’s hospitals in Oxford. The ORH’s plans and proposals are issued in a two-part paper "Performance Improvement and Cost Reduction Programme". Part 1 covers the performance improvement and cost reduction measures that it is introducing; these are not seen by ORH as requiring consultation although comments on the measures described are invited. Part 2 is a specific set of options for service changes at the Horton Hospital, Banbury, and these are subject to full public consultation.
Considerable concern has been expressed by local people and organisations about the proposals, which have significant implications for a range of services across the County. They also have significant service and financial implications for the County Council. The report summarises the main proposals and their implications for the County Council and in particular the services provided by the Social & Community Services directorate.
The ORH proposals are also due to be considered by the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 13 July. Any matters raised by the Joint Committee that need to be brought to the Cabinet’s attention will be reported at the meeting. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED, whilst acknowledging the necessity for financial stability and balance to be achieved in the health sector, to:
(a) call on the Strategic Health Authority to halt the cuts that Oxfordshire’s PCT(s) will be required to make until a full review can take place;
(b) seek a full consultation on any proposed changes in the provision of or arrangements for the provision of NHS services in the community;
(c) register with the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust in the strongest possible terms the County Council’s concerns about the consequences of their service changes on the Council. Cabinet Member:
Schools Improvement Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA8). In the 1980s a decision was taken by the County Council to create its post 16 provision for Special Educational Needs in what were then the LEA’s colleges of further education. Upon incorporation in 1993 the budgets for this provision transferred to central funding bodies. In recent years the colleges have not felt able to meet the needs of all pupils who have to leave special schools. This, and a lack of confidence in college provision, has led parents to ask the Council to offer continuation in special schools as an option. It has also led to a small, but significant, number of students having to be placed outside Oxfordshire, often at great expense to the County Council.
To address the concerns a working group with stakeholders has explored a range of issues and some possible solutions and has proposed a new vision for post 16 SEN provision in Oxfordshire based on the development of a curriculum framework for young people with SEN aged 16-22 years together with a broader range of post 16 SEN provision, in special schools and colleges, to deliver the framework. The group has explored a range of options for change in order to achieve the vision. Each has advantages and disadvantages, explored in the report.
Estimates on revenue costs and how they might be phased are likely to result from a more detailed work being done with headteachers assessing the needs of young people in relation to the curriculum framework to determine potential staying on rates. Capital costs and sources of funding to meet these require investigation and this is in hand. Parental views also need further exploration. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any advice from the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee (which is expected to consider a draft of this report on 11 July 2006), to:
(a) consider which option or options set out in paragraphs 15 – 24 of the report should be the subject of further work, including the assessment of resource implications and consultation with parents;
(b) consider how the funding implications of any changes might be addressed in future budget plans for 2007/08 onwards;
(c) ask officers to undertake further work to determine the number of students who might be on each of the steps of the curriculum framework, to assist the authority to determine the number of young people likely to need to stay on in special schools if this provision were available. Cabinet Member:
Schools Improvement Report by Director
for Children, Young People & Families (CA9) (download
as .doc file). The purpose of the report is to provide an update on pupil numbers in primary schools and the implications for Oxfordshire. In line with the national position the number of pupils is falling. However, at the same time, there is some significant new housing in large new estates across the county. In providing its school places the local authority has a duty to ensure value for money. 37,300 houses are identified in the Oxfordshire Structure Plan 2016 to be built in the period 2001-2016, of which 8,294 were completed by April 2005. A further 9,424 had planning permission and are included in the forecasts.
In addition to this the South East Plan, currently out to consultation, allocates further housing for the period 2016-2026, most significantly to Bicester, Didcot and Grove. There are also a number of changes in the national and strategic context. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) agree the principle of locality reviews of primary school provision and development of a strategic investment plan as described in the report;
(b) agree the arrangements proposed in the report for the creation of a Programme Board to oversee the process and appoint a Member to the Board;
(c) ask officers to report on progress and outcomes to the Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement;
(d) request officers to work with the Programme Board to develop and submit a pilot bid to the Targeted Capital Fund for a new federated model (as outlined in paragraph 5 of the report). Forward Plan Ref: 2006/77 Contact: Julian Hehir, Scrutiny Review Officer (01865 815673) Report by Deputy
Chairman, Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee (CA10). In September 2005 the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee agreed to add the topic "Charging in Schools policy" to its Work Programme. Following preparatory work by a Lead Member Group the Scrutiny Committee on 23 May reviewed the topic in a question and answer session involving the full Committee, with particular emphasis on the extent to which the law and model policy and guidance on charging is put into practice in schools. Other lines of enquiry included:
Following questions and replies from invited witnesses the Committee formulated the recommendations set out in the appended report. Further background is contained in a supplementary report which is being presented to the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee on 11 July (CH9), which has been circulated to Cabinet Members. A copy has been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre and is also available for public inspection.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to consider the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations and communicate its response to the Committee.
11. Oxfordshire Fire Cover ReviewCabinet Member:
Community Safety Report by Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer (CA11). The Integrated Risk Management Plan includes a requirement to carry out a full review of fire cover in the County with a view of forming a long-term strategy. The report provides Cabinet with an interim view and work undertaken to date, together with some emerging themes that will influence the longer-term strategic plan for the Fire & Rescue Service.
The report identifies that there is a great reliance on firefighters contracted to the Retained Duty System to provide countywide fire cover. However, recruitment and retention issues are giving rise to difficulties in the provision of fire cover in the County. The report identifies that these problems are unlikely to disappear and the introduction of ‘new entry’ national standards will further compound the problem. These problems are being dealt with in the short term through the strategic deployment of wholetime personnel on overtime to carry out Community Fire Safety and Risk Information gathering while being available to respond to the local fire station to deploy as part of the crew to an emergency. However, this will stretch resources and close management and monitoring will be necessary. It is not ultimately a sustainable solution. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) note the emerging themes and issues identified in the report in respect of future fire cover arrangements and the potential future revenue and capital implications;
(b) ask the Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer to develop quantified options to ensure the continued achievement and maintenance of the Authority’s fire cover standards. Cabinet Member:
Community Safety Report by Community Safety Scrutiny Committee.
The Community Safety Scrutiny Committee has undertaken a Review of the Registration Service, focussing on the budget and accommodation. The aim was to look in detail at how the budget overspend in the service was being tackled, and to examine whether the accommodation available is suitable for such a customer-focused service. The Review sought to identify upcoming pressures, and to make recommendations to improve performance. The report findings and recommendations are based on interviews with managers and other witnesses, and a detailed investigation of the financial situation of the service. The Committee found that the budget situation has been turned around, and that more robust financial management is now in place. Several recommendations are made to improve financial stability and reporting, and regarding improvements needed to the public-facing offices used by the service.
On
8 May the Scrutiny Committee agreed the report, subject to minor amendments
and the addition of a new recommendation R9, for submission to the Cabinet.
An executive summary of the report with its recommendations is attached
(CA12) (download as .doc file).
The full report (as amended) has been circulated to Cabinet Members.
A copy has been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre and is also available
for public inspection.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to consider the Scrutiny Review Report and communicate to the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee its response to the Review’s recommendations. Cabinet Member:
Social Care & Policy Co-ordination Report by Social & Community Services Scrutiny Committee. Support for carers is critical to the delivery of the vision for adult social care. Community care legislation and other national and local policies mean that there are increasing numbers of people being cared for in their own homes, with support from family members. The White Paper, ‘Our health, our care, our say, is likely to lay additional burdens on them. The Scrutiny Committee wished to find out how they are recognised, listened to and supported by the many agencies involved in providing social and primary health care, after a worried carer got in touch with the Scrutiny team to raise the issue. The Review sought to identify local needs, to assess if the services provided to carers are working effectively together, and to assess the degree of compliance with legislation and guidance, particularly the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 which presents a significant challenge to existing services that are currently working to full capacity.
On
05 July the Committee received the report of its Lead Member Review
Group. The Committee agreed the report, subject to minor amendments,
for submission to the Cabinet. An executive summary of the report with
its recommendations is attached (CA13) (download
as .doc file). The full report (as amended) has been circulated
to Cabinet Members. A copy has been placed in the Members' Resource
Centre and is also available for public inspection.
The Carers Act 2004 clearly requires other public bodies to give due consideration to planning services for carers. The report therefore makes a number of recommendations that relate to the activity of other agencies. In future health and social care will be required to work ever closer together and the government believes that primary care has a key role to play in the identification of hidden carers. The Scrutiny Committee very much hope that the Cabinet will seek to use its influence with those partners to urge them to take appropriate action in response to the issues raised. It will also be sending a copy of the report to them and requesting a response. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to consider the Scrutiny Review Report and communicate to the Social & Community Services Scrutiny Committee its response to the Review’s recommendations. Cabinet Member:
Sustainable Development, Finance Report by Head of Sustainable Development (CA14). This report presents a summary of the developer contributions secured through the planning process for 2005/06, identifying the amounts negotiated, received and spent throughout the year. The report also considers a motion adopted by Council last year asking for greater information about developer contributions. It proposes how the need to disseminate developer contribution information can be effectively and efficiently met.
During 2005/06 eighty new planning obligations, potentially providing future contributions, were secured. The report provides information in a format to identify where contributions are held and to what purposes they are to be put. It takes on board the individual uses of the contributions and sets them out in contribution clusters, each cluster appropriate to where contributions have been and are to be used. The detailed information on the allocation of developer contributions is considered best delivered through the annual capital programme process. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
Cabinet Member:
Sustainable Development Report by Head of Sustainable Development (CA15) (download as .doc file) This report summarises and comments on the second draft of the Regional Economic Strategy, which is substantially changed from the first - which was considered by the Cabinet in February. Developing successful strategies to balance continued economic prosperity with sustainable resource use, protection of the quality of the environment and inclusion of all in sharing in the prosperity, are significant issues for the future of Oxfordshire.
A number of the issues raised by the Cabinet in February have been answered in the second draft, but the report recommends how the Regional Strategy should be further improved. For example, there needs to be more emphasis on investment where growth points are identified; greater clarity on how relevant agencies will facilitate implementation; and greater attention to how the dilemmas involved for the South East in seeking to balance growth and environmental sustainability (reducing carbon footprint, quality of environment etc) can be addressed. Overall, a shorter strategy with a clearer structure would enhance its capacity to communicate the messages that it seeks to convey about the region and its economy.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the comments made in the report as the basis of feedback to SEEDA on the second draft Regional Economic Strategy for the South East. Cabinet Member:
Schools Improvement Attached is a detailed project appraisal in respect of improvements at Gosford Hill School, Kidlington (CA16).
This project will address the need to improve the specialist Design & Technology (D&T) accommodation at Gosford Hill School to address suitability and condition problems. The school will be provided with a new 2-storey D&T facility containing a total of 6 D&T workshops. The project will include new build, internal reorganisation and the conversion of existing spaces. The internal reorganisation will utilise two teaching spaces used by the science faculty. Two replacement science laboratories will be provided by extending the existing science building. On completion of the project the existing single storey D&T block will be demolished. The cost of the project is being met from the County Council’s Capital Programme, with a contribution from the school in respect of specialist D&T equipment.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve detailed project appraisal ED641. 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 next meeting of the Cabinet appear in the Schedule at CA17, together with a note of items which are expected to be dealt with by individual Cabinet Members under delegated powers in the same month.
The lists include any updated information 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 identified for decision by the Cabinet and Cabinet Members.
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