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Meeting documents

Cabinet
Tuesday, 17 July 2007

 
To Members of the Cabinet
 
Notice of a Meeting of the Cabinet

 

Tuesday 17 July 2007 at 2.00 pm

 

County Hall, Oxford

 

 

Tony Cloke

Assistant Head of Service (Democratic)                                                                                        

 

July 2007

 

Contact officer:          Michele Cooke

Tel: 01865 815463

E-mail: michele.cooke@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

 

Membership

 

Councillors

 

 

Keith R Mitchell

-

Leader of the Council

David Robertson

-

Deputy Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport Policy

C.H. Shouler

-

Cabinet Member for Finance

John Howell

-

Cabinet Member for Change Management

Louise Chapman

-

Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families

Michael Waine

-

Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement

Roger Belson

-

Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development

Jim Couchman

-

Cabinet Member for Social & Community Services

Ian Hudspeth

-

Cabinet Member for Transport Implementation

Mrs J. Heathcoat

-

Cabinet Member for Community Safety

Decisions taken at the meeting

will become effective at the end of the working day on 25 July 2007

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.

Date of next meeting: 18 September 2007


If you have any special requirements (such as a large print version of these papers or special access facilities) please contact the officer named on the front page, but please give as much notice as possible before the meeting.

 

AGENDA

Addenda

 

1.                 Apologies for Absence

 

2.                 Declarations of Interestsee guidance note

 

3.                 Minutes

 

(See also Addenda)

 

 

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2007 (CA3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

 

4.                 Petitions and Public Address

 

(See Addenda)

 

5.                 Financial Monitoring

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/53

Contact: Stephanie Skivington, Strategic Finance Manager/Mike Petty, Strategic Financial Planning Manager (01865 815426/815622)

 

Report by Head of Finance & Procurement (CA5) (download as .doc file).

 

(CA 5 - Annexes 1- 5 (download as .pdf file)

(CA 5 - Annex 6 (download as .pdf file)

 

(Draft Capital Programme 2007/08 to 2010/11 - Contents - download as .doc file)
(Draft Capital Programme 2007/078 to 2010/11 - Tables - download as .pdf file)

  -

The financial monitoring report covers the period ended 31 May 2007 for both revenue and capital. As this is the first detailed report of the 2007/08 financial year there are no variances forecast for the outturn in April against which to measure.

 

There are no changes to report this month to the general balances forecast of £23.537m.  When taken with the Directorate forecast in-year overspend of £1.044m (excluding the City Schools reorganisation) and the Transport Days variation for 2007/08 of £0.588m this gives a consolidated balances forecast of £21.905m.

 

Within Children, Young People and Families the main area of pressure continues to be the Early Years and Family Support Service.  The volatility of the Agency Placements budget makes this a high risk area.  Within Asylum Seekers significant risk remains in relation to grant claims although progress has been made in resolving the issues.   Overspends are also forecast in relation to the Legal Services and Children’s Homes budgets.

 

Within the Social & Community Services Directorate the current forecast is a small underspend, although once the virements approved at the June Cabinet meeting have been reflected in the forecast this would become an overspend of £0.463m.   The most significant variance is an overspend of £0.719m within External Home Support:- options are being considered to manage this and an action plan will be drawn up.  There is a forecast underspend of £0.689m relating to additional residential and nursing income on the budget funding the contribution to the Older People's pooled budget, and an overspend of £0.369m arising on Older People's Fairer Charging income.

 

Within  Environment & Economy, the majority of the forecast underspend relates to £0.200m matched funding to meet the costs of the Salix project in 2008/09 and 2009/10.  A saving of £0.350m has been secured on the Street lighting budget which it is proposed to apply to fund work within this budget to reduce future energy consumption and carbon emissions.

 

The Directorates for Community Safety and Corporate Core have not identified any key risks that could cause a significant variation to budget at this point in the year.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)              note the report;

 

(b)              approve the use of £0.350m saving in 2007/08 on the Street Lighting energy contract to invest in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in Street Lighting (Paragraph 19);

 

(c)               approve the virements as set out in annex 2a (paragraph 24); and,

 

(d)              approve the updated Capital programme as referred to in paragraphs 41- 53.

 

6.                 Treasury Management Outturn

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/88

Contact: Linda Arch, Treasury Manager (01865 815684)

 

Report by Head of Finance & Procurement (CA6).

 

This report seeks to review the Council's treasury management activity for the financial year 2006/07. In doing so, it fulfils a requirement of CIPFA's Code of Practice  'Treasury Management in the Public Services', adopted by this authority in April 2003, that the organisation will receive an annual report after the close of the year on its treasury management activities.

 

The report draws attention to the three areas which have dominated treasury management activity during 2006/07: the investing of the Council's temporary surplus cash balances; the raising of external loans to finance its capital expenditure; and, the restructuring of exisitng debt to ensure that the cost of borrowing is minimized. The context within which these activities have taken place has been one in which interest rates have been rising, from 4.50% at the beginning of the financial year to 5.25% by 31 March 2007 . The Council had average in-house daily cash balances of £155m during the year and the environment of rising interest rates provided the opportunity for earning interest considerably in excess of the original budget. During the second and third quarters of the year in particular, very substantial debt restructuring activity was undertaken: a total of £155m of debt was repaid and replaced with similar loans. Debt restructuring was a much more significant feature of treasury management activity than it has been in the past. By the year end date, the Council's accumulated debt was £371m.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the Council’s treasury management activity carried out in 2006/07.

 

7.                 Supported Living for people with a Learning Disability: proposal for the use of Prudential Borrowing.

Cabinet Member: Finance, Social & Community Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/135

Contact: Nick Welch, Head of Service, Planning and Partnerships (01865 815714)

 

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA7). (download as .doc file)

 

 

(CA7 - Annex 1 - (download as .xls file)

(CA7 - Resource Appraisal - (download as .xls file)

 

This report seeks approval to the use of Prudential borrowing to increase the capacity in a number of homes accommodating adults with a learning disability. In doing so this should enable revenue costs to be reduced as clients can be moved from more expensive placements to these more cost effective solutions. CSG recommend that the report be approved subject to there being a robust business case.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the use of Prudential Borrowing of £1.2m to fund an increase in the capacity of some of the supported living schemes, with the costs of borrowing being a first call on the savings arising from the project.

 

8.                 Detailed Project Appraisal: Developing day services at Moorview, Witney

Cabinet Member: Finance, Social & Community Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/136

Contact: Nick Welch, Head of Service, Planning and Partnerships (01865 815714)

 

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA8) (download as .doc file)

 

(CA8 - Detailed Resource Appraisal - download as .doc file)

 

 

The report seeks approval to the Moorview Project so that it can proceed to tender stage.

 

This project consolidates three current different day services, currently in two other buuildings and includes a fourth health trust service. into one building.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the project appraisal and agree that the funding shortfall of £355,000 be met from unallocated capital programme resources.

 

9.                 Homes for Older People

 

(See also Addenda)

 

Cabinet Member: Social & Community Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/19

Contact: Nick Welch, Head of Planning & Partnerships(01865 815714)

 

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA9) (download as .doc file).

 

This report describes an Extra Care Housing (ECH) Strategy, the principles of which the Cabinet are asked to approve as a basis for further consultation with older people and key stakeholders in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

 

The report highlights the demographic changes ahead and in particular the increase in the 'very elderly' population and the implications this has for their housing, health and care needs. The report also descibes the main 'policy drivers', both locally and nationally, that this Strategy both responds to and helps achieve.

 

The report descibes how the strategy contributes to the prime corporate objective of 'supporting older people to maintain their health and independence' by promoting various models of new housing which offer care, support and well-being services. These models may include care villages or different sized extra care housing schemes serving both urban and rural communities. The report belives that such new initiatives offer more choice for older people as well as promoting stronger, safer and more sustainable communities.

 

The report also examines best practice from other local authorities who have developed such strategies as a means of enabling more older people to live in their own homes and therfore providing an alternative to having to enter residential or nursing homes.

 

The report highlights potential revenue savings for the Council providing the strategy can be supported by various planning, land use and capital initiatives. The report concludes by suggesting the potential scale and scope of the strategy, ways in which the strategy can be taken forward and the outline timescale for achieving this. Finally, an outline consultation plan is provided. 

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)              approve the Extra Care Housing Strategy for Older People in Oxfordshire; and,

 

(b)              agree to consultations with older people and key stakeholders and partners on the best means of implementing the Extra Care Housing Strategy for Older People.

 

10.             Review of First Year of the Children’s & Young People’s Plan

Cabinet Member: Children Young People & Families

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/141

Contact: Mike Simm, Acting Head of Children & Young People Service (01865 815555)

 

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA10).

 

Oxfordshire’s first Children and Young People’s Plan was produced in April 2006.  There is a new statutory requirement to carry out an annual review of the CYPP and publish the outcome.

 

The aim of the review is to focus on the impact of the plan on outcomes and quality of services for children, young people and families and to inform the development of priorities for Year 2 of the Plan.

 

The review has focused on:

 

·        strengths and achievements in Year 1 of the plan with a focus on improvements in outcomes and quality of services for children, young people and families;

·        areas for further development to address needs;

·        priorities for Year 2 of the plan.

 

The review of the Plan has to be submitted to the DfES on June 14 2007 and will form the self assessment for the Joint Area Review of Services for Children and Young People in Oxfordshire in December 2007.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the Review of the Children and Young People’s Plan.

 

11.             Youth Justice Plan

 

(See also Addenda)

 

Cabinet Member: Children, Young People & Families

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/134

Contact: Tan Lea, Deputy Head of Youth Offending Service (01865 202218)

 

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA11).

 

The annual Youth Justice Plan is one of the strategic plans which is subject to approval by Full Council following consideration by both the Cabinet and relevant Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution.

 

Normally, each Youth Offending Service is required by statute to produce an annual Youth Justice Plan for approval by the constituent agencies that are responsible for the service. This has then to be submitted to the Youth Justice Board.  Core funding from the Board is dependent on the submission of a report that meets its extensive guidance.  Following the Council’s successful rating as a four-star authority, this requirement has been waived.  However, given the strategic importance of the youth justice agenda for the Council, a Youth Justice Plan has been drawn up and agreed by the Youth Offending Service Steering Group and is being submitted for approval in the normal way.

 

The draft Plan for 2007/08 has been circulated to all Members and a copy has been made available in the Members’ Resource Centre for inspection.  It will be tabled at the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee on 10 July 2007 and at full Council on 11 September 2007 .  For the first time, the Youth Justice Board template has not been followed, although the content still covers all areas normally required by the Youth Justice Board and reviews performance as well as planning for the future.

 

Following investment in preventative services over the last four years, the number of new entrants to the youth justice system has reduced by 20%, already exceeding the Local Area Agreement target to be achieved by 2009.  However, all funding streams for preventative services for young offenders are currently at risk from April 2008, an essential year in achieving the Local Area Agreement target.  They include Children’s Fund, Positive Activities for Young People and the Youth Justice Board Prevention budget.  The Cabinet is asked to note this position.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any comments from the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee, to recommend the Council to approve the Youth Justice Plan for submission to the Youth Justice Board.

 

12.             School Organisation Arrangements

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/145

Contact: Michael Mill, Strategic Manager (Property & Assets), Strategy & Performance Service (01865 816458)

 

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA12).

 

Following its meeting on 15 May a limited consultation has taken place with key stakeholders as to their role in being involved in School Organisation issues following the implementation of the Education & Inspections Act 2006. The consultation ran until 29 June and centred around the remit, terms of reference and membership of the group. This report reports outlines the outcome of that consultation and discusses how the stakeholder group will operate. It also covers some of the procedural issues by which The cabinet will fulfill its new role as decision maker. At the time of submission the consultation had not closed and a further update will be submitted to the meeting. 

 

The Cabinet is recommended to:

 

(a)              agree the Membership and terms of reference of the proposed school organisation stakeholder group; and,

 

(b)              Agree the procedural arrangements for making school organisation decision as outlined in the report.

 

13.             Full Time Admission for All Reception Year

 

(See also Addenda)

 

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/51

Contact: Annie Davy – Assistant Head of Service Early Years & Family Support (01865 815493)

 

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA13) (download as .doc file).

 

Oxfordshire schools are funded to offer half-time places for children from the September after their fourth birthday until the term after their fifth birthday, when the funding becomes full time. Many schools, however take children full-time earler. The current position of differing admission arragnements generates an increasing number of complaints from parents on the grounds of quality and equity.  Many other authorities now offer full time education from the beginning of the reception year.

 

Oxfordshire County Council has undertaken a cost benefit analysis on proposals to change the current admission arrangements to offer full time education to all reception aged pupils. As part of this process the council commissioned an independent survey of the views of parents on this issue.  It has also undertaken full consultation with other stakeholders such as schools and  private, voluntary and independent early years settings.

 

This report includes a full analysis of consultation responses and recommends that  Cabinet considers a change to full-time admission from January 2009.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)              approve a change to full-time admission for all reception aged children from January 2009; and,

 

(b)              instruct officers to work with the private and voluntary sector providers to implement actions outlined in the report.

 

14.             Planning Preparation and Assessment Time Scrutiny Review

 

(See also Addenda)

 

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/107

Contact: Julian Hehir, Scrutiny Review Officer (01865 816673)

 

Report by Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee (CA14) (download as .pdf file).

 

The report  is the final review report of the Children Servuces Scrutiny Committee. The aim of the review was to: ‘undertake a wode ranging and systematic examination of the impact on headteachers, teachers, other rlevant staff and pupils in Oxfordshire primary and nursery schools of the introduction of guaranteed professional tiem for Planning, Preparation and Assesment (PPA) and make recommendations’.

 

The Review has regard to the County Council’s aim to raise stanards ofeducational attainment, and its other duties such as that of care for employees. It describes what has happened in Oxfordshire and tried ot identify features of sustainable and educationally appropriate models, recognising that these will vary considerably according to context. However, such models will contribute positivley to the drive for higher standards such as, for pupils, a broader and better-prepared raneg of learning experinces and, for staff, improved work/life balance. 

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to consider the Scrutiny Review Report and communicate to the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee its response to the Review’s recommendations.

 

15.             Implementation Plan for the Regional Economic Strategy

Cabinet Member: Leader of the Council

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/143

Contact: Dave Waller, Strategic Policy and Economic Development (SPED)  Manager (01865 810813)

 

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (CA15) (download as .pdf file).

 

During 2006 SEEDA developed the Regional Economic Strategy 2006-2016. SEEDA have now produced a draft implementation plan which they are consulting on until 24 August 2007 .

 

At the time, and with a consultation date of July 13, SEEDA is consulting on the appropriate structure of it relations with partners across the region. The proposition they have made aims to produce a structure of partnerships that is both easier to support and more efficient in terms of delivering the objectives set out in the Regional Economic Strategy.

 

This paper sets out a combined response to both the implementation plan and the partnership proposition as they are inextricably linked.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to endorse the comments in paragraphs 15 to 27 and the detailed comments in Annex 2 as the County’s response to the Regional Economic Strategy Implementation Plan and the Sub-Regional Partnership Arrangements Proposition.

 

16.             Establishing a Health and Well-Being Partnership Board for Oxfordshire

Cabinet Member: Social & Community Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/124

Contact: John Jackson, Director for Social & Community Services(01865 816041)/Dr Jonathan McWilliam, Director of Public Health (01865 226626)

 

Report by Director for Social & Community Services and Director of Public Health (CA16).

 

The Government gave a clear indication in the Local Government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’ that it is expecting health and well-being partnership arrangements to be established across England .

 

We believe that there are significant benefits from the creation of an effective Partnership board. The Board will need to operate with existing governance arrangements (including the already agreed and effective) operational partnerships and within the overall partnership approach agreed but the Oxfordshire Partnership.

 

The Board would consist of about 20 people reflecting the key stakeholders: the County Council, Primary Care Trust, County Council, City and District Councils, users the meetings will be co-chaired by the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Social & Community Services and the Chair of the Clinical Executive Committee.

 

We expect the first meetings of the Partnership Board to take place in September and that it will meet quarterly thereafter. The Primary Care Trust and the County Council are discussing with relevant stakeholders how user representation will be determined so that nominations can be in place for the first meeting.

 

These proposals have been agreed by the Oxfordshire LAA Public Service Board and Oxfordshire Partnership Board. They will be subject to formal approval by the Board of the Primary Care Trust.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the creation of a Health & Well-Being Partnership Board as set out in the report.

 

17.             Developer Contributions to Service Infrastructure

Cabinet Member: Sustainable Development

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/132

Contact: Howard Cox, Team Leader - Developer Funding (01865 810436)

 

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (CA17) (download as .doc file).

 

(CA17 - Annex 1 - download as .doc file).

(CA17 - Annex 2 - download as .doc file).

(CA17 - Annex 3 - download as .doc file).

(CA17 - Annex 4 - download as .doc file).

 

This report presents a summary of the developer contributions secured through the planning process for 2006/07, identifying the financial contributions negotiated, received and spent throughout the year.

The report shows that 86 planning obligations were completed in 2006/07 securing the largest annual financial contributions to the County Council for future infrastructure provision. The total secured was £19.449M. The report shows the actual amount of contributions received in the year to be £4.964M with £7.291M expended.

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)           note the information reported on the developer contributions negotiated and received through the planning process in 2006/07; and,

(b)              quest a report from the Head of Sustainable Development on the findings and recommendations of the review by the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee of planning obligations in Oxfordshire and such report to coincide with that to be presented to the Cabinet by the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee.

 

18.             Planning for a Sustainable Future and Meeting the Energy Challenge White Papers

Cabinet Member: Sustainable Development

Forward Plan Ref: 2007/137

Contact: Ian Walker, Spatial Planning Manager (01865 815588)

 

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (CA18) (download as .doc file). .

 

The Government has published two related White Papers – Planning for a Sustainable Future and Meeting the Energy Challenge. The Planning White Paper sets out a wide ranging package of reforms to improve and streamline the planning system, including for key national infrastructure proposals. Meeting the Energy Challenge, sets out a framework for tackling climate change and seeking source and affordable energy supplies. This report outlines the main points in the two papers and recommends a response to them. 

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to endorse the comments in paragraphs 5 to 19 and detailed comments in Annex 1 as the County Council’s response to the Government on the White Papers Planning for a Sustainable Future and Meeting the Energy Challenge.

 

19.             Forward Plan and Future Business

 

(See also Addenda)

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Tony Cloke, Assistant Head of Service (Democratic) (01865 815314)

 

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 CA 19.   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.

 

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