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ITEM CC11

COUNTY COUNCIL – 9 SEPTEMBER 2003

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE

 

Executive Member – Leader of the Council

  1. Financial Forecast 2004/05 – 2008/09

    2. (Executive 22 July 2003)

    The Executive has considered an updated financial forecast for the period 2004/05 – 2008/09. At this stage, the main variation to the Medium Term Financial Plan relates to the provision for the repayment of principal and interest on credit approvals which has been reduced by £0.445m in 2004/05, and by £0.949m and £1.335m in the two years after. This is as a result of changed assumptions about the level of credit approvals and lower interest rates. There is still uncertainty about the impact of the Prudential Guidelines and whether credit approvals will continue.

    The Executive has also agreed the framework for service and budget priorities for 2004/05, amended in the light of the advice given by Council on 17 June.

  2. Raising Our Performance

(Executive 8 July 2003)

The Executive has noted with satisfaction the progress made in implementing the Raising Our Performance Action Plan and the key recommendations of the IDeA Peer Review; and has endorsed further proposals for the remaining two years of the four year strategic action plan under the headings:

    • More effective leadership

    • Keeping in touch

    • Better ways of working

    • Making it happen

The Executive has also commissioned a new publication for the autumn that will report on progress with the implementation of Raising Our Performance and will set renewed challenges for organisational improvement in Oxfordshire County Council.

  1. Capital Strategy

(Executive 8 and 22 July 2003)

The Executive has considered a draft Capital Strategy for 2003. This document, which sets out the Council’s approach to capital planning and procurement and the management of the capital programme, is closely aligned to:-

    • the Oxfordshire Plan – 2002/03 – 2006/07;

    • the Structure Plan and Community Plan;

    • Raising Our Performance – the Strategic Organisational Plan;

    • The Financial Strategy; and

    • The Medium Term Financial Plan.

The Executive referred the report to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee for comment before making a formal recommendation to Council, in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution. The Scrutiny Committee made no comments on the draft.

Accordingly, the Executive now RECOMMENDS the Council to approve the draft Capital Strategy (attached at Annex 1 (download as .doc file)), subject to presentational and minor textual changes to the document to be agreed with the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council.

Executive Member – Community Care & Health

  1. Geographical Equity for Older Peoples Day Services – Scrutiny Review

    2. (Executive 22 July 2003)

    The Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee has referred to the Executive the Lead Member Review Group’s report on this topic, which has explored the current level and distribution of statutory and voluntary day services in the Vale of White Horse. The report reviewed possible ways to help diminish the lack of equity experienced by some older people; and explored potential ways to provide practical support and to promote more effective joined-up service provision through improved co-operation between the county & district councils.

    The Executive has noted that many of the recommendations of the review report have resource implications and/or require further work, and has instructed the Director for Social & Health Care, in consultation with relevant Executive Members and other Directors, to report back on the recommendations, together with an action plan where appropriate, subject to reference to the Best Value Committee of those matters which relate to the work of that Committee.

  2. Review of Properties Used for Day Services for People with Learning Disability

    3. (Executive 22 July 2003)

    The Executive has agreed proposals to ensure better utilisation of County Council assets and property used for day services for people with a learning disability around the County. The proposals include the reprovision of day services in Oxford with the associated sale of the Oxford Options site and refurbishment work at Bobby Fryer Close; and to expand and renovate the unlisted part of Redlands site at Neithrop Avenue, Banbury, subject to a full building appraisal.

    The Executive has commissioned a further report in the Autumn on progress and on subsequent phases of the project.

    Executive Member – Transport

  3. Premium Bus Routes Network

    4. (Executive 8 July 2003)

    Earlier this year the Executive approved the concept of developing a high quality network of services on the County’s busiest bus routes that could be commercially self-sustaining by 2011, given some capital investment to provide bus priority measures and quality stop infrastructure; and ‘pump priming’ revenue funding for some alignments to bring the frequency of buses on all routes up to a ‘turn up and go’ threshold of four buses per hour. Working in partnership with bus operators it is proposed over a period of 8 years to raise the quality of travel by bus across this network, including improved bus stops, shelters, information, vehicles and bus priority measures.

    The Executive has now agreed a programme of specific schemes for 2003/04 – 2005/06, which includes a wide range of Premium Routes across the County, each with an indicative timescale for delivery. Most of the Premium Routes require considerable feasibility work before being exposed to public consultation. Further details of measures and timescales for each route will only become clear during the feasibility and consultation stages. The programme will be reviewed and updated annually in the light of capital allocations made by the Executive each Spring.

  4. Local Transport Plan – Annual Progress Report 2003

    5. (Executive 8 July 2003)

    The Executive has approved the third Annual Progress Report for Oxfordshire’s Local Transport Plan 2001-2006. The purpose of this document is to report to the government on the progress being made in delivering the transport strategy for Oxfordshire which was outlined in the Local Transport Plan.

    The Executive has welcomed the significant progress thus far towards implementing the Local Transport Plan in 2003/04 and the fact that similar progress looks likely for 2003/04. The Annual Progress Report has reflected this, and it is hoped that it will result in a good financial settlement for 2004/05.

  5. Highway Consultations on Planning Applications - Scrutiny Review

    6. (Executive 22 July 2003)

    The Executive has received the report of the Lead Member Review Group on this topic, referred to it by the Environment Scrutiny Committee, and has asked the Director for Environment & Economy to evaluate the issues arising from its wide-ranging recommendations, and in particular: to consider how to provide information to interested parties including councillors; to evaluate alternative models, whilst taking account of views of District Councils; to organise a seminar for councillors on the subject of highway planning matters; to consider the importance of the County highway network to the public realm; and to pursue these with district councils as appropriate given the partnership nature of this work.

    The Director will be reporting back to the Executive later in the year.

    Executive Member – Children & Young People

  6. Children’s Centres and Family Centres - Developing a Strategy for Oxfordshire

(Executive 8 July 2003)

Following recent guidance on the development of children’s centres, the Executive has agreed proposals to develop integrated services in areas of highest disadvantage in Oxfordshire. The DfES has already approved bids for Rose Hill (Littlemore) Sure Start and the Ace Centre, Chipping Norton. Detailed proposals are now being developed for a children’s centre around new developments at Orchard Fields School, Banbury and in Blackbird Leys, Oxford.

The Executive has also agreed proposals for a new service level agreement to cover County Council financial support for family centres at Abingdon, Berinsfield and Didcot following notice by the National Children’s Homes, that it could no longer ‘subsidise’ the centres. The Executive is inviting tenders for consideration, following consultation with local members, alongside the option of the County Council managing these services.

Executive Member – Schools

10. Six Term School Year

(Executive 10 June and 8 July 2003)

The Executive has considered the establishment of a six term school year in Oxfordshire in the light of the results of consultation with key stakeholders. The Executive noted the significant support received from parents for a six term year and the opportunity to raise educational standards in Oxfordshire and agreed to pursue proposals for such an arrangement to be introduced for the academic year 2004/05.

Following reservations expressed by the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee about the timing of introduction of the new system, the Executive has reviewed its initial decision but was satisfied that the benefits in terms of the opportunity for raising educational standards outweigh the risks, and that any problems can be overcome in the period leading up to the change.

Executive Member – Learning & Culture

11. Operation of the County Museums Service – Scrutiny Review

(Executive 8 July 2003)

The Executive has considered the recommendations set out in the Lead Member Review Group’s report on this topic, referred to it by the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee. The Review report proposals include looking at ways to strengthen the museum partnerships network in order to gain the most advantage from its critical mass; and reviewing the County Council’s Museums Services operations specifically:

    • to address the need to strengthen its ability to offer a conservation service to the districts;

    • to strengthen the principle of the shared curatorial arrangement with the District Councils;

    • to provide greater strategic co-ordination of education/access/outreach/marketing activities with those district councils that have their own education staff and provide a consultancy type service to those that do not.

The Executive has agreed the recommendations set out in the Review Group’s report, subject to the Director for Learning & Culture bringing forward to a future meeting of the Executive a report outlining detailed proposals and budget implications for implementing the recommendations.

KEITH R MITCHELL
Leader of the Council


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