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To All Members of the County Council

Notice of a Meeting of the Council

Tuesday 20 June 2006 at 10.00 am

County Hall, Oxford

 
Derek Bishop
Head of Democratic Services

9 June 2006

Contact officer: Marion Holyman (Tel: 01865 810177; E-mail)

Members are asked to sign the attendance book which will be available in the corridor outside the Council Chamber. A list of members present at the meeting will be compiled from this book.

AGENDA

Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 April 2006 (CC1) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

Apologies for Absence

1. Declarations of Interest – see guidance note

Members are reminded that they must declare their interests orally at the meeting and specify (a) the nature of the interest and (b) which items on the agenda are the relevant items. This applies also to items where members have interests by virtue of their membership of a district council in Oxfordshire.

Official Communications

1. To receive the following report from the County Returning Officer on the outcome of the by-elections held on 4 May 2006:

(i) Banbury Grimsbury & Castle Division

Voting was as follows:

ANJUM Choudry Khalid Mohammed 340
BONNER Carole Ann 880
MOLD Royston Arthur 488

Carole Ann Bonner was accordingly elected county councillor for the Banbury Grimsbury & Castle Division.

(ii) Eynsham Division

Voting was as follows:

BEVIS Xanthe Frances Henrietta 254
BROOKS Stuart 1034
KELSALL Richard John 176
MATHEW Charles Christopher Bruce 1652

Charles Christopher Bruce Mathew was accordingly elected county councillor for the Eynsham Division.

2. Any other official communications.

 

2. Political Balance on Committees and Appointments

   Report by the Head of Democratic Services (CC5)

The Council is RECOMMENDED to: (a) agree the political balance on committees shown in Annex 3 to the report, subject to the following adjustments (or such other adjustments as the Council may determine): (i) retention of the existing adjustment whereby the Green Group give up a seat to the Labour Group on the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee; (ii) adoption of the "10-councillor" option for the Children’s Services Committee with the Conservative Group allocation (and accordingly the total number of councillor seats) augmented by three; and (iii) a further adjustment whereby the Green Group give up a seat to the Liberal Democrat Group on such other committee as the Council may agree; (b) appoint to committees the councillors and co-opted members shown in Annex 4 to the report, subject to any further nominations made by the date of the meeting.

Petitions and Public Address



Questions with Notice from Members of the Public

   



Report of the Cabinet (CC8)

Item	Heading	Decisions to be made by Council
1	Oxfordshire Plan – Annual Report	The Council is RECOMMENDED, subject to any final presentational and editorial changes agreed by the Leader of the Council, to approve the Annual Report.
5	Revenue Budget 2006/07	The Council is RECOMMENDED 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.
6	Capital Programme 2006/07 – 2010/11	The Council is RECOMMENDED to approve the additions to the Capital Programme specified in Annex 4 to the report.
13	Youth Justice Plan 2006/07	The Council is RECOMMENDED to approve the Youth Justice Plan for submission to the Youth Justice Board.

• OXFORDSHIRE PLAN – ANNUAL REPORT (download as .pdf file)
• YOUTH JUSTICE PLAN 2006/07 (download as .pdf file)
  (Glossary - download as .doc file)

Questions with Notice from Members of the Council

Motions with Notice from Members of the Council

WOULD MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY AMENDMENTS TO MOTIONS WITH NOTICE MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE PROPER OFFICER IN WRITING BY 9.00 AM ON MONDAY 19 JUNE 2006

Motion from Councillor Liz Brighouse

"This Council believes that the scrutiny process is not producing significant improvements in the way that the Council discharges its functions and leaves many councillors and citizens feeling frustrated and disengaged. In particular, it believes that the scrutiny process is not effective in holding Cabinet members and officers to account for their actions and that scrutiny reviews often are unfocused, do not reflect the strategic needs of the County and have very little impact on policy development. The Council therefore agrees to put in train a review of the scrutiny process with a view to promoting more effective engagement of councillors and citizens in democratic decision-making."

Motion from Councillor Bob Johnston

"Council notes with concern that most of the more common GPS routing systems, routinely used by HGVs and others, ignore weight and other restrictions within Oxfordshire.  This is causing unacceptable disturbance and loss of quiet enjoyment for many of our Oxfordshire residents.  Council therefore calls upon the Leader of the Council to make representations to the Department of Transport to see if anything can be done to alleviate the situation, to avoid the Council spending time, officer effort and money on imposing weight and other restrictions in the first place."

 

Motion from Councillor Jean Fooks

"Council is very concerned at the recent spate of arson attacks on school premises in Oxfordshire. The damage to premises is disruptive and costly, the damage to children’s school work and text books seriously demoralising and the effect on the teaching and learning environment of teachers and children extremely damaging.

Council recognises that an early warning of fire is essential to ensure that any damage to the structure of the school is kept to a minimum, which would be provided by a fire alarm system with automatic fire detection linked to the Fire and Rescue Service. With the increasing threat of arson to our schools, we should make every effort to protect them and the provision of sprinklers in schools would ensure that any fires started would be kept under control until the arrival of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Council therefore asks the Cabinet to:

(a) encourage all schools in Oxfordshire to fit automatic fire alarms linked to the Fire and Rescue Service;

(b) require that in all new schools, extensions or major refurbishments to existing schools, the premises should be fitted with sprinklers."



Motion from Councillor Zoé Patrick

"Due to the impending cuts, for example of £33 million being imposed on our local Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, this effect will have serious consequences for this Council in being able to provide adequate funding for social and community care. Large numbers of older and vulnerable people will be required to be cared for in their own homes creating a significant cost, not only to the families and carers of those people, but also in the demand made upon social and health care workers. All of this will have serious budgetary considerations.

Whilst recognising that some areas may suffer more in areas of multiple deprivation, this County also suffers from these areas within Oxford City and Banbury, which have not been taken into account. This Council calls upon the government to review the formula for which it allocates spending on health for Oxfordshire, which leaves this county at the bottom of the list for the amount spent per head of the population in the country."

Motion from Councillor Barbara Gatehouse

"This Council notes that:

(a) 62 people were waiting in hospital for County Council services as at 5 May 2006;

(b) the gross budget for older people has been cut from £75.603m in 2005/06 to £75.557m in 2006/07 (despite inflation and demographic change);

(c) the £0.5m "efficiency saving" on home support due to the use of assistive technology is undeliverable in 2006/07.

Motion from Councillor Craig Simmons

"This Council notes that:

(a) the Oxfordshire Pension Fund had over £4.2 million worth of investment in the stock of arms companies, as of 31st December 2005⁽¹⁾;

(b) while the management of pension funds requires an adequate spread of investment to ensure a decent return, there are numerous examples of large institutions divesting from particular sectors, including from the arms trade. Notably, the Church of England maintains a successful stock portfolio while refusing to invest in the arms trade, alcohol, tobacco or gambling;

(c) Oxford University Congregation agreed in May to develop a Socially Responsible Investment policy, including divestment from the arms trade;

(d) many Oxfordshire County Council employees would wish to see the pension fund invested more ethically.

This Council believes that:

(a) the example of the Church of England, Oxford University and other large institutions in divesting from the arms trade is laudable;

(b) the County Council should direct its investments in a fashion that will promote the social good, and should not invest in the arms trade.

This Council resolves:

(a) in light of these concerns to ask the Pension Fund Committee to review its investments to ensure these comply with its own policy on Socially Responsible Investments;

(b) if (a) is found to require legislative change, to write accordingly to the Government asking it to make the necessary changes to investment regulations.

⁽¹⁾ At 31st December 2005, Oxfordshire Pension Fund held stock in BAE Systems (£1.2million); EADS (£2.25million); Lockheed Martin (£325,000); Northrop Grumman (£494,000) (Source: www.caat.org.uk)"

Motion from Councillor Jean Fooks

"This Council notes that:

(a) European Car Free Day is on Friday 22 September this year;

(b) the Council's approved transport policies include improving air quality and improving the street environment;

(c) support for Park and Ride is a key policy; and

(d) Oxford City Council has budgeted £2,500 towards the day.



Council therefore resolves to support Oxford City Council in its aim of encouraging people not to drive into the City on that day where alternative means of transport exist. The Council reiterates its commitment to promoting the use of public transport, cycling and walking as sustainable modes of transport."

Motion from Councillor Sushila Dhall

"Given that:

(a) Oxfordshire's latest Local Transport Plan (LTP) declares the County Council to be concerned about traffic congestion in Oxford City;

(b) an Air Quality Management Action zone has been declared in Oxford City in recognition of its high levels of traffic-related air pollution, which this Council has failed to tackle effectively over the past seven years, since the inception of Oxford Transport Strategy;

(c) It is stated and accepted in the LTP that "unlike in other districts, the majority of journeys to work in Oxford are not made by car";

this Council resolves to support Car-Free Day in Oxford City wholeheartedly this year and in years to come in order to:

(a) encourage people to think about transport choices available to them other than the private car;

(b) give people a sense of the true potential of public space other than as through routes for traffic;

(c) celebrate our common heritage by partying in the streets."

Motion from Councillor Sushila Dhall

"Where until the end of May this year central Oxford had a 150-year-old historic working boatyard (Castlemill Boatyard) at its heart, now, thanks to the hasty actions of British Waterways, there is a derelict piece of land, surrounded by an 8-foot high fence topped with razor wire and lit by floodlights.

Given that the:

(a) tourist season proper is about to begin;

(b) boatyard site is on a popular and well-used tourist route;

(c) appearance of this makes Oxford City Centre, which we have all worked to make attractive, look neglected, uninviting and even fearsome;

Council resolves to write to British Waterways asking it to improve the appearance of this site forthwith, for the benefit of residents, visitors and local businesses."

Motion from Councillor Larry Sanders

"Recognising that the very large cuts in staffing and resources for the current financial year imposed on the Oxford Radcliffe Trust, the Oxfordshire Primary Care Trusts (PCT), Community Hospitals, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Partnership Mental Healthcare Trust and other parts of the Oxfordshire Health system have created real risks to the health and well being of the people of Oxfordshire, will have a major impact on the ability of the Council to meet its responsibilities under Community Care legislation, and relate directly to the functions of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, this Council asks that the Government and the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority and its successor, require that these cuts and closures be halted until the new Oxfordshire PCT is in place and a full review has taken place with consultation of staff and the public.

Council therefore agrees to ask the Chief Executive to write to:

(a) the Health Secretary, the Chief Executives of the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority and the Oxfordshire NHS Trusts, making these views known;

(b) the County’s MPs and the County’s District Councils seeking to develop coordinated activity in favour of the proposed moratorium and other actions to reduce the impact of the announced cuts and closures;

(c) the appropriate press, radio and television outlets, making these views known."



Motion from Councillor Deborah Glass Woodin

"This Council opposes the approach taken to address safety issues at Magdalen Bridge on May Morning. These ‘spontaneous’ celebrations in the City Centre are a time-honoured tradition and one of the few occasions that ignore the traditional ‘town and gown’ divide.

It is unfortunate that Councillors representing the areas affected have been consistently excluded from discussions concerning the safety issues, about which we also have genuine concerns.

However, to respond to these issues by closing the Bridge, therefore cutting off access to the event to the entire Eastern side of the City, is an extreme over-reaction. It has already resulted in an increase in crowd size on the High Street, with the response being to consider closing the High Street as far as Carfax in the future.

Council is therefore asked to:

(a) request that County Councillors concerned be invited to attend future meetings to look at alternative ways of addressing the safety issues;

(b) oppose any further closures and ensure that access from East Oxford be re-instated at this event in future."

Motion from Councillor Terry Joslin

"This Council notes that:

(a) a letter was sent in March this year to members of the Didcot ITS Committee indicating that the Cow Lane Subway project, on which preparatory work had been undertaken as part of LTP1, had been withdrawn;

(b) this decision was taken without adequate member involvement;

(c) the project had been approved as a Major Project by the previous Environment and Highways Committees and the previous Executive;

(d) the project had been allocated a Project number and design work had been commenced.