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To Members of the Environment Scrutiny Committee

Notice of Meeting

Meeting

ENVIRONMENT SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

Date/Time

Wednesday 17 September 2003 at 10.00 am

Place

County Hall, Oxford

Contact officer

Deborah Mitchell
(Tel: 01865 815463; E-mail)


Chris Impey
Assistant Chief Executive

September 2003

Membership

Chair – Councillor Les Sibley

Councillors:

Alan Bryden

Mrs Dee Bulley

Julian Cooper

Andrew Crawford

Dickie Dawes

Jean Fooks

Mrs C. Fulljames

Patrick Greene

Steve Hayward

Brian L. Hook

Biddy Hudson

Terry Joslin

Roy Mold

Chris Robins

 

 

AGENDA

Addenda

  1. Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments

  2. Declarations of Interest

  3. Minutes

    4. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2003 (EN3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

  4. Petitions and Public Address

  5. Scrutiny and the Budget

10:05 Highways Management and Waste Base Budget Reviews

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (EN5).

An essential part of the "Maximising our Resources" strategy is the implementation of a rolling programme of base budget reviews. Progress on the reviews of Waste Management and Highways Management is included within the report, including options for potential savings.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. comment on the progress to date;

          2. identify any specific aspects that could be looked at or developed further;

          3. offer any suggestions or advice in relation to the services; and

          4. comment on any proposals within the reviews.

  1. Scrutiny Work Programme

    2. 10:45 (a) Options for Inclusion in the Scrutiny Committee’s Future Work Programme

    Report by Head of Scrutiny (EN6(a)).

    At their meeting on 11 April 2003, the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group agreed to accept a draft programme of Scrutiny Development. During this round of meetings, each committee will be asked to undertake a fundamental review of its work programme, taking into account the key issues and drivers identified at its previous meeting. This process of review should ensure that each committee’s work programme is adding value to the Council’s work, is outcome focused, and is using the best method of working to achieve this.

    The report derives from discussions between the Chair, Deputy Chair and third group’s spokesperson, and sets out some options based on criteria circulated to them prior to that meeting. The report is intended to provide guidance and support. It should not be interpreted as precluding Members from feeling free to suggest further options at the meeting.

    A report containing key issues and drivers facing Environment & Economy was sent to Members on 4 September 2003. Members are asked to bring their copy to the meeting.

    The Scrutiny Committee is RECOMMENDED to agree that the options included in the grid at page 2 of the report comprise the Work Programme and that the process in developing it be adopted for the future.

    11:15 (b) Community Participation and Engagement in the Scrutiny Function

    At their meeting on 29 July 2003 the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group was asked to consider an action plan on raising the profile of and engaging the community in the scrutiny process and to highlight the points which they wished to take forward.

    The Group agreed to refer the action plan (EN6(b)) to the Scrutiny Committees for consideration during their September round of meetings, whose responses would be considered by the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group at their meeting on 26 September 2003.

    The Committee is asked to consider the attached action plan and to offer any advice to the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group.

  2. The Oxfordshire Plan: A Priority Framework for 2004/05 Onwards

    3. 11:30 At their meeting on 29 July 2003, the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group considered and agreed a proposal concerning how Scrutiny would be consulted regarding the formulation of the priority framework for 2004/05 onwards.

    The Group agreed that during the September round of meetings Scrutiny Committees would be asked to consider the initial evaluations for each priority area (undertaken by Services). They relevant committee will examine priorities relevant to them, make recommendations, highlight concerns, raise any questions and make any requests for clarification. These will then be put to the Executive for consideration and response at the end of September.

    The Group also agreed that each Scrutiny Committee would concentrate primarily on those priorities directly related to them; with the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee dealing both with corporate issues and having an overview of the priorities as a whole.

    The initial evaluations are attached for consideration at EN7.

    The Committee is asked to consider the initial evaluations for the relevant priority areas and to agree on recommendations, concerns, questions and requests for clarification to put to the Executive.

  3. Tracking Scrutiny Outcomes

    (See also Addenda)

    4. 12:50 Standard Item – to inform the Committee of the outcomes of their advice and recommendations to the Executive/Council.

  4. Forward Plan

    5. 1:00 To identify any Scrutiny Committee items in the current Forward Plan on which the Committee wish to have an opportunity to offer advice to the Executive before any decision is taken.

    (Members are asked to bring to the meeting the latest copy of the Plan which at the time of writing covered August 2003 – December 2003).

    1:10 – 2:00 Lunch

  5. Scrutiny Reviews

    6. 2:00 To receive an update on the following reviews:-

    1. Highway Quality of Repairs and Drainage;

      2. (Lead Members: Councillors Alan Bryden and Roy Mold)

    2. Corporate Environmental Policy and Energy Saving Scrutiny Review

    (Lead Members: Councillors Biddy Hudson; Jean Fooks and Patrick Greene)

  6. Vulnerable Road User Audit

    7. 2:10 Report by the Assistant Director (Transport Development) (EN11).

    The Committee agreed to ask that the Executive consult the Committee, prior to consideration by the Executive where possible before any final decision is made on the Local Transport Plan.

    This report outlines the need for, and development of, a new process to ensure that all our transport schemes are as suitable as they can be for the more vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and people with a disability. It recommends the adoption of a new Vulnerable Road User Audit process, to check that the needs of vulnerable users are properly considered during the development and implementation of all our new transport measures.

    We already have a number of policies in place that aim to protect vulnerable road users, but their implementation has at times been haphazard. This new audit process will help ensure all these policies are fully implemented. In addition, audits will provide valuable, focused feedback that will increase knowledge and skill amongst planners and engineers.

    The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider what advice, if any, to give to the Executive.

  7. Review of Operation of Park & Ride Car Parks

    (See also Addenda)

    8. 2:30 Report by the Assistant Director (Transport Development) (EN12).

    The Committee agreed to ask that the Executive consult the Committee, prior to consideration by the Executive where possible before any final decision is made on the Local Transport Plan.

    This report reviews the operation and cost of the Management Contract for the Thornhill and Water Eaton car parks which was introduced in 2002 and will run until March 2007. The Contract covers operation of the car parks, including cash collection and enforcement, security, maintenance and cleaning. (The Pear Tree, Redbridge and Seacourt car parks are operated by the City Council under separate arrangements. The report also reviews the current facilities at the car parks and how they might be further improved.

    The report concludes that, on the basis of enhanced security and public satisfaction, the current County Council Management Contract must be judged a success. The net costs to the Council are however significant. These costs could be reduced or increased by varying the hours of staff cover, but it is considered that at present these are about right. The hours may well need to change as the pattern of services change in future years.

    The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider what advice, if any, to give to the Executive.

    THE NEXT PART OF THE MEETING IS FOR MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENT SCRUTINY COMMITTEE HELD IN DIDCOT ON 30 JULY 2003 ONLY.

  8. Lessons to be Learnt from the Implementation of Didcot Milton Heights Stage II

3:00 The Assistant Chief Executive reports as follows:-

On Wednesday 30 July 2003, members of the Environment Scrutiny Committee held a special meeting at the Civic Hall in Didcot to gather evidence from representatives of South Oxfordshire District Council, Didcot Town Council, Didcot Development Agency, The Chamber of Commerce, residents, local businesses and commuters to gain insight into what worked well and what worked badly in Didcot when the Didcot Milton Heights link road was built.

Members who attended the above meeting of the Committee will be looking at the evidence gathered thus far and considering a framework for questioning County Council officers and the contractors on their findings on 10 September 2003.

County Council officers and the contractor will attend this meeting to answer questions and provide further evidence.

ADDENDA

 

ITEM 8. Tracking Scrutiny Outcomes

Follow up Studies Arising from the Executive Commissioned Scrutiny Review of Bus Services Carried out in 2002.

A briefing note by the Director for Environment & Economy is attached.

Parking on Bus Routes Scrutiny Review

The Assistant Director (Highway Management) will update members at the meeting on progress thus far on the implementation of the Parking on Bus Routes Scrutiny Review recommendations.

Speed Management Strategy – Establishment Task Force

The Committee will recall that the Executive agreed in April 2003 as part of the Speed Management Strategy report and as recommended in the review carried out by the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee, to endorse the establishment of a Task Force comprising members and Police representatives together with engineer and road safety representatives to oversee the development of the Speed Management Strategy and the review of speed limits in South Oxfordshire. The Committee had asked that itself and the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee be represented on the Group. The Executive Member for Transport has suggested that it should contain two members from each of the Scrutiny Committees.

The Committee is asked to nominate 2 members to sit on the Group.

Local Transport Plan – Annual Progress Report 2003

On 8 July 2003 the Executive RESOLVED to:

Consider the Scrutiny comments in relation to the Better Ways to School programme in the context of the Autumn update of the Transport Capital Programme. In relation to the Scrutiny comments on congestion, note that it did not appear advantageous to the Council to opt into the national PSA target on the reduction of urban congestion.

  1. endorse the proposed approach for the preparation of the Annual Progress Report, and in particular the issues of congestion, road safety and targets outlined in the report; and

  2. authorise the Director for Environment & Economy, in consultation with the Executive Members for Transport and Strategic Planning & Waste Management, to finalise the Annual Progress Report for submission to the Government by 31 July 2003.

Highway Consultations on Planning Applications

On the 22 July 2003 the Executive RESOLVED

That the Director for Environment & Economy be asked to evaluate the issues arising from the review, and in particular, with reference to the specific recommendations:

R1 to consider how to provide information to interested parties including councillors;

R2 to evaluate alternative models, whilst taking account of views of District Councils;

R3 to bring forward proposals for a seminar for councillors on the subject of Highways Planning Matters;

R4 to consider the importance of the County Highway Network to the public realm; and

R5, R6 to pursue these recommendations with District Councils as appropriate given the partnership nature of this work.

 12. Review of Operation of Park & Ride Car Parks

Members are asked to note that the net cost shown in the 2nd sentence of paragraph 22 in the report (EN12) should read £365k and not £365m.

ENVIRONMENT SCRUTINY COMMITTEE –
17 SEPTEMBER 2003

FOLLOW UP STUDIES ARISING FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONED SCRUTINY

REVIEW OF BUS SERVICES CARRIED OUT IN 2002


Consultants’ Halcrow are currently carrying out, for the Executive, two studies on detailed issues arising from this review. The first is looking at the potential for introduction of flexibly routed services and/or postbuses in the Chipping Norton/Charlbury/Woodstock area, and the second at use of Social and Health Care vehicles to provide public transport services. As part of the first study, local members in the study area have been consulted on their views; this study will report in the first instance to Transport Implementation Committee on 25 September 2003 (on a tight timescale to enable submission of any Rural Bus Challenge bid by the bid deadline in October), with any consequent policy implications feeding into the consultation process for the Bus Strategy. The study into Social and Health care vehicles is only just getting underway; it will include consultation with members of the Environment Scrutiny Committee individually, to identify any specific examples which they may have been aware of in asking that the study be carried out. At the time of writing the reporting date for the study has not been fixed.Environment Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider whether there is any further involvement which they might wish to have in these studies. A further follow up study, into use of Thornhill Park & Ride as an interchange point between bus services, is under consideration for the future, and Environment Scrutiny Committee might also wish to consider how they might wish to be involved in this study.

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