______________________________________

________________________________

To Members of the Executive

Notice of a Meeting of the Executive

Tuesday 30 April 2002 at 2.00 pm

County Hall, Oxford

Chris Impey
Assistant Chief Executive

Contact officer: Graham Warrington (Tel: 01865 815321; E-mail:)

Membership

The Agenda follows. Decisions taken at the meetingwill become effective at the end of the working day on 9 May 2002 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.

AGENDA

Apologies for Absence

Declarations of Interest



Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2002 (EX3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

Petitions and Public Address



Budget Monitoring

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 43/2002
Contact Officer: Mike Petty, Principal Financial Manager (01865 815622)

Report by Director for Business Support & County Treasurer (EX5).

This report is principally concerned with the outturn position for 2001/02. It updates the Executive on the latest estimated balances on the Committee Carry Forward Reserve and County Fund Balance as at 31 March 2002, the Capital Programme and the Capital Reserve. It also takes an early look at 2002/03.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

Financial Management Arrangements

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 40/2002
Contact Officer: Jenny Hydari, Assistant County Treasurer (01865 815474)

Report by Director for Business Support & County Treasurer (EX6).

The Executive on 22 January 2002 asked the Director for Business Support "to report to the Executive on arrangements for restructuring and refreshing cost centre management, ensuring effective use of the new Management Information System (MIS) and for tightening financial monitoring and control".

This report is an initial scoping of the project. It sets out progress to date, planned further progress, and issues to be addressed. It describes a number of training initiatives that are taking place; the measures in hand for implementing and monitoring the FINE recommendations; the advisory and co-ordinating role of the "Strategic Finance Group" of senior finance throughout the authority; steps being taken to maximise the effectiveness of the new Management Information system; and arrangements for financial reporting and audit.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to note the report, the progress to date, and the further action to be taken.

Comprehensive Performance Assessment

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref:
Contact Officer: David Lines, Head of Performance Review (01865 810150)

Report by Director for Strategy (EX7)

This report seeks approval of a "self-assessment" submission to the Audit Commission as part of the "comprehensive performance assessment" (CPA) process which is being introduced to assess and classify all local authorities. The timescale for carrying out and completion of this phase of the CPA process is very tight, and although work is in hand on the preparation of the submission document, it was not feasible to produce it in time for inclusion with the agenda and it will therefore be circulated later. In the meantime, this report sets out the background to CPA and outlines the basis on which the self-assessment submission is being drawn up.

At the request of members of the Executive, the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee are being invited to make any comments on the draft self-assessment submission before consideration by the Executive. This report and the draft submission (when available) are being made available to the Scrutiny Committee, who are due to meet on Monday 29 April.

This item has not been included in the Forward Plan; however, it is not considered that the decision being sought amounts to a key decision, and it is therefore open to the Executive to consider the report and determine the recommendation.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. consider the draft self-assessment submission in the light of any comments by the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee;
2. subject to (a) above, approve the submission for despatch to the Audit Commission in line with the 1 May deadline.

Priming and the Private Finance Initiative

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 28/2002
Contact Officer: Neil Monaghan, Assistant Director, Property & Waste Management (01865 815712)

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX8).

"Priming" is an arrangement whereby an organisation transfers its buildings to a private sector company which undertakes to improve, maintain and manage the buildings for a period of years. Property consultants CB Hillier Parker have been commissioned to give advice to the Council on options for priming or other public/private partnership arrangements could be available for the Council, and what the implications of such arrangements would be. They will give a presentation to members of the Executive at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday 24 April.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to consider any conclusions and recommendations from the presentation to be given on 24 April by CB Hillier Parker on the options for Priming or other Public Private Partnership arrangements for the Council.

Repair and Maintenance of Buildings : Proposed Revenue Budget 2002/2003

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 72/2002
Contact Officer: Greg Lowe (01865 815532)

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX9).

In December 2001 the Executive considered a proposal for the apportionment between services of the provisional Repair and Maintenance Budget for 2002/2003 and asked Service Departments for their observations on the provisional apportionment.

This report therefore proposes a revised apportionment of the repair and maintenance budget between services taking account of the transfer of the Councils Homes for Elderly People to Oxford Care Partnership and gives the observations of service departments on apportionment of the repair and maintenance budget.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:-

1. agree the revised allocation of the budget for repair and maintenance of County Council buildings set out in Annex 1 (download as .rtf file) to the report;
2. note that it is unlikely that even the inadequate amount allocated for planned maintenance will be used for that purpose unless a contingency is identified to deal with any unavoidable pressures on urgent works which cannot be dealt with from the urgent works allocation.

Economic Development Strategy and Work Programme 2002/03

Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 177/2001
Contact Officer: Martin Stott, Head of External Policy & Partnerships (01865 815919)

Report by Director for Strategy (EX10).

This report reviews the current legislative and institutional position in the economic development field, sets out a framework for the implementation of economic development activities by the Council, in the context of the Economic Strategy for Oxfordshire adopted by the Executive in January 2002, and makes proposals for the use of the resources available to the Council through the Economic Development Initiatives budget.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. approve the proposals for the economic development work programme for 2002/03 as set out in the report;
2. approve the setting up jointly with other partners of the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership as a "local authority influenced company" limited by guarantee to promote the vision set out in the report, and authorise the Director for Strategy and the Solicitor to the Council, in consultation with the Deputy Leader of the Council, to take all necessary action for this purpose;
3. identify the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership to the Council for approval as a strategic outside body, and nominate a member or officer to represent the Council on the Board of the company, when created;
4. note the intention to ask the Democracy & Organisation Committee to nominate representatives to the boards or managing committees (as appropriate) of the Ethnic Minority Business Service, the Unemployed Workers & Claimants Union and Venturefest.

Proposals for the Re-Provisioning of the Oxfordshire Care Partnership Homes

Executive Member: Community Care & Health
Forward Plan Ref: 60/2002
Contact Officer: Nick Welch (01865) 815714

Report by Director of Social Services (EX11).

The County Council’s Homes for Older People were transferred to the Oxfordshire Care Partnership (OCP) because ten did not meet the old standards required under previous legislation. The Care Standards Act radically changed the registration requirements on local authority homes, and the 10 that were below standard are now further behind the standards that will be required of them by 2007. If they remain as they are they will have to close as homes for older people by that date. The transfer took place to allow OCP to raise the capital to fund a refurbishment programme.

The future of three such homes has already been consulted upon and development plans agreed. The remaining seven homes require an agreed process to resolve their future development. Three weeks ago a group of senior Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Care Partnership officers met to consider the best methods and process for achieving the re-provisioning programme. This report summarises their recommendations.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:-

1. approve the timetable set out in the report for receiving, considering and consulting on the proposed development programme;
2. establish a Member/Officer Working Group to advise the Executive on all aspects of a development programme from now up to the completion of the programme, the Group to comprise such members as the Executive may determine, together with appropriate Social Services and other officers.

Joint Commissioning Learning Disability Services

Executive Member: Community Care & Health
Forward Plan Ref: 73/2002 (deferred from 3 April 2002)
Contact Officer: Alan Sinclair, Head of Service (01865 815753)

Report by Director of Social Services (circulated with the Agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 3 April 2002 when consideration of the item was deferred - copies of the report are available on request).

Best Value Review (download as .rtf file)

The Best Value Committee considered the outcome of this review on 20 February 2002 (attached EX9). The Committee agreed to:

1. endorse the Joint Commissioning Learning Disability Service Review report and Action Plan and thank the members of the Review Team for their work;
2. (i) RECOMMEND the Review and Action Plan as an interim statement to the Executive;

(ii) ask the Executive to give priority to the financial recommendations and the full implementation of the SWIFT information management system;

(iii) ask the officers for a further report in six months on implementation and progress towards providing the outstanding data in the Review; and

3. refer the outcomes of the Review to the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee for them to make any observations on the Review and Action Plan to the Executive.
   
   

The Social and Health Care Scrutiny Committee considered the Review on 26 February and requested that the Best Value Committee refer the further report on implementation and progress towards providing the outstanding data in the Review to that Committee for comment and advice.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to note the outcomes of the Review and the comments of the Scrutiny Committee thereon and approve the identified actions for services improvement.

Relocation of Museum Service Workshop

Executive Member: Learning & Culture
Forward Plan Ref: 4A/2001
Contact Officer: Martyn Brown, County Museums and Heritage Officer (01865 814114)

The Director of Cultural Services reports as follows:

In October 2001 the Oxfordshire Museum completed a £2.4m project to refurbish the displays and provide new visitor services with grant aid of £1.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. An Education Room was to be installed in Fletcher’s House, but the decision was taken, with Heritage Lottery Fund approval, to convert all of the rooms to public display areas instead. This project seeks to install a high quality 80-seat education facility in the Coach House at the rear of the Fletcher’s House site and remove the existing museum workshop to Oxfordshire Museum Store at Standlake, to join the conservation workshop. A project appraisal is appended (EX13).

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. approve the project appraisal, on the basis of the allocation of £35,000 from the 2002/03 Minor Works annual programme towards the funding for the project;
2. instruct officers to proceed to develop the project for implementation, subject to confirmation of external capital funding for the project as described in the project appraisal.

New Models for Local Education Authorities Pilot

Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 39/2001
Contact Officer: Sandra Bingham, Education Policy Officer (01865 816217)

Report by Acting Chief Education Officer (EX14).

The Oxfordshire, West Berkshire and Wokingham New Models Project began in February 2001 with £350,000 funded by the DfES. The project was a feasibility study looking at options for the future delivery of LEA services that would have potential gains and benefits for school improvement. A Project Strategic Board with representative members, headteachers, officers, Capita and the DfES has overseen the progress of the project and the Office for Public Management have evaluated the outcomes of the project at key stages. The officer project Steering Group met regularly and the project coordinator was based in Oxfordshire County Council, the host LEA for the project. The project funds were allocated across the partner organisations for staff time to work on the project as well as for workshops, conferences and evaluation. Staff from the three LEAs, headteachers, governors, professional associations and elected members have been involved in a wide range of project activities, supported by staff from the private sector partner, Capita.

This project is one of 11 initial pilots funded across the country by the DfES and learning from the various projects is shared via the DfES website.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to note the report and authorise officers to take forward the necessary development work to explore the feasibility of operational pilots during 2002/2003.

Cycle and Pedestrian Facilities – B4495 Hollow Way, Oxford

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 19/2002
Contact Officer:   Mark Bostock  (01865 815755)

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX15).

The report details the responses to consultation on a package of measures that have been devised to assist cyclists and pedestrians, reduce speed and improve safety in Hollow Way Oxford. The proposed scheme forms part of the B4495 corridor study that is considering integrating facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport into general improvements of the road network.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve:

1. the implementation of the Hollow Way cycle and pedestrian facilities as shown in Annex 1 to the report subject to safety audit and detailed design being determined by the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and the Local Member;
2. the conversion (under Section 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980) of the footway in Hollow Way between Barracks Lane and The Slade to shared cycle/pedestrian usage.

Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford Traffic Calming

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 19/2002
Contact Officer:   Andrew Vidovic (01865 810437) and Rachel Gover (01865 815496)

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX16).

This report details the results of public consultation carried out in February 2002 on plans for traffic calming in Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford. The plans are part of the West Oxford Community Primary School Better Ways to School (BWTS) Scheme. The report considers all responses received including those from the local residents and businesses and recommends one option for implementation.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to authorise the formal steps necessary for the promotion of Option 1 described in the report, subject to consideration of any representations or objections by the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and the Local Member.

Road Closure – Freelands Road, Oxford

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 19/2002
Contact Officer:   John Cramer (01865 815963)

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX17).

At present, vehicles (except cycles) are prohibited from driving from Radcliffe Road or Freelands Road (east end) into Freelands Road (west end) – ie from east to west. A Traffic Regulation Order has been advertised proposing the prohibition of driving in both directions at the point where Freelands Road meets Radcliffe Road, with exemptions for cycles and emergency vehicles. The closure has been requested by some residents and City Councillors to stop the abuse of the existing restriction. This report reviews the comments received during public consultation on the proposed closure and recommends its implementation.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to authorise the making and implementation of the Order as advertised.

1. Cycle Link from Thame to Haddenham and Thame Parkway Railway Station

1. agree to the development of a jointly funded scheme (as shown in Annex 1) with Buckinghamshire County Council on a 50/50 basis;
2. authorise a joint public consultation with Buckinghamshire County Council; and
3. note that a further report will be brought forward to the Executive following consultation, prior to seeking approval for implementation of the scheme.

Forward Plan and Future Business

April 2002

Return to TOP