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To Members of the Executive

Notice of a Meeting of the Executive

Tuesday 28 May 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 meeting will become effective at the end of the working day on 7 June 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 14 May 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: 44/2002
Contact Officer: Mike Petty, Principal Financial Manager (01865 815622)

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

This report is the first monthly monitoring report for 2002/03. Anticipated variations are set out, together with some potential variations later in the year. However, at this stage of the financial year only a few variations have been identified and the report is therefore by way of a preliminary outline. The report also summarises the position with regard to carry forwards from 2001/02 in the former committee-based budgets, current balances and the capital programme. The position on overall finances still appears extremely tight.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. note the report;
2. agree that the costs of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in Social Services and the Fire Service should be managed within their existing budgets;
3. agree that the increased transitional revenue costs for the City Schools Re-organisation outlined at paragraph 15 of the report should be repaid from savings in future years.

Public Service Agreement

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 4/2002
Contact Officer: Patrick Coulter, PSA Project Manager (01865 815908)

Report by Director for Strategy (EX6).

The County Council is seeking to enter into a Public Service Agreement (PSA) with the Government. This report describes the theme and targets proposed to be included in the PSA and recommends arrangements for its finalisation and submission to the Department of Transport, Local Government & The Regions (DTLR). The PSA will set improved performance targets for the County Council in 12 service areas. In return, the Government will provide a pump priming grant of £1.4m to cover start up costs and a performance reward grant of approximately £1m per target for each target achieved. The Government may also offer flexibilities and freedoms from certain policy and administrative restrictions which would inhibit delivery of the targets.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of the comments of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, to endorse the proposed targets and theme for the Oxfordshire PSA set out in the report and authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council, to draw up the formal PSA submission on that basis.

"Raising Our Performance" Through E-Government

Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 11/2002
Contact Officer: David Sibbert, E-Government Adviser (01865 816018)

Report by Director for Strategy (EX7).

The report summarises the action taken to implement approved strategies for raising performance through electronic service delivery (e-government), refers to research undertaken by consultants on the development of a contact centre (referred to in the consultant’s report as an integrated access point) and outlines the Government’s recent consultation document proposing a national strategy for local e-government. It concludes that the effective implementation of the e-government agenda and the development of a contact centre involves a complex range of issues and proposes the preparation of a business case and programme plan, as part of a formal business planning framework, for consideration by the Executive in the Autumn and linked to the policy and budget planning process.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. authorize relevant officers to pursue the principle of a joint venture public partnership arrangement with the district councils for the development of one or more contact centres (integrated access point(s)) and related e-government initiatives, capitalizing on existing service points throughout the county;
2. agree to invite tenders for the provision of external consultancy for the current year;
3. request officers to arrange a seminar for elected members and senior officers in the Autumn.

Children & Families Leaving Care

• Delay young people’s discharge from care

• Provide better preparation and support for young people leaving care

• Provide better personal support after leaving
• Improve financial arrangements for Leaving Care

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. endorse the action taken to implement the Leaving Care Act as described in the report;
2. instruct officers to report back to the Executive if there is a shortfall in funding for this group of young people.

Green Paper: "14 – 19: Extending Opportunities,

Raising Standards"

Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 104/2002
Contact Officer: Robert Capstick, Principal Education Officer (01865 815144)

Report by Acting Chief Education Officer (EX9).

During early Spring, the DfES published its consultative Green Paper, which set out the Government’s thinking on developments in the 14-19 age range. DfES are seeking feedback, by the end of May, based on 50 prescribed questions.

This report, principally in its two annexes, covers the main points made in the consultation paper. Annex 1 provides a summary of each of the chapters in the Green Paper, and Annex 2 outlines a draft response to the DfES’ 50 questions, for consideration by Executive.

Overall, whilst there is much to be welcomed in the white Paper (it will be seen that the number of "yes" votes to the questions reported in Annex 2 is high), there is a feeling the Green Paper misses opportunities, and fails to provide a realistic implementation vision. Whilst individual initiatives are many, there perhaps remains a lack of coherence in the whole.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to endorse the draft response set out in Annex 2 to the report.

Education Capital Projects

Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 85/2002
Contact Officer: Michael Mill, Senior Education Officer, Premises Development (01865 428161)

Report by Acting Chief Education Officer (EX10) seeking approval of Project Appraisal ED457/2 – Caldecott Primary School, Abingdon.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve the Project Appraisal.

Cherwell 30 mph Speed Limit Project – Phase 2

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 100/2001
Contact Officer: Geoff Barrell (01865 810450)

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX11).

The 30 mph Speed Limit Project for the Cherwell Area has been subdivided into two phases. This report briefly describes the outcome of the initial consultations for the 39 communities in Phase 2, covering the southern and eastern parts of Cherwell together with Banbury. Speed limits on the old A43 through Gosford and Water Eaton and Kidlington are now being progressed independently as part of the traffic calming scheme on this route.

In 24 parishes no significant objections were received. In the remaining parishes, where representations have been received, specific recommendations are made. Site visits are recommended in Kidlington and Middleton Stoney to enable all the circumstances to be assessed before finalising the form of draft Orders.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. note the objections and representations in response to initial consultation for the 9 parishes set out in Annex 2 and the individual recommendations of the Director of Environmental Services;
2. authorise the Director of Environmental Services to publish draft Orders as recommended in Annex 2, taking into account (in Kidlington and Middleton Stoney) the advice of the Executive Member for Transport and local members following an inspection of the sites; and
3. approve the implementation of the speed limits for the Cherwell Phase 2 Parishes as set out in Annexes 1 and 2, subject to the outcome of (b) above and to any objections or representations in respect of the published draft Orders being referred to the Executive for consideration and decision.

Kingston Road, Oxford – Traffic Calming

1. request the City Council to submit a revised proposal that does not remove any of the existing parking and that retains the existing pedestrian facilities at the road narrowings;
2. authorise the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and Local Member(s), to implement revised proposals subject to consideration of any representations or objections resulting from further consultation.

Pedestrian Crossing – Station Road, Wallingford

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 19A/2002
Contact Officer: James Wright Tel: Oxford 815551

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX13).

This report details the result of a formal consultation on proposals to install a humped Zebra Crossing in Station Road, Wallingford. It addresses concerns raised by residents about detailed aspects of this proposal, which are supported by the Local Member, the Town Council and the Police.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. note the responses and objections received; and
2. authorise detailed design and implementation of the scheme as proposed.

Bicester Cycle Network

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 19A/2002
Contact Officer: Andrew Johnson Tel: Oxford 815737

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX14).

This report discusses proposals to develop the Bicester Cycle Network. Based on the Oxfordshire Cycling Strategy, this is a predominantly off-carriageway cycle network designed to provide new routes to and within the Town Centre. Crossings for shared cycle/pedestrian use are proposed where radial routes are crossed.

Much of the network is still in the preliminary design stage and can only be constructed in phases, as funding becomes available. Works are therefore programmed over a three year period. Funding for the cycle route between George Street and Queen’s Avenue has been approved as part of the Capital Programme for Bicester ITS this financial year. The Toucan crossings are likely to be implemented during 2003/2004.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to authorise implementation of the proposals as described in the report and shown on drawing No MP/3/002, including the promotion of the conversion of required lengths of footways to shared use footway/cycle track, under sections 66(4) and 65(1) of the Highways Act, 1980 and section 3 of the Cycle Tracks Act 1984 (as shown in Annex 2) subject to the Director of Environmental Services in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and relevant local member(s) considering any representations arising from formal consultations on the proposals.

Better Ways to School – Chinnor

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 19A/2002
Contact Officer: Errol Carrington Tel: Oxford 815576

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX15).

As part of the County Council’s Better Ways to School Programme, proposals have been advertised for the provision of three crossings, conversion of some footways to shared-use cycle/footways and traffic calming, along with signing and road markings in Chinnor. The report considers the objections received from residents and the Parish Council to various aspects of the proposals.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. approve the conversion of the footways, listed in Annex 3, to shared cycle/footways under Sections 65 (1) and 66 (4) of the Highways Act 1980;
2. authorise the construction of a cycle track as shown on Drawing BPN 742(4)/F3209, subject to the Parish Council agreeing the release of an area of allotment land for this purpose and to planning permission being obtained;
3. approve the scheme for implementation as set out in drawings BPN742(4)/B3201A, BPN742(4)/B3202, BPN742(4)/B3203, BPN742(4)/B3204, BPN742(4)/B3301, BPN742(4)/F3209 and signing shown in Annex 4;

Wedgwood Road, Bicester – Prohibition of Waiting Order

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 19A/2002
Contact Officer: Paul Wilson Tel: 01869 241144

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX16).

Wedgwood Road, Bicester is a fairly short cul de sac containing a mixture of both large and small industrial units. Concerns regarding the excessive parking of vehicles have been received from several of the companies operating from the estate who require access for large HGVs for deliveries. Proposals to rationalise the parking of vehicles in the area in the form of a Traffic Regulation Order have been produced and the report reviews the comments received during the formal consultation process.

The Executive is recommended to authorise the making of the Order subject to minor modifications described in paragraph 9 of the report.

Forward Plan and Future Business

Exempt Items

The meeting will be invited to resolve to exclude the public for the consideration of the following exempt item (marked E) by passing a resolution in relation to that item in the following terms:

"that the public be excluded during the consideration of the following item in the Agenda since it is likely that if they were present during that item there would be a disclosure of "exempt" information as described in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 and specified below the item in the Agenda".

THE REPORT RELATING TO THE EXEMPT ITEM HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS STRICTLY PRIVATE TO MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE IT.

18E Education Capital Projects

May 2002

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