ITEM EX3EXECUTIVE – 17 SEPTEMBER 2002EXECUTIVE – 1 OCTOBER 2002Minutes of
the Meeting commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 5.45 pm Present: Voting
Members: Other
Members in Attendance: Officers: Whole of meeting: J. Leverton and G. Warrington (Chief Executive’s Office); Part of meeting: Chief Executive and D. Bishop; Director for Business Support & County Treasurer, J. Hydari and D. Illingworth; A. Coggins, C. Pettit and K. Wheal (Cultural Services); Director of Environmental Services, P. Coulter, D. Deriaz and E. Luck; S. Flemming (Education); J. Carr and S. Collins (Social Services).
The Executive considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with a schedule of addenda tabled at the meeting, and decided as set out below. Except insofar as otherwise specified, the reasons for the decisions are contained in the agenda and reports and schedule, copies of which are attached to the signed Minutes.
322/02. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mitchell.
323/02. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2002 were approved and signed.
324/02. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS
The following requests to address the meeting had been agreed:-
325/02. MONTHLY MONITORING REPORT
(Agenda Item 5) The Executive considered a report (EX5) which detailed the budget monitoring position of the Council for 2002/03 as at 31 July 2002. Mr Borthwick addressed the Executive on the Broadband Network project. He asked whether Government funding anticipated when the project was approved had been received and questioned how far the Council had succeeded in attracting funding towards the project. Councillor Hodgson expressed some concern over the apparent lack of District Council support for the Broadband Network. The Director of Cultural Services advised that Government funding had been received as expected. The recently appointed Business Manager would be addressing the issue of external funding and he was confident that further such funding would be realised, although he accepted that it would take longer than had been originally anticipated. He emphasised that the project’s primary purpose was not commercial but to improve services. He added that relations with Synetrix were good and the first phase of the network had been implemented successfully. With regard to paragraph 12 of the report Councillor Hodgson advised that he understood from County Councils Network sources that the Government had confirmed its intended allocation to Waste Disposal Authorities of £40m to meet the cost of handling and disposal of fridges, to be apportioned on a population basis, which for Oxfordshire could realise approximately £400,000. RESOLVED: to:
326/02. CAPITAL PROGRAMME
(Agenda Item 6) The Executive considered a report (EX6) which updated the Capital Programme and which included changes to the Education and Transport programmes. In response to questions from Councillor Hodgson the Director of Environmental Services advised that the sale of Milham Ford School had been delayed by negotiations on a Section 106 agreement. The site would only be sold if the price represented best value for the County Council. No reserve price had been set. RESOLVED: to note the report.
327/02. PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT
(Agenda Item 7) On 28 May 2002 the Executive had authorised the Chief Executive to draw up, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, the formal submission of a Public Service Agreement (PSA) for negotiation with the Government. The Executive now considered a report (EX7) on progress of the negotiations. Mr Coulter tabled a further update on progress which is annexed to the signed minutes. He advised that 7 of the 12 targets had now been agreed and it was expected that a further 3 would be agreed by the end of the week. The Executive commended the work undertaken by Mr Coulter. RESOLVED: to
328/02. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE: FORMULA GRANT DISTRIBUTION
(Agenda Item 8) The Executive considered a report (EX8) which set out the terms of a draft response to a Government consultation on a review of the formulae used to distribute SSA. Councillor Hodgson commended the comments of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, which had considered the issue on 29 August, and responded as follows:
RESOLVED: subject to the above to approve the response (EX8) and authorise the Director for Business Support & County Treasurer in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council to finalise the response for submission to the Government by 30 September 2002.
329/02. "GROWING OUR CORPORATE CAPACITY"
(Agenda Item 9) On 30 July 2002 the Chief Executive had published a consultation paper entitled Growing our Corporate Capacity. The Executive now considered a report (EX9) which analysed the responses, identified the key issues that had emerged and outlined the broad financial implications of and process for implementing the proposals. Also tabled was a submission from Unison, which expressed concern over the merging of departments, the speed of change and the role of business managers. Councillor Ferriman addressed the Executive. She considered there was little to commend the proposals and expressed concern that there had been no opportunity for members to address these issues in any real detail. The consultation process had been flawed and represented a diminution of democracy. There appeared to be little gain in the level of service available to the public but more a likelihood of a possible decline. Councillor Hodgson commended the comments of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee and referred in particular to two issues: firstly that Directors should be corporate leaders and service champions in equal measure; and secondly, that the remit of the proposed Resources Directorate was too wide for one Director. He also expressed concern over staff morale following any merger of Education and Cultural Services. The Chief Executive stated that the consultation exercise had been extensive. There had been much support for the proposals, including proposed departmental mergers, which had been designed to improve services and not weaken them. He accepted that there would be changes to some job roles but not job losses, explaining that the organisation could not afford to lose valuable skill levels. RESOLVED: to:-
(i) the Chief Executive being asked to review further the best structural location for Records Management, Archaeological Services, the Countryside Service, Registration and Emergency Planning in consultation with staff and members and to decide the way forward by mid December; and (ii) the deletion of "first and foremost" where applied to the corporate leadership role of directors;
330/02. CHARGING POLICIES FOR HOME CARE AND OTHER NON-RESIDENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICES
(Agenda Item 10) On 19 February 2002, the Executive had considered a report on the Government’s guidance for charging, issued under the title "Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and Other Non-Residential Social Services" and authorised consultations to amend the Council’s charging scheme in the light of the guidance. The Executive now considered a report (EX10 and supplement) which detailed the consultation process and the main issues arising from the consultation. Mr Hugh-Jones addressed the Executive. He felt that the consultation letter had been well written and clear and he accepted the proposals to some extent. However he objected to what he considered to be excessive increases in charges for those recipients of services who were better off. He suggested that there should be a higher capital threshold and a maximum charge of £70 per week irrespective of the individual's means. Councillor Gatehouse referred to criticism regarding the consultation process and to a general feeling that the County Council had already reached its decision. Mr Collins pointed out that for many people, charges would reduce, and that the Council had made budgetary provision in anticipation of this. Councillor Seale said that the consultation had evinced general acceptance of the revised charges. He pointed out, in relation to concerns expressed by Councillor Gatehouse, that the issue of carer entitlement would be reconsidered and the recommendation before the Executive allowed for that. He commended the work of Mr Collins and his colleagues in drawing up the proposals, carrying out the consultation and analysing the responses. RESOLVED:
(i) the policy to be based on all benefit income and disability related expenditure;
331/02. DAY CARE SERVICES, WALLINGFORD & DIDCOT
(Agenda Item 11) The Executive considered a report (EX11) which outlined the proposals for the future management of Wallingford and Didcot (Ladygrove) Day Centres following the transfer of the homes for older people to the Oxfordshire Care Partnership. RESOLVED: to:
332/02. RACE EQUALITY SCHEME 2002-2005
(Agenda Item 12) All public authorities were required by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to publish a Race Equality Scheme. The Executive now considered a draft Race Equality Scheme (EX12) which had been developed in accordance with Commission for Racial Equality guidance, for formal endorsement prior to implementation. Also tabled was a submission from the Oxfordshire Community Forum. Commending the draft Scheme, Councillor Margaret Godden pointed out that it provided the framework for achieving what the Forum were seeking. Councillor Ferriman commended the paper and thanked officers for their work in its production. RESOLVED: to agree the draft annexed to the report as the Council’s Race Equality Scheme for publication and implementation.
333/02. THE ANNUAL LIBRARY PLAN 2002
(Agenda Item 13) The Executive considered a report (EX13) which presented an updated draft of the Annual Library Plan 2002 which had been first approved in principle by the Executive on 23 July 2002. The Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee had considered the Plan on 10 September. Their comments were set out in the addenda sheet. Mr. Coggins recommended that the amendments suggested by the Committee be reflected in the Plan; this was endorsed by Councillor Faucet. Councillor Ferriman welcomed the Plan. Addressing criticisms made of the library service she considered the service to be more effective despite continued under-spending. Councillor Seale expressed appreciation of the continuing financial support by West Oxfordshire District Council for maintaining library opening hours in that district.
RESOLVED: to: (a) RECOMMEND Council to approve the Annual Library Plan, subject to:
334/02. CHILTERNS AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY - A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION
(Agenda Item 14) The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 had placed a new duty on all local authorities with Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) to prepare and publish a management plan for each AONB by 31 March 2004. RESOLVED: to:
335/02. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OXFORDSHIRE LOCAL ACCESS FORUM
(Agenda Item 15) Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 local highway authorities were required to establish statutory non executive advisory bodies to be known as local access forums whose role would be to provide advice on the improvement of public access to land in their area for open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area. The Executive considered a report (EX15) which set out a framework for establishing and servicing a Forum. Councillor Hodgson declared a personal interest insofar as he was a member of the Ramblers Association. He commended the proposals but requested that the Executive consider extending member participation in the appointment process. RESOLVED: to:
336/02. WHEATLEY – PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING
(Agenda Item 16) The Executive considered a report (EX16) which set out proposals for a traffic calming Scheme in Wheatley. Councillor Purse commended the proposals to the Executive. RESOLVED: to:
337/02. PROPOSALS FOR TOUCAN CROSSINGS - WITNEY
(Agenda Item 17) The Executive considered a report (EX17) which detailed the responses to a formal consultation undertaken on proposals to install two controlled cycle/pedestrian crossings at Curbridge Road, linking Barrington Close and Thorney Leys, and Mill Street adjacent to the new Woodford Mills development as part of the draft Witney Integrated Transport Strategy. Mr Couchman addressed the Executive. Speaking on behalf of residents of Mill Street he outlined three areas of concern – inadequate consultation, inconvenience and safety. He suggested siting the crossing further to the east nearer the sheltered housing complex at Riverside Gardens. This would provide a safer crossing point for residents and lessen the impact on parking for residents of Mill Street. Mr Luck advised that the officers’ view was that the site proposed in the report was the safest place because of its proximity to the West End Cycle Link. Councillor Robertson sympathised with the view of residents but endorsed the view put forward by officers. RESOLVED: to:
338/02. WOOTTON TO ABINGDON CYCLE ROUTE
(Agenda Item 18) The Executive considered a report (EX18) which gave details of proposals for improved cycling facilities between Wootton and Abingdon. RESOLVED: to:
339/02. CORNMARKET STREET, OXFORD
(Agenda Item 19) The Executive considered a revised detailed project appraisal (EX19) for the revised environmental enhancement scheme in Cornmarket Street. RESOLVED: to approve Project Appraisal H160/1.
340/02. FIRE BRIGADES UNION - PAY DISPUTE
(Agenda Item 20) The Executive received a report from the Chief Fire Officer which set out the latest position regarding the pay dispute. The Fire Brigades Union had sought a 39% pay increase for whole-time fire fighters, 50% for control operatives and substantial increases for retained fire fighters with effect from 7 November 2002. The employers had offered a 4% interim award plus negotiations linked to modernisation criteria. Nationally, negotiations had broken down and the employers had suggested an independent review looking at structure reporting, pay and conditions. The Government had confirmed that this review was on-going with an expected reporting date before the end of the year although the FBU had refused to take part in the review at present. The FBU had been given a mandate to ballot for strike action and although the outcome of the strike ballot had yet to be determined such action could start as early as mid-October. Therefore it had been necessary to undertake pre-planning on a national and local basis. Fire cover would be provided by the military with assistance from the police acting as escort to appliances. Planning was also under way to provide alternative control room and the technology and logistics associated with that. They had not yet been finalised and the Chief Fire Officer undertook to report back to the Executive on progress. He advised that it was to be expected that provision of service would not be to current standards. Plans were under way to offer advice to the public, both domestic and commercial to minimise risks. Councillor Farrow advised that plans were subject to daily review and assured the Executive that frequent reports would be made on progress. RESOLVED: to note the report.
341/02. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS
(Agenda Item 21) The Executive considered a list of items (EX21) from the Forward Plan for the next two meetings identified from the current Forward Plan. RESOLVED: to :
in the Chair Date
of signing 2002
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