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ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 15 OCTOBER 2002

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 4.55 pm

Present:

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, reports and schedule, copies of which are attached to the signed Minutes.

357/02. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Crabbe and Councillor Mitchell.

358/02. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2002 were approved and signed.

359/02. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS

The Chair reported that the following request to address the meeting had been agreed:-

Request from	Agenda Item
Graham Jones (ROX)	15 – Taxis in Bus Lanes and Bus Lane//Gate Enforcement.

Brereton Drive, Grove - Pedestrian Crossing – Petition Presented by Councillor Zoe Patrick

Councillor Patrick presented a petition of over 900 signatures on behalf of parents and children of Millbrook School in Grove and other residents who felt that a pedestrian crossing over Brereton Drive was essential for public safety. She referred to excessive traffic speeds and a particularly bad accident some years ago. The proposal had received support from Grove Parish Council, the Headteacher of Millbrook School and Thames Valley Police.

RESOLVED: that the petition be referred to the Director of Environmental Services to investigate and discuss with the Executive Members for Transport and Strategic Planning & Waste Management.

360/02. SSI INSPECTION OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES

(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive considered an Action Plan (EX5) which had been developed by County officers to respond to the report and recommendations following the Department of Health Social Services Inspectorate’s inspection of the County Council’s Social Services Children’s Services, in March 2002.

The document had also been considered by the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee on 25 September who had commended the action plan.

Councillor Janet Godden welcomed the positive comments of the Scrutiny Committee, which supported the excellent work of the Children & Families Division.

RESOLVED: to:

1. accept the report of the Department of Health Social Services Inspectorate into the County Council’s Social Services Children’s Services;
2. commend the action plan developed by County officers in response to the Inspector’s report and recommendation with a progress report to the Executive on the Action Plan in 9 months’ time;
3. note the views of the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee.
   
   

361/02. BEST VALUE REVIEW (SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT ON CHILDREN IN PUBLIC CARE) BEHAVIOUR, ATTENDANCE AND EXCLUSIONS

(Agenda Item 6)

On 8 January 2002 the Executive had considered the Best Value Review Report on Behaviour, Attendance and Exclusions and had asked the Best Value Team to report further on specific issues arising from concern about the increase in the number of children in the care of this authority permanently excluded from school and the number of children in care without a school place. The Executive now considered a report (EX6) which set out an action plan, together with comments of the Best Value Committee, the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee and the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee.

Commending the report, Councillor Janet Godden welcomed the views of the Best Value and Scrutiny Committees.

Ms Bingham reported that although some of the Scrutiny comments fell outside the strict terms of the review, steps were being taken in relation for example, provision of IT equipment and training to foster homes; progress had been ,made in the co-ordination of the resources of Education and Social Services; and positive attention was being paid to the relationship between care plans and SEN statements.

RESOLVED: to welcome the comments of the Scrutiny Committees and subject to identification of any necessary additional resources in the context of the budget process, to approve the identified actions for services improvements.

362/02. NEW EARLY YEARS UNITS: CHOLSEY PRIMARY SCHOOL AND KIDMORE END CE (AIDED) PRIMARY SCHOOL

(Agenda Item 7)

The Executive considered a report (EX7) which set out two applications to open new Early Years Units. The Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) were also required to make a recommendation on these applications to the County Council and would be considering both applications on 17 October 2002.

RESOLVED: to approve the proposals for new Early Years Units at Cholsey Primary School from January 2003 and Kidmore End C.E. (aided) Primary School from September 2003, subject to the Acting Chief Education Officer being authorised (following consultation with the Executive Members for Children & Young People and Schools) to determine either or both proposals if there were substantive adverse comments from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

363/02. CALL-IN OF EXECUTIVE DECISION GROWING OUR CORPORATE CAPACITY

(Agenda Item 8)

On 17 September 2002 the Executive, subject to deletion of "first and foremost" where applied to the corporate leadership role of Directors, had:-

1. approved the proposals at paragraph 46 of the consultation paper Growing our Corporate Capacity, subject to the Chief Executive being asked to review further the best structural location for Countryside Services, Registration and Emergency Planning in consultation with staff and Members, and to decide the way forward by mid December;
2. asked the Chief Executive to start recruitment for the three new Director posts immediately through external advertisement, with a view to appointments being made by end-December 2002; and
3. confirmed the titles for the three Director posts in light of the proposals at paragraph 7(g) of the report.

The decision had been called in for consideration by the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee. The Committee’s comments were set out in the Addenda sheet.

Councillor Ferriman reiterated her concern that the proposals represented a diminution of democracy and also a loss of faith in the past work and achievements of members and officers in this area of the Council’s services. She would continue to oppose them at every opportunity.

Councillor Hodgson expressed the view that it was imperative to retain a separate personnel function and he remained sceptical whether one person could carry out the role proposed.

The Chief Executive stated that staff comments during the consultation process had been largely supportive. Referring to Annex B of the report by the Leader of the Council he advised that this showed a national trend towards bringing together central functions, particularly finance, property and ICT, within a single Resources Directorate, although there was no national best practice model.

Members recalled that the Executive had fully considered all the points raised by the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee and had only disagreed with the Committee on the proposal to appoint a Resource Director. Having considered the reservations expressed by the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, it still appeared to the Executive that this proposal was the best option.

RESOLVED: to confirm the decisions taken at the meeting on 17 September and in particular to authorise the recruitment of a Director for Resources alongside the Director for Learning & Culture and the Director for Economy & Environment.

364/02. SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS – SCRUTINY REVIEW: PROCESS FOR EXECUTIVE RESPONSE

(Agenda Item 9)

The Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee had commissioned a member review group to carry out a review of this service. That report had now been agreed by the Scrutiny Committee and submitted to the Executive (EX9). The Review Report recognised the good work of this service and its importance in terms of meeting the Authority’s statutory duties and two of its key priorities within the corporate strategic objective of ‘Helping People to Fulfil their Potential’, outlined areas of concern and suggested ways that the service could be improved, in keeping with the Council’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Recognising the importance of the review the Leader of the Council, following consultation with other members of the Executive, had proposed that the Executive should decide on the appropriate way to consider and respond to the report.

Also tabled were comments from Councillor Robert Evans, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes.

Councillor Fawcett welcomed this first substantive scrutiny review and emphasised the importance of arrangements to ensure it was properly assessed and due weight given to its conclusions. He reported that consultations with the members concerned had produced the proposal for the procedure now recorded in the resolution below.

Councillor Patrick and Councillor Witcher confirmed their support for the proposed procedure.

RESOLVED:

1. to consider the substance of the Scrutiny Review report at the meeting of the Executive on 26 November, with adequate time allocated for detailed debate following a presentation by the Scrutiny Review Group members;
2. in the meantime an informal meeting be arranged for the Executive Members for Schools, Learning & Culture and Children & young People, the Scrutiny Review Group Members, the Chair and Deputy Chair of Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee, Education officers and Scrutiny officers to discuss practical arrangements for handling the item on 26 November.
   
   

365/02. ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOLS FORUM

(Agenda Item 10)

The Executive considered a report (EX10) which set out proposed arrangements to establish a Schools Forum.

RESOLVED: to agree to the composition of the Schools Forum as set out in paragraph 6 of the report and to ask the Acting Chief Education Officer to establish the Forum by 15 January 2003.

366/02. DELIVERY FRAMEWORK FOR E-GOVERNMENT AND IEG2 STATEMENT

(Agenda Item 11)

The Executive considered a report (EX11) which set out a framework for implementing electronic government.

In response to a request by Councillor Hodgson that the Executive include the Chair of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee in the consultation process proposed in recommendation (c), it was pointed out that it was proposed to consult the Committee on the IEG2 statement as a whole.

The Executive recognised that the implementation date of 2005 was tight and that if finance was not available then it might be necessary to rephase the timescale for implementation.

Councillor Margaret Godden welcomed the agreement of the District Councils to sign up to the principle of partnership working.

RESOLVED:

1. subject to (b) and (c) below, to endorse the strategy reflected in the IEG2 statement;
2. to refer the report and statement to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee for consideration and comment at its meeting on 24 October 2002;
3. subject to strengthening the references to health and the National Health Service to authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, to finalise the IEG2 statement taking account of the views of the Scrutiny Committee, for submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by 31 October 2002;
4. to ask officers to report to the Executive by the end of December 2002 on the additional information referred to at paragraphs 7-8 of the report EX11;
5. to authorise the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council to agree appropriate partnership arrangements with the District Councils and other public bodies including health and the police within the context set out in the IEG2 statement;
6. to agree that the financial implications of implementing urgent actions in the IEG2 implementation plan in 2002/03 be met from the new technology fund, subject to the detailed agreement of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council.
   
   

367/02. "IN THE SERVICE OF DEMOCRACY" – CONSULTATION PAPER ON A POLICY FOR ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY

(Agenda Item 12)

The Government had issued a consultation paper on a policy for electronic democracy, which focussed their e-democracy policy on two aspects - e-participation and e-voting. The issues relating to e-voting had been considered by the Democracy & Organisation Committee as a non-executive function on 5 September 2002. The Executive now considered a report (EX12), which explained those aspects of the consultation paper dealing with e-participation and which were the responsibility of the Executive in the light of comments from the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee.

Mr Bishop tabled a draft response to the Government, a copy of which is annexed to the signed minutes. It was proposed that the comments of the Democracy & Organisation Committee on e-voting should be incorporated into the final response.

RESOLVED: that a composite response be submitted to the Government’s consultation paper on e-participation incorporating the comments of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, the Democracy & Organisation Committee and the tabled draft response.

368/02/ TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002/03 TO 2005/06

(Agenda Item 13)

The Executive considered a report (EX13) which updated the 2002/03 programme and also sought approval, in principle, to a revised allocation for the programme under the six main budget headings, as set out the Local Transport Plan (LTP), for the period 2003/04 to 2005/06 to assist with the forward planning of the programme.

Mr Luck advised that the City Council had agreed the release of the developer contribution referred to in the report to fund the proposed contracted bus services from Thornhill Park & Ride to the Churchill and Nuffield Hospitals.

Councillor Robertson commended the report to the Executive.

RESOLVED: to:-

1. approve the revised provisional transport SCP allocation for 2003/04 to 2005/06, as set out in Annex 2, for forward planning purposes;
2. authorise the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Director of Business Support to increase the 2002/03 SCP allocation for Hennef Way, with a corresponding reduction in the 2003/04 SCP allocation to Hennef Way, to ensure that the £18.613m SCP allocation for 2002/03 was fully utilised;
3. approve the transfer of a total of £750,000 from the forecast underspend on the 2002/03 Sustainable Transport, Community Safety (Transport) and Casualty Reduction budgets to the Structural Maintenance budget and make an equivalent reduction in the proposed provisional Structural Maintenance allocation set out in Annex 2 for 2003/04, to enable the 2002/03 schemes carried forward to 2003/04 for implementation to be funded;
4. approve the use of an additional £135k of SCP underspend in 2002/03 for the funding of the Thornhill Park and Ride Extension so as to release the allocated developer contribution of £135k, in order to support proposed contracted bus services from Thornhill Park and Ride to the Churchill and Nuffield Hospitals; and
5. approve the letting of a contract for a bus service between Thornhill Park & Ride and the Churchill and Nuffield Hospitals for a period of 2 years in accordance with the wishes of the HAMATS Steering Group.
   
   

369/02. CARTERTON, WITNEY AND OXFORD – TRANSPORT LINKS

(Agenda Item 14)

The Committee considered a report (EX14) which set out the conclusion of a review of proposals to improve transport links along the A40 corridor from Carterton and Witney to Oxford and a three-phase strategy to improve transport links to West Oxfordshire over the next fifteen years.

Councillor Robertson commended the report to the Executive.

RESOLVED: to:

1. approve the revised three phase strategy for the A40 set out in the report EX14 for consultation with local councils, local members and interested parties;
2. ask the Director of Environmental Services to report back via Environment Scrutiny Committee, on the further development of the Strategy in the light of the results of the consultations, with an invitation to the Scrutiny Committee to advise the Executive of any changes they considered should be made to the proposed strategy before adoption by the Executive;
3. abandon the A40 Bus Lane Scheme as previously proposed;
4. authorise further work on the revised strategy and individual elements, including further consultation with interested parties between now and next Spring with a view to the introduction of an improvement of Wolvercote Roundabout during the next financial year; and
5. authorise the Director of Environmental Services to implement minor works at Wolvercote Roundabout to improve pedestrian facilities in the current year, subject to them being compatible with the final scheme, following consultation with the Executive Members for Transport and Strategic Planning & Waste Management.
   
   

370/02. TAXIS IN BUS LANES AND BUS LANE/GATE CAMERA ENFORCEMENT

(Agenda Item 15)

The Executive considered a report (EX15) which examined the issue of access by taxis to bus lanes in Oxford and considered a request by the Oxfordshire Ambulance Trust to allow access to bus lanes and through 'bus gates' for patient transport ambulances.

The Deputy Leader of the Council referred to a letter from Mr Tony Green of 001 Taxis, which he had circulated to Members of the Executive. Councillor Robertson advised that the position of private hire vehicles should be considered in the context of consultation on any future changes to the exemptions applying in the bus lanes.

Mr Graham Jones argued the need to make the centre of Oxford more attractive and accessible and suggested a relaxation of the closure of High Street during non-peak hours. He asked that the report be deferred until after the meeting of the Oxford Transport Strategy Working Party on 18 October to enable discussion to be held with the business community on how these issues could be progressed.

Councillor Robertson advised that the Executive was being asked to consider how current regulations should be enforced. Any relaxation of the restrictions on High Street would be a matter for the OTS Working Party and if significant changes were made then these issues might need to be reconsidered.

RESOLVED: to:

1. subject to (b) below, instruct officers to promote amendments to the traffic orders which designated bus lanes in and adjoining Oxford, to permit hackney carriages licensed by Oxford City Council (and not by any other licensing authority) to travel in those bus lanes;
2. maintain the exclusion of hackney carriages from the lengths of bus lane in B4044 West Way, Botley west of the A34/A420 junction and the A4165 Banbury Road/Oxford Road north of the A40 Cutteslowe Roundabout, and make no change to the classes of permitted vehicle in the length of bus lane in West Way between the Seacourt Park & Ride access and the A34/A420 junction;
3. instruct officers to promote the necessary amendments to the traffic orders which restricted access via the bus gates located on the High Street, Castle Street, Magdalen Street and George Street, to allow decriminalised camera enforcement as soon as possible after commencement of the forthcoming regulations;
4. agree that the amendments to the traffic orders under (a) and (c) should permit ambulances on patient transport duty to pass through the High Street, Castle Street, Magdalen Street and George Street bus gates and all bus lanes in and around Oxford;
5. authorise officers to prepare the necessary amendments to the bus lane orders to allow for decriminalised camera enforcement when this could be extended to the bus lanes.
   
   

371/02. VILLAGE HALL/COMMUNITY CENTRE GRANTS 2002/03

(Agenda Item 16)

The Executive considered a report (EX16) which set out proposals for the allocation of the money remaining in the grant fund for 2002/03.

Councillor Cooper spoke in support of the application for grant for improvements to Tackley Village Hall.

RESOLVED: to approve:

1. the grants proposed in paragraph 4 of EX16, and
2. in principle, a grant of £5,000 in respect of the West Hendred village hall proposal in 2003/04, subject to the Village Hall Committee securing a commitment from those elements of ‘other funding’ specified in the report by July 2003 and to the West Hendred Parish Council being requested to reconsider the level of its support.
   
   

372/02. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

1. agree the additions and amendments set out in Schedules 1 - 3 for the purpose of the Forward Plan for the ensuing four months;
2. subject to (a) above, note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings as set out in Schedule 4; and
3. note for consideration in the context of the Forward Plan at the 12 November meeting, a request from Councillor Hodgson for a future item to enable consideration of a consultation by the Department of Trade and Industry on the liberalisation of international trade services.

in the Chair

Date of signing 2002

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