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To Members of the Executive

Notice of a Meeting of the Executive

Tuesday 26 November 2002 at 2.00 pm

County Hall, Oxford

Chris Impey
Assistant Chief Executive

Contact officer: (Tel: 01865 815463; E-mail)

Membership

The Agenda follows. Decisions taken at the meeting will become effective at the end of the working day on 4 December 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

1. Apologies for Absence
   
   
2. Declarations of Interest
   
   
3. Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2002 (EX3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

4. Petitions and Public Address
   
   
5. Budget Monitoring

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/137
Contact Officer: Mike Petty, Principal Financial Manager (01865 815622)

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

The projected Programme Area Carryforward Reserves at 31 March 2003 show a potential deficit of £4.149m after allowing for the City School Reorganisation overspend of £3.465m. Overall we have forecast balances of around £2.2m to meet outlined pressures of potentially around £1.2m (plus the firefighters pay award). This represents a decrease in balances available of around £0.370m since the previous report. In the context of the overall position on finances I am advising that directors continue to maintain their levels of under spend including any holdback for this financial year.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to receive the report and to strongly reiterate to directors the continued need to proceed cautiously and to maintain their levels of underspend for the rest of the financial year.

6. Special Educational Needs – Scrutiny Review

Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/189
Contact Officer: Matt Bramall and Julian Hehir, Scrutiny Review Officers (01865 815673)

Report by Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee (EX6).

At its meeting on 15 October 2002, the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration on the review of the service, which had been carried out by a member review group appointed by the Committee for that purpose. 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.

The Executive agreed to consider the substance of the report at the meeting on 26 November, with adequate time allocated for detailed debate following a presentation by the Scrutiny Review Group members – Councillors Christine Witcher and Zoe Patrick. Members are asked to bring with them to the meeting their copies of the Review Report, circulated with the agenda for the 15 October meeting.

Now circulated (EX6) is a report by the Acting Chief Education Officer commenting on the Review recommendations, the majority of which are supported.

The Executive is asked to consider and respond to the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Review report and recommendations.

7. Fire Service Dispute

Executive Member: Community Safety
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/220
Contact Officer: John Parry, Chief Fire Officer (01865855205)

The Chief Fire Officer reports as follows:-

On Wednesday 13 November, following the breakdown of negotiations between the Fire Brigade Union and the employers, the Union commenced their planned industrial action with an initial 48 hour strike, with the possibility of further more protracted action over the ensuing weeks. The Chief Fire Officer will provide an oral update at the meeting on the situation.

8. Abingdon Old Gaol Development

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. support the idea in principle of creating a cultural centre for Abingdon in the Old Gaol;
2. agree in principle to:

1. the relocation of Abingdon Library to the Old Gaol site subject to feasibility and financing;
2. use of the capital receipt of the sale of the present Abingdon Library towards the new library in the Old Gaol;

3. invite the Vale of White Horse District Council, Abingdon Town Council and APAGE to participate in an informal working group with membership and purpose as set out in Annex 1 to the report;
4. request the Vale of White Horse District Council to commission their consultants to prepare revised plans for the Old Gaol following further discussions with the working group.

9. Learning Disabilities - Supported Living

1. agree the re-provision of services formerly provided at Marywood House as described in the report;
2. declare Marywood House surplus to requirements;
3. note the issues surrounding Stowford House and Fettiplace Road, and agree to a Feasibility Study, including financial implications, on the future options for future consideration by the Executive.

10. Real Time Information for Bus Passengers

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:-

1. approve the Detailed Project Appraisal at Annex 1 to the report; and
2. authorise the invitation of tenders for provision of a Real Time Passenger Information system for the Oxford to Kidlington corridor and prices for extending it County-wide over time.

11. Parking Standards for New Development

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/203
Contact Officer: Paul Staley (01865 8715707)

Report by Director of Environmental Services (EX11).

The report seeks approval of car parking and cycle parking standards for new developments. The current draft car parking standards, were included in the Local Transport Plan 2001-2006 (LTP) which replaced the previous standards formulated in the late 1980s. Both the draft car parking standards in the LTP and those proposed in this report are in line with Government Policy Guidance set out in PPG13. They are set in the context of encouraging sustainable development and the need to reduce private vehicle mileage. This is essentially to reduce pollutant gases from vehicle exhausts.

Consultation has taken place with the District Councils in finalising the standards and consideration has been given to the impact that reducing car parking within new developments can have on on-street conditions. The proposed standards in this report simplify and provide more flexibility than those in draft form in the LTP. They also require provision of parking for people with disabilities.

The proposed cycle parking standards are intended to replace those in draft form in the Local Transport Plan Cycle Strategy. The proposed standards are presented in a similar form to the car parking standards for ease of reference.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve the car parking and cycle parking standards for new developments as respectively set out in Table 1 and Table 2 annexed to the report.

12. Procedures for the Acqisition and Disposal of Property

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/194
Contact Officer: Peter Taylor (01865 815681)

Report by Director of Environmental Services and Director for Business Support (EX12).

An officer working group has reviewed the acquisition and disposal of property procedures in place under the Council’s present Constitution against those of the former Standing Orders, as well as other relevant guidance and legislation. The report highlights areas where improvements can be made and makes appropriate recommendations.

Particular proposals are designed to ensure that property over a certain value should not be sold other than by public auction, sealed bid or by tender after public advertisement; to authorise planning obligation agreements where these are required as a precondition of the grant of planning permission for sites being disposed of by the County Council; and to provide for the application of the "Crichel Down Rules" in appropriate cases where property which was originally bought under compulsory purchase procedures is no longer required.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to agree the variation of the Specific Powers and Functions of the Director of Environmental Services in respect of property (as presently reflected in the Schedule to Section L of the Constitution) as described in the report and set out in Annex 2.

13. Youth Justice Plan

Executive Member: Children & Young People
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/121
Contact Officer: Mike Simm, Youth Offending Team Manager (01865 202218)

Report by Head of the Youth Offending Service (EX13).

The annual Youth Justice Plan is one of the strategic plans which are subject to approval by full Council following consideration by both the Executive and relevant Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution.

The Youth Justice Plan is required to be submitted to the Youth Justice Board by 31 March 2003. The Board has just issued detailed guidance for drawing up the Plan, and it is not possible to submit to this meeting of the Executive a draft Plan. Authority is therefore sought for arrangements which will enable an outline to be prepared for consideration by the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee on 11 December 2002.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to authorise the Head of the Youth Offending Service, in consultation with the Executive Members for Children & Young People and Community Safety, to draw up initial proposals within the constraints identified in the report for submission to the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee for comment.

14. Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Publication Scheme

Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/196
Contact Officer: Peter Clark, Solicitor to the Council (01865 815363)

Report by Director for Business Support & County Treasurer (EX14).

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 places a duty on every local authority to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme approved by the Information Commissioner; thereafter to publish information in accordance with that Scheme; and to review the Scheme periodically. The Publication Scheme sets out the classes of information held by the authority, the manner in which it intends to publish the information, and whether a charge will be made for the information.

The Freedom of Information Act requires a draft Publication Scheme to be submitted for approval by the Information Commissioner on or before the 31 December 2002. A draft Scheme has now been developed, having collated responses from all service areas and in accordance with guidelines produced by the Information Commissioner.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to authorise the Solicitor to the Council to finalise the Publication Scheme on the basis of the principles set out in the report and the outline annexed to the report, for submission to the Information Commissioner by 31 December 2002 as required by Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

15. Victoria History of Oxfordshire

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. formally recognise the Victoria History of Oxfordshire Trust for the purpose of the appointment to it of trustees representing the County Council;
2. agree the setting up of a VCH Working Group, as an informal joint member/officer working group, on the basis outlined in the report; and
3. appoint three county councillors to serve on the VCH Working Group.

16. Forward Plan and Future Business