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ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 26 NOVEMBER 2002

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 5.05 pm

Present:

The Executive considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with an additional document tabled at the meeting (recorded under Minute 446/02), and decided as set out below. Except insofar as otherwise specified, the reasons for the decisions are contained in the copies of which are attached to the signed Minutes.

413/02. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Farrow, Neil Fawcett and Keith R Mitchell.

414/02. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2002 were approved and signed.

Minute 399/02 - Changes in Social Services Provision - Children’s Disability Service

Councillor Don Seale asked that, for clarification, it be recorded that he had made a statement in the course of consideration of this item in the following terms:-

"With regard to un-met needs, you will have noticed the looks of sheer disbelief on the faces of the parents sitting to your left. I noticed that the Panorama cameras have faithfully recorded their expressions of disbelief, which they will no doubt use in later films. Why do you think that there is what appears to be an almost unbridgeable gap in what you are telling us and what they, the parents, believe?"

415/02. BUDGET MONITORING

(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive considered a report (EX5) which detailed the budget monitoring position of the Council for 2002/03 as at 30 September 2002 and set out the latest forecast of the Council’s reserves and provisions at 31 March 2003.

RESOLVED: to receive the report and to reiterate strongly to directors the continued need to proceed cautiously and to maintain their levels of underspend for the rest of the financial year.

416/02. SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS – SCRUTINY REVIEW

1. acknowledge the significant work that had been undertaken by the Scrutiny Committee for the review of Special Educational Needs and thank them for their report and recommendations;
2. request the Acting Chief Education Officer to:
   
   

1. investigate ways in which Nursery/Early Years providers could work better to identify SEN at an early stage in the maintained and non-maintained sectors; and ensure that a new improved action plan was completed, as scheduled, by April 2003;
2. achieve or better the timescale targets contained within the SEN Development Plan; and improve continuity in screening and assessing pupils at the transition between primary and secondary schools;
3. ensure that, as part of the reorganisation of the Department, measures were taken to achieve higher quality statement writing, and improve the content, style, and clarity of statements by strengthening the monitoring process;
4. clarify the funding arrangements for schools with regard to the first five hours of LSA time; and make proposals for the further delegation of funding for SEN to schools to be introduced in 2004;
5. make proposals for the diversification from the currency of LSA hours and consider a wider range of resources for meeting assessed need; and to improve speech and language therapy if funding could be identified including improving links with the NHS for the purchase of such provision;
6. report back on the use and status of the resource matrix within three months;
7. report within six months on the functioning of the resource and assessment panels to include the role and responsibilities of the case officers;
8. provide a plan of action to improve communication, and establish standards for good communication which could be monitored as part of the development plan;
9. ensure that if there were particular court cases, judicial review or otherwise, involving the Oxfordshire Education Directorate, then such cases would be brought to the attention of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee;
10. produce a document clearly setting out the resource and assessment panels’ working composition and powers;
11. review the SEN Development Plan annually, and robustly monitor its implementation, with a report to Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee annually;
12. ensure that any measures to improve the service that resulted from the current investigation into closer working between Social Services, Health and Education, and from the reorganisation of the Education Directorate, were implemented as quickly as possible;
13. highlight the importance of training to all SENCOs and SEN Governors, and encourage them to take part in courses arranged for them whenever possible; and furthermore write to all headteachers clarifying the role of the SEN Governor;
14. investigate any potential problems with the SEN service in Abingdon and the south of the County;
15. report back on the financial and staff implications of the 3 budget options referred to in paragraph 105 of the Review report;
3. request the Acting Chief Education Officer to report back to the Executive in October 2003, on progress in implementing the measures listed at (b)(1)-(15), and their impact on the service.

417/02. FIRE SERVICE DISPUTE

(Agenda Item 7)

The Executive received an oral report from the Chief Fire Officer which set out the latest position regarding the current pay dispute between the Fire Brigades Union and the national employers.

He reported briefly on the incidents which had occurred during the current stoppage. He congratulated the public on their vigilance and safety consciousness although expressed some concern over members of the public getting directly involved in incidents. In response to questions regarding modernisation he reported that out of 58 brigades the Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service had been rated the third most cost effective, and that many of the initiatives under discussion in the context of the current dispute were already in place or under consideration in Oxfordshire..

RESOLVED: to note the report.

418/02. ABINGDON OLD GAOL DEVELOPMENT

(Agenda Item 8)

The Executive considered a report (EX8) which outlined proposals under discussion for a new ‘cultural centre’ in the Old Gaol, to include the library, museum and other facilities.

Mr Brown reported that the Vale of White Horse District Council had confirmed their commitment to meeting the County Council’s requirements: the consultants would be looking at improved public accessibility for the library facilities and the inclusion of a lifelong learning element. Cultural Services would be looking at the prospects for greater co-ordination between the library and museum elements and the incorporation of facilities for the arts. It was anticipated that public consultation would take place in the new year.

RESOLVED: 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;
5. request a report back on progress in six months.
   
   

419/02. LEARNING DISABILITIES - SUPPORTED LIVING

(Agenda Item 9)

The Committee considered a report (EX9) which outlined progress regarding the re-housing of more than 50 people from hostels into ordinary housing in the communities of their choice and sought approval for Marywood House Hostel to be declared surplus to requirements. The Executive congratulated Ms Carr and her team on all the excellent work on this project.

RESOLVED: to:

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 on the options, including financial implications, for future consideration by the Executive.
   
   

420/02. REAL TIME INFORMATION FOR BUS PASSENGERS

(Agenda Item 10)

The Executive considered a report (EX10) which outlined the progress made on the County Council’s commitment to introduce a Real Time Passenger Information system within the County which would provide accurate arrival times of buses through a range of media.

Councillor Dawes spoke against the recommendations set out in the report. He believed that the proposal did not meet the aims and objectives of the Oxfordshire Plan, and pointed out that it made no provision other than along the Oxford-Kidlington corridor; he doubted whether the County Council would be able to meet the costs of rolling out the scheme County-wide. He urged the Executive to defer a decision on the report to enable the Environment Scrutiny Committee to take a further look at the issue and report back to the Executive.

Mr Newson reported that the promotion of real time information for bus passengers was in line with the objectives of the Oxfordshire Plan as it had considerable potential for encouraging passenger use and improve the efficiency and reliability of bus services. He drew attention for the reasons for choosing the Kidlington corridor as set out in paragraph 4 of the report, and the prospects for the scheme to be rolled out Countywide in due course, subject to funding. In response to comments by members he confirmed that the available technology was robust and that the definition of a national standard was believed to be close. The tenders would be evaluated in this light.

RESOLVED: (nem con) 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, subject to further consultation with the Executive Members for Transport and Strategic Planning & Waste Management on the additional revenue implications of a county-wide scheme.
   
   

421/02 PARKING STANDARDS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT

(Agenda Item 11)

The Executive considered a report (EX11) which sought 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, which replaced the previous standards formulated in the late 1980s. Both the draft car parking standards in the Local Transport Plan and those proposed in the report were in line with Government Policy Guidance.

Councillor Dawes addressed the Executive against the recommendations, on the basis that many people in rural areas did not have a choice regarding car use, and that the report did not address parking at hotels and sports stadia. He urged the Executive to refer the report to the Environment Scrutiny Committee for consideration and comment .

Mr Staley stressed that the guidance was intended to reduce unnecessary car use and not to restrict travel in areas where the use of the car was the best or only option. There were no standards set down for stadia since the characteristics were different in every case.

RESOLVED: (nem con) 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.

422/02. PROCEDURES FOR THE ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY

(Agenda Item 12)

The Executive considered a report (EX12) which outlined the findings of an officer working group which had reviewed the acquisition and disposal of property procedures in place under the Council’s present Constitution against those of the former Standing Orders and highlighted areas where improvements could be made.

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

423/02. YOUTH JUSTICE PLAN

(Agenda Item 13)

The Executive considered a report (EX13) which sought authority for arrangements to enable an outline draft Youth Justice Plan to be prepared for consideration by the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution.

RESOLVED: 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, and to ask officers to consider how best to accommodate the various stages of the preparation process within the Council’s calendar of meetings.

424/02. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – PUBLICATION SCHEME

(Agenda Item 14)

The Executive considered a report (EX14) outlining a draft Publication Scheme to be submitted for approval by the Information Commissioner on or before the 31 December 2002. A revised introductory section of the proposed Scheme was tabled at the meeting by the Solicitor to the Council.

RESOLVED: to authorise the Solicitor to the Council, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of 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 (as now amended), for submission to the Information Commissioner by 31 December 2002 as required by Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

425/02. VICTORIA HISTORY OF OXFORDSHIRE

(Agenda Item 15)

The Executive considered a report (EX15) which outlined administrative arrangements in connection with the Victoria History of Oxfordshire, including arrangements for the appointment of County Council representatives on the Trust, and proposals for an informal working group to provide a joint monitoring and discussion forum for all partners materially supporting the VCH work in Oxfordshire.

RESOLVED: 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. invite each of the political groups to nominate a county councillor to serve on the VCH Working Group.
   
   

426/02. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

in the Chair

Date of signing 2002

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