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ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 18 FEBRUARY 2003

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 3.45 pm

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.

47/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Janet Godden, John Farrow and Neil Fawcett.

48/03. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2003 were approved and signed.

49/03. BUDGET MONITORING

(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive considered a report (EX5) which updated the budget monitoring position for 2002/03 to the end of December 2002.

Mr Petty advised that since the report had been published the overspend position with regard to Social & Health Care had improved by a further £150,000.

RESOLVED: to receive the report and to strongly reiterate to Directors the continued need to proceed cautiously and to continue to monitor expenditure closely.

50/03. FIRE SERVICE DISPUTE

(Agenda Item 6)

The Executive had before them a report (EX6) by the Chief Fire Officer which set out the latest position regarding the dispute.

RESOLVED to note the position.

51/03. PREMIUM BUS ROUTES IMPLEMENTATION

(Agenda Item 7)

The Executive considered a report (EX7) which updated the Executive on progress made with the Council’s Premium Bus Routes strategy.

Councillor Harper requested that the Banbury - Bretch Hill route be included in the first implementation phase of the strategy.

In response to concern expressed by Councillor Shouler, Councillor Robertson confirmed that the proposed Bicester to Gosford scheme would not reduce the capacity for general traffic using the M40/A34/A41 junction.

RESOLVED: to:

1. endorse the list of Premium Routes schemes set out in Annex 1 to the report EX7 for future implementation, subject to inclusion of the individual schemes in the Transport Capital Programme at the appropriate time;
2. ask the Director of Environmental Services in consultation with the Executive Members for Transport and Strategic Planning & Waste Management to select specific schemes from the list for possible inclusion in the 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 Transport Capital Programme to be considered at the 15 April Executive meeting.
   
   

52/03. VISITOR COACH MANAGEMENT, OXFORD

(Agenda Item 8)

The Executive considered a report (EX8) which provided an update on progress towards a long term solution to the management of visitor coaches in Oxford.

Councillor Fooks urged the removal of the facility for coaches to stop in the layby adjacent to the Taylorian in St Giles.

Councillor Tudor Hughes referred to progress made to date with all parties towards achieving positive solutions to the problems of tourist coach management.

RESOLVED: to:

1. subject to (b)(iii) below, agree to retain the status quo for tourist coaches for the coming 2003 season;
2. authorise the Director of Environmental Services/Director of Environment & Economy:

1. in co-operation with the City Council, to monitor coach activity in Oxford City centre through the season and continue to develop options for consultation with all interested groups as well as local members;
2. to carry out any necessary minor alterations to signing in Oxford to ensure appropriate information is given to coaches entering the City, subject to the views of the OTS Working Party and in consultation with the Executive Members for Transport and Strategic Planning & Waste Management; and
3. to investigate measures to prevent the use of the Taylorian layby by coaches and, subject to consultations with interested groups, report the resulting proposals and any representations received to the Transport Implementation Committee for consideration at the earliest opportunity, if possible at the 17 April meeting of the Committee.
   
   

53/03. THE NATURE AND USE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

RESOURCES MATRIX

(Agenda Item 9)

The Executive considered a report (EX9) which had been requested by the Executive on 26 November 2002 as one of the actions resulting from consideration of the Scrutiny Review report on Special Educational Needs (SEN). It explained the use of the draft resources matrix, and included advice from the Solicitor to the Council which highlighted the need to consider the circumstances of each individual case in making an assessment and any ensuing decision of the allocation of resources.

Councillor Witcher questioned the need for the matrix particularly as the County Council had a perfectly adequate set of internal criteria for assessments. She considered the matrix an additional level of bureaucracy, which would only serve to confuse parents and schools.

Mr Clark stressed the need for the County Council to be seen to make its decisions from a consistent base, whilst taking into account the different circumstances and needs of individual children. Use of the document would help achieve this, provided it was applied as guidance and not as a rigid set of rules.

RESOLVED: to endorse the use of a set of guidelines based on the document at Annex 1 to the report (previously referred to as a draft Matrix) as a guide to determining SEN provision subject to:

1. inclusion of an explanatory note based on the Advice Note by the Solicitor to the Council at Annex 2 to the report EX9;
2. compliance with the advice of the Solicitor to the Council in applying the guidelines in individual cases;
3. establishing the guidelines as a public document and their circulation to staff directly concerned, Headteachers and parents with children undergoing assessment;
4. report back to the Executive in a year’s time on the frequency and effectiveness of the use of the Guidelines.
   
   

54/03. MATTHEW ARNOLD SCHOOL, CUMNOR

(Agenda Item 10)

In April 2002 the Executive had approved an outline project appraisal for the provision of a new purpose built science block at Mathew Arnold School, Cumnor and now had before it a detailed project appraisal for the new facility.

Councillor Mitchell advised that the School and Governors fully supported the proposal.

RESOLVED: to approve Project Appraisal ED583/1.

55/03. ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSERVATION BOARDS FOR THE COTSWOLDS AND CHILTERNS AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY

(Agenda Item 11)

In March 2002 the Cotswolds AONB Partnership had agreed in principle to seek the establishment of a Cotswolds Conservation Board, under provisions introduced by the Countryside & Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 and which would have the powers and functions to enable it to undertake a key role in shaping the future of the Cotswolds AONB. The Executive, now considered an informal consultation by the Partnership with constituent authorities and member organisations on the proposed Board and the associated draft Establishment Order.

RESOLVED: to:

1. support the establishment of a Cotswolds Conservation Board with the duties, powers, functions, structure and general operating measures outlined in ‘Proposals for The Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board Establishment Order’ and set out in the draft Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board Establishment Order;
2. authorise the Director of Cultural Services, in liaison with the Solicitor to the Council, to respond in the same way to any informal consultation on a draft Chilterns AONB Conservation Board Establishment Order, subject to consultation with the Executive Members for Learning & Culture and Schools in the event that the draft is materially different from that for the Cotswolds AONB.
   
   

56/03. JOB EVALUATION FOR COUNTY COUNCIL EMPLOYEES

(Agenda Item 12)

The Executive considered a report (EX12) on the implications of the recommended budget allocation for 2003-04 and the proposed means of implementing the job evaluation scheme within the sums allocated.

The Executive noted the deletion of the words "bottom point of their new grade at the end of 3 years or to" in line 7 of paragraph 9 of the report.

Councillor Robertson expressed concern over potential problems of staff retention, particularly in Environmental Services, in the event of salary reductions.

Councillor Margaret Godden stressed that the job evaluation programme was enabling a comprehensive assessment to be carried out for the first time against a consistent and objective set of criteria. In response to Councillor Robertson’s concerns, she confirmed that serious consideration was being given to the applicability of market supplements in appropriate circumstances.

RESOLVED: to endorse the premises set down in paragraphs 7 to 12 of the report for the purpose of consultation with Unison.

57/03. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

(Agenda Item 13)

The Executive considered a list of items for the next two meetings.

RESOLVED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings subject to Item 2003/58, "Maximising our Resources" being moved to 29 April and Item 2002/230, "Nettlebed Primary School to 18 March 2003.

58/03. EXEMPT ITEM

RESOLVED: that the public be excluded during the consideration of item 14E in the Agenda since it was 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, i.e. information any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

59/03. OXFORD PRISON DEVELOPMENT

(Agenda Item 14E)

The Executive considered a report (EX14E) which set out the current position in connection with the negotiation of revised terms for the Development Agreement between the County Council and Oxford Castle Limited and continuing discussions with SEEDA on the level of grant funding.

Councillor Godden commended Neil Monaghan and Maurice McCarthy for their professionalism in dealing with this exciting project, which represented a key element in the redevelopment of this part of Oxford.

RESOLVED:

1. ratify the revised profit share arrangements to be incorporated into the Development Agreement between Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford Castle Limited;
2. agree to a net contribution to the Tidmarsh Lane part of the project in the sum of £255,000;
3. agree the provision funding of up to £300,000 to allow the enabling works including archaeological excavation to proceed on the current programme, funded as set out in the report, on the basis that should the scheme proceed £255,000 of that would be treated as the contribution from the Council towards the additional costs of the Tidmarsh Lane part of the project; and
4. agree to continued negotiations with SEEDA for increased grant funding and the provision of such further information as it may require.

in the Chair

Date of signing 2003

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