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ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE - 18 MARCH 2003

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 4.30 pm

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

68/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Neil Fawcett.

69/03. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2003 were approved and signed.

70/03. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS

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

Request from	Agenda Item
Mr Graham Jones	9 – Camera Enforcement of Bus Lanes in Oxford

The address on item 9 is recorded at Minute 75/03 below.

71/03. ORDER OF BUSINESS

To vary the order of business as indicated in the minutes.

72/03. BUDGET MONITORING

(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive considered a report (EX5) which updated the budget monitoring position for 2002/03 to the end of January 2003.

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

73/03. ANNUAL AUDIT LETTER AND ACTION PLAN 2001/2002

(Agenda Item 6)

The Executive considered a report (EX6) which outlined the District Auditor’s Annual Letter for 2001/02 which represented a summary of the Auditor’s work and key findings relating to the financial year 2001/02.

RESOLVED: to:

1. note the Annual Audit Letter 2001/02 and the issues referred by the Best Value Committee to the two Scrutiny Committees;
2. endorse the Action Plan 2001/02 and invite individual Executive Members to pursue the respective recommendations with the appropriate Directors.
   
   

74/03. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT – QUARTERLY MONITORING REPORT

(Agenda Item 7)

The Executive considered a report (EX7) which considered the Quarter 3 (October – December 2002) performance progress against the Oxfordshire Plan 2002 – 2003 key targets and the estimated outturn figures for Best Value Performance Indicators 2002 – 2003.

The Leader of the Council reported that the compliance threshold for Best Value Performance Indicators, presently 85%, would be set at 100% next year. He hoped it would be possible within the requirements of the Audit Commission, to set realistic targets for 2003/04.

RESOLVED: to:

1. receive the report and invite the respective Executive Members to investigate further with the relevant Directors:

1. those areas where targets had not been met as shown in Annex 1 to the report;
2. those areas where performance was estimated to fall below 85% of target as shown in Annexes 2–6 to the report; and
3. those areas where performance data had not been provided as shown in Annexes 2–6 to the report;
2. ask officers to report back to the Executive on the target setting process before finalisation of the targets for 2003/04.
   
   

75/03. DEVELOPING OUR STAFF BEST VALUE REVIEW

1. endorse the Developing our Staff Review and Action Plan;
2. ask the Director for Resources to develop the proposed detailed Action Plan for report back to the Executive via the Best Value Committee within six months.

76/03. CAMERA ENFORCEMENT OF BUS LANES IN OXFORD

(Agenda Item 9)

The Executive considered a report (EX9) which detailed the progress made towards devising a suitable system to enforce Bus Lanes in Oxford City, including the key central area access restriction points.

Mr Jones, on behalf of the Oxford High Street Business Association and ROX (Rescue Oxford) urged the Executive that, before introducing camera enforcement, consideration should be given to amending the movement restrictions in George Street so that vehicles would be able to have access via its eastern end rather than being required to use Frideswide Square, adding to the congestion there.

Mr Luck reported that the Department had received many of complaints about the abuse of traffic restrictions in George Street. He added that the issue of access through the George Street bus gate would be discussed at the next meeting of the Oxford Transport Strategy Working Party. As a formal Traffic Order would be required for the introduction of camera enforcements, the issue of exemptions would be open to public comments when the Order was published.

RESOLVED: to approve the procurement and installation of the CCTV cameras for enforcement of bus lanes at the four sites specified in the report subject to:

1. the authorising Statutory Instrument being issued and coming into effect;
2. inclusion of the scheme in the 2003/04 Transport Capital Programme;
3. consideration of any observations or objections resulting from consultation on the individual sites by the Transport Implementation Committee; and
4. conversion of the City of Oxford Traffic Management Order 1999, at the specified sites, to a Bus Lane Order and subject to the consideration of any observations or objections by the Transport Implementation Committee.
   
   

77/03. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME 2003/04

(Agenda Item 10)

The Executive considered a report (EX10) which listed the planned expenditure on the highway maintenance activities programmed for 2003/04 funded from the available revenue budget (£14.860m) and capital budget (£10.0m). The report further detailed the allocations to the Oxford City Council for Section 42 works on unclassified roads in Oxford in 2003/04. The programme allowed for the strategic measures that were part of the Council’s 2003/04 budget.

RESOLVED: to:

1. endorse the details of the 2003/04 Highway Maintenance programme as set out in Annex 1 to the report, subject to confirmation of the capital funding for structural maintenance;
2. approve the Oxford City Council’s Section 42 estimate as modified and shown in Column B of Annex 2 to the report.
   
   

78/03. FREIGHT QUALITY PARTNERSHIPS

(Agenda Item 11)

The Executive considered a report (EX11) which sought approval to set up a countywide Freight Quality Partnership in conjunction with the implementation of Integrated Transport Strategies in the urban areas.

RESOLVED: to:

1. approve the establishment of a Freight Quality Partnership for Oxfordshire, on the basis outlined in the report, with a review of its operation and progress to be carried out after 12 months;
2. agree that the constitution of the Partnership should comprise the Executive Member for Transport or his nominee together with representatives of other interests as determined by the Director for Environment & Economy in consultation with the Executive Members for Transport and Strategic Planning & Waste Management; and
3. authorise the Director for Environment & Economy to develop terms of reference and a programme of activities for the 12 month period in consultation with the Executive Members for Transport, Strategic Planning and Waste Management.
   
   

79/03. TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2003/04 TO 2005/06

(Agenda Item 8)

The Executive considered a report (EX8) which sought the Executive’s provisional approval for the allocation of the 2003/04 Single Capital Pot allocation for transport to the 6 main budget headings, and to the sub headings within each main programme area, to enable the full 2003/04 programme to be developed for final approval on 15 April. It further sought to update the proposed provisional allocations for 2004/05 and 2005/06 to assist with future design and development work.

The Executive also considered a supplementary report (EX8 Supplement) which provided additional information on Oxfordshire’s involvement in the national traveline telephone and internet enquiry service, which was likely to impact on the Transport Capital Programme.

Councillor Robertson, in introducing the report EX8, drew attention to the revised Resource Appraisal for Thornhill Park & Ride at Annex 5. The higher outturn cost was due to a higher than expected tender resulting from requirements to keep the existing car park operating at the maximum possible capacity while the works for extending it were in progress, as well as unforeseen technical difficulties on site.

RESOLVED: to:

1. approve the provisional allocations set out in Annexes 3 and 4 to the report as the basis for developing the 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 transport capital programmes for further consideration by the Executive;
2. agree that there would not be a new bidding round in 2003 for the Better Ways to School programme and that the 2004/05 BWTS programme would provide for the completion of the schemes included in the 2003/04 and earlier programmes;
3. approve the revised Resource Appraisal amending the Project Appraisal for Thornhill Park and Ride included as Annex 5 to the report;
4. confirm Oxfordshire’s continuing commitment to traveline;
5. approve the £7,000 increase in the cost of operation of the traveline system to be funded from the Public Transport Revenue Support Budget; and
6. approve the allocation of £48,000 capital contribution to the traveline project from the 2003/04 Transport Capital Programme.
   
   

80/03. DEVELOPING THE FOUNDATION STAGE OF LEARNING IN OXFORDSHIRE

(Agenda Item 12)

The Executive considered a report (EX12) which outlined key strategic and financial issues for the County Council to consider before confirming a start date for the introduction of a single main point of admission to Oxfordshire primary schools.

RESOLVED:

1. to confirm the introduction of a single main point of admission in September of each year to Oxfordshire primary schools starting in September 2004 on the basis of the financial provision already made in the course of the budget approval process for 2003/04, and to commend this change to the Governors of Aided and Foundation primary schools in the County;
2. to confirm the accompanying measures within the agreed financial provision in relation to:

• free school meals entitlement

• primary schools’ discretion to offer full-time places, subject to local consultation
• the right of parents to defer their child’s admission to primary school in the reception year and the preparation of specific guidance for parents on this issue
• the preparation of further guidance concerning small schools
• the agreement of special local arrangements to safeguard the position of Nursery Schools
• the carrying out of transport assessments in the case of any schemes involving new buildings as approved by the Executive on 7 January;

1. to note the financial implications set out in the report of the following measures aimed at implementing the Foundation Stage of Learning for young children in Oxfordshire:

• increasing the age-related pupil unit of resource for reception-year five year olds
• establishing an early years investment fund for primary school buildings;
• increasing the partnership/sustainability fund for pre-schools;
• providing additional funds specifically for pre-school children with special educational needs;

1. to agree that the proposed early years investment fund for primary school buildings should be considered in the disposition of any excess capital receipts that might become available;
2. to ask the officers to carry out detailed work on a scheme for establishing an early years investment fund for primary school buildings starting in 2004/05 and to report back on proposals for this in October 2003.

81/03. YOUTH JUSTICE PLAN

1. subject to the above, endorse the comments from the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee;
2. to RECOMMEND Council to approve the Youth Justice Plan for submission to the Youth Justice Board.

82/03. TRANSFORMING YOUTH WORK 2003-2006 - OXFORDSHIRE YOUTH SERVICE PLAN

(Agenda Item 14)

The Executive considered a report (EX14), which summarised the plans for reforming Youth Services. "Developing Youth Work for Young People" and "Resourcing Excellent Youth Services". The report summarised the main themes of the two documents and recommended a Youth Work Plan for Oxfordshire for the coming years.

Councillor Janet Godden welcomed and endorsed the comments received from the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED: having regard to the comments received from the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee, to:

1. endorse the Oxfordshire Transforming Youth Work Plan 2003-2006;
2. note the need to consider, in the context of the budget for future years, with particular reference to paragraph 10 of the report, the level of financial resources to be allocated to the Youth Service to enable the Service to work towards meeting the national standards for Youth Services recommended by the National Youth Agency and Department for Education & Skills.
   
   

83/03. PROPOSALS FOR THE REPROVISION OF STOWFORD HOUSE HOSTEL FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

(Agenda Item 15)

The Executive considered a report (EX15) which outlined the options for the future of Stowford House, which would enable residents and their families to make their choices of where to move over a period of time and within a cost efficient framework for the County Council.

The Executive thanked Ms Carr and her team for the sensitive way in which they had dealt with this matter.

RESOLVED: to approve the proposals as set out in the report for the redevelopment of services provided at Stowford House.

84/03. TRANSPORT FOR POST-16 STUDENTS

(Agenda Item 16)

The Executive considered a report (EX16) which outlined the requirements of Schedule 19 of the Education Act 2002 in relation to Transport for Post-16 students including a Policy Statement which set out the ways in which all the "partners" (LEA, schools, colleges, Learning & Skills Council) would provide this support for students.

RESOLVED:

1. to authorise the Director for Learning & Culture to draw up a Statement of Transport Provision for post-16 students on the basis outlined in the report, using information from Colleges and re-stating current provision by the LEA;
2. instruct officers to continue to discuss with members of the Oxfordshire Partnership the appropriate use of the Learner Support Funds provided by the Learning & Skills Council and to report the outcome to a future meeting of the Executive for decision.
   
   

85/03. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

In the Chair

Date of signing 2003

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