______________________________________

________________________________

To Members of the Executive

Notice of a Meeting of the Executive

Tuesday 27 May 2003 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 June 2003 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

Addenda

Apologies for Absence

Declarations of Interest



Minutes

(See also Addenda)


To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2003 (EX3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

Petitions and Public Address

(See Addenda)


Budget Monitoring

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/255
Contact: Mike Petty, Principal Financial Manager (01865 815622)

Report by Director for Resources (EX5).

This report updates the budget monitoring position for 2002/03 to the end of March 2003, showing variations since the last report. The firefighters pay award is still to be resolved, and is estimated to cost £0.124m this year. The projected overspending within Social & Health Care has shown a steady overall decline in recent months, and appears to have stabilised. The final position will be reported in the provisional outturn report next month.

The estimated position shows a potential deficit of £2.194m on programme area carry forward reserves. Balances are estimated to be £4.039m at 31 March 2003, leaving overall net resources of £1.845m. This represents a movement overall of -£0.031m.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to receive the report and agree to the release of the administrative holdback implemented during 2002/03 for spending by the relevant services in 2003/04.

Performance Management – Quarterly Monitoring Report

• Oxfordshire Plan 2002 – 2003 key targets
• Best Value Performance Indicators 2002 – 2003 and
• Best Value Performance Indicator targets, where available, for 2003 – 2004.

1. those areas where targets have not been met as shown in Annexes 1 - 6 to the report; (download annexes as .xls file)
2. those areas where performance data has not been provided as shown in Annexes 2–6, and
3. Best Value Performance Indicator targets for 2003 – 2004 as shown in Annexes 2 – 6.

Oxfordshire Plan 2003/04

(See also Addenda)


Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/193
Contact: Sean Gibson, Performance Review Officer (01865 815482)

The Director for Resources reports as follows:-

The Oxfordshire Plan, which fulfils the statutory requirement to produce an annual Best Value Performance 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 Plan is required to be approved and submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) by the end of June.

On 29 April the Executive agreed an outline draft of the Plan and invited the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee to make any comments in time for consideration by the Executive at this meeting. The draft took into account new and amended requirements published by ODPM in March, and included descriptions of progress in, and future plans for, delivering local and national priorities and details of past, current and planned performance against local and national performance indicators.

Members are asked to refer to their copy of the draft Plan circulated (as an Annex to EX8) with the agenda for 29 April.

The Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee considered the draft Plan at its meeting on 8 May 2003 and authorised the Committee’s Chair, Deputy Chair and third Group Spokesperson to agree final comments for report to the Executive. These will be circulated when available.

There will also be a need to add further required information to the outline before submission to ODPM. Some of this information may not be available until after the Executive’s meeting, or even until after the Council meeting. Arrangements therefore need to be in place for finalising the document before submission.

BVPI Inclusions Checklist 2003 (download tables as .xls file)


The Executive is RECOMMENDED, subject to:

1. consideration of the views of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee;
2. the addition to the Plan, following consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, of such further information as may be required by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister;

to RECOMMEND the Council to approve the Oxfordshire Plan 2003/04.

Fire Service Dispute

Executive Member: Community Safety
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/78
Contact: John Parry, Director (01865 855205)

The Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer will report on the current position following further discussions between representatives of the Fire Brigades Union and the national employers.

Community Fire Safety Scrutiny Review

(EX9) (download as .doc file)

Executive Member: Community Safety
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/224
Contact: Mike Smyth, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (01865 855209)

The Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer reports as follows:-

Last year the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee agreed to undertake an "Executive Commissioned Review" into Community Fire Safety and appointed Councillors Olive McIntosh-Stedman, Sandra Mold and Harry Wyatt as a Lead Member Review Group. The Scrutiny Committee have now received the Review Group’s report, which concluded that "investment in a team of trained educators, working in the schools and educational establishments of Oxfordshire, can have a dramatic impact on the safety of many generations to come." The report recommended that "the Executive Member and the Chief Fire Officer establish a small team of professional teachers that would enable fire crews to focus their attention on other areas of a widening safety agenda, whilst supporting the teachers and benefiting from their professional training as educators."

For the full Lead Member Review Group report Members are asked to refer to their copy of the report circulated with the agenda for the meeting of the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee on 12 May.

The Community Safety Scrutiny Committee endorsed the Review Group’s recommendations, subject to the deletion of the words 'educational establishments' and their substitution by 'within the community' and the addition at the end of the words 'The Scrutiny Committee accepts that there will be resource implications for the Executive to consider.'

The Committee also requested the Executive to give it the opportunity to review the progress of outcomes in 12 months’ time, should the recommendations of the report be implemented.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to consider what action to take in response to the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation (set out in the Review Group report, as amended by the Committee).

Vehicular Traffic on the Ridgeway

Executive Member: Learning & Culture
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/87
Contact: Keith Wheal, Countryside Services Manager (01865 810202)

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (EX10).

The Ridgeway National Trail is expected to provide a high quality experience for the many thousands who use it every year. However, major concerns have arisen over the condition of the surface in some places. The Ridgeway Management Group has set out a range of improvement proposals that seek to redress the situation. At the same time there has been a strong lobby seeking the banning of non-essential recreational motor vehicles the Trail.

At its meeting on 1 April 2003, the County Council, on a motion by Councillor Brian Hodgson, resolved to endorse a range of measures being proposed by the Ridgeway Management Group to improve and sustain the surface condition of the National Trail in Oxfordshire; to press the Ridgeway Management Group for a tight and explicit timetable for assessment of the need and efficacy of traffic regulation orders to prevent unacceptable surface damage; and to urge the Executive to confirm that traffic regulation orders will be made on specific sections of the route if there is strong and specific evidence that such orders will be appropriate and effective.

The range of proposals from the Management Group is set out in the report. Traffic regulation orders to restrict motor vehicles on certain sections are under consideration as one of the ‘tools’ to finding a sustainable solution for The Ridgeway National Trail. The Management Group is also seeking the funding necessary to begin essential repairs and ongoing maintenance of the worst sections. Grant aid from the Countryside Agency towards this work has been sought, but has not yet been secured.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. note the progress and timetable for the range of measures proposed by the Ridgeway Management Group to improve and sustain the surface condition of the National Trail in Oxfordshire;
2. confirm that Traffic Regulation Orders will be considered for specific sections of the route if there is strong and specific evidence that such orders will be appropriate and effective;
3. press the Countryside Agency to make a grant offer without delay towards identified urgent surface improvement works at a level of 75% in recognition of the national status and importance of the Ridgeway.

Chewing Gum on Pavements

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/86
Contact: Richard Dix (01865 815663)

Report by the Assistant Director (Highway Management) (EX11).

This report responds to a motion from Councillor Patrick Greene adopted by the Council on 1 April 2003, which urges the Executive to extend to other Oxfordshire District, Town and Parish Councils the co-operation between the County and City Councils in finding ways of ridding pavements and roads in the City of chewing gum deposits.

The report explains that removing chewing gum from streets is a District Council responsibility and that it should remain so in any future partnership arrangement for town centre improvement that might be agreed between the County and District Councils. It suggests that it should not be the County Council’s role to identify and recommend methods of chewing gum removal. Current budgets do not support expansion of partnership arrangements to towns beyond Oxford.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED:

1. to consider the possibility, pace and scale of expansion of town centre improvement partnerships in the context of the budget planning process for 2004/05; and
2. not to agree to any work being done by officers to identify and recommend methods of gum removal to other organisations.

Best Value Review: Promoting Independence In Older People

Executive Member: Community Care & Health
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/2
Contact: Neil Lawrence, Performance Review Adviser (01865 816036)

Report by Director of Resources (EX12). (Download as .doc file)

On 9 April the Best Value Committee considered a report on the outcome of this Best Value review, which sought to evaluate how well the County Council promotes the concept of independence. The Review examined how this manifests itself in the plans and policies of the authority, and also how well it actions this operationally. Older people as a client group were used to test how effectively this is applied at various levels throughout the organisation, with a view to learning lessons that could apply to other client groups. The Review report concludes with Action Plan setting out practical steps aimed at improving the quality of life for older people, and other vulnerable client groups, by better promoting their independence.

The Action Plan is reproduced herewith (EX12). For the full Review report Members are asked to refer to their copy of the report, circulated (as BV8) with the agenda for the meeting of the Best Value Committee on 9 April.

The Best Value Committee agreed to recommend the Review report and Action Plan to the Executive, referring them also to the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee to make any observations to the Executive. The Scrutiny Committee on 14 May Committee commended to the Executive what was they considered to be 'excellent report' and thanked the Review Team for all their hard work.

The Best Value Committee also invited the Executive to report back to the Committee by September 2003 with proposals for a corporate mechanism to promote the independence of all vulnerable groups. The Executive may wish to identify possible options as a basis for a further report on this issue.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED:

1. noting the views of the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee, to approve the Review report and Action Plan for implementation;
2. to consider possible options for "a corporate mechanism to promote the independence of all vulnerable groups".

Adult Learning Plan 2003/04

(See also Addenda)


Executive Member: Learning & Culture
Forward Plan Ref: 2002/254
Contact: Mari Pritchard, Head of Adult and Community Learning (01865 815153)

Report by Director for Learning & Culture (EX13).

The report presents the draft Adult Learning Plan, which 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. In November 2002 the Executive agreed the Adult and Community Learning Service’s revised Purpose and Strategic Objectives as the basis for the Plan, and in December the Committee commended this, noting in particular the position in relation to fee standardisation; joint working with libraries; developing community learning including 'learn direct'; and the developing provision for settled ethnic groups.

The LSC issued guidance for the Plan in February 2003, indicating at the same time what their priorities for funding would be and changing the delivery date from 31 March to June 2003. This has allowed time for fuller consultation with the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee, who are considering the draft Plan on 20 May.

This report notes the main areas where the 2003-4 Plan updates the 2002-3 plan, and raises the key concerns around its funding and delivery. The 2003-4 text is shorter and less descriptive, only updating the previous text where necessary. The compulsory element of the text (learner numbers to be funded, expressed as full-time equivalent learners, in standard curriculum areas) is included with the report. The draft Plan has been circulated to all members of the Council.

The Plan will remain provisional, under discussion with the LSC and still subject to change, until formally submitted at the end of June. It may then need to be further revised before being agreed as the basis for funding from 1 August 2003 to 31 July 2004.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any comments on the part of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee, to:

1. note the funding and delivery issues raised in the report; and
2. RECOMMEND the Council to approve the draft Adult Learning Plan for submission to the Learning & Skills Council by the 30 June closing date, subject to incorporation of any matter required by further advice from consultees and/or the Learning & Skills Council.

Employment of Children and Young People

Executive Member: Children & Young People
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/75
Contact: Sandra Bingham, Senior Education Officer, Pupil Services (01865 816217)

Report by Director for Learning & Culture (EX14).

Legislation permits children and young people between ages 13 and 16 to work within a regulated framework that limits the hours and type of work. Responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations in relation to child employment is within the Education Social Work Service in partnership with schools. This report sets out the current position in Oxfordshire and reviews the arrangements for monitoring the implementation of the Council’s Bye-laws and for the issuing of work permits and entertainment licences

The proposed actions are possible within existing resources and through collaboration with schools, other Council Services such as Trading Standards and Work Experience Services. However the review has identified that additional dedicated resources in the Education Social Work service would be beneficial to implementing a more proactive approach and provide greater support and guidance to schools and employers on child employment and work permits.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to agree the proposals set out in the report for improving the protection of children in employment.

Use of British Sign Language and the Standard

Manual Alphabet in schools

(See also Addenda)


Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/68
Contact: Mark Geraghty, Head of Sensory and Language Support Service (01865 875165)

Report by Director for Learning & Culture (EX15).

This report responds to a request by the Executive on 4 March 2003 (arising on a motion in Council by Councillor Brian Hodgson) for a more detailed report on the implications of introducing courses in schools on deaf awareness, British Sign Language (BSL) and the Standard Manual Alphabet; the relationship with other areas of disability; and the present and planned activities of schools in these fields.

The report concludes that the cost of delivering accreditation standard BSL courses [which include the teaching of the standard manual alphabet] to children in Oxfordshire Schools is so high and would impact so significantly on a school’s ability to deliver the National Curriculum as to be unfeasible and unrealistic; and moreover that at present there is no manifest evidence that a demand exists for the introduction of courses on the teaching of BSL/Standard Manual Alphabet to schools in Oxfordshire.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to consider in the light of the report what response to make to the issues raised in the motion referred by the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee relating to:

1. planning for the teaching of the Standard Manual Alphabet;
2. government funding for an Oxfordshire pilot project for teaching BSL;
3. government funding to help RNID training of BSL.

Debt Management Strategy 2003/04

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/82
Contact: Donna Ross, Financial Manager, Treasury Services (01865 815422)

The Director for Resources reports as follows:-

On 2 April the Executive considered a report which set out a Treasury Management Strategy for 2003/04 and covered both the Council’s Debt Management and the daily Cashflow. The Strategy may be summarised as follows:

1. take up the maximum Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) quota of £45.4 million to finance the capital programme;
2. continue to monitor interest rates to ensure that we borrow from the PWLB at the most advantageous rate;
3. continue to monitor the performance of Alliance Capital;
4. expand our short-term investment options by using new low risk areas available to local authorities, namely Money Market Funds and Debt Management Account;
5. implement the revised CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management in the Public Services.
   
   

Regulations under the Local Government Act 2000 reserve the approval of any "… plan or strategy for the control of the authority’s borrowing …" to the full Council. This description applies to a substantial part of this report (the Debt Management Strategy in particular). The Executive accordingly referred the report to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee for comment – particularly in respect of that element of the report - before making a formal recommendation to Council, in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution.

The Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 8 May, and agreed to support the Strategy.

Members are asked to refer to their copy of the report circulated (as EX12) with the agenda for 2 April.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to RECOMMEND the Council to approve the proposed strategy for the control of the Council’s borrowing set out in the report (EX12) to the 2 April meeting of the Executive.

Forward Plan and Future Business

(See also Addenda)

May 2003

ADDENDA

Item

3. Minutes

4. Petitions and Public Address

Item	Speaker
5. Budget Monitoring	Councillor Roy Mold Councillor Brian Hodgson
6. Performance Management	Councillor Brian Hodgson
9. Community Fire Safety Scrutiny Review	Councillor Sandra Mold
10. Vehicular Traffic on the Ridgeway	Mr Christopher Hall Chair, Oxfordshire Ramblers Councillor Brian Hodgson
11. Chewing Gum on Pavements	Councillor Patrick Greene
13. Adult Learning Plan 2003/04	Councillor Lesley Legge
14. Employment of Children and Young People	Councillor Lesley Legge
15. Use of British Sign Language and the Standard Manual Alphabet in schools	Councillor Brian Hodgson

7. Oxfordshire Plan 2003/04

13. Adult Learning Plan 2003/04

15. Use of British Sign Language and the Standard Manual Alphabet in schools

17. Forward Plan and Future Business

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