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ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 10 JUNE 2003

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 2.00 am and finishing at 3.25 pm

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

159/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Farrow.

160/03. DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Crabbe declared a personal prejudicial interest under Item 5 (Structure Plan – Chapter 11 Minerals) insofar as his family had a beneficial interest in sand and gravel bearing land at Wallingford and Cholsey.

161/03. MINUTES

The Executive noted the following amendments to the circulated Minutes:

Minute 151/03 (Community Fire Safety Scrutiny Review) to delete the second full stop and apostrophe at the end of the first paragraph and "The" and the second comma on the first line of the second paragraph.

Minute 156/03 (Use of British Sign Language and the Standard Manual Alphabet in Schools) to amend "three" in line 5 of paragraph 2 to read "two".

The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2003 were approved and signed as thus amended.

162/03. OXFORDSHIRE STRUCTURE PLAN REVIEW

(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive had before it (EX5) a report which set out the findings of the Structure Plan Working Group following its consideration of the content of the draft review of the Structure Plan to 2016 together with comments of the Environment Scrutiny Committee who had considered the draft review document on 16 May 2003.

Councillor Purse thanked the Working Group and officers for their work thus far and commended the report to the Executive.

In response to comments from Members of the Executive, Councillor Hudson, as Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Committee, outlined the process which had been adopted by that Committee in considering the Review document.

Councillor Crabbe withdrew for the duration of the Executive’s consideration of Chapter 11 of the Review document and remained absent until the item had been decided.

RESOLVED: (by 7 votes to 0) to

1. thank the Structure Plan Working Group for their thorough work in drawing up the draft Review document;
2. note the issues identified during discussion of the draft Review document at the Environment Scrutiny Committee and that no collective view had been expressed by the Committee on those issues;
3. refer the draft Review document to the Council with a recommendation that the Council should formally approve an Oxfordshire Structure Plan Deposit Draft for public deposit for a period of six weeks starting in September 2003, subject to any changes that might be agreed in accordance with (d) below;
4. authorise the Director for Environment & Economy to make presentational and minor textual changes to the document prior to public deposit, subject to consultation with the Executive Members for Strategic Planning & Waste Management and Transport; and
5. authorise the Director for Environment & Economy, in consultation with the Executive Members for Strategic Planning & Waste Management and Transport, to finalise and implement a consultation programme for the deposit stage of the review of the Structure Plan.
   
   163/03. SIX TERM SCHOOL YEAR

(Agenda Item 6)

The Executive considered a report (EX6) on the establishment of a six term school year in Oxfordshire and the results of a consultation with key stakeholders on those proposals.

Councillor Crabbe drew attention to the substantial response to the consultation, which had shown significant support from parents for a move to a six term school year. On this basis he proposed that Oxfordshire should adopt this proposal at the earliest opportunity, as a huge opportunity to raise education standards in Oxfordshire, subject to further consultation on the specific proposal for a two week break in the Autumn term.

RESOLVED: (by 7 votes to 0) to

1. introduce a six term year in Oxfordshire for the academic year 2004/05;
2. ask officers to consult schools on the introduction of a two week break in October.
   
   164/03. RAISING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT BEST VALUE REVIEW

(Agenda |Item 7)

The Executive considered a report (EX7) based on the findings of a Review of Achievement in Secondary Schools which had focused on strategies to raise achievement at the end of the statutory secondary phase, together with the comments of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee thereon.

Councillor Hodgson paid tribute to the Review Team and hoped that the Review would stimulate further improvements in achievement levels in Oxfordshire’s schools.

RESOLVED: to note the views of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee and approve the Review report and Action Plan for implementation.

165/03. REVIEW OF RENTS AND LEASE ARRANGEMENTS FOR EARLY YEARS AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROVIDERS

(Agenda Item 8)

The Executive considered a report (EX8) which proposed amendments to current arrangements to encourage more voluntary sector providers to join with the County Council in partnership arrangements.

RESOLVED to:

1. approve the new arrangements outlined in the report EX8 for use of premises in the County Council’s ownership by voluntary early years and childcare providers who entered into formal partnership or service level agreements; and
2. commend the scheme to the Diocesan authorities for voluntary controlled and voluntary aided schools in Oxfordshire.
   
   166/03. MOBILISATION POLICY ON AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SIGNALS

(Agenda Item 9)

The Executive considered a report (EX9) which outlined progress made to reduce the number of unwanted fire signals responded to by the Fire & Rescue Service.

RESOLVED: to endorse the policy of only responding to automatic fire alarm actuations when confirmation had been received that there was a fire at the premises, on the basis and subject to the exceptions set out in the report EX9 and to any detailed adjustments required by further risk assessments by the Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer.

167/03. VILLAGE HALL GRANTS 2003/2004

(Agenda Item 10)

The Executive considered a report (EX10) which set out proposals for the allocations of the grant fund for 2003/04.

Ms Smith advised that South Oxfordshire District Council had now agreed a contribution of £45,000 towards the Harpsden scheme.

Councillor Fawcett commended the proposals, which represented an excellent return on the County Council’s pump priming financial investment.

RESOLVED:

1. to approve the grants as proposed in Annex 2 to the report EX10;
2. to ask officers to include a note of other funding sources for each project in future years.
   
   168/03.COMMON HALL CAFÉ

(Agenda Item 11)

The Executive considered a report (EX11) which set out the results of a consultation on the current service and the demand for different types of food including hot snacks.

Councillor Margaret Godden suggested that as there seemed to be a positive demand for hot food it should be provided but stressed the need to retain the current ambience as a venue for meetings.

Ms Hayes advised that a limited selection of hot food could be provided from September 2003 and also undertook to investigate possible leasing options for the necessary equipment.

RESOLVED: that:

1. the range of cold snacks currently available in the Common Hall Café be reviewed taking into account comments from the survey of staff and members;
2. subject to availability of the necessary funding a selection of hot food should be provided at the Café.
   
   169/03. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

(Agenda Item 12)

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

RESOLVED:

1. agree the additions and amendments set out in Schedules 1 - 4 for the purpose of the Forward Plan for the ensuing four months;
2. that in the resulting absence of business for the 24 June 2003 meeting, that meeting be cancelled.

in the Chair

Date of signing 2003

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