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ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 28 OCTOBER 2003

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 5.40 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.

248/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Fawcett.

249/03. DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The following interests were declared:-

Councillor	Agenda Item	Nature of Interest
Mitchell	8	Personal – Chairman of SEERA Planning Committee
Janet Godden	12	Personal – Non Executive Director of the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust

250/03. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2003 were approved and signed.

251/03. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS

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

Request from	Agenda Item
Mr P Booker	8. Regional Minerals Strategy
Mr M. Hugh-Jones	16. Disposal of Windmill First School;

252/03. FINANCIAL MONITORING

(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive considered a report (EX5) which set out the forecast balances at year end.

Councillor Brighouse made comments about co-ordination between Social & Health Care and Learning & Culture in order to avoid unnecessary expenditure; prudence in financial planning; the cost of the recent managerial reorganisation; and avoidance of the use of Pension Fund moneys to offset operational costs..

RESOLVED: to:

1. note the report;
2. approve a supplementary estimate of £0.219m for the additional costs of job evaluation;
3. ask the Director for Learning & Culture to produce a plan showing how the overspend in 2003/04 would be rectified;
4. ask for a position statement showing the position on schools balances in 2004/05;
5. note that it was hoped to bring forward sufficient further information at the 11 November meeting to enable determination of:
   
   

1. the proposal to make an additional payment to the Social & Health Care pooled budget in 2003/04; and
2. whether it would be possible to set aside the requirement for the transport revenue/capital switch of £1m in 2003/04.
   
   

253/03. REVENUE BUDGET 2004/05 - 2006/07: MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL FORECAST

(Agenda Item 6)

The Executive considered a report (EX6) which set out previously published data with an update on what had happened since July, together with the latest information on the Council’s financial position and expenditure proposals from the Directorates by Programme Area.

Councillor Hodgson raised questions with regard to withdrawal of education damping grant and whether this would be offset by Government grant; budgeting for the teachers’ pay settlement; and achievement of efficiency savings. Executive members responded.

RESOLVED: to:

1. confirm that the draft budget should be prepared on the basis:
   
   

1. of the current Medium Term Financial Plan;
2. that inflation would be allowed at 3%; and
3. that, as a minimum, the Schools block Formula Spending Share increase would be passported to the Individual Schools Budget;
   
   
2. authorise the Head of Finance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader, the Executive Member for Schools and the Director for Learning & Culture, to apply for exemption to the Secretary of State by 5 December 2003, if the non-schools budget was required to increase by a greater percentage than the Individual Schools Budget;
3. invite the respective Scrutiny Committees to advise on the expenditure proposals for the Schools Budget as set out at Annex 2 to the report EX6 and for other programme areas at Annex 3, and on the relative priorities of the proposals;
4. endorse the revised timetable at Annex 5 to the report EX6 and authorise arrangements for a members’ seminar on 8 December 2003 on the Local Government Settlement.




Councillor Mitchell left the meeting at this point. Councillor Margaret Godden took the Chair in his absence.

254/03. TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2003/06

• an update on the 2003/04 programme approved by the Executive on 15 April 2003;
• considered the implications on the programme of making a contribution to balances;
• sought approval to "kick start" the 2004/05 programme by agreeing the core schemes for which design briefs could be issued early; and
• discussed the overall priorities for the Transport Capital Programme up to and including 2005/06 and the scope remaining to the Executive to change those priorities.

RESOLVED: to:

1. note progress on delivery of the 2003/04 programme to date;
2. defer to the meeting on 11 November a decision on whether all or some of the planned contribution to reserves was required in 2003/04;
3. endorse the changes to the programme for the remainder of the year and the carrying forward of schemes into 2004/05 in the light of their decision on (b); and
4. the potential revenue consequences of the future Transport Capital Programme.

Councillor Mitchell resumed the Chair.

255/03. REGIONAL MINERALS STRATEGY – CONSULTATION BY SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

(Agenda Item 8)

The Executive considered a report (EX8) which set out the new sub-regional apportionment of primary aggregate provision from quarries in the south east and the level of provision that should be made by each Mineral Planning Authority in that region together with the comments of the Environment Scrutiny Committee

Mr Booker expressed opposition to the proposed apportionment for reasons set out in the report. He called for a proper appraisal of future demand before any apportionment was agreed.

Mr Cousins advised that the Environment Scrutiny comments in respect of haulage routes were consistent with current Council policy as set out in the Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

Councillor Purse endorsed the objections of the Scrutiny Committee to the proposed apportionment .

RESOLVED: to:

1. agree to the report forming the basis of the County Council’s response to SEERA on the Regional Minerals Strategy Consultation Draft, with particular reference to targets for use of primary aggregates and for secondary and recycled materials, primary aggregates provision (apportionment), fullers earth policy and minerals safeguarding policy;
2. in particular, raise strong objection to the aggregates apportionment proposed in Policy M4, on the grounds set out in paragraph 17 of the report.
   
   

256/03. RAISING OUR PERFORMANCE 2

(Agenda Item 9)

The Executive considered a report Raising our Performance 2 (EX9) which sought to build on recent progress, refocus efforts and support the ambition to become an outstanding authority, together with the comments of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Committee’s comments had been addressed and where possible included in the text of the document.

RESOLVED: to:

1. note the substantial organisational progress that the County Council had made during the period 2001-2003;
2. adopt Raising our Performance 2 as the County Council’s organisational improvement plan for 2003-2005, replacing the original Raising our Performance, subject to any detailed amendments agreed with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council;
3. give priority to supporting the objectives of Raising our Performance 2, as well as service objectives, in formulating the budget for recommendation to the Council; and
4. ask the Chief Executive to submit periodic progress reports to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee and the Executive




Councillor Mitchell left the meeting at this point. Councillor Margaret Godden took the Chair in his absence.

257/03. SOCIAL INCLUSION AND EQUALITIES

(Agenda Item 10)

On 19 March 2002 the Executive had considered a framework report on social inclusion and equalities issues by the Deputy Leader of the Council and now considered a report (EX10) which provided an update on progress towards a more effective corporate co-ordination of social inclusion and equalities issues.

Councillor Hodgson spoke in support of the report and stressed the need for adequate monitoring ensure progress was maintained.

Councillor Janet Godden commended Councillor Margaret Godden for her work in this area. and suggested that the role of the Social Inclusion Group could be extended to cover additional areas such as children’s rights.

RESOLVED: to:

1. formally adopt the Equality Standard for Local Government, noting the operational and resource requirements in order to achieve Level 1;
2. support the development of a corporate social inclusion strategy to provide a strategic driver and clear framework for this key theme running through the Oxfordshire Plan priorities;
3. note that the need for enhanced corporate support for social inclusion and equalities work was reflected in a budget bid of £50k for 2004/05; and
4. invite the Social Inclusion Group to consider seconding a small number of additional "champions" to represent, inter alia, the rights and interests of children.
   
   

258/03. FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANNING IN OXFORDSHIRE

(Agenda Item 11)

The Executive considered a report (EX11) presenting the Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) and Action Plan for Oxfordshire. The report also addressed the question of provision of a Fire Station at Carterton, which had been raised in a motion in Council by Councillor Mrs Dee Bulley.

Mr Hurren advised that feedback on the draft IRMP from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister had been positive. He also advised that no comments were available at this stage from the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee, but that the Committee would have an opportunity to review the documents before they were returned to the Executive with the outcome of consultation.

Councillor Farrow commended the Plan to the Executive and thanked the officers for their work in producing the Plan in the face of a very strict timetable.

RESOLVED:

1. to approve the Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan and Annual Action Plan 2004–05 for consultation as outlined in the report (EX11);
2. to ask the Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer to report the outcome of consultation and any views of the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee, together with any recommendations for amendment to the Executive, in March 2004, with a view to formal adoption of both plans for implementation in April 2004.




Councillor Mitchell resumed the Chair.

259/03. INTEGRATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: OUTCOME OF CONSULTATIONS

RESOLVED: to:

1. note the comments of the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee;
2. agree to the secondment of staff to Oxfordshire Mental Health Trust and South West Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust;
3. request the Director to bring a further report to the Executive on the proposals for the pooled budget and lead commissioning arrangements, as described in the report EX12.

260/03. IMPLEMENTING ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT RETURN 2003: THE IEG3 STATEMENT

(Agenda Item 13)

The Executive considered the draft IEG3 Statement (EX13) for submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by 11 November 2003.

RESOLVED:

1. subject to (b), below, to endorse the contents of the IEG3 statement;
2. to authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, to make final changes to the IEG3 Statement if necessary prior to submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
   
   

261/03. DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS LAND FOR LESS THAN MARKET VALUE

(Agenda Item 14)

The Executive considered a report (EX14) which provided guidance on how the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972: General Disposal Consent (England) 2003 should be applied.

RESOLVED: to endorse the approach and procedures set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report EX14.

262/03. NEW PEDESTRIAN/CYCLE SUBWAY, EAST SIDE OF COW LANE, DIDCOT

(Agenda Item 15)

The Executive considered a project appraisal (EX15) on the provision of a new subway adjacent to Cow Lane following approval by the Transport Implementation Committee and endorsement by the Environment Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Joslin spoke in support of the project and referred to its importance to the planned development of Didcot.

Some concerns were expressed in respect of the costs involved and the need for the Didcot Transport Study Steering Group to be fully aware of the serious implications for the timetabling of other schemes in the town if this scheme was approved. Mr Dix reported that checks would be built in to the design and development process that would enable the Executive to review the project and its costs from time to time before any commitment was entered into to proceed with the scheme.

RESOLVED: to approve detailed project appraisal H171.

263/03. DISPOSAL OF WINDMILL FIRST SCHOOL – REQUEST BY IQRA SCHOOL COMMITTEE

(Agenda Item 16)

The Executive considered a request by the Iqra School Committee for an exclusive option to acquire the Windmill First School site to accommodate an Islamic school.

Mr Hugh-Jones expressed the view that the proposal was potentially divisive.

Councillor Margaret Godden expressed the view that preferential status for the Iqra School Committee could not be justified. She moved as follows:

"1. The Executive is anxious to address the strongly expressed concerns of the Muslim community in relation to their children's school experience and attainment levels. It commits itself to taking positive action with the aim of providing Muslim children with access to a sustainable system of good quality education within the Council’s Education Service, in schools which take account of their culture and faith.

"2. It is hopeful that the Faith Schools Scrutiny Review, which is due to report by the end of March 2004, will provide a valuable basis for developing such action.

"3. Meanwhile the Executive notes the Council’s rules and practice regarding the circumstances in which it sometimes offers preferential status for the purchase of Council property and concludes that it is not appropriate to offer such status to the Iqra School. However the School may bid for any suitable property that comes on the market and such bids will be treated on the same basis as those from other potential purchasers.

"4. The Executive will seek the endorsement of Full Council for this course of action."

The motion was adopted nem. con.

RESOLVED: accordingly.

264/03. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

in the Chair

Date of signing 2003

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