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ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 9 DECEMBER 2003

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 4.00 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.

287/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Janet Godden.

288/03. ORDER OF BUSINESS

RESOLVED: to vary the order of business as indicated in these minutes.

289/03. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2003 were approved and signed.

290/03. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS

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

Agenda Item	Request from
6 - Traveller Strategy	Mr Brian Wood, Deddington Parish Councillor
7 - Secondary Schooling in Wantage and Grove Area	Mrs Pippa Young on behalf of "Positive Parents" Ms Jenny Hannaby, Mayor of Wantage Mr Harold Brew Councillor Zoë Patrick Councillor Jim Moley

291/03. REVIEW OF CHARGES

(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive considered a report (EX5) which following the adoption of the corporate changing policies in October 2002, set out the proposed charges for 2004/05 for each Programme Area and explained the impact of the Local Government Act 2003 on the Council’s ability to charge for discretionary services.

RESOLVED: to:

1. note those charges prescribed by legislation and approve those charges where there was local discretion as set out in the schedules appended to the report;
2. ask Directors whether any of the charges for services with discretion to increase (maximise) income could be raised further beyond the levels proposed to generate additional income;
3. ask Directors to consider their ability to provide and charge for discretionary services under the Local Government Act 2003 with a view to a report back to the Executive on 14 January 2004 in order that any estimated income could be taken into account in formulating the 2004/05 budget.
   
   

292/03. EXTENDING THE RANGE OF CIVIL CEREMONIES

(Agenda Item 9)

The Executive considered a report (EX9) which outlined arrangements for the provision of Citizenship Ceremonies prescribed by the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, and sought approval for the extension of other ceremonies for residents of the County, including "Celebrations of Life" (civil funerals) and "Commitment Ceremonies" (civil recognition of personal partnerships).

RESOLVED: to:

1. note the impending introduction of Citizenship Ceremonies and endorse the proposal to conduct the majority of these at County Hall;
2. agree, subject to confirmation of the necessary powers and any relevant legal constraints:
   
   

1. the provision of civil funeral ceremonies and commitment ceremonies by the County Council’s Registration Service; and
2. that all non-statutory celebratory services that may be offered by the Registration Service should be provided directly by the Service itself.
   
   

294/03. SECONDARY SCHOOL BRIEF

(Agenda Item 8)

The Executive considered a report (EX8) which presented a Draft Secondary School Brief. This outlined the practical implications of the vision that "Oxfordshire would make available new buildings that provided stimulating environments fit for the 21^st century", in terms of developing partnerships, production of the brief through option appraisal and feasibility stages and promotion of the appropriate design principles that needed to be taken on board to produce effective learning environments.

RESOLVED: to endorse the use of the Secondary School Brief as the basis for all future new build on secondary school sites and for determining developer contributions under planning agreements, subject to the avoidance of the use of term "ICT rich", and to reviewing and updating the brief as may be required from time to time.

295/03. APPOINTMENTS

(Agenda Item 10)

The Executive had before them a report (EX10) which sought approval for an appointment onto the Local Government Association.

RESOLVED: to appoint Councillor Liz Brighouse to take the place of Councillor Brian Hodgson on the Local Government Association for the remainder of the 2003/04 Council Year.

296/03. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

(Agenda Item 11)

The Executive considered Schedules of proposed additions and amendments to the Forward Plan together with a list for the next two meetings, revised as set out in the Schedule of the Addenda and as reported at the meeting.

Councillor Hodgson spoke in relation to his motion to Council on 4 November 2003. He urged the Executive to positively pursue the LGA Campaign and address the issue of families with disabled children not receiving the Disability Living Allowance to which they were entitled.

RESOLVED: to:

1. agree the additions and amendments set out in Schedules 1 - 3 (as revised) for the purpose of the Forward Plan for the ensuing four months;
2. subject to (a) above, note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings as set out in Schedule 4;
3. (i) request officers to report to the 17 February meeting on paragraphs 4 and 5 of the motion by Councillor Hodgson with a view to considering what action to take;
   
   (ii) request the Executive Member for Children & Young People to advise Councillor Hodgson on what action was being taken in relation to the matters referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of the motion by Councillor Purse.
   

297/03. SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE WANTAGE/GROVE AREA

(Agenda Item 7)

The Executive considered a report (EX7) which outlined progress thus far on proposals for secondary education in the Wantage and Grove Area including the results of the public opinion poll in the Autumn, and sought guidance on the next steps to be undertaken, taking into account the potential for housing expansion on the Grove airfield area; the availability of finance under new government funding systems; the need to maintain of good quality education during any transitional period; and the different forms that might be adopted under the "two schools" option.

Mrs Young addressed the Executive on behalf of ‘Positive Parents’. She reported that the group continued to support the single-site scheme, which they believed could provide far more choice of learning opportunities and facilities that would benefit not just the pupils but the whole community and on the basis of the overwhelming support of the King Alfred’s Governors and staff. She urged the Executive not to lose sight of the current generation of primary school pupils, who could have their secondary schooling blighted by the disruption ensuing from the creation of two separate schools.

Ms Hannaby addressed the Executive as Mayor of Wantage. She thanked the Executive for carrying out an independent opinion poll and urged them to follow public preference for a two-school model.

Mr Brew addressed the Executive in support of a two-school model. He urged the Executive to consider PFI funding and to look at the potential for a federal option with co-ordination on sixth form subjects with local further education establishments.

Councillor Patrick spoke as local member in support of two, self managing, free standing schools, perhaps with collaboration at 16+, each serving its own geographical area.

Councillor Moley referred to the unanimous support of the relevant town and parish councils for the two school model. He expressed reservations about the options identified in the report for a split site under single management.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Crabbe, seconded by Councillor Fawcett and carried unanimously):

1. note the outcome of the opinion poll in the Wantage and Grove area, and other public consultation, that showed a majority in favour of the two Secondary Schools option, with one school located in each community;
2. request the Director of Learning & Culture to keep this issue under review with a view to developing a plan for secondary education in the area, taking into account:

• the outcome of the consultation,
• potential housing growth
• the 14-19 agenda,
• the fact that there were adequate places for the immediate future,
• the ‘building schools for the future’ programme;

c. request the Director for Learning & Culture to examine, in conjunction with the Principal and Governors of the school, ways in which attainment at King Alfred’s could continue to be raised.

299/03. TRAVELLER STRATEGY

(Agenda Item 6)

The Executive considered a report (EX6) which reviewed current arrangements in respect of Travellers, including the Traveller Management Unit established as a joint partnership between the Council and Thames Valley Police, which had responsibility for management of unauthorised encampments, management of authorised permanent sites, development of strategic links with other agencies and development of future transit site provision.

Councillor Wilmshurst, speaking as local member, urged the Executive to take steps to prevent traveller encampments on the Ridgeway.

Mr Wood spoke in support of the recommendations set out in EX6, subject to a small number of large sites being considered, rather than a lot of small sites; a clear definition of sub-regional/regional being given; and consideration to both the travellers and local people’s need being when defining the ‘region’. He urged the Executive to involve parish councils in developing proposals.

In relation to the comments from the Environment Scrutiny Committee, the Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer reported that he had written to Chief Executives in the Thames Valley Region regarding co-ordintion of a Traveller Strategy and had received a positive response. He further reported that he had requested that the issue be included in the ACTVAR agenda for March.

RESOLVED: to:

1. endorse the principle of a regional or sub-regional approach to the provision of transit sites based on a researched and documented plan;
2. instruct the Director for Community Safety to review the management and operation of the six Oxfordshire County Council owned permanent sites;
3. ask the Director for Community Safety to report back later in due course on the outcome of consultation on a regional/sub-regional approach, together with an analysis of Traveller activity, encampments, Traveller Management Unit actions and associated costs.

in the Chair

Date of signing 2003

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