______________________________________

________________________________

To Members of the Executive

Notice of a Meeting of the Executive

Wednesday 7 April 2004 at 10.00 am

County Hall, Oxford

Chris Impey
Assistant Chief Executive

Contact officer: Geoff Malcolm (Tel: 01865 815904; E-mail)

Membership

(subject to appointment at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 6 April 2004)

The Agenda follows. Decisions taken at the meeting will become effective at the end of the working day on 19 April 2004 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 (download as .doc file)

1. Apologies for Absence
   
   (See Addenda - download as .doc file)
   
2. Declarations of Interest
3. Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2004 (EX3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

4. Petitions and Public Address
   
   (See Addenda - download as .doc file)
   
5. Development of Countywide Special School Provision including Woodeaton Manor and Iffley Mead Schools
   
   (See also Addenda - download as .doc file)
   

Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/002
Contact: Gillian Tee, Head of Children’s Services (01865 815125)

Report by Director for Learning & Culture and Director for Social & Health Care (EX5).

On 14 January 2004 the Executive approved consultation with schools, parents and partners on a package of proposals for Woodeaton Manor, Iffley Mead and Northfield special schools.

In the light of the feedback through the consultation process and an examination of planning and conservation issues in relation to the Woodeaton Manor building, it is proposed to:

1. maintain Iffley Mead as a countywide school for up to 119 pupils with moderate learning difficulties;
2. increase the number of secondary special school places for pupils with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties from 80 (April 2004) to 100 by maintaining Northfield as a separate school for 60 pupils with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties and redesignating Woodeaton Manor as a school for 40 vulnerable pupils with emotional/social difficulties requiring a therapeutic approach;
3. increase the number of residential places for pupils with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties by maintaining Northfield Hostel for 12 pupils and refocusing residential provision at Woodeaton for up to 17 vulnerable pupils with emotional/ social difficulties requiring a therapeutic approach.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. endorse the overall conclusions in the repot as to the future roles of Iffley Mead, Woodeaton Manor and Northfield;
2. approve the publication of statutory notices in relation to:

1. the proposal to redesignate Woodeaton Manor as a school for 40 day pupils and 17 residential pupils with emotional/social difficulties requiring a therapeutic approach;
2. the proposal to reduce the number of pupils at Northfield School from 80 to 60; and

3. commission a Conservation Plan in relation to Woodeaton Manor School.

6. Co-ordinated Admissions Arrangements
   
   (See also Addenda - download as .doc file)
   

Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/016
Contact: Neil Darlington, Education Officer, Admissions & Transport (01865 815844)

Report by Director for Learning & Culture (EX6).

A revised School Admissions Code of Practice and associated Regulations came into force in January 2003. Key new features are that LEAs have to set up co-ordinated admissions arrangements for secondary transfer for entry in September 2005 and for entry to primary schools (F1) for September 2006. In addition although LEAs can delay the introduction of a primary scheme until September 2006 the Secretary of State would strongly prefer to see these schemes implemented in September 2005 rather than 2006. The proposed schemes of co-ordination and the admission rules for community and voluntary controlled schools are circulated to Executive Members and relevant officers. Copies are in the Members’ Resource Centre and are available for public inspection.

The proposed schemes will apply to all maintained schools in Oxfordshire for entry in the academic year 2005/06.The introduction of these schemes will ensure that unsuccessful applicants for voluntary aided schools can be offered an alternative school. In addition, the two schemes will ensure that no child of primary school age is offered more than one Oxfordshire school and that no child living in Oxfordshire, of secondary transfer age, will receive an offer of more than one school place, inside or outside Oxfordshire. The proposed coordinated admission arrangements and admission rules represent a significant improvement in the service that can be offered to parents and children in Oxfordshire.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to agree and adopt the coordinated admission arrangements and admission policies described in the report for the purpose of admissions for 2005/06.

7. Education Asset Management Plan

Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/158
Contact: Gerald Hales, Education Officer (01865 428162)

Report by Director for Learning & Culture (EX7).

The report sets out the Authority’s priorities for capital and revenue investment in school buildings for 2004/05 onwards as described in the Statement of Priorities submitted to the DfES for appraisal at the end of December 2003. This is the key strategic document arising out of the Asset Management Plan process. The areas covered in the document are prescribed by the DfES. It shows the Authority’s strategic priorities for capital investment arising from the Corporate AMP and Capital Strategy and the Authority’s development and improvement plans. It also demonstrates how these priorities align with Government priorities. All capital and revenue investment in school buildings, both centrally and locally managed, should contribute to achieving these priorities.

The outcome of this part of the DfES appraisal process is expected to be received late March/early April. If it is satisfactory, the Authority has the autonomy to spend its capital allocations according to its locally established priorities.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve the Statement of Priorities for the purpose of the Council’s investment in school buildings, so far as consistent with the outcome of the DfES appraisal.

8. Support for Key Worker Housing

Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/021
Contact: Dawn Pettis, Project Leader (01865 816082)

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (EX8).

The report describes detailed proposals for taking forward this element of the Local Public Service Agreement (the Local PSA) through the provision of loans to key workers under joint arrangements with the City Council and a housing association. The basis of the proposals is that the two councils would provide loans to their own key workers to help them purchase a property on the open market. The report defines the categories of workers who could be eligible, outlines the employment implications and explains the arrangements with the selected housing association.

The Local PSA submission to the ODPM proposed that the scheme would be administered through "a housing association from Oxford City Council's approved developer list specialising in shared ownership". Keystart Housing Association have been identified for this purpose, as being a registered social landlord and one of the City's 'preferred partners' in building affordable housing on development sites. Keystart are experienced leaders in the key worker loan field including the government’s Key Worker Living initiative.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. approve the Scheme as described in the report;
2. confirm the definition of ‘key worker’ for the purposes of the Scheme as referred to in the report;
3. note that County Council directorates will be required to pay for the costs of additional employer-only National Insurance contributions arising from the Scheme as required by the tax authorities;
4. authorise such legal arrangements with Oxford City Council and Keystart Housing Association and any other relevant parties as may be necessary to give effect to the matters referred to in the report, and any security documentation relating to the properties to be purchased as homes by key workers, all on such terms as may be agreed by the Head of Sustainable Development in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council;
5. approve the exemption of the legal arrangements with Keystart Housing Association from the quotation and tendering processes contained in Contract Procedure Rules 7 to 12 for the reasons set out in the report.

9. Henley Integrated Transport Strategy

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/238
Contact: John Disley (01865 810460)

Report by Head of Transport (EX9).

The purpose of the report is to inform members of the progress made in developing the Henley-on-Thames Integrated Transport Strategy and to seek approval for the final short to medium term Strategy for Henley. The Strategy has been approved by the Members Steering Group for the Henley Integrated Transport Strategy (which comprises representatives from the County, District and Town Councils). It includes proposals for measures to prevent queuing in the centre of the town, improve traffic management in those areas where speeding and traffic volumes are problematic and improve facilities for public transport users, pedestrians and cyclists.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve the Henley-on-Thames Integrated Transport Strategy as set out in the Halcrow Draft Stage 3 Report and Stage 4 Technical Note, subject to the consideration of comments received from Henley-on-Thames Town Council.

10. Transportation Implementation Committee – Review of Delegation
    Arrangements

(See also Addenda - download as .doc file)

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2003/111
Contact: Graham Warrington, Committee Services (01865 815321)

Report by Head of Democratic Services and Assistant Head of Transport (EX10).

The report reviews the operation of the Transport Implementation Committee, as the Executive intended in setting up the Committee in 2002.

There have been few practical problems with the running of the Committee. Exercise of the delegated powers by the Committee is subject to the provisions of the Constitution, including "access to information" rules. These, together with the rules and conventions specifically agreed for the Committee, set a clear framework for operational issues.

The Committee has relieved the Executive of a considerable amount of non-strategic business, which in turn has allowed the Executive to concentrate more on its strategic priorities. The resource effects of servicing an additional body have to a certain extent been offset by the reduction in the amount and scope of business requiring to be referred to the full Executive.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to confirm the continuation of the Transport Implementation Committee with the same powers and subject to the same rules and conventions as previously agreed for the Committee under Executive Minute 355/02.

11. The LIFT Project Partnering Agreement
    
    (See also Addenda - download as .doc file)
    

Executive Member: Community Care & Health
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/027
Contact: Hugh McGarel-Groves, Head of Business Support & Performance Management (01865 815565)

Report by Director for Social & Health Care (EX11).

The Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) is a Health-led Public-Private-Partnership to provide new buildings for primary and community health and social care. Local authorities are being invited by their local LIFT initiating body to consider at what level they wish to participate. The report sets out the background to the initiative, the current situation, and future options proposed to this Oxfordshire County Council by its local initiating body, Oxford City PCT.

Oxfordshire County Council, has been a member of the LIFT Project Board since its inception in October 2002 and has been actively engaged in the finding of a private sector partner. The partnership will from a "LIFTco" to deliver facilities, which will demonstrate value for money in two ways: market testing its supply chain on each new project; and market testing its supply chain for the first new project after a specified interval and periodically thereafter.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED:

1. that the County Council be a signatory of the LIFT Strategic Partnering Agreement and become a member of the LIFT Strategic Partnering Board, on the basis that this will be without exclusivity (as set out against level 2 in the Annex to the report) and without financial commitment or share of risks (as set out in paragraphs 17-19);
2. that the Director for Social & Health Care:

1. be authorised, in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council, to agree and finalise the terms of the LIFT Strategic Partnering Agreement on the part of the County Council;
2. be appointed as the County Council’s representative on the LIFT Strategic Partnering Board.

12. Governance Arrangements for the Supporting People Programme

Executive Member: Community Care & Health
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/035
Contact: Howard Perkins (01865 810250)

Report by Solicitor to the Council (EX12).

On 14 January 2004 the Executive approved and adopted the Memorandum of Understanding between the County Council as the Administering Authority on the one hand and the Supporting People Commissioning Body on the other, as a basis for the future working of the Commissioning Body and Administering Authority. The report proposes an amendment sought by one of the parties to the Commissioning Body to the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, concerning the indemnification given to the Administering Authority by the other parties.

The proposed change requires the Administering Authority to carry out its role "with all reasonable care and skill" in order for the indemnity to apply. This is considered acceptable and is commended to the Executive.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve the change specified in the report to clause 17.1 of the Memorandum of Understanding.

13. Forward Plan and Future Business
    
    (See also Addenda - download as .doc file)
    

EXEMPT ITEM

The meeting will be invited to resolve to exclude the public for the consideration of the following exempt item (marked E) by passing a resolution in relation to each such item in the following terms:

"that the public be excluded during the consideration of the following item in the Agenda since it is likely that if they were present during that item there would be a disclosure of "exempt" information as described in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 and specified below the item in the Agenda".

THE REPORT RELATING TO THE EXEMPT ITEM HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS STRICTLY PRIVATE TO MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE IT.

14. Transfer of land at Wallingford Upper and Lower Schools

March 2004

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