Return to Agenda

ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 16 NOVEMBER 2004

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 4.43 pm

Present:

Voting Members:

Councillor Don Seale – in the chair (for Items 1-7)
Councillor Keith R Mitchell – in the chair (for Items 8-13)

Councillor Tony Crabbe
Councillor John Farrow
Councillor Neil Fawcett
Councillor Janet Godden
Councillor Anne Purse
Councillor David Robertso

Other Members in Attendance:

Councillor Liz Brighouse (for Agenda Items 6 and 7)
Councillor Jean Fooks (for Agenda Item 8)
Councillor Barbara Gatehouse (for Agenda Item 9)
Councillor Carol Viney (for Agenda Item 9)
Councillor Andrew Brown (for Agenda Item 10)
Councillor Neville F. Harris (for Agenda Item 12)
Councillor Terry Joslin (for Agenda Item 12)

Officers:

Whole of meeting: J. Leverton and G. Warrington (Chief Executive’s Office).

Part of meeting: Chief Executive; Director for Resources, S. Scane, J. Hydari, M. Petty, L. Baxter and N. Monaghan; Director for Social & Health Care and S. Ainsworth; Director for Environment & Economy and P. Shingadia; R. Munro and K. Griffin (Learning & Culture).

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.

    259/04. APOLOGY FOR ABSENCE

    An apology for absence was received from Councillor Roaf.

    260/04. DECLARATION OF INTEREST

    Item 10 – Library Improvements in Oxfordshire

    Councillor Seale declared a personal interest as a friend of the owner of the Pied Pedaller premises in Thame.

    Item 11 – New Opportunities Fund PE and Sport Initiative

    Councillor Mitchell declared a personal interest as a Governor of Warriner School.

    261/04. MINUTES

    The Minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2004 were approved and signed subject to the amendment of the starting time to read 10.00 am.

    262/04. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS

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

    Agenda Item

    Request from

    12 - Call-In of an Executive Decision – Didcot ITS Long Term Strategy

    Councillor Margaret Davies (Didcot Town Council)

    263/04. FINANCIAL MONITORING

    (Agenda Item 5)

    The Executive had before it a report (EX5) which covered the period up to the end of September for revenue and capital. The report also considered a proposal for short term funding for ORCC to cover a temporary cash flow deficit arising from their taking responsibility for administering locally a fund created by SEEDA specifically for the economic regeneration of small rural market towns; and showed the total capital programme for each directorate with itemised variations within the overall programme.

    RESOLVED: to:

    1. note the report;

    2. agree to provide temporary funding from balances to the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, up to a maximum of £210,000, to eliminate ORCC’s cash flow deficit arising from the administration by them of the Oxfordshire Market Towns Fund, subject to a formal agreement providing for reimbursement by ORCC, on an interest free basis, upon their receipt of the share due to them of the SEEDA Market Towns Fund;

    3. note the latest proposals from the Director for Learning & Culture on the Directorate’s action plan at Annex 4 to the report EX5;

    4. agree the adjustments to the Capital Programme referred to in Part 2 of the report EX5.

    264/04. REVENUE BUDGET AND CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2005/06 – 2007/08

    (Agenda Item 6)

    The Executive considered a report (EX6) which set out the latest information on the Council’s financial position; restated some of the previously published data; updated the information on likely central government funding for 2005/06 and provided an update on CCMT’s budget management proposals for 2005/06 required to meet the key priorities for the Council within the constraints of a 6% Council Tax increase.

    Councillor Brighouse expressed concern at the current budgetary position in the context of the expectations created by the Review of Financial Management. She referred particularly to underspends in the Social & Health Care older people budget when there was evidence of unmet need in that area; and to the extent of under-achievement in schools notwithstanding additional investment in education. She urged that additional central government funding which press reports suggested would be awarded to local government should be used to limit any Council Tax increase.

    RESOLVED: to:

    1. note the report and seek the advice of the Scrutiny Committees on the information and proposals contained in the report and annexes for consideration by the Executive on 21 December 2004;

    2. ask Directors to progress the savings listed in Annex 2(a) to the report EX6 subject to further consideration by Scrutiny Committees and the Executive and to formal approval by the Council;

    3. approve the proposal that capital projects totalling £2m per year be prioritised for inclusion within the forward capital programme, from the capital bids for other services;

    4. ask officers to seek to raise the profile of the lack of capital allocations for such services as libraries by initially raising it as an issue with the Local Government Association with a view to their taking up the issue with the government.

    265/04. CAPITAL STRATEGY, ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

(Agenda Item 7)

The Executive considered a report (EX7) which presented the:

  • Draft Capital Strategy;

  • Draft Corporate Asset Management Plan; and

  • Report on Performance of the Council’s Property Portfolio 2003/04.

    • Comments of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee (30 September 2004) on

The draft Capital Strategy.

Councillor Brighouse explained that although she had supported the concept of realising income from disposal of surplus property she considered the principles governing disposal should be reviewed in order to take into account the potential of such property for meeting the needs of local communities.

Responding to the comments of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, Mr Petty undertook to review how far detail of projects could be specified in the Capital Strategy within the guidance applicable to the Strategy; and confirmed the scope for investigating the identification of project evaluation criteria and the extension to 5 years of the capital programme.

RESOLVED: to:-

    1. subject to the decision at Minute 267/04 below, RECOMMEND Council to approve the Draft Capital Strategy;

    2. endorse the update to the 2003/04 Corporate Asset Management Plan on the basis that a fully revised Plan for 2005/06, incorporating the findings of the Review of Property Assets, would be reported to the Executive in September 2005;

    3. note the report on performance of the Council’s Property Portfolio and the proposals for reporting in 2005;

    4. ask the Capital Steering Group to consider and report back to the Executive on the proposals of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee for:

        1. identification of criteria/a fair mechanism for evaluating projects, particularly in relation to schools, in order to facilitate consideration for inclusion and priority in the Capital Programme;

        2. development of a 5-year rolling Capital Programme so that schemes not approved for inclusion in one year could be carried forward and be ready for consideration for inclusion in the Programme in a subsequent year.

    266/04. CHILTERN CENTRE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

    (Agenda Item 9)

    The County Council on 14 September had adopted a motion by Councillor Carol Viney in the following terms (as amended):

    "This Council recognised the work undertaken by the Chiltern Respite Care Centre and asks the Executive to explore a transfer of the land and buildings on which the Centre is situated, at less than the full market value, by means of a preferential price or lease to be negotiated by the appropriate officers"

    The Executive now considered a report (EX9) which explained the background of the closure of the County Council children’s resource centre at Henley and the subsequent granting of a lease to the Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children Ltd, the current planning position, and the options for disposal of the property to the trustees of the Centre.

    Councillor Gatehouse considered that the County Council should not pursue an appeal against the District Council’s refusal of planning permission because of the reference in the Local Plan to the provision of care home facilities but should look instead to supporting the Centre.

    Councillor Viney referred to the demand for respite care services and commended the service provided by the Centre. She considered that the level of income to the Council which would be realised by on the basis of the value of the property as private dwellings would not justify endangering the viability of the facility.

    RESOLVED:

    1. not to pursue an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the change of use of the Chiltern Centre to two dwellings;

    2. to agree to the transfer of the freehold interest in the property as set out in paragraph 9(b) of the report EX9:

        1. for a purchase price sufficient to cover the capital financing needed to carry out and complete the Council’s agreed resource centre refurbishment programme; and

        2. without a covenant restricting the use of the property but with provision for the County Council to receive an appropriate share in any increase in value from a future change of use.

    267/04. LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS IN OXFORDSHIRE

    (Agenda Item 10)

    On 14 September the County Council had considered a motion from Councillor C H Shouler regarding an opportunity to provide improved public library facilities in Bicester as part of Cherwell District Council’s planned re-development in the town centre. As a result Council had called upon the Executive "to undertake an urgent review of the Bicester proposal alongside all potential library improvements throughout the county, particularly the case of Thame, ... and, if the new library for Bicester receives a high priority ..., to undertake a detailed project appraisal, to identify funding sources and to recommend the Council to include the scheme in its capital programme for 2007/08."

    The Executive now considered a report (EX10) to assist in the establishment of strategic priorities for library improvements in the county and deciding whether a library improvement programme should be included as part of the County Council’s future capital programme.

    Councillor Brown considered that the case for investment in improvement of the Library Service, under a phased Improvement Plan, should be robustly argued, as an overarching strategic priority impacting on the achievement of other objectives.

    Councillor Mitchell pointed out the difficulties of identifying a funding stream for major capital expenditure under current capital financing rules. Councillor Fawcett acknowledged these problems and referred to the need for investigation of possible funding options, including Prudential Guidelines and the Public/Private Partnerships, to meet the requirement for the development of a proper library premises improvement programme.

    RESOLVED: to:

    1. plan for slippage of £400,000 in the capital programme from 2004/05 to 2005/06 with respect to the Central Library;

    2. confirm that a new Central Library for the County or a significant improvement to the existing one should be treated as a priority requirement in the negotiations between the County and City Councils and the prospective developers of the Westgate;

    3. propose to the County Council the inclusion of a library premises improvement programme as part of the capital strategy for 2005/06 and beyond;

    4. endorse the criteria set out in the report EX10 by which major schemes for library improvements could be prioritised relative to one another.

    268/04. CSCI ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SOCIAL & HEALTH CARE

    (Agenda Item 8)

    The Executive considered a report (EX8) which introduced the Annual Review of the performance of Social & Health Care during the year 2003/04 by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) together with the comments of the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee who had considered the Directorate’s Action Plan on 27 October 2004.

    The Council’s CSCI Business Relationship Manager and Deputy Regional Director attended the meeting and responded to questions.

    Councillor Fooks advised that the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee had felt that the Review Letter represented encouraging progress and she commended Social & Health Care staff for their efforts. However, concerns remained with regard to Looked After Children and she felt that the Scrutiny Committee would want to consider the Review on Children’s Residential Care.

    Councillor Seale agreed that the report represented considerable progress for the Social & Health Care Directorate.

    RESOLVED: to:

    1. note the comments of the Commission for Social Care Improvement in their Review Letter and in particular the improvements acknowledged and areas identified for further improvement and to thank the CSCI representatives for their attendance at, and their contribution, to the meeting;

    2. welcome and endorse the comments of the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee;

    3. approve the Social & Health Care Action Plan produced by the Director to tackle the areas identified for improvement during the coming year, subject to:

        1. the additional Improvement Recommendation identified by the Scrutiny Committee;

        2. the Directors for Learning & Culture and Social & Health Care taking personal responsibility for reviewing progress on the action plan in respect of the educational achievement of Looked After Children;

        3. the report on Children’s Residential Care Review being submitted via the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee;

    4. commend Social & Health Care staff for their work during the last year.

    269/04. NEW OPPORTUNITIES FUND PE & SPORT INITIATIVE

    (Agenda Item 11)

    The Executive considered a report (EX11) which detailed the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) PE & Sport initiative and sought approval of two project appraisals for schemes which had been the subject of bids submitted by the County Council.

    RESOLVED: to:

    1. note the details of the NOF PE & Sport Initiative and the positive impact it would have in addressing a number of recognised needs in Oxfordshire Schools and the Outdoor Education Service;

    2. approve Project Appraisal ED 618 for a new 4 court sports hall at Didcot Girls School;

    3. approve Project Appraisal ED 619 for a new 4 court sports hall at Blessed George Napier School, Banbury.

    270/04. CALL-IN OF AN EXECUTIVE DECISION - DIDCOT ITS LONG TERM STRATEGY

    (Agenda Item 12)

    On 19 October 2004 the Executive had resolved to:

    1. approve the provisional strategy for Phase 2 of the ITS (as summarised in the report and described in detail in Halcrow’s report on the assessment of schemes) as the basis of a package of measures to be presented to the Didcot Joint Local Plan Inquiry in November;

    2. noting the concerns expressed by the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, Didcot Town Council and certain parish councils:

        1. agree that particular emphasis will need to be given to north/south traffic movements in the Didcot/Oxford corridor as part of Phase 2 of the Strategy;

        2. welcome the support from the District Councils for making strong representations to the Highways Agency urgently to adopt a more positive and co-operative approach to transport issues on the A34;

        3. inform the district, town and parish councils within the study area of the above.

That decision had been called in for consideration by the Environment Scrutiny Committee and the Executive now considered the outcome of the Scrutiny Committee’s consideration which had been to refer the decision back to the Executive on the basis that further local consultation should be carried out.

Councillor Joslin, referring to the Transport Networks Review proposal that through traffic should be prevented from using the existing route northwards from Didcot via Clifton Hampden, urged that the proposed Harwell Bypass should be deferred in favour of a new Thames Crossing to enable traffic to access the A4074.

Councillor Harris urged acceptance of proposals to be presented by Councillor Mrs Davies, for the purpose of the impeding local plan inquiry, negotiations with developers and consultation with local people.

Councillor Mrs Davies referred to the eight schemes specified in the provisional long term strategy and on behalf of the Town Council urged the reference of the remainder of the Strategy back to the Didcot Area ITS Steering Group in terms recorded in (b) below.

The Director for Environment & Economy, revering to the need to reach agreements at this meeting for the purpose of providing evidence at the local plan inquiry, confirmed that the provisional strategy was not inflexible and that, for example, the provision of an additional Thames crossing was open to discussion.

Councillor Robertson indicated acceptance of a reference back in the terms proposed by Councillor Mrs Davies.

Noting the anxiety of the Environment Scrutiny Committee as to local consultation, the Executive was satisfied that such consultation would take place as a matter of course under the normal rules and conventions applying to highway and traffic schemes.

RESOLVED: to:

    1. reaffirm the Executive’s previous decision;

    2. note the 8 schemes comprised in the provisional strategy, refer the remainder of the long term strategy back to the Didcot Area ITS Steering Group for further discussion and recommendations and recognising that these further recommendations may include additions, deletions and advice as to timescales with reference to the schemes proposed or otherwise referred to in the Halcrow group Ltd reports, appraisals and scheme assessments.

    271/04. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

(Agenda Item 13)

The Executive considered a list of items from the Forward Plan for the immediately forthcoming meetings.

RESOLVED: to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

in the Chair

Date of signing 2004

Return to TOP