______________________________________


________________________________

To Members of the Executive

Notice of a Meeting of the Executive

Tuesday 7 December 2004 at 2.00 pm

County Hall, Oxford


Chris Impey
Assistant Chief Executive

Contact officer: Deborah Mitchell (Tel: 01865 8155463; E-mail)

Membership

Councillors

 

 

Keith R Mitchell

-

Leader of the Council

Dermot Roaf

-

Deputy Leader of the Council

Tony Crabbe

-

Executive Member for Schools

Neil Fawcett

-

Executive Member for Learning & Culture

David Robertson

-

Executive Member for Transport

Anne Purse

-

Executive Member for Sustainable Development

Janet Godden

-

Executive Member for Children & Young People

Don Seale

-

Executive Member for Community Care & Health

John Farrow

-

Executive Member for Community Safety

Decisions taken at the meeting will become effective at the end of the working day on 15 December 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

  1. Apologies for Absence

  2. Declarations of Interest – see guidance note

  3. Minutes

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

  4. Petitions and Public Address

    (See Addenda)

  5. Air Pollution - Scrutiny Review

    (See also Addenda)

    6. Executive Member: Transport, Sustainable Development
    Forward Plan Ref: 2004/156
    Contact: Matt Bramall, Scrutiny Review Officer (01865 810822)

    Report by Environment Scrutiny Committee (EX5) (download as .doc file).

    This Scrutiny Review was conducted jointly by Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council – each nominating three Members to serve on the Review Group. The final report was presented to each authority’s Environment Scrutiny Committee for endorsement.

    On 19 November 2004, the Environment Scrutiny Committee agreed to forward the report to the Executive and to advise it that the Committee:

    (i) supported recommendations R1, R2, R3, R6, R7, R9, R11, R12, R13 and R15 set out in the report;

    (ii) did not support (on the casting vote of the Chair) recommendations R4, R5, R10 and R14 set out in the report;

    (iii) did not support recommendation R8, but supported the current work being undertaken in that area.

    On 15 November 2004, the City Environment Scrutiny Committee resolved to ask the Executive Board to endorse all of the recommendations of the report on air quality and to note in particular that measures were required to ensure enforcement measures were implemented and to promote the work in relation to pedestrian and cycling issues.

    The City Council Executive Board will consider the Review report at its meeting on 30 November 2004 and the outcome will be reported orally at this meeting. An executive summary of the report with its recommendations is attached at (EX5) (download as .doc file).. The full report (with both Scrutiny Committee’s comments) has been circulated to Executive Members and a copy has been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre. A copy is also available for public inspection.

    The Executive is asked to consider and respond to the joint Scrutiny Review report and its recommendations, having regard to the advice of the Environment Scrutiny Committee.

  6. Corporate Environmental Policy - Scrutiny Review

Executive Member: Sustainable Development
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/157
Contact: Dave Waller, Policy Manager (01865 810813)

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (EX6).

At its meeting on 20 July the Executive considered the report and recommendations of the Environment Scrutiny Review Team and agreed to reconsider the review’s findings in the light of the outcome of the recent Audit Commission Inspection on Sustainable Development. This report outlines the actions being taken to address the findings of both these reports, which are available in the members’ resource centre, and at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Officers agree with the main thrust of the Environment Scrutiny Review and the Audit Commission recommendations that new machinery is needed to ensure that environment performance once again has profile and impetus. It is proposed that, rather than deciding on the detailed recommendations of Scrutiny in isolation, a new high-level environment group is established and that the new group should look at these recommendations as part of the preparation of a new action plan. CCMT have supported the proposal for such a group, which would:

    • consider each of the recommendations in the Scrutiny Review and Audit Commission reports;

    • evaluate the practicality and cost effectiveness of each action proposed in response to the reports;

    • agree priorities and targets for 2005/06; and

    • produce a revised environmental policy and strategy to be presented to a future meeting of the Executive.

Membership will be high-level, but will include people with the appropriate skills or influence to ensure actions can be followed through. It is proposed that the Executive Member for Sustainable Development should be on this group, and that a member from scrutiny should be invited to attend as an observer.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. agree the establishment of an high level environment group to address the issues identified in the Scrutiny Review and Audit Commission Inspection reports, with terms of reference and membership as set out in Annex 2 to the report;

          2. invite the Environment Scrutiny Committee to nominate a member to attend the group as an observer;

          3. ask the environment group specifically:

            1. to produce for the Executive’s consideration a renewed environmental policy and strategy in Spring 2005; and

            2. to report annually on progress on, with recommendations for the improvement of, the Council’s environmental performance.

  1. Witney: West End Link Stage II

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

Report by Head of Transport (EX7).

This report seeks to clarify the County Council’s formal position on West End Link Stage 2, in the context of recent work undertaken on transport measures in Witney and evidence submitted to the West Oxfordshire Local Plan Inquiry. Objectors to the County and District Councils’ proposals appearing at the Inquiry have focused on a recommendation, approved by the Executive in July 2004, "to confirm the intention to construct West End Link Stage 2 as a complementary scheme to Cogges Link". Their interpretation of this is that West End Link Stage 2 has the same status as Cogges Link and that a decision has been taken to construct it.

The report proposes that the County Council’s formal position on West End Link Stage 2 should be clarified to reflect the evidence submitted to the Local Plan Public Inquiry, i.e. that the need and timing for the scheme will be determined only once the Cogges Link has been implemented. However, in the interests of planning for the future and not ‘closing off’ options at this Stage, it is proposed that the County Council should request that the District Council continues to protect the line of West End Link Stage 2 through the Local Plan, recognising that the Local Plan only runs up to 2011 and West End Link is very unlikely to constructed during this time.

If Cogges Link were not to go ahead for whatever reason, there would be a need to review the transport strategy for Witney.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED:

    1. subject to (b) below, to confirm the Council’s long term intention to implement West End Link Stage 2 and that West Oxfordshire District Council be asked to continue to protect the line of the scheme through the Local Plan;

    2. not to pursue through the compulsory purchase of land or any other statutory process for the West End Link Stage 2 scheme until the Cogges Link scheme has been implemented, its effects monitored and the need/justification for West End Link Stage 2 subsequently evaluated and consulted upon.

  1. Parking Spaces for Disabled Residents

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/159
Contact: Brian Fell (01865 815083)

Report by Head of Transport (EX8).

The report aims to rationalise the policy for the provision of individual requests for disabled parking places in Oxfordshire. Up until 1 April 2002, the City Council was responsible for the provision of places in Oxford City under its agency agreement and the County Council for the provision of places in the rest of the County. When the agency for Oxford City ended, provisions in the City reverted to the County Council. It has become clear that there are differences in the policy for provision of places between the two areas as well as in the methods of implementation and charging. This report recommends a uniform approach to establish Disabled Persons Parking Places with the same process being used for regular reviews across the county.

The report proposes standard criteria for the provision of an individual disabled person’s parking place (whilst recognizing that there may be special circumstances justifying an exception.) It is proposed that applications should be dealt with in batches, when enough applications for new spaces or removals have been received to make it viable to process them in one formal Order, because the making of such Orders is an expensive and time-consuming process, which may take months, and is subject to resources being available. The intention is to create an Order for each District Council area each of which would be reviewed on a six monthly cycle depending on the number of individual disabled persons’ parking places in that District.

The proposals in the report tie in with a motion by Councillor Jean Fooks adopted by Council on 2 November, which asked the Executive to bring the provision of parking spaces for disabled residents up to date within the next financial year.

The provision of Disabled Persons’ Parking Places more generally within town centres is a separate matter that needs to be considered in the context of parking strategies for these locations as they are developed.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. approve the procedure and criteria set out in the report for providing and removing Disabled Persons’ Parking Places for individual residents across the County; and

          2. agree not to charge for the provision of Disabled Persons’ Parking Places on the basis that provision will be made within the Community Safety allocation in the Transport Capital Programme.

  1. Customer Service Strategy

    2. Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
    Forward Plan Ref: 2004/095
    Contact: Debbie Dent (01865 810127

    Report by Head of Customer Service (EX9).

    A draft Customer Service Strategy and Action Plan were presented to the Executive on 21 September 2004. The Executive endorsed the draft Strategy and Plan for consultation with partners and customers. This report outlines the results of consultation, which strongly supported the development of the four key topics proposed in the strategy: information management; improved access; staff skills and corporate standards for customer service; and increased awareness of customer service issues in the Council. The Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee on 18 November welcomed the strategy.

    The consultation responses and Scrutiny Committee comments are welcomed and give confidence that the approach of the Strategy is valid. Indeed it is recommended that the core Strategy presented in September should be adopted as drawn. However the opportunity has been taken to amend and develop the Annexes to the Strategy: the Service Standards and more particularly the Action Plan. Subject to approval by the Executive the Strategy and Action Plan will be launched with staff, as a first step in the Customer Service Awareness programme proposed in the Action Plan.

    The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

                1. note the outcome of consultation and Scrutiny Committee response as supportive of the proposed Customer Service Strategy; and

                2. adopt the Customer Service Strategy and Action Plan.

  2. Job Evaluation – Scrutiny Review

    3. Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
    Forward Plan Ref: 2004/087
    Contact: Julian Hehir, Scrutiny Review Officer (01865 815673)

    Report by Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee (EX10) (download as .doc file).

    On 18 November 2004 the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee received the report of its Lead Member Review Group appointed to carry out this review of Job Evaluation. The Committee agreed the Job Evaluation Scrutiny Review report and recommended the Executive:

      a. to note the overall success of the Job Evaluation scheme and particularly to acknowledge the huge efforts put into the JE project by Sue Corrigan, County Human Resources Manager, Becky Scales Job Evaluation Co-ordinator and UNISON;

      b. that Job Evaluation remains an integral part of the HR strategy ensuring that:

    • Job Descriptions are kept up to date;

    • the JE scheme is continually monitored to ensure it accurately reflects the ongoing organisation arrangements and individual responsibilities;

    • the appropriate training / familiarisation is provided;

    • that regular monthly grade count figures are provided;

      c. to address the situations whereby new recruits are in some cases paid higher than existing staff due to re-grading of and the phasing of the pay rises;

      d. that Service budgets should allow for the cost of the full complement of staff at the appropriate grade;

      e. to be aware that, as with all JE schemes, Council grades will need to be reviewed in 3 years time and the Executive must ensure that resources for the review must be adequate to the task;

      f. to provide ongoing benchmarking and subsequent validation of evaluations with other authorities using the same scheme; and

      g. to ensure that the Council’s MIS is effective and efficient.

and advised the Executive that progress with the JE scheme will be reported to the Scrutiny Committee as part of the Head of HR’s regular reporting. A copy of the report with its recommendations is attached at (EX10). A copy is also available for public inspection.

The Executive is asked to consider and respond to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Review report and its recommendations.

  1. Cost of Agency Care Workers Scrutiny Review

    2. Executive Member: Community Care & Health
    Forward Plan Ref: 2004/168
    Contact: Julian Hehir, Scrutiny Review Officer (01865 815673)

    Report by Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee (EX11) (download as .doc file).

    On 27 October 2004 the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee received the report of its Lead Member Review Group appointed to carry out this review of the Cost of Agency Care Workers. The Committee agreed the report, subject to minor amendments, for submission to the Executive together with a copy of a speech made to this Committee by Ms Janet Mace, Manager of the Direct Payments Information and Advice Support Service; and a note of the comments made by the Head of Social Care for Adults, in response to Janet Mace’s speech (attached at EX11(i) (download as .doc file) and EX11(ii) respectively). An executive summary of the report with its recommendations is attached at (EX11) (download as .doc file). The full report (as amended) has been circulated to Executive Members and a copy has been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre. A copy is also available for public inspection.

    The Executive is asked to consider and respond to the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Review report and its recommendations.

  2. Prevention and Day Care Services for Older People

    3. Executive Member: Community Care & Health
    Forward Plan Ref: 2004/120
    Contact: Nick Welch, Head of Planning & Partnership (01865 815714)

    Report by Director for Social & Health Care (EX12).

    A 5-year Strategy has been drawn up within the Social & Health Care Directorate to develop and modernise preventive and day services. The Strategy will inform the Directorate’s 3 year Commissioning Strategy, and implementation will be through the overall developments that are undertaken as part of the Commissioning Strategy. The purpose of this report is to highlight this significant area of activity, and seek agreement to the overall objectives of the Strategy and the service model that is being proposed.

    The objective of the Strategy is to develop an equitable spread of preventive and day services across the County, achieving the dual outcomes of promoting independence and preventing more people entering long-term care. Resources will be directed to both longer-term, low-level ‘social inclusion’ services, as well as more intensive input to help highly dependent people remain at home.

    Members of the Executive have received a copy of the Strategy with the agenda for the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee meeting on 27 October. The Committee’s comments are set out in the report.

    The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. welcome the comments of the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee, note the textual changes to be made to the Strategy and agree the extension of consultation as the Committee recommends:

          2. agree the strategic direction set out in the report, noting the resource implications that will require further consideration;

          3. approve the Project Management arrangements set out in paragraphs 30 and 31.

  3. Children’s Residential Review: Hollow Way, Oxford

    4. Executive Member: Children & Young People
    Forward Plan Ref: 2004/190
    Contact: Phil Hodgson, Head of Social Care for Children (01865 815833)

    Report by Director for Social & Health Care (EX13).

    Hollow Way Children’s Home was established with the aim of helping young people move to leaving care provision. It has provided a valuable service to young people moving from a children’s home to a small semi-independent unit. It has accommodation for 3 young people but current occupancy is only 2. The unit cost of a place at Hollow Way is expensive if occupancy is at this level: the unit cost exceeds the average cost of other in-county children’s homes.

    The property has been rented for several years and the tenancy is scheduled to expire in June 2005. This report provides information about the home and makes proposals to undertake a consultation process with staff, young people, family and other agencies about future options for the home: to maintain the unit providing up to 2 or 3 places or close it and reprovide placements for current residents with either foster carers or other residential facilities

    The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. authorise consultation with young people, parents, staff and other agencies on the future of Hollow Way;

          2. ask the Head of Social Care for Children to report back to the Executive in February on the outcome of the consultation.

  4. Community Safety Strategies

Executive Member: Community Safety
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/153
Contact: Bruce McLaren, Safer Communities Unit Manager (01865 258516)

Report by Director for Community Safety (EX14).

The Crime & Disorder Act 1998 requires the County Council to work in partnership with District Councils, the Police and the Primary Care Trusts. These partnerships are the five Oxfordshire CDRPs, located in each district council area. They are required to produce three-year community safety, or crime and disorder reduction, strategies and the Council, along with its partners, must bring its services to bear in the delivery of the strategies and supporting action plans. This work is co-ordinated by the Council’s Safer Communities Unit, which acts as the liaison point with CDRP partner organisations. Working relationships are well developed with the Police, the District Councils, the Primary Care Trusts, as well as the Youth Offending Service, Probation and other partner agencies. The existing strategies were published in 2002.

This report:

    • summarises the issues identified by the crime and disorder audits undertaken in 2004 by each of the five Oxfordshire Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs);

    • considers the emerging issues from the associated consultation processes;

    • identifies the outline approach to the new three year CDRP strategies, due for publication in April 2005; and

    • proposes arrangements for the final approval of the strategies, jointly with District Councils, Police and Primary Care Trusts.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED:

          1. to endorse the framework outlined in the report for production of the new Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategies on the basis of the content of the CDRP audits and issues emerging from the associated consultation;

          2. to authorise the Executive Member for Community Safety to agree draft CDRP strategies, on the advice of the Director for Community Safety and Safer Communities Unit, in early January 2005;

          3. that further consideration of the draft strategies be given in March 2005, taking into account the views of the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee.

  1. Forward Plan and Future Business

Executive Member: All
Contact Officer: John Leverton, Head of Committee Services (01865 815314)

The Executive Procedure Rules provide that the business of each meeting at the Executive is to include "updating of the Forward Plan and proposals for business to be conducted at the following meeting". Items from the Forward Plan for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Executive appear in the Schedule at EX15. This includes any updated information relating to the business for those meetings that has already been identified for inclusion in the next Forward Plan update.

The Schedule is for noting, but Executive Members may also wish to take this opportunity to identify any further changes they would wish to be incorporated in the next Forward Plan update.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

November 2004

Return to TOP