______________________________________

________________________________

To Members of the Executive

Notice of a Meeting of the Executive

Tuesday 15 March 2005 at 2.00 pm

County Hall, Oxford

Chris Impey
Assistant Chief Executive

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

Membership

Decisions taken at the meeting will become effective at the end of the working day on 23 March 2005 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

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2005 (EX3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

4. Petitions and Public Address
   
   (See Addenda)
   
   
5. Financial Monitoring

Executive Member: Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/051
Contact: Mike Petty, Principal Financial Manager (01865 815622)

Report by Head of Finance & Procurement (EX5) (download as. doc file).

(EX5 - Annex 1 - download as .xls file)
(EX5 - Annex 2 - download as .xls file)
(EX5 - Annex 3 - download as .xls file)
(EX5 - Annex 4 - download as .xls file)
(EX5 - Annex 5 - download as .doc file)
(EX5 - Annex 6-8 - download as .xls file)


This report covers the period up to the end of January 2005 for revenue and capital.

There has been a net increase of £0.589m in the projected year end position on revenue balances since the last report. No further potential calls on balances are known about for the year and the forecast year end position is now a balance of £6.136m. This is net of the adjustment of £0.816m made last month in respect of the repayment of 2003/04 Revenue Support Grant and remains in line with the projections set out in the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2005/06 which was agreed by Council on 15 February.

The Directorate carry forward position has improved by £0.457m since the last report and now shows an overall surplus of £1.854m. Based on previous trends, this position is unlikely to worsen and may well improve further.

The capital programme presented to Council on 15 February 2005 showed an expected surplus of £7.354m at 31 March 2005. A more accurate assessment will be available at the Executive meeting on 19 April. There could also be a slippage in capital receipts totalling up to £4.000m which will need to be offset against the surplus. Overall, it is anticipated that the final surplus on the capital programme at 31 March 2005 will be significantly higher than the £7.354m reported to Council.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. note the report;
2. approve the virement of £0.495m of surplus Residential Allowance grant from the Social & Health Care Directorate Management Team to Learning Disabilities;
3. note the latest proposals from the Director of Learning & Culture on the Directorate’s action plan;
4. agree the adjustments to the Capital Programme as shown in the report.

6. SAP Revitalisation
   
   (See also Addenda)

• record the progress made to date;
• confirm the overall approach to the substantive programme of work;
• identify and recommend a programme of work, commencing in April 2005, to maintain project momentum, achieve early identified benefits and provide foundations for future business change; and
• identify the resources required to continue with the immediate programme of work pending consideration of the full set of proposals and Business Case.

1. endorse the immediate workplan outlined in the report;
2. approve the carry forward of the unspent Phase One project budget, estimated to be £200,000, to support the identified work;
3. approve the expenditure of an initial £480,000 out of the £2m SAP Revitalisation Budget for 2005/06 in the carrying out of this programme of work.

7. Raising Our Performance 2
   
   (See also Addenda)

• an improved Oxfordshire plan with fewer, more focused, priorities and robust plans for delivery;
• service plans that provide staff with clear and achievable objectives and performance indicators to enable organisational improvement;
• a significant improvement in the quality of the appraisal process combined with a very significant improvement in the proportion of employees who have appraisal;
• excellent progress towards the community strategy, voluntary sector compact and community safety objectives;
• strong progress on improving corporate governance within the authority;
• the development and implementation of customer service, HR, finance and procurement strategies.

8. Regional Planning : South East Plan
   
   (See also Addenda)
   

Executive Member: Sustainable Development
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/187
Contact: Chris Cousins, Head of Sustainable Development (01865 815459)

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (EX8).

(EX8 - download as .doc file)
(EX8 - Plan A - download as .pdf file)
(EX8 - Plan B - download as .pdf file)


The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) is consulting the public on the draft South East Plan. The consultation period is to 15 April 2005. The draft plan does not contain individual district housing allocations. Further work is needed to produce these. Following this work, which may be subject to some further consultation, the Regional Assembly aims to submit the Plan to the Secretary of State in November. He will undertake further consultation and hold a public examination. The Government hopes that the Plan will be adopted in 2006. A copy of the plan is in the Members’ Resource Centre. A copy of the Executive Summary has been sent to all Members.

This report focuses on the key issues addressed by the draft South East Plan, including housing options for the region and issues in relation to the sub regional elements of the Plan that relate to Oxfordshire.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to :

1. endorse the comments in paragraphs 25 to 59 of the report on the basis that it is subject to consideration by full Council, and in particular to represent to SEERA, and as appropriate to the Government, that:

1. on the evidence provided to date, there is not considered to be a convincing case for development above current RPG9 levels;
2. sustainable communities in the sub-region can be achieved only if the current infrastructure shortfall is addressed before any further development takes place: further infrastructure requirements to support additional development should be fully funded and in place either in advance of or in parallel with development;
3. the average rate of development in Oxfordshire should not exceed the rate in the Structure Plan review to 2016 and the Plan should include flexibility to reduce the rate of development after 2016 to reflect economic and other uncertainties;
4. this Council reserves its position on the amount of housing to be located in Central Oxfordshire pending completion of the work that the Central Oxfordshire Steering Group is doing on options for housing distribution in the sub-region;
5. the preferred strategy for further development in central Oxfordshire should be that outlined in Option A in the South East Plan consultation draft;
6. the boundaries of sub-regions should be reconsidered in the light of the consultants’ work, commissioned by SEERA, on sub-regional housing markets;
7. SEERA should review the cross boundary issues and working arrangements with adjoining regions;

2. authorise the Director for Environment & Economy, in consultation with the Executive Members for Sustainable Development and Transport, to submit detailed comments on policies and proposals in the Draft South East Plan to SEERA.

9. South East Regional Housing Strategy
   
   (See also Addenda)
   

Executive Member: Sustainable Development
Forward Plan Ref: 2005/045
Contact: Dawn Pettis, Affordable Housing Project Leader, (01865 816082)

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (EX9).

On 1 June 2004, the Executive endorsed a report (EX10), (Minute 141/04) which outlined the key themes put forward in a Green Paper, A Step Forward in Housing, published by the Regional Housing Board (RHB), as the basis for a formal response from the County Council to the RHB. The Green Paper was an important first step in formulating the Regional Housing Strategy. The RHB has now prepared and is consulting on the draft Regional Housing Strategy 2006-2009. The consultation period is from 24 January to 18 March 2005.

The Strategy sets out priorities for housing investment in the South East and a framework for allocating resources. It covers the period 2006 onwards and will be followed by an investment plan that will cover the two years 2006-7 and 2007-8. The final version of the strategy needs to be delivered to Ministers in May 2005.

This report suggests a formal response to the RHB on the draft Regional Housing Strategy.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. thank the Regional Housing Board for the opportunity to comment on the draft Regional Housing Strategy;
2. agree the five priorities for the allocation of funds as set out in paragraph 7 of the report;
3. support the 60% funding allocation for affordable housing to local authority areas (outside the Growth Areas) with the highest level of need;
4. seek to include Banbury within the Oxfordshire sub-region for the purposes of funding for affordable housing;
5. request that the Regional Housing Board deletes Bicester Airfield from the list of strategic sites, clarify the sites in Didcot, and include the development sites in Banbury referred to in paragraph 10 of the report;
6. support the notion that key workers should be defined locally;
7. express concern about the lack of detail in terms of funding for the infrastructure (apart from affordable housing) which will be needed;
8. support the points made in the report in paragraphs 23 to 40 of the report concerning travellers and gypsies, rural areas, the use of public sector land, the environmental aspects of the strategy, homelessness, health and housing support, and quality design and modern methods of construction.

10. Transport Capital Programme

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/197
Contact: Richard Dix (01865 815663)

Report by Head of Transport (EX10).

This report seeks the Executive’s approval to the 2005/06 Transport Capital Programme. This is the final year of the current Local Transport Plan 5 year period and the programme concentrates on delivering the schemes developed over this period.

This programme booklet accompanying the report provides the list of specific transport capital projects called for in the County Council’s decision on the 15 February in regard to the 2005/06 Capital Programme.

The report includes an explanation of a revised approach to Better Ways to School and seeks approval of this change. Also included is an explanation of plans to advance the implementation of residents parking schemes in Oxford and a revised project appraisal for the Cowley Road Demonstration scheme, both for approval by the Executive.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. approve the detailed programme for 2005/06 as set out in the booklet accompanying the report (Annex 1 to the report);
2. note that there will be a review of the programme for 2006/07 onwards as part of the development of the second Local Transport Plan;
3. endorse the revised approach to school involvement in the Better Ways to School programme outlined in the report;
4. approve the order of implementation of Controlled Parking Zones in Oxford as set out in Table 2 of the report;
5. approve the revised project appraisal for the Cowley Road Mixed Priority Routes Demonstration Project (H174) (Annex 2); and
6. request the Head of Transport to report on progress on the Transport Capital Programme in October 2005.

11. Highway Maintenance Programme 2005/06

1. endorse the details of the 2005/06 Highway Maintenance programme as set out in Annex 2 to the report, subject to confirmation of the capital funding for structural maintenance;
2. approve the Oxford City Council’s Section 42 estimate as modified and shown in Column B of Annex 3;
3. approve the Detailed Project Appraisals at Annex 5; and
4. approve the Protocol for the Financial Implications of Snow Clearance at Annex 6.

12. Cornmarket Street, Oxford, Reconstruction Scheme – Scrutiny Review
    
    (See also Addenda)
    

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2005/009
Contact: Matt Bramall and Julian Hehir, Scrutiny Review Officers (01865 810822/815673)

Report by Joint Scrutiny Review Group (EX12) (download as .doc file).

On 3 March 2005 the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee considered the report of the Joint Oxford City Council & County Council Review Group which was appointed to carry out a review of the Cornmarket Street, Oxford, Reconstruction Scheme. The Committee’s comment to the Executive will be reported at the meeting

An executive summary of the report with its recommendations is attached at (EX12). The full report has been circulated to all 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 Review report and its recommendations.

13. Road Casualty Reduction - Best Value Review
    
    (See also Addenda)

• endorsed the Review report;

• approved the proposals at paragraph 98 for reducing road casualties;
• asked the review team to develop a detailed action plan and report back to the Committee in Spring 2005;
• referred the outcomes of the review to the Environment Scrutiny Committee for it to make any observations on the review to the Executive; and
• RECOMMENDED the Review to the Executive and drew to the attention of the Executive the Committee’s view that it would like to see more consultation with representatives of cycling organizations.

14. West End Link Road, Witney

Executive Member: Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/182
Contact: Colin Baird, Principal Engineer, Transport Projects (01865 815536)

Report by Head of Transport (EX14).

This report seeks approval for a revised detailed project appraisal for the Witney: West End Link Road Stage 1 with a total cost of £1.610 million.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve the Detailed Project Appraisal H163/2 as set out in Annexes 1 and 2 to the report.

15. Redevelopment Proposals for Homes for Older People

Executive Member: Community Care & Health
Forward Plan Ref: 2005/021
Contact: Nick Welch, Head of Planning and Partnership(01865 815714)

Report by Director for Social & Health Care (EX15).

On 21 September 2004 the Executive invited the Oxfordshire Care Partnership (OCP) to submit proposals for the provision of 20 registered care home places in Chipping Norton on a site to be agreed following a full site option appraisal. This was subject to the Cherwell Vale PCT agreeing to purchasing an additional 12 places in the same facility. This was subsequently agreed by the OCP.

This report describes the site option appraisal process, and sets out the conclusions. If accepted, the recommendations will lead to the provision of a new care home to replace an existing care home in Chipping Norton and the development of a new NHS Day Hospital and Primary Care facility.

Our provisional assessment is as follows:

1. The Castle View site’s situation in the town centre is attractive to a number of people in Chipping Norton. However, the site constraints and site assembly issues make this the less attractive option in terms of deliverability. We have also not considered the effect of a temporary move for the Castle View residents and staff (should it prove necessary) as part of this review, other than as an issue for timescale.
2. The land at Rockhill Farm is technically the easier site to deliver within the timescale available. It is in single ownership (Oxfordshire County Council) and is largely a greenfield site. It has the space available to create a first class facility which will last Chipping Norton for many years and with careful planning can be located so as to allow further expansion and partnerships.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. invite the Oxfordshire Care Partnership to prepare development proposals for the provision of 20 registered care home places for the County Council on the Rockhill Farm site in Chipping Norton;
2. continued partnership working with the Cherwell Vale PCT for the development of linked social and health care services in facilities; and
3. agree to officers discussing with Cherwell Vale PCT the option of their acquiring a freehold interest in the land on which a linked NHS facility may be built.

16. Social & Health Care Contracts
    
    (See also Addenda)

Executive Member: Community Care & Health, Children & Young People
Forward Plan Ref: 2005/029
Contact: Martin Bradshaw, Operations Manager (01865 8154485)

Report by Director for Social & Health Care (EX16).

The Social & Health Care Directorate has purchased increasing amounts of service from the independent sector since 1993, to the point where some 80% of adult care services are now provided externally - at a gross value of £130m per annum. A Procurement Review was completed in October 2004, which identified a number of issues that require measures to be taken, which have been activated. The review also highlighted that a significant number of contracts were expiring at the end of March 2005 and during 2005/6, and that full tendering procedures were not appropriate to certain of these areas of service where alternative approaches to procurement would secure value for money and effective provision. The report identifies the circumstances in which alternative approaches would be appropriate.

The report also deals with a specific request for exemption – for a number of contracts with Age Concern Oxfordshire to an aggregate value of £909k per annum. These are due to expire on 31 March 2005, and cover a range of day and support services to Older People. It is not considered appropriate for these contracts to be let under full open competition, and an Exemption report is attached to the main report which sets out the circumstances in detail.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. note the establishment of the Social & Health Care Procurement Panel as described in the report and Annex 1;
2. in relation to the eight Age Concern contracts specified in Annex 2:

1. approve the exemption from tendering for those contracts in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 3.2;
2. authorise the letting of a nine month interim contract with Age Concern to 31st December 2005, pending discussions in relation to a future contract and service specifications; and
3. authorise the letting of single consolidated contract with Age Concern for the provision of the full range of services currently delivered by them, allowing scope for further service development to take effect on expiry of the interim contracts referred to in (1) above;

3. authorise the Chief Executive to approve any further exemptions from the provisions of the Contract Procedure Rules which may be required prior to 31 March 2006 in order to maintain Social & Health Care services, subject to the production of legal, financial and procurement appraisals and to progress reports on the contracts compliance action plan being made to the Social & Health Care Procurement Panel.

17. Equalities
    
    (See also Addenda)
    

Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/180
Contact: Adrian Harper-Smith, Corporate Strategies Manager (01865 810179)

Report by Deputy Leader of the Council (EX17).

This report proposes adoption of a revised statutory Race Equality Scheme for 2005-08 and a consistent Corporate Equality Plan for 2005-08, including a combined Equality Impact Assessment process, in line with previous decisions of the Executive and legislative requirements.

The Race Equality Scheme sets out the Council’s arrangements for meeting the requirements of the general and specific duties specified in Race Relations legislation, in particular, monitoring, reviewing and assessing our functions and policies for their impact on race equality; consulting on and assessing new functions and policies for relevance and impact; ensuring public access to information, services and to the Race Equality Scheme, and informing and training staff.

In working toward the achievement of Level 2 of the Equality Standard for Local Government, a Corporate Equality Plan, covering race, sex and disability equality, has also been developed in conjunction with the development of the revised Race Equality Scheme and following the same processes.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. agree the revised statutory Race Equality Scheme for 2005-08 at Annex 1 to the report; (download as .pdf file)
2. agree the Corporate Equality Plan for 2005-08 at Annex 2 to the report. (download as .pdf file)

18. Social Inclusion
    
    (See also Addenda)
    

Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/181
Contact: Adrian Harper-Smith, Corporate Strategies Manager (01865 810179)

Report by County Council Management Team (EX18).

On 19 October 2004 the Executive adopted a draft Social Inclusion Strategy which addresses the issues in the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee’s social inclusion scrutiny review report.

The Executive also noted that the Social Inclusion Strategy would be supported through the development of a prioritised corporate Social Inclusion Action Plan.

The report proposes a Corporate Social Inclusion Action Plan in line with the Executive’s decision on 19 October 2004.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to agree the Social Inclusion Action Plan Framework set out in Annex 3 to the report as the basis for a prioritised corporate Social Inclusion Action Plan to be developed during 2005/06.

19. Community Safety Strategiess

• provides a detailed summary of the draft CDRP strategies;
• sets out the steps taken to brief the Executive and other members since December 2004 and summarises views of the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee and the members’ seminar on community safety; and
• advises the Executive to recommend the draft strategies for approval by full Council in April 2005.

20. Traveller Policy

Executive Member: Community Safety
Forward Plan Ref: 2005/049
Contact: John Parry, Director, Mike Simm, Head of Community Safety (01865 855205/202218)

Report by Director for Community Safety (EX20).

On 5 October 2004, on receiving a report on Traveller strategy, the Executive instructed the Director for Community Safety to convene a Member/Officer Working Group to review current policies relating to traveller services, consulting appropriate bodies and report back to the Executive. This report provides details of progress to date.

The Council assumed direct management of its six permanent sites in September 2004 in response to concerns about the quality of management of the private contractor that had had responsibility for some years. A considerable amount of work had to be undertaken immediately to rectify the neglect that was evident when the sites came under Council management. The additional work is being quantified and the Solicitor to the Council has been instructed to pursue this issue.

Negotiations with site residents’ representatives over a new license agreement are now completed. This agreement, which seeks to address all issues raised in recent government guidance and as a consequence of recent legal judgements, is now seen as a model of good practice. The Working Party invited both Gypsy representatives and the residents’ legal adviser to one of its meetings to finalise these agreements.

A substantial bid has been submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for refurbishments to all six sites. If successful, the ODPM will fund 75% of the works and the remainder will be met from the projected revenue from the sites. Taken together with the on-going programme of maintenance and site cleaning, these refurbishments will constitute a significant improvement, both to the quality of life of the residents and to the appearance of the sites to neighbours and the public.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. endorse the re-alignment of functions of the Gypsy and Traveller Service; and;
2. reassert support for a regional or sub-regional approach to the provision of transit sites.

21. "Faith in our Schools" Scrutiny Review

Executive Member: Schools
Forward Plan Ref: 2005/015
Contact: Keith Bartley, Director (01865 815122)

Report by Director for Learning & Culture (EX21).

In July 2004 the Executive received the report of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee’s review, "Faith in our Schools". The present report has been prepared by the School Development Service and specifically addresses recommendation 2 of the "Faith in our Schools" report. (Other services within Learning & Culture will respond in subsequent reports to the implications of other aspects of the Scrutiny Committee’s report.) Recommendation 2 proposed the preparation for head teachers and governors of guidelines within a framework devised by the Scrutiny Committee and this report deals with the main themes identified in that recommendation.

The Service is committed to working with schools, their governing bodies and faith communities to ensure that pupils grow and learn within a genuinely inclusive environment. There is a genuine will to explore individual and joint possibilities of supporting schools in their attempts to adopt and modify the environment and the curriculum, with the object of supporting pupils in their sense of identity, well-being and security, all of which are accepted as positive affective aspects of learning.

The Service welcomes the proposal for preparation and circulation to schools of a guidance document based upon the responses to the recommendations contained in the ‘Faith in Our Schools’ report; and confirms that the Governor Services Unit can make a significant contribution in providing training to school governors regarding major non-Christian faiths.

The Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee considered a draft of this report on 22 February and its comments are set out in the report.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED, having regard to the comments by the Scrutiny Committee, to:

1. note the contents of the report and endorse the action proposed in its conclusions;
2. note that a full service response to the recommendations of the "Faith in our Schools" report will be made to the Executive in the early Summer; and
3. ask officers to report further on how the implications of the recommendations of the "Faith in our Schools" report might be incorporated into the Children & Young People’s plan.

22. Expansion of the Museum Store, Standlake – "Treasures in Store" - Scrutiny Review

Executive Member: Learning & Culture
Forward Plan Ref: 2005/007
Contact: Mike Cohen, Scrutiny Review Officer (01865 810823)

Report by Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee (EX22) (download as .doc file).

On 22 February 2005 the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee considered the report of its Review Group appointed to carry out a review of the Museums Resource Centre, Standlake – Extension to Existing Building. The Committee agreed the report, subject to minor amendments, for submission to the Executive.

An executive summary of the report with its recommendations is attached (EX22). 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 Learning & Culture Scrutiny Review report and its recommendations.

23. Inland Waterways - Scrutiny Review

Executive Member: Sustainable Development, Transport
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/188
Contact: Julian Hehir, Scrutiny Review Officer (01865 815673)

Report by Environment Scrutiny Committee (EX23) (download as .doc file)

On 23 February 2005 the Environment Scrutiny Committee considered the report of its Review Group appointed to carry out a review of Inland waterways. The Committee agreed the report, subject to minor amendments, for submission to the Executive.

An executive summary of the report with its recommendations is attached (EX23). 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 Environment Scrutiny Review report and its recommendations.

24. "Facing the Future" - Consultation on Local Government Pension Scheme

Executive Member: Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2005/019
Contact: Sean Collins, Sue Corrigan (01865 815411, 810280)

Report by Director for Resources (EX24).

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has issued a consultation document seeking views on possible changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme. The consultation has been prompted by a need to find a way to maintain an affordable good quality pension fund for local government employees in the current and anticipated financial situation and in view of increasing life expectancy. It is generally accepted that action must be taken to make changes to the provisions of the scheme in order to maintain its viability and affordability. The target date for changes to the scheme to be implemented is 1 April 2008.

The report sets out a suggested response on the main issues raised by the consultation for the Executive to consider as its official response to the consultation on behalf of the Council as employing authority. A separate response has been agreed for submission by the Pension Fund Committee on behalf of the Council in its role as administrator of the Oxfordshire Pension Fund.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to consider the suggested response set out in Annex 2 to the report and subject thereto to authorise the submission of the response to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council as employing authority.

25. Policy on Checking Criminal Records
    
    (See also Addenda)
    

Executive Member: Deputy Leader of the Council
Forward Plan Ref: 2004/150
Contact: Sue Corrigan, County HR Manager (01865) 810280

Report by Head of Human Resources (EX25).

A new policy on the management of the employment of people with criminal convictions has been developed, prompted by: discrepancies in the management of checking procedures and standards across the Council had been identified and required regularization; the lack of a Council policy on the employment of people with convictions in areas not directly involving vulnerable groups; and the events at Soham Community College in 2002 which highlighted the need for the most stringent policies and practices in the employment of people with access to vulnerable groups.

There are numerous tensions which are inevitable in drawing up a policy on the employment of people with criminal convictions. For example, there is potential conflict between the Council’s duty and responsibility to promote the rehabilitation of offenders and its duties and responsibilities to protect the public and service users from those who may put them at risk. Similarly the need to have strict checking for individuals who may gain access to vulnerable groups may present problems for the practicalities of staffing an essential service and there is an associated cost in undertaking these checks. The draft policy, therefore, contains numerous judgements arrived at on the basis of risk assessment techniques. While it is inevitable that individual opinions will differ on many of these matters, the aim must be to produce a practical system of management which minimises risk and which is workable.

A draft of the policy has been referred to related bodies including Thames Valley Police and Nacro, as well as staff representative bodies and the Employees and Teachers Joint Committees. Comments have been incorporated where appropriate.

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve the Policy on Checking Criminal Records set out at Annex 1 to the report.

26. Land Value Tax

Executive Member: -
Forward Plan Ref: -
Contact: Stephanie Ouzman, Group Assistant (Liberal Democrat) (01865 815323)

Report by Land Value Tax Working Group (EX26)(download as .doc file)).

In July 2002, following a resolution passed at the preceding meeting of the County Council, the Executive agreed to set up a Land Tax Working Group to advise it "on the feasibility and advisability of following Liverpool City Council’s example by lobbying government to allow it to raise a Land Tax". The Working Group that was set up finally consisted of 5 county councillors (Cllrs Hodgson, M. Godden, Joslin, Roaf and Simmons), an officer from Financial Services (David Illingworth), the then Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council (Cllr Paul Bizzell) and Tony Vickers, an academic researching in the field. Officers from the Vale of White Horse District Council and the valuer attended meetings as needed. (The District Council had agreed to support the Working Group’s study by undertaking an analysis of a representative area of the District.)

The report records the outcome of the Working Party’s investigations, in terms of how practical a land value tax system would and how the resulting tax levels would compare with the present system. The Working Group has considered a range of models, ranging from a single tax rate across all categories of land; to one in the objective would be to raise the equivalent of the Council Tax from residential property and the equivalent of the NNDR from commercial; to a series which had a uniform tax rate but introduced a ‘homestead’ allowance for residential plots (a pattern used in other countries where a land value tax system has been adopted.)

The Executive is asked to decide how it wishes to respond to the report.

27. Forward Plan and Future Business

March 2005

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