66/06.
APOLOGIES FOR
ABSENCE
Apologies
for absence were received from Councillor Louise Chapman.
67/06.
MINUTES
The
Minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2006 were approved and signed.
67/06.
FINANCIAL MONITORING
(Agenda
Item 5)
The
Cabinet considered a report (CA5) which covered the period up to the
end of February 2006 for both revenue and capital.
Councillor
Patrick, speaking as Leader of the Opposition, expressed concerns about
the effects of budget management measures in Social & Community
Services in terms of delayed discharges (paragraph 44 of the report),
the pressure on the Supporting People budget (paragraph 47), the shortfall
in efficiency savings within Human Resources (paragraph 60) and Mouchel
Parkman’s performance in relation to the payment of invoices (paragraph
64).
Councillor
Shouler proposed that consideration of recommendation (g) be deferred
until the position as to the revocation of the 85 year rule was certain.
In response to Councillor Patrick’s comments, he reported that the Supporting
People overspend represented a relatively minor variation of a known
position; that the overspend within Human Resource services would need
to be carried forward at the year end if not eliminated by then; and
that business managers were aware that they were expected to meet the
95% target for payment of invoices.
In
response to Councillor Patrick’s comments concerning delayed discharges,
the Director for Social & Community Services acknowledged that there
had been some impact as a result of efforts to control pressure within
the Directorate budget but pointed out that such measures were being
employed in many social services authorities. He would continue to work
closely with the health sector on this issue. Councillor Seale advised
that the measures undertaken represented careful management and made
the best use of the finance available.
RESOLVED: to:
- note the report;
- approve the
proposed virements within the School Development Service;
- approve the
proposed virements within Learning & Culture Resources;
- approve a supplementary
estimate of £0.250m to offset part of the overspend on Children &
Families;
- approve the
return of £0.110m of the 2004/05 Environment & Economy underspend
returned to balances to offset fines for breaching minimum contract
tonnages in 2004/05;
- approve the
return of £0.051m of the 2004/05 Environment & Economy underspend
returned to balances to fund the 2005/06 expenditure on the Minerals
& Waste Development Framework and the Structure Plan;
- defer consideration
of the possible release of Pensions Reserve funding;
- approve the
adjustments to the capital programme as shown in Part 2 of the report.
68/06.
CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2006/07 - 2010/11
(Agenda
Item 6)
The
Cabinet considered a report (CA6) that outlined additions to the Capital
Programme and recommended that these additions be put to full Council
for approval.
Councillor
Fooks, speaking as Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Young People
& Families, expressed concern at the delay in the refurbishment
of Maltfield House and urged the Cabinet to speed up the process and
eliminate the uncertainty for the children and staff involved.
Councillor
Shouler responded that the delay had been due to the lack of identified
funding to meet the substantially increased cost of the scheme, the
initial estimate having been no more than a ‘best guess’ when the project
was first conceived. He confirmed that the approval of the present funding
proposal would enable the scheme to proceed.
The
Leader of the Council undertook to communicate with colleagues in other
county councils in the south east on a possible joint approach to the
government to ascertain how it viewed the implications for capital provision
of authorities reducing borrowing because of the grant cover position.
RESOLVED: to:
- endorse the
additions to the Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2008/09 shown in paragraphs
4 to 13 of the report, and RECOMMEND these to Council for approval;
- consider the
implications of continuing to maximise borrowing allocations with
a view to possible variation of the Council’s policy in this regard,
as part of the budget planning process for 2007/08, commencing with
a report to the Cabinet in September 2006.
69/06.
FUTURE FIRST
ACTION PLAN 2006/07
(Agenda
Item 7)
The
Cabinet considered a report (CA7) which included a preliminary review
of progress on the Plan for 2005-2006 and proposed priorities and actions
for 2006/07.
Councillor
Patrick, speaking in place of the Shadow Cabinet Member for Sustainable
Development, welcomed the report and hoped that all the actions in the
plan would be vigorously pursued. She noted that some targets were yet
to be met but was positive about that occurring. She urged that progress
be properly monitored and that the environmental objectives be integrated
into the Council’s strategic objectives and thanked the officers involved
for their work.
Councillor
Belson welcomed Councillor Patrick’s comments and confirmed that he
would make sure her suggestions were followed up.
RESOLVED: to
approve the proposals for the Future First Action Plan 2006-2007 set
out in the report.
70/06.
ADMINISTRATION
OF SEEDA AREA PROGRAMME
(Agenda
Item 8)
The
Cabinet considered a report (CA8) on proposals that the role of accountable
body to administer the SEEDA area programme be transferred to Oxfordshire
County Council.
RESOLVED: to:
- agree to the
County Council fulfilling the role of accountable body for the Area
Programme on the basis outlined in the report;
- authorise the
Head of Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Sustainable Development, to finalise details of the contract
with SEEDA.
71/06.
EDUCATION PROJECT
APPRAISAL: CHIPPING NORTON SCHOOL
(Agenda
Item 9)
The
Cabinet had before it a project appraisal (CA9) that addressed the need
to improve the specialist Art and Design & Technology accommodation
at Chipping Norton School.
RESOLVED: to
approve the detailed project appraisal ED 637
72/06.
FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS