ITEM CA3CABINET – 17 JANUARY 2006Minutes of
the Meeting commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 4.18 pm Present: Voting
Members: Other
Members in Attendance: Officers: Whole of meeting: J. Leverton and M. Bayliss (Chief Executive’s Office). Part of meeting: S. Scane, L. Baxter, S. Collins, J. Hydari, N. Monaghan, K. Morris, M. Petty (Resources); K. Bartley (Director for Children, Young People & Families); N. Hood, S Richards (Social & Community Services), R. Dix, N. Newson, A. Pau, C. Spry (Environment & Economy) The Cabinet 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.
1/06. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2006 were approved and signed.
2/06. FINANCIAL MONITORING
(Agenda Item 5) The Cabinet considered a report (CA5) which covered the period up to the end of November 2005 for revenue and capital. RESOLVED: to:
(a) note the report; (b) approve a supplementary estimate of £0.100m to assist in the reduction of delayed transfers of care, to be repaid in 2006/07;
(c) approve a supplementary estimate of £0.010m to cover the costs of the Oxford Castle opening ceremony;
(d)
approve the adjustments to the capital programme as shown in the report. 3/06. MEDIUM TERM CORPORATE PLAN 2006-2010: STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
(Agenda Item 6) The Cabinet considered a report (CA6) which outlined proposed strategic priorities for incorporation in the Corporate Plan, within the Cabinet’s overall vision, objectives and values. The Leader of the Council presented an amended version of the strategic priorities in light of comments from the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee as follows: "We
"We will achieve these through the Council’s leadership and by working with others in the public, private and voluntary sectors and, by so doing, will help to achieve the Oxfordshire Community Partnership vision which is "We want Oxfordshire to be a thriving County which adapts to a changing world and remains a special place in which to work, live and visit". RESOLVED: to approve the strategic priorities for inclusion in the Corporate Plan to be submitted to Council on 4 April 2006.
4/06. REVIEW OF CHARGES
(Agenda Item 7) The Cabinet considered a report (CA7) which set out a summary of the Council’s Charging Policy and the proposed charges for the 2006/07 financial year. RESOLVED: to note those charges prescribed by legislation and to approve those charges where there was local discretion, as set out in the Annex to the report.
5/06. SERVICE AND FINANCIAL PLANNING PROGRAMME 2006/07 - 2010/11
(Agenda Item 8) The Cabinet considered:
Councillor Roaf generally welcomed the changes to the financial planning programme. However, he foresaw serious financial problems in later years and did not think the budget proposals met the needs of residents’ in terms of improvements to local services. He expressed particular concern over shortcomings in funding for the provision of care for older people, highway maintenance, the youth offending service and the youth service and indicated that in his Group’s view additional resources could be afforded to reduce these effects. He also criticised the late declaration of substantial additional funding, suggesting that it should have been predicted and included at an earlier stage. Mrs Scane reported that all the council tax base and collection information had now been received from the district councils, which had resulted in a reduction of £174k in the sum available to allocate stated in report CA8 Supplement. This remained subject to further variation in the light of the final local government expenditure settlement which had not yet been received. She pointed out that her commentary on the budget proposals (report CA8 Annex 8) was on the basis of incomplete information and that she was expecting her definitive commentary on the final budget proposals to be ready for circulation to all members of the Council by 8 February. Councillor Shouler reported that the local government settlement had been favourable to schools but not so generous for services as a whole. He explained his proposals for the utilisation of the amount available to allocate as outlined in his reports CA8A and Supplement and drew attention to the potential for utilising the identified £1.5m provision in respect of the pension fund in the event that the government implemented the proposals for amending the pension scheme rules. He commented that in drawing up the proposals account had been taken of the advice from the scrutiny committees and the Citizens’ Panel although it had not been possible to give full effect to all the views expressed. The Leader of the Council reported that the Cabinet and officers had worked hard to formulate a budget within the confines of a 4.375% increase in Council tax, which he reasserted was a firm commitment on the part of the Administration. Cabinet members expressed appreciation of Councillor Shouler’s role in managing a difficult budget development process. He in turn expressed his appreciation of the contributions of member colleagues and of the help and advice of the Head of Finance & Procurement and her staff throughout the process. RESOLVED:
(a)
(in respect of revenue and subject to (c) below) to RECOMMEND Council
to approve:
(1)
a budget for 2006/07 and Medium Term Financial Plan for 2006/07
– 2010/11 based on:
(2) a budget requirement for 2006/07 of £329.938m;
(3)
the Council Tax and Precept calculations for 2006/07 set out in
Annex 6 to the report by the Director for Resources and in particular:
(4)
retention for 2006/07 of the existing virement arrangements as set
out in Annex 7 to the report by the Director for Resources;
(b)
(in respect of capital and subject to (c) below) to RECOMMEND Council
to approve:
(1)
a Capital Programme for 2006/07 to 2008/09 comprising the current
programme together with:
the above to be incorporated in an updated draft Capital Programme booklet to be presented for confirmation to the Cabinet on 7 February;
(2)
prudential indicators, to be defined in conjunction with the updated
Capital Programme to be presented for confirmation on 7 February,
in respect of:
(c) to authorise the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance, following consultation with any other Cabinet Member directly affected, to agree any adjustment to the foregoing prior to determination by the Council if they considered such adjustment necessary or desirable to take into account new financial information, including the final local government settlement.
6/06. TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
(Agenda Item 9) The Cabinet considered a report (CA9) on the suggested strategy for borrowing for 2006/07. The Cabinet noted a number of corrections that would be required to the report before submission to Council. RESOLVED: to
endorse: (e)
the removal of the Country Limits from the Lending List; and RECOMMEND (subject to the corrections referred to) that the Council approve the Treasury Management Strategy accordingly.
7/06. COGGES MANOR FARM MUSEUM
(Agenda Item 10) The Cabinet considered a report (CA10) on options for the future of Cogges Manor Farm Museum in the light of budget pressures. RESOLVED: to approve the implementation of Option A described in the report (continuing development at Cogges with no change in the open season), in the event that the revenue resources became available through the service and budget planning process.
8/06. OXFORD EASTERN BYPASS: STUDY OF POSSIBLE FURTHER ROAD SAFETY MEASURES
(Agenda Item 11) The Cabinet considered a report (CA11) that presented the results of a study by Jacobs Babtie on the safety of the A4142 between the A40 Headington Roundabout and B480 Garsington interchange. RESOLVED: to:
9/06. REAL TIME INFORMATION SYSTEM ON BUS ROUTES
(Agenda Item 12) The Cabinet considered a report (CA12) which updated members on progress with implementation of a Real Time Information (RTI) System on bus routes between Oxford and Kidlington/Bicester within the context of the County Council’s long term Premium Routes strategy, and recommended expanding the system across the County and adding additional facilities. Councillor Johnson, whilst querying the scope for using alternative suppliers in the longer term, indicated his support for wider coverage by RTI, highlighting the particular advantages for people wishing to use lower frequency services. Councillor Robertson responded that priority was being given to services of a 15 minute frequency or better but that where, as with Oxford Bus Company services, all vehicles were being fitted with location devices, services of any frequency on a given route would be covered by the system. He asked that officers assess and report on the effect on bus patronage of the introduction of RTI on individual premium routes, while noting that there could be difficulties in achieving this accurately where other measures were carried out on the same routes which allowed service improvements and which therefore might also have an effect on patronage. RESOLVED: to:
(a) note the progress made on delivery of a Real Time Information System in Oxfordshire and the system testing already undertaken;
(b) note the outcome of County Council surveys into the performance of on-street Real Time Information displays;
(c) note the findings of the comprehensive evaluation of the Trial Scheme implementation undertaken by the County Council and endorse expansion of the system as set out in paragraphs 25 to 30 of the report and in Annex A;
(d) approve the revised Resource Appraisal at Annex B;
(e) approve implementation of the Real Time Information System displays on the Kennington Premium Route and traffic signal bus priority measures on the Oxford - Kidlington/Bicester Premium Routes as described in paragraph 38 of the report, utilising the £48,000 Supported Capital Expenditure available in the remainder of 2005/06;
(f) endorse the priorities for investment in 2006/07 set out in paragraph 26 of the report and the outline phasing for the next Local Transport Plan period, subject to the required funding being allocated by the Council and the Cabinet in the capital programme for 2006/07 and subsequent years;
(g) instruct
officers to include a requirement in all tenders for significant subsidised
services which would, during the life of the subsidy contract, serve
corridors with Real Time Information equipped boarding stops:
10/06. INSPECTION OF CHILDREN'S SOCIAL CARE SERVICES
(Agenda Item 13) The Cabinet considered a report (CA13) on the outcome of this CSCI inspection, together with an action plan responding to the CSCI report’s recommendations. The Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee on 13 December had endorsed the report and action plan for consultation. Councillor Fooks expressed disappointment that the report had found that only "some" children were being served well. She expressed concern that time had been lost in allocating funding recommended by the Children’s Services Scrutiny Review to promote foster care and that there had been inadequate feedback on the Council’s Invest to Save bid. Councillor Chapman replied that a full progress report would be made to the next meeting of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee. She emphasised the authority’s commitment to children’s social care, pointing out the satisfactory performance indicators in this area and the Council’s position of 22nd out of 150 local authorities. She thanked the front line staff involved. RESOLVED:
(a) to note the contents of the Inspectors’ report;
(b) to endorse the draft action plan, subject to (c) below;
(c) to authorise the Director for Children, Young People & Families, in consultation with the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families, to agree any amendments to the action plan that might appear appropriate in the light of responses to consultation;
(d)
to ask officers to report progress on the action plan at each meeting
of the Children’s Panel.
11/06. BURFORD SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
(Agenda Item 14) The Cabinet considered a Project Appraisal No. ED632 (CA14) relating to the provision of a new 8 classroom teaching block as a replacement of classrooms currently housed in temporary accommodation which were beyond economic repair. RESOLVED: to approve Detailed Project Appraisal ED632. Councillor Mitchell left the meeting at this point; Councillor Robertson assumed the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.
12/06. WASTE REDUCTION, RE-USE AND RECYCLING: THE "WILD WASTE SHOW"
(Agenda Item 15) Then Cabinet considered a report (CA15) on two issues involving the application of Oxfordshire’s share of the government’s Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant. The first was a proposal to apply part of the grant to support the Wild Waste Show, which responded in part to a motion by Councillor Anne Purse adopted by the Council on 21 June 2005. The second was a proposal for the appointment of a high level partnership officer to develop and implement the Joint Waste Management Strategy for Oxfordshire. Councillor Purse welcomed the report and its recommendations, while expressing the hope that the funding could be placed on a more permanent footing. Councillor Belson responded to Councillor Purse’s comments. He stated that the continued funding after the 2007/08 financial year would depend on the longer term funding position. The meeting expressed a preference for the location of the partnership officer within the County Council, in view of the post’s overall responsibility to develop and implement the Joint Waste Management Strategy for Oxfordshire across all 5 districts. RESOLVED:
13/06. OXFORD CASTLE – HERITAGE INTERPRETATION CENTRE
(Agenda Item 16) The Cabinet considered a report (CA16) which considered proposals for Oxford Preservation Trust (OPT) to enter into a sub-lease and operating agreement with a commercial operator and to establish a Committee for the Oxford Preservation Trust, to administer and oversee that arrangement, avoiding the need for proceeding with the Oxford Castle Trust. RESOLVED:
14/06. PROJECT LINK
(Agenda Item 17) The Cabinet considered a report (CA17) report on Project LINK, which was the proposed long term business solution to the identified significant weaknesses in the financial controls within the Council’s Abacus social care system. In response to a question by Councillor Howell, Councillor Seale undertook to enquire as to the possibility of acceleration of the project, but that this would more than likely increase the project’s overall cost. RESOLVED: to endorse the details of the project set out in the report for implementation, subject to confirmation of the necessary financial resources in the finally approved budget.
15/06. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS
(Agenda Item 18) The Cabinet considered a list of items from the Forward Plan (CA18) for the immediately forthcoming meetings. RESOLVED: to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.
in the Chair Date
of signing 2006
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