______________________________________
________________________________
To Members
of the Cabinet
Notice
of a Meeting of the Cabinet
Tuesday 15
November 2005 at 2.00 pm
County Hall,
Oxford
Derek Bishop
Head of Democratic
Services
Contact
officer: Kath Coldwell (Tel: 01865 815902; E-mail)
Membership
Councillors
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Keith R Mitchell
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Leader of
the Council
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David Robertson
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Deputy Leader
of the Council
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Jim Couchman
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Cabinet
Member for Policy Coordination
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C.H. Shouler
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Cabinet
Member for Finance
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John Howell
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Cabinet
Member for Change Management
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David Robertson
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Cabinet
Member for Transport
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Roger Belson
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Cabinet
Member for Sustainable Development
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Louise Chapman
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Cabinet
Member for Children & Young People
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Michael Waine
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Cabinet
Member for Schools Improvement
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Don Seale
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Cabinet
Member for Health & Community Services
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Ray Jelf
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Cabinet
Member for Community Safety
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Decisions
taken at the meeting will become effective at the end of the working day
on 23 November 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.
If
you have any special requirements (such as a large print version
of these papers or special access facilities) please contact the
officer named on the front page, but please give as much notice
as possible before the meeting
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AGENDA
- Apologies for Absence
- Declarations of Interest
–
see guidance note
- Minutes
To
confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2005 (CA3)
and to receive for information any matters arising
therefrom.
- Petitions and Public
Address
(See Addenda)
- Financial Monitoring
Cabinet Member:
Finance
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/098
Contact:
Sadie Slater, Financial Manager, Mike Petty, Principal Financial
Manager (01865 815989/815622)
Report by Head
of Finance & Procurement (CA5).
(CA5 - Draft Capital Programme 2005/06 - 2008/09 - download
as .xls file)
(Financial Monitoring Report - download
as .doc file)
(Financial Monitoring Report - Annex 1 - download
as .xls file)
(Financial Monitoring Report - Annex 2a & 2b - download
as .xls file)
(Financial Monitoring Report - Annex 2c - download
as .doc file)
(Financial Monitoring Report - Annex 3 - download
as .xls file)
(Financial Monitoring Report - Annex 4 - download
as .xls file)
(Financial Monitoring Report - Annex 5 - download
as .doc file)
(Financial Monitoring Report - Annex 6 - download
as .xls file)
This
report covers the period up to the end of September 2005 for both
revenue and capital and includes an update to the Council’s capital
programme for 2005/06 to 2007/08.
The
consolidated forecast position to date shows a balance of £9.821m.
This is a reduction of £0.883m since the last report and is primarily
the result of an increase of £0.379m in the forecast Directorate overspend
together with final audit adjustments for 2004/05 which have reduced
the opening balances by £0.451m. Action Plans are in place for Directorate
overspends which have arisen in year and it is anticipated that the
forecast overspend will reduce before the year end as a result of
the management actions identified by these plans.
The
projected year end position on revenue balances (net of the City Schools’
Reorganisation) is £12.544m. This is a decrease of £0.504m since the
last report and represents 2.15% of net budget. There are potential
calls on balances which would reduce the position to below £10m if
required in full. This remains in line with the projections set out
in the Service & Financial Planning 2006/07 – 2010/11 report considered
elsewhere on the agenda.
An updated Capital
Programme Booklet is circulated with the Agenda.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- note
the report;
- approve
the virement of £0.345m from the budget provision for S117 client
reassessments in the Older People service to offset pressures
within Learning Disabilities;
- approve
the virement of £0.716m of the Transport budget to other areas
of the service, as discussed at paragraphs 28 and 29 and shown
in Annex 2c;
- approve
a supplementary estimate of £0.102m to reinstate the 2005/06
telecommunications efficiency savings allocation to Directorate
budgets;
- approve
the adjustments to the capital programme as shown at paragraph
52.
- Revenue Budget &
Capital Programme 2006/07 – 2010/11
Cabinet Member:
Finance
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/093
Contact:
Jenny Hydari, Assistant Head of Finance (01865 815401)
Report
by Chief Executive and Director for Resources (CA6).
This
report is the second in a series informing members on the service
and financial planning process and issues for 2006/07 and the medium
term. The report sets out the latest information on the Council’s
financial position. It also provides an update on CCMT’s budget management
proposals for 2006/07 and outlines areas of uncertainty.
The
Medium Term Financial Plan includes a sum available to allocate for
2006/07 of £9.2m. The current estimate of the sum available is £9.0m.
Directorates have identified non-discretionary pressures against this
sum. For all other pressures which represent policy choices, Directorates
have been asked to identify how they intend to fund these.
The
final amount required for balances is being reviewed and a full risk
assessment undertaken. There remains substantial uncertainty around
the outcomes for Oxfordshire of the Formula Funding Share (FSS) and
grant review. The provisional settlement will be known in early December
and this will make the funding position much clearer.
There
is little flexibility around the capital programme with £1.9m available
to allocate in 2008/09.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to :
- note
the report;
- refer
the identified budget pressures in the respective service areas,
and the choices as to how these could be funded, to the Scrutiny
Committees for consideration and advice, on the basis of schedules
to be drawn up and presented to the committees by the Head of
Finance & Procurement with the relevant service officers,
following consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Members.
- Oxford: St Clements,
Headington Road and London Road Study
Cabinet Member:
Transport
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/164
Contact:
James Gagg (01865 815655)
Report by Head
of Transport (CA7).
The
attached report outlines progress on the St Clements, Headington Road
and London Road Corridor Study, developed by the County Council in
association with the Council’s Transport Planning Term Consultants,
Halcrow. The study focuses on the A420 road corridor in Oxford between
the Plan Roundabout and the Headington/Green Road Roundabout. It covers
St Clements, Headington Road and London Road. The objectives of the
study were to develop measures to improve public transport operation
and address road safety considerations, taking into account the impact
on all road users.
Public
consultation was carried out in June and July 2005 on two approaches.
Approach 1 was an engineering-based approach, which reviewed
what could be achieved to meet the study objectives, assuming the
same level of traffic was maintained on the corridor as at present.
Measures proposed for the corridor included bus lanes and lay-bys,
pedestrian crossings, and lowering the speed limits in certain sections.
Approach 2 was a traffic management based approach, which reviewed
what could be achieved on the corridor, should the level of traffic
be reduced. It proposed restricting access to through traffic in the
Headington central area, and permitting access to buses, taxis and
emergency vehicles only on a similar principle to Oxford High Street.
This would facilitate priority for these vehicles without needing
such extensive engineering measures as required in Approach 1.
Results
from the consultation indicated general overall support for the measures
outlined in Approach 1, subject to concerns regarding particular issues.
However, there was only limited support for carrying out further work
on developing Approach 2. It is therefore considered that Approach
1 should form the basis for further development of measures along
the study corridor, with no further work undertaken on Approach 2.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- approve
in principle the further development of measures proposed under Approach
1 (as detailed in Annex 2 to the report);
- agree not
to progress Approach 2 of the study;
- note the
further development of complementary measures within the control of
the County Council, subject to their inclusion within the Local Transport
Plan 2006 -11 programme;
- ask officers
to review the timing and funding for future schemes outlined in Approach
1 for inclusion within the Local Transport Plan 2006-11 programme; and
- approve
the implementation of measures that are necessary in the 2006/2007 financial
year to ensure effective operation of the Osler Road/London Road junction
when bus services operate via Osler Road to the John Radcliffe (subject
to their inclusion within the capital programme).
- Corporate Asset Management
Plan, Capital Strategy and Performance of Property Portfolio
(See also Addenda)
Cabinet Member:
Finance
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/100
Contact:
Mark Tailby, Team Leader, Strategic Asset Management (01865 816012)
The Director for Resources reports as follows:
Presented
herewith are the draft Corporate Asset Management Plan & Capital
Strategy (AMP&CS) for the period 2005/06 to 2008/09 (CA8A)
(download as .doc file) and the
report on the Performance of the Council’s Property Portfolio for
2004/05 (CA8B) (download as
.doc file) .
The
AMP&CS sets out the Council’s current and future property asset
needs that arise from the Council’s corporate and service priorities,
and the Council’s approach to meeting those needs. It will aid effective
strategic planning by setting out the Council’s property and capital
strategy and providing a basis on which to make property and investment
decisions, thereby enabling effective service delivery and ensuring
that the authority is able to meet its
objective
of Making Better Use of Property. For the first time the AMP&CS
has been prepared as a combined document, to help ensure an integrated
approach.
Regulations
under the Local Government Act 2000 reserve the approval of any "…
plan or strategy for the control of the authority’s capital expenditure
…" to the full Council. This description applies to the AMP&CS,
which accordingly has been referred for comment to the Corporate Governance
Scrutiny Committee (on 15 December 2005) for comment before a formal
recommendation is made to Council on 10 January 2006, in accordance
with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in the
Constitution.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- note the
report on the Performance of the Council’s Property Portfolio;
- subject
to (c) below, RECOMMEND Council to approve the Corporate Asset Management
Plan & Capital Strategy 2005/06 to 2008/09;
- refer the
Plan to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee for consideration
and authorise the Director for Resources, following consultation with
the Cabinet Member for Finance, to make any adjustments that may be
necessary in response to the comments of the Scrutiny Committee before
the document is submitted to the Council.
- Taking Forward the Change
Agenda
(See also Addenda)
Cabinet Member:
Leader of the Council, Change Management
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/167, 2005/170, 2005/183
Contact:
Joanna Simons, Chief Executive (01865 815330)
Report by the
Chief Executive (CA9) (download
as .doc file) .
On
22 July 2005 Cabinet endorsed a report from the Leader of the Council
outlining the new administration’s vision and manifesto pledges. The
Cabinet has identified a substantial and challenging programme of
change across the Council allied to which we face considerable changes
in our external operating environment. In order for us to respond
to this effectively it is essential this is managed on a coherent
basis and that we ensure that our existing service planning framework
is revised to ensure consistency with the new aims.
The
report proposes a remodelled vision, strategic aims and values for
the organisation and outlines some practical steps to enable us to
develop the necessary Council policy to support these, to embed them
into our service planning framework and to foster the appropriate
culture to deliver them. These include customer service and culture
change as major focal points, with a new method of performance management
in four areas: customers; people (staff); finance; and process. A
new approach to the planning framework is also advocated – with a
Corporate Plan and an Annual Report at the top, with a clear framework
of supporting plans and strategies, including individual service plans.
In
order to co-ordinate the major change projects, CCMT and the Cabinet
have established under the chairmanship of the portfolio holder for
Change Management a high level Change Management Board, including
the management team, the Deputy Leader and the portfolio holder for
Finance. The role of the Change Management Board is to design and
drive the overall programme at a strategic level, ensuring cohesiveness
between the different elements of the programme, and managing any
risks.
The
report also looks outward to the major changes in the context in which
the Council operates, that have implications for achieving the administration’s
vision for the County and its strategic aims.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- amend
the current vision statement to read "We want Oxfordshire to be a
thriving County which adapts to a changing world but remains a special
place to work, live and visit";
- develop
this vision statement into a document entitled "Oxfordshire 20:20";
- adopt
"low taxes, real choice and value for money" as the Council’s objectives
in place of the existing 5 objectives;
- reflect
these objectives in service plans for 2006/07 covering the five broad
areas of Children, Young People and Families, Community Safety, Environment
& Economy, Social and Community Services & Organisational
Improvement;
- adopt
revised values in line with the CHOICE acronym of Customer focus;
Honesty; One team; Involvement; Can do; Effective and efficient;
- endorse
the major projects included in the overall Change Programme;
- investigate
the potential for the Council to apply for Corporate accreditation
for Chartermark;
- receive
a further report outlining a new Organisational Development programme;
- introduce
the Balanced Scorecard as the overarching performance management framework
for the Council and to receive a further report outlining the proposed
measures to be included;
- adopt
the "Bookcase" approach outlined in the report to create a hierarchy
of current plans;
- replace
the Oxfordshire Plan with a medium term Corporate Plan and an Annual
Report incorporating the Council’s accounts;
- confirm
the Change Management Board as the appropriate vehicle to oversee
the co-ordination of change management within the authority;
- establish
the post of Corporate Change Manager with responsibility for the Customer
Service Development team;
- establish
the post of Head of External Relations in the Chief Executive’s Office
with responsibility for staff dealing with partnership activity.
- Partnership Working Guidelines
Cabinet Member:
Leader of the Council
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/135
Contact:
Adrian Sell, Performance Adviser (01865 816031)
The Assistant Chief
Executive reports as follows:
The
attached guidelines for partnership working (CA10) (download
as .doc file) have been developed following wide consultation
across the Council. The Council’s Statement on Internal Control commits
us to producing corporate guidelines on partnership working. Partnership
working is increasingly important for the delivery of Council services.
Partnerships such as the Oxfordshire Community Partnership and the forthcoming
Local Area Agreement also offer an opportunity for the council to have
a greater impact on the area. It is therefore important that we ensure
that all our partnerships provide value for money.
Once
the guidelines are agreed, all strategic and service level partnerships
will need to be identified. Strategic level partnerships will need to
provide written assurance that they comply with the guidelines. In time,
service level partnerships will also need to ensure that they are able
to demonstrate conformity with the guidance.
The
guidelines have been developed by drawing on best practice from the
Audit Commission and other local authorities. The intention is to provide
some generic advice that will provide clear guidance and help to ensure
consistency in how partnership working is approached in the Council.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposed Partnership Working Guidelines.
- Domestic Violence Scrutiny
Review: Implementation Plan
Cabinet Member:
Community Safety
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/142
Contact:
Bruce McLaren, Community Safety Manager (01865 258516)
Report by Director for Community Services & Chief Fire Officer
(CA11).
This
report gives the views of Oxfordshire Domestic Violence Steering Group
(ODVSG) – as requested by the former Executive – on the recommendations
and resource implications arising from the Home Sweet Home
Scrutiny Review of Domestic Violence.
In
summarising ODVSG’s work programme, and in its analysis of the Home
Sweet Home recommendations, this report acts as an advance briefing
to Cabinet about the future resource implications of sustaining a
domestic violence strategy for Oxfordshire, and suggests there will
be budget pressures for the Council and partner organisations for
2007-08 onwards.
The
report sets out a three-stage strategy: Phase 1 (2004-06) focussing
on Integrated multi agency victim support; Phase 2 (2005-08) on children
and young people; and Phase 3 (2006-09) on Perpetrators. Phase 1 is
based on recognised good practice together with innovative measures
- in particular to meet the needs of socially isolated people (especially
in rural areas) who are at high risk or repeat incidents. Phase 2
is less well developed than the general victim element but work has
already begun to look at prevention and education, recognition of
the effects, and support and therapeutic services for those children
affected. Phase 3 is likely to have significant growth and cost implications.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- note
the comments of the Oxfordshire Domestic Violence Steering Group;
- instruct
the Head of Community Safety to forward copies of the report
to partner agencies for consideration by their governing bodies;
- request
the Community Safety Unit to develop a fully costed implementation
plan, in conjunction with the Domestic Violence Steering Group,
and report back on progress in Spring 2006.
- Oxfordshire Fire Cover
Review
Cabinet Member:
Community Safety
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/158
Contact:
Mike Smyth, Head of Service Delivery (01865 855206)
Report by Director
for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer (CA12).
The
purpose of the attached report is to provide the Cabinet with the
outcomes and recommendations arising from the West Oxfordshire Fire
Cover Review and provide an up-date and recommendation for the review
of Fire Service cover for Oxfordshire as a whole.
As
part of the Fire Authority’s Integrated Risk Management Plan for 2004/5,
Councillors instructed Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service to review
fire cover in the Carterton area in relation to that provided for
the whole of Oxfordshire. The Review did not provide strong evidence
supporting the provision of a new fire station in Carterton. The report
summarises the findings.
Following
the risk analysis and pending a decision by the Cabinet, a pro-active
Community Fire Safety response has been directed at Carterton. This
consists of targeted campaigns of home risk visits with the siting
and fitting of domestic smoke alarms. To date, firefighters have made
over three hundred home risk visits offering advice and fitting domestic
smoke alarms where appropriate. The initial phase of this work targeted
high risk groups such as lone pensioners and single parent families.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- note
the outcomes of the West Oxfordshire Fire Cover Review and agree
the retention of Burford and Bampton Fire Stations;
- agree
not to provide a fire station in Carterton in the medium term
subject to:
- the
continued viability of Burford and Bampton Fire Stations;
- the
outcomes of future Fire Cover Reviews;
- endorse
the proposals set out in the report for a county wide review
of fire cover.
- Cogges Manor Farm Museum:
Options for the Future
Cabinet Member:
Health & Community Services
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/040
Contact:
Nancy Hood (01865 810292)
Report by Director
for Learning & Culture (CA13).
After
notice from West Oxfordshire District Council that it would not renew
its five-year agreement to operate Cogges Manor Farm Museum from April
2005, the future of the Museum was considered by the Executive in September
2004. This report summarises the progress since that report and assesses
the future of the Museum.
Cogges
is the major visitor attraction interpreting the agricultural heritage
of Oxfordshire, and is an important venue for a range of cultural activities
and family-oriented events for the people of Oxfordshire and the local
community. It provides a range of educational resources and activities
for schools.
This
report outlines the revenue estimates for 2005/06/07/08 of four options
for the future management of Cogges Manor Farm Museum by the County
Council. There will not be the £60k contribution from West Oxfordshire
District Council, or further support from the Cogges development fund
in 2006/07, and consequently a pressure of £93,000 has been identified
as a corporate pressure for Cultural Services in the budget process
for 2005/07.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) approve
the implementation of Option A described in the report, in the event
that the revenue resources become available through the service and
budget planning process;
(b) review
the position in the New Year in the event that it does not prove possible
to make the necessary resources available to implement Option A.
- Race Equality Scheme
and Corporate Equality Plan
Cabinet Member:
Policy Co-ordination
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/104
Contact:
Adrian Harper-Smith, Corporate Strategies Manager (01865 810179)
Report by Assistant
Chief Executive (CA14).
The Assistant Chief Executive reports as follows:
The
purpose of the attached report (CA14)
is to consider the Council’s progress in implementing its statutory
Race Equality Scheme and Corporate Equality Plan. This includes a
review of overall progress and service improvements achieved during
the Council’s first Race Equality Scheme (covering the period 2002
– 05) and identifying progress to date on the Council’s current scheme
and Corporate Equality Plan.
The
Council’s Race Equality Scheme for 2005 – 08 and Corporate Equality
Plan for 2005 – 08 were agreed by the Executive in March 2005. Implementation
of a combined Equality Impact Assessment process, as required by the
Corporate Equality Plan, ensures that gender, disability and race
equality issues are effectively addressed at the same time during
reviews of functions and policies, whilst also keeping each element
distinct and clearly identifiable.
Continued
implementation of the Corporate Equality Plan will assist the Council
in meeting the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005
to develop a Disability Equality Scheme; and the duty to develop a
Gender Equality Scheme as proposed in Part 3 of the Equality Bill.
Demonstrating
that the Council consistently meets its statutory requirements in
equality and diversity is a key requirement in the Council’s inspections,
audits and assessments.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- note
the progress report on the Race Equality Scheme 2005-08 Action
Plan (Annex 1 to the report);
- agree
the end of scheme review of the Race Equality Scheme 2002-05
(Annex 2);
- note
the annual report on employment Specific Duties as at 31 March
2005 (Annex 3);
- note
progress in achieving the Corporate Equality Plan 2005-08 implementation
milestones (Annex 4);
- confirm
that CCMT should continue to ensure implementation of the Council’s
Race Equality Scheme and Corporate Equality Plan through its
Equality and Social Inclusion Steering Group (Annex 5).
- Minerals & Waste
Local Development Framework – Annual Monitoring Report 2005
(See also Addenda)
Cabinet Member:
Sustainable Development
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/176
Contact:
Peter Day (01865 815544)
Report by Head
of Sustainable Development (CA15).
The
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 has brought in a new development
plan system under which the County Council must prepare a Minerals and
Waste Development Framework to replace the Minerals and Waste Local
Plan. Under the Act, the County Council is required to make an Annual
Monitoring Report (AMR) to the Secretary of State on the Development
Framework. The AMR must report on the implementation of the Minerals
and Waste Development Scheme (the programme for preparation of the Development
Framework) and on the extent to which policies in the Minerals and Waste
Development Documents that make up the Framework are being achieved.
The first AMR is required for the year 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005,
and must be submitted to the Secretary of State by 31 December 2005.
The
key contents of the Annual Monitoring Report 2005 have been drafted,
and a full report for submission and publication is being prepared.
The AMR reports that the Government’s key milestone targets in the preparation
of the Minerals and Waste Development Framework to date have been met,
namely: submission of the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme; commencement
of preparation of the Minerals and Waste Development Documents; and
publication of the Consultation Draft Statement of Community Involvement.
The AMR also reports on: production of aggregate minerals; permissions
granted for mineral working; land banks of permitted reserves of aggregates;
provision of sites for mineral working in the Development Plan; production
of secondary and recycled aggregates and capacity of production facilities;
quantities of waste produced and managed in Oxfordshire and methods
of management; permissions granted for waste management facilities;
capacity of waste management facilities; and provision of sites for
waste management in the Development Plan.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED subject to any comments on the part of the Environment
& Economy Scrutiny Committee (to be reported following the Committee’s
meeting on 9 November), to approve the key contents set out in the Annex
to the report as the basis of the Annual Monitoring Report 2005 for
the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework and authorise
the Head of Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Sustainable Development, to finalise the Report for submission
to the Secretary of State and publication on the County Council website
in accordance with Section 35 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Act 2004 and Regulation 48 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development)
(England) Regulations 2004.
- Forward Plan and Future
Business
(See also Addenda)
Cabinet Member:
All
Contact
Officer: John Leverton, Head of Committee Services (01865 815314)
The
Cabinet Procedure Rules provide that the business of each meeting
at the Cabinet 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 Cabinet
appear in the Schedule at CA16.
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 Cabinet 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
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the items currently identified for
forthcoming meetings.
November 2005
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