______________________________________
________________________________
To Members
of the Cabinet
Notice
of a Meeting of the Cabinet
Tuesday 17
January 2006 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 & Families
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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 Social & 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 25 January 2006 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 20 December 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: 2005/133
Contact:
Sadie Slater, Financial Manager, Mike Petty, Principal Financial
Manager (01865 815989/815622)
Report by Head
of Finance & Procurement (CA5).
(CA5 - download as .doc file)
(CA5 - Annex 1 - download as .xls
file)
(CA5 - Annex 2 - download as .xls
file)
(CA5 - Annex 3 - download as .xls
file)
(CA5 - Annex 4 - download as .xls
file)
(CA5 - Annex 5 - download as .doc
file)
(CA5 - Annex 6 - download as .xls
file)
This
report covers the period up to the end of November 2005 for revenue
and capital. The consolidated forecast to date shows a balance of
£11.756m. This is an increase of £1.070m since the previous report,
which is made up of a net addition of £0.398m to revenue balances
and a reduction of £0.672m in the forecast Directorate overspend,
which now stands at £1.336m. Action Plans are in place to address
expenditure pressures and it remains likely that the position will
continue to improve as the year goes on.
There
has been a reduction of £2.663m in the expected level of capital payments
in 2005/06 as a result of slippage on a number of schemes.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- note
the report;
- approve
a supplementary estimate of £0.100m to assist in the reduction
of delayed transfers of care, to be repaid in 2006/07;
- approve
a supplementary estimate of £0.010m to cover the costs of the
Oxford Castle opening ceremony;
- approve
the adjustments to the capital programme as shown at paragraph
48.
- Medium Term Corporate
Plan 2006-2010: Strategic Priorities
Cabinet Member:
Leader of the Council
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/209
Contact:
Paul Edwards, Corporate Performance Manager (01865 815307)
Report by the
Leader of the Council (CA6).
The
Cabinet on 15 November 2005 decided that the Council’s over-arching
strategic planning documentation should be realigned, with a medium
term Corporate Plan to be available at the start of the year outlining
priorities. The present report proposes strategic priorities for incorporation
in the Corporate Plan, within the Cabinet’s overall vision for Oxfordshire,
objectives and values. The proposed priorities are to:
- maintain a prosperous
economy which gives you real choice of access to jobs, homes, leisure
and services;
- give all of
us – throughout our lives – the opportunity to enjoy effective teaching
and learning;
- safeguard our
communities and maintain our rural character;
- help the disadvantaged
among us to live better and more fulfilled lives and to promote personal
independence;
- keep improving
your services by listening to what you tell us about them;
- make Oxfordshire
– its City, towns, villages and countryside - welcoming, safe and
exceptional places to live, work, learn and visit.
These
will be achieved through the Council’s leadership and by working with
others in the public, private and voluntary sectors and 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 to work, live and visit".
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any advice from
the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, to approve the Strategic
Priorities for inclusion in the Corporate Plan to be submitted to
Council on 4 April 2006.
- Review of Charges
Cabinet Member:
Finance
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/150
Contact:
Lorna Baxter, Principal Financial Planning Manager (01865 816087)
Report by Head
of Finance & Procurement (CA7).
This
report sets out, by way of context, a summary of the Council’s Charging
Policy and then, for approval by this meeting, the proposed charges
for the 2006/07 financial year. The budget proposals considered elsewhere
on this agenda assume an increase in charges of 3%, and this report
highlights those areas of service where the change in charge has been
varied from this general level of increase.
As
part of the work of the Efficiency Savings Steering Group, all Heads
of Service were asked to review their charges against the Council’s
Charging Policy during 2005/06. The exercise did benchmark current charging
arrangements where data was available, but for the majority of areas
there were no readily available benchmark data. All Heads of Service
will be asked to undertake further benchmarking work during 2006/07,
in line with the Council’s Charging Policy. The proposed charges are
set out in detail in the Annex to the report.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any advice from
the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, to note those charges prescribed
by legislation, and to approve those charges where there is local discretion,
as set out in the Annex to the report.
- Service and Financial
Planning Programme 2006/07 - 2010/11
(See also Addenda)
Cabinet Member:
Finance
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/151
Contact:
Lorna Baxter, Mike Petty (01865 816087/815622)
Report by Director
for Resources (CA8).
(CA8 - download as .doc file)
(CA8 - Annex 1 - download as
.xls file)
(CA8 - Annex 2 - download as
.xls file)
(CA8 - Annex 3 - download as
.xls file)
(CA8 - Annex 4 - download as
.xls file)
(CA8 - Annex 5 - download as
.xls file)
(CA8 - Annex 6 - download as
.doc file)
(CA8 - Annex 7 - download as
.doc file)
(CA8 - Annex 8 - download
as .doc file)
(CA8 - Annex 9 - download as
.doc file)
This
report is the fourth in a series informing members on the service
and financial planning process and issues for 2006/07 and the medium
term, and is the final report to Cabinet before Council considers
the budget on 14 February. The report sets out the latest information
on the Council’s financial position, and provides an overview and
advice from the Head of Finance & Procurement. This includes a
revised assessment, based on the latest financial information, of
the sum available to allocate within the constraints of a 4.375% increase
in Council Tax of £8.0m. This now stands at £12.1m.
The
report includes updated lists of efficiency savings and discretionary
and non-discretionary pressures, together with a draft Medium Term
Financial Plan for 2006/07 - 2010/11. The comments from all the Scrutiny
Committees will be collated and circulated following the Corporate
Governance Scrutiny Committee meeting.
The
report includes detailed information required for recommendations
to the Council on the setting of a Council Tax, in year virement arrangements
and the definition of Prudential Indicators.
The
Cabinet Member for Finance has produced a separate report (CA8A)
outlining the budget proposals which he intends, subject to taking
into account the views of the Scrutiny Committees, to recommend
to the Cabinet for onward transmission to the Council.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED:
(a) (in
respect of revenue) to RECOMMEND Council to approve:
(1)
a
budget for 2006/07;
(2) a
Medium Term Financial Plan to 2010/11;
(3) a
budget requirement for 2006/07;
(4) a
precept for 2006/07;
(5) a
Council Tax for Band D equivalent properties;
(6) and
virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget;
(b) (in
respect of Capital) to RECOMMEND Council to approve:
(1) a
Capital Programme for 2006/07;
(2) prudential
indicators from April 2006;
(c)
to
ask the Capital Steering Group to consider and make recommendations
as to which schemes to bring forward to the Capital Programme for
other services.
- Treasury Management Strategy
Cabinet Member:
Finance
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/153
Contact:
Donna Ross, Financial Manager (01865 815422)
Report by Head
of Finance & Procurement (CA9) (download
as .doc file).
The
Local Government Act 2003 requires the Council to set out its treasury
strategy for borrowing and to prepare an Annual Investment Strategy
specifying the Council’s policies for managing its investments and
for giving priority to the security and liquidity of those investments.
The
suggested strategy for 2006/07 in respect of the following aspects
of the treasury management function is based upon the Treasury officers’
views on interest rates, supplemented with leading market forecasts
provided by the Council’s treasury advisor. The report covers prudential
Indicators; the current treasury position; the borrowing requirement;
prospects for interest rates; the borrowing strategy; debt restructuring;
and the investment strategy.
The
Prudential Code requires the Council to set Prudential Indicators
for the next three years to ensure that the Council’s capital investment
plans are affordable, prudent and sustainable. The proposed Treasury
Management Strategy for 2006/07 may be summarised overall as follows:
- increase external
debt by £37 million to finance the capital programme;
- to borrow from
PWLB or the money market at the most advantageous rates for the Authority;
- to actively
take advantage of small movements in PWLB rates in order to restructure
debt;
- to take advantage
of higher market rates by investing for longer periods;
- to invest a
total of £20 million with two external fund managers, with the possibility
of increasing the total amount to £30 million.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to endorse:
- the
Prudential Indicators in Annex 1 to the report;
- the
use of Lender Option/Borrower Option loans restricted to 20%
of the portfolio;
- the
use of forward borrowing;
- the
restriction of in-house lending for periods in excess of 1-year
to £20 million;
- the
removal of the Country Limits from the Lending List;
- the
transfer of £10 million to each of the selected external fund
managers, with the possibility of transferring another £5 million
to each
and
RECOMMEND the Council to approve the Treasury Management Strategy
accordingly.
- Cogges Manor Farm Museum
Cabinet Member:
Health & Community Services
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/040
Contact:
Nancy Hood (01865 810292)
Report by Director
for Social & Community Services (CA10).
After
notice from West Oxfordshire District Council that it could 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.
This
report outlines the revenue estimates for 2005/06/07/08 of four options
for the future management of the museum by the County Council, ranging
from retention of the pattern of opening as in the recent past (Option
A) to closure and mothballing of the museum (Option D). A pressure of
£93,000 has been identified in the budget process for 2006/07 which
if funded would enable the museum to continue. If not, and Option D
becomes a firm prospect, there will need to be consultation with staff
and stakeholders before any formal decision is taken to confirm closure.
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) in
the event that it does not prove possible to make the necessary resources
available to implement Option A the Head of Cultural Services &
Adult Learning be instructed to undertake appropriate consultation urgently
with staff and stakeholders on such of Options B-D as may be available
within the resources allocated through the service and budget planning
process and report the outcome to the Cabinet at the earliest possible
date for final decision.
- Oxford Eastern Bypass:
Study of Possible Further Road Safety Measures
Cabinet Member:
Transport
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/210
Contact:
Tony Kirkwood, Road Safety (01865 815704)
Report by Head
of Transport (CA11).
Jacobs
Babtie have now submitted a final report of their safety study for
the A4142 between the A40 Headington Roundabout and B480 Garsington
interchange and this report presents the results of this study.
The
report finds that the economic case (taking account the estimated
costs and likely accident savings) for providing a central barrier
on the lengths between the A40 Headington Roundabout and Kiln Lane,
and between Horspath Driftway and the Garsington Road interchange,
is very low. Between Headington roundabout and Kiln Lane, the risk
of a cross-over accident is judged to be low due to the constraint
on speeds placed by the junctions at each end of this relatively short
stretch of road, together with the slight mounding of the central
reserve. A barrier however might serve to deter pedestrians from crossing
the road away from the safe crossing facilities provided at each end
of this length.
Between
Horspath Driftway and Garsington Road the actual risk of a severe
crossover accident are judged to be higher; however notwithstanding
this the economic assessment indicates that considerably greater accident
savings would be achieved by expenditure on other schemes offering
higher rates of return; it should also be noted that the planned 50mph
limit should help reduce overall accident frequencies.
Works
for the construction of the central barrier which the Cabinet on 6
September 2005 agreed should be provided on the length between Kiln
Lane and Horspath Driftway, are planned to start in late January 2006.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- agree
that on the basis of current evidence further safety fencing
or other measures on the A4142 Oxford Eastern bypass in relation
to cross-over accidents are not required as ‘stand alone’ schemes;
- ask
officers to consider the opportunity to provide further safety
measures to prevent cross-over accidents when other major works
are being planned on the bypass;
- note
that monitoring of road casualties will continue as normal and
may justify other types of casualty reduction measures on the
bypass.
- Real Time Information
System on Bus Routes
Cabinet Member:
Transport
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/211
Contact:
Chris Spry, Public Transport (01865 815711)
Report by Head
of Transport (CA12).
This
report updates members on progress towards implementation of a Real
Time Information (RTI) System on trial bus routes between Oxford and
Kidlington/Bicester within the context of the County Council’s long
term Premium Routes strategy, and recommends expanding the system
across the County and adding additional facilities.
The
system is now available to the public via the County Council’s website
(www.oxontime.co.uk) and
through provision of on-street displays in Oxford and Kidlington and
along the Banbury Road. Nine new RTI-compatible shelters have also
been installed as part of this initial trial. Both Oxford Bus Company
and Stagecoach in Oxfordshire are now resourced to provide high-quality
timetable data to drive the system and a process has been agreed with
the County Council to ensure the reliability of information provided
to the public, particularly over bank holiday periods. The bus companies
have also trained their drivers in the correct procedures to follow
to enable predictions to be generated at RTI displays and on the Council’s
website.
Key
investment priorities which have been identified for 2006/07 are delivery
of a texting facility enabling RTI to be made more widely available
to members of the public; fitting of displays at Park & Ride sites,
and in the Headington area, and adding to the current number of on-street
signs on other RTI equipped routes; expansion of Traffic Signal Priority;
and Improvements to the ‘oxontime’ website.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- note
the progress made on delivery of a Real Time Information System
in Oxfordshire and the system testing already undertaken;
- note
the outcome of County Council surveys into the performance of
on-street Real Time Information displays;
- 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;
- approve
the revised Resource Appraisal at Annex B;
- 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;
- 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;
- instruct
officers to include a requirement in all tenders for significant
subsidised services which will, during the life of the subsidy
contract, serve corridors with Real Time Information equipped
boarding stops:
- that
operators should fit Automatic Vehicle Location equipment,
to be supplied by the County Council, to sufficient vehicles
to cover the service;
- that
operators must ensure that the vehicles are fitted with suitable
ticket machines; and
- that
drivers are trained and managed to ensure that they use the
equipment correctly.
- Inspection of Children's
Social Care Services
Cabinet Member:
Children & Young People
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/202
Contact:
Sue Richards, Interim Head of Social Care for Children; Annie
Davy, Head of Early Years and Childcare (01865 815558/815493)
Report by Director
for Children, Young People & Families (CA13).
Children’s
social care services in Oxfordshire were inspected during July 2005
by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). The overall judgment
from CSCI was that children’s social care services in Oxfordshire
were "serving some people well" with "promising prospects". This was
an improvement on the previous judgment in 2002, which was "serving
some people well" with "uncertain prospects".
CSCI
inspectors presented their report to the Children’s Services Scrutiny
Committee on 13 December. At the same time officers presented a draft
action plan, agreed with CSCI, to address the recommendations in the
report. This was endorsed by the Scrutiny Committee for consultation.
The document is now out for consultation with parents and other stakeholders
until the end of February. Any alterations will need to be agreed
with CSCI. Much of the plan is already being implemented, and inspectors
were pleased with the progress made.
The Cabinet
is RECOMMENDED to:
- note
the contents of the Inspectors’ report;
- endorse
the draft action plan, subject to (c) below;
- 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 may appear appropriate in
the light of responses to consultation.
- Burford School and Community
College
Cabinet Member:
Schools Improvement
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/162
Contact:
John Phipps, Education Officer, Planning & Development (01865
816455)
Report by Director
for Children, Young People & Families (CA14)
Detailed Project Appraisal - Burford Community College - Phase 2 (download
as .doc file)
Project
Appraisal No. ED632 relates to the provision of a new 8 classroom teaching
block as a replacement of classrooms currently housed in temporary accommodation
which are beyond economic repair. This is the second phase of a long-term
site development plan to provide for pupil growth, new curriculum requirements
and replacement of temporary accommodation. The project provides dedicated
teaching accommodation for the modern foreign languages and business
studies faculties together with staff workbases, storage, toilet and
ancillary accommodation and site works. The works include the demolition
and removal of a minimum of 10 temporary classrooms, which will achieve
a reduction of £97,000 in assessed needs liabilities.
The
total estimated cost of the scheme is £1,400,000, which will be met
from NDS Modernisation funding with a small balance from government
loan sanction.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve Detailed Project Appraisal ED632.
- Waste Reduction, Re-Use
and Recycling : the "Wild Waste Show"
Cabinet Member:
Sustainable Development
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/131
Contact:
Andrew Pau, Head of Waste Management (01865 815867)
Report by Head
of Sustainable Development (CA15).
The
Oxfordshire Waste Partnership - a partnership of all of the District
Councils and the County Council to promote the effective, efficient
and sustainable management of household and municipal waste in Oxfordshire
- has asked partner authorities formally to consider two issues involving
the application of Oxfordshire’s share of the government Waste Performance
and Efficiency Grant.
The
first is a proposal to apply part of the grant to support the Wild
Waste Show, which is managed by the Northmoor Trust and delivers
waste reduction, reuse and recycling educational programmes to over
10,000 children a year. This proposal responds in part to a motion
by Councillor Anne Purse which the Council adopted on 21 June 2005,
and which asked the Cabinet to consider, with partners, ways in which
future funding of the Wild Waste Show could be put on a more
secure footing.
The
second is a proposal for the appointment of a high level Partnership
Officer to develop and implement the Joint Waste Management Strategy
for Oxfordshire. The need for additional capacity has been recognised
both by the Partnership and also by the Audit Commission in their
recent preliminary inspection report. It was highlighted that this
lack of capacity has hindered the ability of the partnership to deliver
the shared ambitions and strategy to date.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
- agree
the funding of the Wild Waste Show in 2006/07 and 2007/08 from
Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant;
- agree
in principle the employment of a high level officer (and potentially
support staff) to coordinate and support the work of the Oxfordshire
Waste Partnership, funded from Waste Performance and Efficiency
Grant, subject to the exact nature and arrangement of these
resources being determined following consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Sustainable Development.
- Oxford Castle – Heritage
Interpretation Centre
Cabinet Member:
Finance
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/217
Contact:
Neil Monahan, Head of Property (01865 815712)
Report by Head
of Property (CA16).
The
main part of the Oxford Castle Project is substantially completed
and work has now commenced on the work to provide the Education Centre
and the Castleyard. That part of the site is programmed for completion
in May 2006. It was intended that the new Oxford Castle Trust would
take on the responsibility for the Heritage Interpretation Centre.
However, Oxford Preservation Trust now propose to enter into a sub-lease
and operating agreement with a commercial operator and to establish
a committee of the Oxford Preservation Trust to administer and oversee
that arrangement.
It
is intended that the Committee of OPT would include members nominated
by the County Council and co-opted members. This will effectively
avoid the need for the Oxford Castle Trust which, subject to the completion
of the underlease and operating agreement, should be brought to an
end.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED, subject to the completion of the operating
agreement with the commercial operator, and the formation of the Oxford
Castle Committee of the Oxford Preservation Trust with one or two
members nominated by the County Council, together with other appropriate
co-opted members:
- to
agree that the Oxford Castle Trust should be brought to an end;
and
- to
consider whether one or two of the present County Council trustees
of the Oxford Preservation Trust should be appointed to the
Oxford Castle Committee, and if so which they should be.
- Project Link
Cabinet Members:
Finance, Social & Community Services
Forward
Plan Ref: 2005/219
Contact
Officer: Simon Kearey, Business Manager, (01865 815565)
Report
by Director for Social & Community Services (CA17).
In
May 2004, the County Council commissioned Robson Rhodes to review their
existing financial management arrangements. The consultants identified
significant weaknesses in the financial controls within Oxfordshire
County Council’s Abacus Social Care system. The existing technical solution
was not delivering the required business benefits and is still weak
in the area of financial control.
This
report introduces Project LINK – the proposed long term business solution.
This project aims to deliver an assessment system, a charging system
and financial recording and management that is integrated and delivers
the financial management and controls around both client charges and
provider payments along with processing financial transactions through
onto SAP R/3 the Council finance system. The implementation of this
integrated system will provide both benefits in accuracy of charges
and visibility of transactions to clients as well as process efficiencies
and effectiveness for operational and financial staff in the directorate.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED 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.
- 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 CA18.
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.
January 2006
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