Return to AgendaITEM CA3
CABINET
MINUTES of the meeting held on 15 April 2008 commencing at 2.00 pm and finishing at 3:30
Present:
Voting Members: Councillor Keith R Mitchell CBE – in the chair
Councillor Roger Belson Councillor Louise Chapman Councillor Jim Couchman Councillor Mrs J. Heathcoat Councillor John Howell Councillor Ian Hudspeth Councillor David Robertson Councillor C.H. Shouler Councillor Michael Waine
Other Members in Councillor Alan Armitage (for Agenda Item 5) Attendance: Councillor David Turner (for Agenda Item 6) Councillor Olive McIntosh-Stedman (for Agenda Items 6 & 7) Councillor Jean Fooks (for Agenda Item 8)
Officers:
Whole of meeting: Chief Executive; S.D. Howell and S. Whitehead (Legal & Democratic Services).
Part of meeting:
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.
34/08 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2008 were approved and signed, subject to following amendment (as set out in the schedule of addenda):
Minute 25/08, paragraph two, amended as per bold italics:
'Councillor Armitage, speaking as the Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, sought information on the planned closure of the Print & Design Unit and in particular whether any consultation had taken place with scrutiny; he reminded the Cabinet that the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee had included a review of 'Publications' in its Work Programme. Councillor Howell was willing to discuss the matter with the Chairman of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee.'
35/08 FINANCIAL MONITORING (Agenda Item 5)
The Cabinet considered a report (CA5) that set out the Council’s forecast financial position for the 2007/08 financial year based on actuals to 29 February 2008.
Councillor Armitage, speaking as the Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, believed that the missed BVPI8 target had damaged relations with suppliers, with small businesses suffering the most.
The Cabinet Member for Finance responded that the issues surrounding the BVPI8 target were largely as a result of the transfer to eProcurement and that a team was already working towards increasing performance in this area.
RESOLVED: to:
(a) note the report;
(b) approve the virements as set out in Annex 2a;
(c) approve the supplementary estimates totalling £0.046m as set out in Annex 2c;
(d) approve the amended detailed budget for 2008/09 as set out in Annex 7; and
(e) approve the virements for 2008/09 as set out in Annex 8.
36/08 SUPPLEMENTARY OUTLINE PROJECT APPRAISAL FOR DELIVERY OF THE OXFORD ACADEMY (Agenda Item 6)
The Cabinet considered a report (CA6) relating to the construction of the new Oxford Academy on the Peers School site in Littlemore. The report proposed amendments to the agreed Project Appraisal which affected the sale of land, SEN provision and the Council’s capital contribution to the project.
Councillor Turner, speaking as the Shadow Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement, requested further details on the funding arrangements for the project; and whether the amendments affected provision of wet facilities at the Academy.
The Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement responded that he would supply Councillor Turner with further figures; that the Littlemore Rugby Club would continue to be based at the site; that the Academy sponsors were willing to discuss options for provision of wet facilities; and that the removal of the sale of land from the proposals reduced the risk of the project.
RESOLVED: to amend, as set out below in bold, resolutions (a) and (g) of the decision taken on 15 January 2008:
(a) approve the Outline Project Appraisal & Outline Business Case subject to recommendation (g) as amended to agree the full transfer of the existing Peers School to the Oxford Academy including a change to the funding as set out in g below.
(g) authorise the Head of Property and the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer to finalise the funding details of the proposed Oxford Academy on the basis that the Authority’s capital contribution to the scheme is no more than £4.730m, and that the funding gap described in this Report is bridged by one of the three options described as A, B or C in the supplementary report as amended by the Council's additional capital contribution as outlined in the report dated 15 April 2008, which amends the authority’s contribution to £4.152m.
37/08 DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR OXFORDSHIRE – ANNUAL REPORT (Agenda Item 7)
The Cabinet considered the second Annual Report (CA7) by a Director of Public Health for Oxfordshire (jointly appointed by the NHS and the County Council). The recommendations were made for all organisations in Oxfordshire and for the public. The report was designed to summarise the major health and wellbeing needs for Oxfordshire's residents so as to influence the planning of public services, including those provided by Oxfordshire County Council, during 2008/9.
In response to a query from Councillor McIntosh-Stedman regarding the absence of Meningitis from the ‘Killer Infections’ section, Dr. McWilliam noted that the section dealt with specific threats or gaps in service for Oxfordshire rather than ‘Killer Infections’ in general.
Dr. McWilliam highlighted the proposal for a dedicated manager to focus on particular areas targeted at breaking the cycle of deprivation. He also noted of the five main challenges examined in the report, only mental health and wellbeing remained classified as a ‘red’ risk. In response to a query from the Cabinet, he noted that the NHS was now working with Local Authorities to engage with the public in a wider sense, which he considered to be a positive approach. Regarding the budget growth for demographic change, he identified two aspects: firstly, an increase in funding required to maintain existing services in the light of demographic change; and secondly the possibility of developing and funding preventative measures.
The Cabinet also noted the continuing achievements in working with teenage mothers; the role of replacing schools as part of breaking the cycle of deprivation; and that the requirements of demographic change would be re-examined on a yearly basis.
RESOLVED: to recommend the Council to receive the report and note in particular the general recommendations therein.
38/08 FUTURE FIRST ACTION PLAN AND CARBON MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (Agenda Item 8)
The Cabinet considered a report (CA8) that demonstrated progress made on the Future First Programme, including the Carbon Management Programme.
Councillor Fooks, speaking as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, expressed disappointment at the delayed appointment of the Sustainable Travel Officer; that the Council should adopt a green travel plan; and that sustainable procurement should include office and meeting supplies.
The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development highlighted the achievement of a 4% reduction in the Council’s Carbon Footprint and was optimistic of achieving the target of 18% by 2012.
RESOLVED: to approve the draft Future First Action Plan 2008/09.
39/08 FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS(Agenda Item 9)
The Cabinet considered a list of items (CA9) for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet, and the amendments to the Forward Plan as detailed in the schedule of addenda.
RESOLVED: to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.
................................................................................... in the Chair
Date of signing.................................................................. 2008
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