- Annual Audit Letter 2004/2005
(Executive,
6 April 2005)
The
Executive considered the District Auditor’s Annual Audit & Inspection
Letter 2004 outlining key findings relating to the financial year 2003/04.
The letter was presented to the then Best Value & Audit Committee
and was circulated to all County Councillors and relevant officers on
1 February 2005.
The
Letter contained the key messages relating to the CPA Assessment 2004
(although this has since been overtaken by the updated assessment of
the Council as a good authority); other performance work; other
Audit Commission Inspections; Social & Health Care client finance
system failures; accounts; the financial position; and other governance
issues.
The
actions identified as needed by the Council are already being addressed
through the variety of existing action plans, which have been developed
and reported to the Executive and the Committee and/or its Working Group.
However the Best Value & Audit Committee expressed concern about
the transparency of this and the Executive endorsed a proposal for a
guide for all members to enable them easily to track action in response
to the various Audit Letter recommendations.
- Oxford's West End
(Executive,
6 April 2005)
The
Executive received the Area Development Framework (ADF) from consultants
David Lock Associates, based on joint working between SEEDA and the
City and County Councils, and building on the comments received from
last autumn’s consultation exercise. The ADF provides an exciting vision
for the renaissance of Oxford’s West and will enable the City Council
to commence work on the preparation of an Area Action Plan for the West
End, and at the same time to use the City and County Councils’ West
End land-holdings to help further shape and deliver the vision.
Design
principles identified in the ADF include easy access to and through
the area, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists; high quality routes
with street elevations having active frontages; mixed uses throughout
the area; a new bus facility adjacent to a redeveloped Westgate Centre;
landmark buildings demonstrating architectural excellence; and key public
spaces (Oxpens Square, Abbey Place, Frideswide Square, Bonn Square and
Castle Mill Stream).
The
Executive (in common with the City Council’s Executive Board) endorsed
the ADF Design Concept and the Development Principles, to be taken forward
into the Local Development Framework and to form the basis for an Area
Action Plan.
- Corporate Procurement
Strategy
(Executive,
6 April 2005)
The
Executive last year approved the establishment of a Strategic
Procurement Board to oversee the development and implementation of a
Corporate Procurement Strategy and the setting of targets and programmes,
and to monitor the performance of the organisation in complying with
the corporate requirements and meeting those targets and programmes.
The Board has fulfilled the first of these tasks and the Strategy which
it has brought forward has been approved by the Executive. The key aim
of the Strategy is to achieve best value from the money the Council
spends, in a way that supports corporate objectives.
The
key roles of communicating and managing the changes which the Strategy
necessitates belong to the Strategic Procurement Board, a Project Review
Panel (which will keep all procurement projects over £1m under review),
the central Strategic Procurement Unit in the Resources Directorate
and each directorate’s procurement representative and practitioners.
The Council’s senior management teams will, through these groups, actively
support the implementation of the strategy.
- Corporate Policy for
Modern Workstyle in Council Offices
(Executive,
6 April 2005)
The
Executive endorsed a draft policy for Modern Workstyle and guidance
for Flexible Working. This Policy is to be applied incrementally to
all County Council offices as and when opportunities arise, and subject
to affordability. A consistently applied Modern Workstyle approach is
needed for future property rationalisations and smaller changes. Implementation
Plans for the Review of Property Assets have been provisionally based
on the adoption of this as a corporate policy.
There
are a number of well-established policies relating to flexible working
and home working. These have been consolidated into a single Flexible
Working/Work Life Balance Policy. Corporate ICT is creating a Service
Level Agreement, which provides clarity to all aspects of its services
including those directly relevant to the Modern Workstyle/Flexible Working
approach.
- Performance Management:
Progress against Priorities and Targets
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive considered the third quarter performance for 2004-2005 against
Oxfordshire Plan priorities; Public Service Agreement targets and Best
Value Performance Indicators. Seven of the 13 Oxfordshire Plan priorities
were reported as being on target at the end of the second quarter; for
two priorities (delayed discharges from hospital and maintenance of
local roads and pavements), it was uncertain whether or not they were
on target; for two more (educational attainment and youth crime reduction)
there was a mixed picture. For the final two priorities, public transport
and support for older people, performance was improving but the demanding
targets in these areas were not expected to be met.
On
the Public Service Agreement targets, 3 were on track to achieve target;
for 4 it was uncertain as to whether they would achieve target; and
4 were predicted not to achieve target. Of the 81 Best Value Performance
Indicators reported at this stage 43 (51%) were on target with 26 (31%)
not on target; for 16 (19%) it was felt to be too early to judge.
- County Council Energy
Management Policy
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive adopted an Energy and Water Policy, designed ultimately to
be part of a wider Council energy policy (additionally covering transport,
street lighting, purchasing and IT equipment) that will be developed
within the Future First project (as to which see further under "Corporate
Environmental Policy" below).
In
support of the policy it is proposed that Prudential Borrowing funds
should be used to invest in projects that would reduce energy use, consequent
emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide and ongoing utility costs.
Furthermore, it is proposed that these funds could be used for on-site
renewable energy schemes that would similarly reduce both emissions
of pollutants and ongoing utility costs. The amount of Prudential Borrowing
envisaged is £200,000 in 2005/06, which requires the Council’s approval
as an addition to the agreed Capital Programme. In future years the
amounts will be determined as part of the Capital Planning process.
The
Council is RECOMMENDED to agree the inclusion in the Capital Programme
in 2005/06 of energy conservation expenditure totalling £0.2m, funded
from Prudential Funding.
- Review of Property Assets
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive last considered the Review of Property Assets on 21 December
2004 and agreed to approve the Implementation Plan. The report on 19
April gave information on progress with the Implementation Plan and
appropriate recommendations to allow work to continue.
The
Executive noted the findings of a financial appraisal for the northern
area offices and supported the progressing of the reorganisation, subject
to consideration of a Project Appraisal for the preferred option in
that area by October 2005; and approved self-funding proposals to consolidate
those southern area offices considered as part of this review, with
consolidation to be completed by December 2005.
It
was also agreed that opportunities for PFI funding be monitored and
that this funding route considered when solutions to property needs
are being developed.
- Use of Prudential Funding
for Repairs and Maintenance
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive approved a Business Case for Prudential Funding of high priority
repairs. On 21 December 2004 the Executive had considered a report on
the findings of a review of the Council’s approach to the repair and
maintenance of its property, and instructed the Head of Property Services
to bring forward a business case for the investment of up to £25 million
over five years to address a significant proportion of the property
backlog maintenance in the County Council’s primary schools and other
public buildings. This was on the basis that the repayment of this unsupported
debt would be funded from the savings achieved by bringing the Council’s
property stock up to a higher standard and the consequent reduction
in unplanned maintenance.
A
substantial proportion of the Prudential Funding investment (c80%) will
be targeted at repairs to schools as these constitute the largest proportion
of the repair backlog. Revenue savings from reduced energy and day-to-day
repair costs would benefit individual schools, as they have to meet
these costs from their delegated budgets.
The
Council is RECOMMENDED to agree the inclusion in the Capital
Programme of additional property maintenance expenditure totalling £25m
over the period 2005/06 to 2010/11 funded from Prudential Funding.
Executive
Members – Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Schools
- Future Schools Funding
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive has considered a DfES consultation paper on new school funding
arrangements from 2006–07 as part of the government’s Five Year Strategy
for Children and Learners. A highly publicised element of the strategy
was to give schools the security of three budgets aligned to academic
years to enable improved planning. The consultation covers 5 broad areas:
three year budgets for schools; a new Dedicated Schools Grant; redistribution
of funding from local authorities to schools; a new Single Standards
Grant; and strategic financial management, planning and efficiency.
The
Executive’s response was that generally the move to provide schools
with guaranteed two or three year budgets was welcomed: it would provide
them with the stability that they need. There were however, some concerns
about the implications of the timing issues as between academic and
financial years canvassed in the consultation. There were also serious
concerns about the impact of the rest of the local government finance
system when Dedicated Schools Grant is introduced in 2006–07: transitional
arrangements will be needed to ensure that any adverse impact is minimised.
Executive
Member – Sustainable Development
- Economic Development
Action Plan
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive considered a report on progress made during the first year
of the County Council’s Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP). The
Plan brings together all of the economic development actions of the
Council.
The
report included details of expenditure by the Strategic Policy and Economic
Development Unit on Economic Development projects and partnerships in
2004/05. For the year 2005/06, a grant making procedure has been compiled
in order assess applications against the Council’s Economic Development
objectives.
The
Executive agreed to endorse the re-alignment of the EDAP priorities
around the three core objectives of the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership’s
Economic Development Strategy: competitiveness and innovation, sustainable
development and social inclusion. The Executive also supported a number
of new actions in the 2005/06 Economic Development Action Plan and asked
the Head of Sustainable Development to report back on progress in achieving
the targets in the action plan in a year’s time.
- Corporate Environmental
Policy
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive agreed the "Future First Environment Action Plan 2005-2006"
prepared by a group set up on the Executive’s instructions last December
and now named the Future First Programme Board, formed with councillor
representatives and high-level representation from all directorates.
The group was established to address the findings of the scrutiny review
of Corporate Environmental Policy and the Audit Commission’s Report
on Sustainable Development, both published in 2004.
The
Future First Environment Action Plan is directed at reducing the Council’s
own environmental footprint, to take effect from April 2005. All directorates
have contributed to development of the plan which, in the first year,
will be implemented through service led initiatives within the framework
of the Council’s existing environmental policy.
The
Executive has request the Future First Programme Board to bring to the
Executive an annual report in September/October with complete figures
for the previous financial year, identifying issues for future action;
and an annual work plan in March/April for the coming year, with the
first report in March/April 2006.
Executive
Member – Children & Young People
- Best Value Review of
Children’s Services
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive considered a report on the Best Value Review of Children’s
Services, which had examined services for vulnerable children and young
people aged 0-19 years and made recommendations about the implementation
of "Every Child Matters" and the Children Act 2004 in Oxfordshire.
The
report made recommendations for improving support for vulnerable groups
of children and young people in the areas of mental health and emotional
well-being; teenage pregnancy; disabled children and young people; support
for vulnerable families; looked after children and young people; and
the educational achievement of vulnerable children and young people.
The recommendations proposed significant changes to the organisation
of services for children and young people, including a Children and
Young People’s Commissioning Trust; integrated county-wide health, education
and social services provision; and network arrangements for ensuring
responsive and well co-ordinated services for vulnerable children and
young people in localities throughout the county.
The
Executive endorsed the conclusions of the Best Value Review Report on
Services for Vulnerable Children and Young People; and welcomed the
proposal for development by the review team of a detailed action plan,
to include as full costings as can be provided, for report back in September/October
2005. The Executive also asked officers to report further, in the context
of the action plan, with proposals for the development of a Children
and Young People’s Commissioning Trust for Oxfordshire and on the implications
of the requirement under the Children Act to appoint a Director for
Children’s Services and to nominate a Lead Member for Children’s Services.
See
further under Part 2 below.
- "Placement Matters":
a Placement Strategy for Children Looked After
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Executive endorsed a draft revised placement strategy for Children Looked
After (CLA). Its development had been prompted by a number of factors:
the increased number of children in agency placements (in both independent
foster care agencies and residential care settings); an overspend of
the Agency Care Budget in 2004/05 and to a lesser extent in previous
years; and the need to provide strategic direction for managers and
staff.
The
purpose of the Strategy is to set out a planning framework for the development
of and changes to CLA services; set strategic direction around placements
for CLA for the next 3 years; create clarity about outcomes for children;
and set targets to improve practice, increase in-house provision, reduce
reliance on agency placements and match priorities with resources. It
is designed to achieve the elimination of the current overspend by 2007/08.
The
Executive authorised the Director for Social & Health Care, in consultation
with the Executive Member for Children & Young People, to finalise
the strategy in the light of the outcome of any outstanding consultations
with residential staff subject to any adjustments that may be considered
appropriate in the light of the findings of the current Scrutiny Review
on the Stability of Placements for Children Looked After.
Executive
Member – Community Safety
- Food Law Enforcement
Service Plan
(Executive,
19 April 2005)
The
Food Standards Act 1999 requires all local authorities to prepare and
publish a Food Law Enforcement Service Plan on an annual basis. Service
plans developed under these arrangements will provide the basis on which
local authorities will be monitored and audited by the Food Standards
Agency. The Executive considered a draft plan for 2005/06, incorporated
within the more general Service Plan required by the Department of Trade
and Industry in respect of all aspects of the Trading Standards Service.
The
Plan proposes that enforcement activity should be based on six themes:
tackling food poverty; encouraging a healthier diet; improving food
standards and choice for children at catering establishments; addressing
the concerns of our communities; helping to sustain local businesses;
and safeguarding food standards. Key activities to be undertaken during
2005/06 include: improving school meals in Oxfordshire; consumer education
events such as "Oxfordshire’s Best School Dinners" competition; providing
advice on nutrition and food to new parents; completing a programme
of product sampling and testing; researching and proposing solutions
to areas of food poverty; and completing a programme of risk assessed
inspections of local businesses.
The
Food Law Enforcement Service Plan is one of the strategic plans which,
in accordance with the Budget and Policy Procedure Rules set out in
the Constitution, are subject to approval by the full Council, taking
into account any advice from the relevant scrutiny committee. The Community
Safety Scrutiny Committee had indicated that they did not wish to make
any comments on the Plan. The Plan is circulated with the Agenda for
this meeting.
(Oxfordshire Trading Standards Service & Performance Plan 2005/06
(Incorporating Food Law Enforcement Plan & Community Trading Standards
Service Delivery Plan) - download as
.pdf file)
The
Council is RECOMMENDED to approve the Food Law Enforcement Service Plan,
as comprised in the Trading Standards Service and Performance Plan,
for submission to the Food Standards Agency.
PART
2: THE CABINET
Cabinet
Member – Leader of the Council
- Oxfordshire Plan/Best
Value Performance Plan and Programme
(Cabinet,
7 June 2005)
The
Council is under a statutory obligation to produce an annual Best Value
Performance Plan (the ‘Oxfordshire Plan’), complying with a range of
requirements under the relevant legislation. It is one of those strategic
documents that must be referred to the full Council for approval. The
final Plan must be published by 30 June.
(Oxfordshire Plan 2005/06 - download
as .doc file)
(Oxfordshire Best Value Performance Plan - Performance Against all
Best Value Performance Indicators - download
as doc. file)
The
Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee considered an outline of the
2005/06 Plan on 3 March and were in "broad support" of the proposals.
A draft of the plan was discussed at the meeting of the Cabinet on 7
June and an updated draft is circulated with the agenda for this Council
meeting. The format is broadly similar to last year’s and the content
reflects the decision of the previous Executive to roll forward the
Council’s 2004-05 priorities to 2005-06. However, references to the
new Council and Cabinet have been included. There remain some gaps in
the draft document for BVPI outturn data, which is still being collected,
and the targets for 2005-06 and beyond, which are still being evaluated.
A supplementary note will be circulated to supply this information.
The
Cabinet RECOMMENDS the Council, subject to completion of the document
with the outstanding BVPI outturn and target information as indicated,
to approve the Plan for publication by 30 June 2005.
- Local Government Pension
Scheme
(Cabinet,
18 May 2005)
The
Cabinet has agreed a response to a consultation by the Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister which proposes the reversal of previously announced
changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which had the effect
of raising the earliest age at which a pension was payable from 50 to
55 (except in the case of ill-health), and removing the so called "85
year rule", which allowed individuals to receive an unreduced pension
if they retired before 65, and their service plus age equalled or exceeded
85 years.
The
ODPM proposal followed a series of meetings between the Deputy Prime
Minister and representatives of the local authority employers and trade
unions. These meetings culminated in the Deputy Prime Minister announcing
his intention to revoke the earlier Regulations subject to statutory
consultation, and the unions calling off strike action planned in response
to the initial Regulations.
The
Cabinet’s response centres on concern about the financing of the Oxfordshire
Pension Fund in view of the continuing pressures on it, which the Regulations
now proposed to be revoked would have gone some way to reducing.
The
substance of the response has also been agreed by the Pension Fund Committee
and will go to the ODPM as the representations of the Council both as
the Oxfordshire Pension Fund Administering Authority and as a major
employing authority.
Cabinet
Member – Finance
- Financial Monitoring
(Cabinet,
18 May 2005)
The
Cabinet has considered a financial monitoring report for the 2004/05
financial year up to the end of March 2005 for revenue and capital.
The consolidated forecast position at this date shows a balance of £10.036m,
with projected year end revenue balances at £6.040m (net of the City
Schools Reorganisation). The final position is expected to be in line
with the projections set out in the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme
for 2005/06 which was agreed by Council on 15 February 2004.
The
Directorate carry forward position shows an overall surplus of £3.996m.
It is possible that this position may improve further as the accounts
for 2004/05 are finalised. Schools’ balances are expected to be higher
than the 31 March 2004 LMS Reserves position by as much as £4m. A full
Provisional Outturn report will be presented to the Cabinet on 22 June
and will give full details of over and under spending from 2004/05 to
be carried forward to 2005/06.
A
particular variation considered by the Cabinet is a proposal to transfer
£0.200m of the forecast carry forward for Early Education Funding into
the Foundation Stage Investment Fund within the capital programme, to
help improve the quality of early years facilities for young children
in primary schools. As this transfer is between the revenue and capital
budgets the Council’s approval is required.
The
Cabinet therefore RECOMMENDS the Council to approve the virement of
£0.200m from the budget for Early Education Funding for 3 & 4 Year
Olds to a Foundation Stage Investment fund in the Capital Programme.
Cabinet
Member for Transport
- Local Transport Plan
2006-11(Cabinet,
7 June 2005)
The
County Council is required to produce a second Local Transport Plan
(LTP) for the years 2006/07–2010/11, replacing the current Plan which
expires in March 2006. The LTP is one of those strategic documents that
must be referred to the full Council for approval. The Council is also
required to produce a Bus Strategy as part of the Plan. The Plan is
required to be submitted to Government in a Provisional version in July
2005 with a Final version having to be completed by March 2006. The
draft LTP and Bus Strategy were discussed at the meeting of the Cabinet
on 7 June and updated drafts are circulated with the agenda for this
Council meeting.
The
background to the LTP and Bus Strategy is set out fully in those documents
and in report CA6 accompanying the Cabinet’s 7 June agenda. The LTP
will no longer be a bidding document but needs to set out how the Council
will make best use of indicated government allocations. It has a focus
on shared priority objectives – particularly safer roads, tackling congestion,
delivering accessibility and better air quality and improving the street
environment. A "problem-led" approach to programming is adopted in place
of a "scheme-led" approach.
Stakeholder
consultation on a draft LTP and Bus Strategy showed overall agreement
among respondents with the appropriateness of the LTP objectives, how
it deals with national and regional issues, its identification of a
Central Oxfordshire Transport Area strategy and its overall clarity
and focus. However there was a more mixed response as to the weightings
to be applied to the shared priorities and the balance between walking,
cycling, public transport and private transport. The draft was considered
on behalf of the Environment Scrutiny Committee by a sub-group of its
members and they made a number of detailed comments, many of which have
been taken into account in the draft LTP now presented.
The Cabinet has endorsed
the general direction of the documents and has agreed a transport programme
for inclusion in the Provisional LTP, including variations from previous
programme provision which flow from the approach required in the new Plan.
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 1 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 2 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 3 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 4 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 5 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 6 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 7 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 8 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 9 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 10 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 11 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 12 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Chapter 13 - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Annex A - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Annex B - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Annex C - Key Figures - download
as .pdf file)
(Local Transport Plan - Annex C - Main Figures - download
as .pdf file)
(Bus Stategy - download as .pdf file)
Subject
to any further editorial amendments appearing to the Director for Environment
& Economy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport
to be necessary to ensure compliance with Department of Transport requirements,
the Cabinet RECOMMENDS the Council to approve the Provisional Local
Transport Plan, including the Provisional Bus Strategy, for submission
by 31 July 2005.
Cabinet Members
– Leader of the Council, Children & Young People and
Health & Community Services
- Future of Children’s
Services and Related Organisational Change
(Cabinet, June 7 2005)