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ITEM EX3

EXECUTIVE – 7 APRIL 2004

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 12.32 pm

The Executive 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.

80/04. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Farrow, Keith R Mitchell and Dermot Roaf.

81/04. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2004 were approved and signed.

Minute 72/04: Social Inclusion and Equalities

Councillor Don Seale reported progress with matters related to disability awareness training and undertook that Councillor Brian Hodgson would be informed of developments.

82/04. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS

The following request to address the meeting had been agreed:-

Agenda Item	Request from
5 – Development of Countywide Special School Provision including Woodeaton Manor and Iffley Mead Schools	Mr Alex Double Woodeaton Manor School

83/04. DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTYWIDE SPECIAL SCHOOL PROVISION INCLUDING WOODEATON MANOR AND IFFLEY MEAD SCHOOLS

(Agenda Item 5)

The Executive considered a report (EX5) on the response to consultation with schools, parents and partners on a package of proposals for Woodeaton Manor, Iffley Mead and Northfield special schools and an examination of planning and conservation issues in relation to the Woodeaton Manor building.

Mrs Tee introduced the report, and responded in detail to the points raised in the submissions referred to in the report and addenda. The date for Executive consideration shown in the timetable at paragraph 31 of the report was amended to 6 July 2004. It was the intention that the Conservation Plan would be available for that meeting.

Mr Double spoke on behalf of The Woodeaton Manor School staff endorsing the proposals but expressing concern regarding staff uncertainties and problems in planning for implementation as early as September 2004.

Councillor Hodgson drew attention to the Oxfordshire Governors’ Association’s comment that an increase of 22 places might not be sufficient and that the report’s recommendations made no reference to identifying a new site for Northfield School.

Councillor Purse expressed concern at staff uncertainty and the need for a firm decision to be made in the light of an approved conservation plan.

Mrs Tee and Mr Borien then responded to the matters raised including falling MLD pupil numbers in Oxfordshire and an increase in need for EBD provision, the process of assessment of individual needs, conservation of the Woodeaton Manor building and making the school premises safe for pupils. Mrs Tee acknowledged that this was a difficult time for the staff involved. Whilst firm commitments could not be given until firm decisions had been made on the future of the schools, she would be seeking to reassure staff of all three schools affected in the coming weeks.

RESOLVED: (by 5 votes to 0, Councillor Purse abstaining) to:

(a) endorse in principle the overall conclusions in the report as to the future roles of Iffley Mead, Woodeaton Manor and Northfield;

(b) approve the publication of statutory notices in relation to:

(1) the proposal to redesignate Woodeaton Manor as a school for 40 day pupils and 17 residential pupils with emotional/social difficulties requiring a therapeutic approach;

(2) the proposal to reduce the number of pupils at Northfield School from 80 to 60;

(c) take appropriate action to find a new site for Northfield School; and

(d) commission a Conservation Plan in relation to Woodeaton Manor School.

84/04. CO-ORDINATED ADMISSIONS ARRANGEMENTS

(Agenda Item 6)

The Executive considered a report (EX6) which set out the proposed co-ordinated admission arrangements for entry in the academic year 2005/06. The Key Admission date at Annex B ’27 October’ was amended to ’19 October’.

Councillor Hodgson drew members’ attention to the current position of families in Barton and Wood Farm seeking places at Cheney School (paragraph 17) and that Oxford School did not have its own catchment area. Mr Darlington reported that these issues could only be considered in the context of a wider review of catchment areas in Oxford.

RESOLVED: to agree and adopt the coordinated admission arrangements and admission policies described in the report (as amended) for the purpose of admissions for 2005/06.

85/04. EDUCATION ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN

(Agenda Item 7)

The Executive considered a report (EX7) which set out the Authority’s priorities for capital and revenue investment in school buildings for 2004/05 onwards as described in the Statement of Priorities submitted to the DfES for appraisal at the end of December 2003. The Statement of Priorities 2004 was amended at paragraph 4.2 – PFI – by the deletion of the sentence ‘School provision…special schools’.

Mr Hales reported that the outcome of this part of the DfES appraisal process was still awaited.

RESOLVED: to approve the Statement of Priorities (as amended) for the purpose of the Council’s investment in school buildings, so far as consistent with the outcome of the DfES appraisal.

86/04. SUPPORT FOR KEY WORKER HOUSING

(Agenda Item 8)

The Executive considered a report (EX8) which described detailed proposals for taking forward this element of the Local Public Service Agreement (the Local PSA) through the provision of loans to key workers under joint arrangements with the City Council and a housing association.

RESOLVED: to:

1. approve the Scheme as described in the report;
2. confirm the definition of ‘key worker’ for the purposes of the Scheme as referred to in the report;
3. note that County Council directorates would be required to pay for the costs of additional employer-only National Insurance contributions arising from the Scheme as required by the tax authorities;
4. authorise such legal arrangements with Oxford City Council and Keystart Housing Association and any other relevant parties as might be necessary to give effect to the matters referred to in the report, and any security documentation relating to the properties to be purchased as homes by key workers, all on such terms as might be agreed by the Head of Sustainable Development in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council;
5. approve the exemption of the legal arrangements with Keystart Housing Association from the quotation and tendering processes contained in Contract Procedure Rules 7 to 12 for the reasons set out in the report.
   
   

87/04. HENLEY INTEGRATED TRANSPORT STRATEGY

(Agenda Item 9)

The Executive considered a report (EX9) which informed members of the progress made in developing the Henley-on-Thames Integrated Transport Strategy and sought approval for the final short to medium term Strategy for Henley. The Strategy had been approved by the Members Steering Group for the Henley Integrated Transport Strategy.

It was reported that Henley-on-Thames Town Council had now also agreed the Strategy.

RESOLVED: to approve the Henley-on-Thames Integrated Transport Strategy as set out in the Halcrow Draft Stage 3 Report and Stage 4 Technical Note.

88/04. TRANSPORTATION IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE – REVIEW OF DELEGATION ARRANGEMENTS

(Agenda Item 10)

The Executive considered a report (EX10) which reviewed the operation of the Transport Implementation Committee, as the Executive had intended in setting up the Committee in 2002.

Councillor Mold spoke in support of his submission, which had been circulated with the Addenda, to increase the Committee’s membership from 2 to 3. The Executive considered that the current arrangements had worked well and that an increase as suggested was not necessary.

RESOLVED: to confirm the continuation of the Transport Implementation Committee with the same powers and subject to the same rules and conventions as previously agreed for the Committee under Executive Minute 355/02.

89/04. THE LIFT PROJECT PARTNERING AGREEMENT

(Agenda Item 11)

The Executive considered a report (EX11) which set out the background to the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT), a Health-led Public-Private Partnership to provide new buildings for primary and community health and social care, and options proposed to this Council by its local initiating body, Oxford City PCT. The report was amended at paragraph 11, penultimate bullet point, by the deletion of ‘etc’.

RESOLVED:

1. that the County Council be a signatory of the LIFT Strategic Partnering Agreement and become a member of the LIFT Strategic Partnering Board, on the basis that this would be without exclusivity (as set out against level 2 in the Annex to the report) and without financial commitment or share of risks (as set out in paragraphs 17-19);
2. that the Director for Social & Health Care:

1. be authorised, in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council, to agree and finalise the terms of the LIFT Strategic Partnering Agreement on the part of the County Council;
2. be appointed as the County Council’s representative on the LIFT Strategic Partnering Board.
   
   

90/04. GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPORTING PEOPLE PROGRAMME

(Agenda Item 12)

The Executive considered a report (EX12) which proposed an amendment sought by one of the parties to the Commissioning Body to the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, concerning the indemnification given to the Administering Authority by the other parties.

RESOLVED: to approve the change specified in the report to clause 17.1 of the Memorandum of Understanding.

91/04. FORWARD PLAN AND FUTURE BUSINESS

(Agenda Item 13)

The Executive considered schedules of proposed additions and amendments to the Forward Plan together with a list of items for the next two meetings.

RESOLVED: to:

1. agree the additions and amendments set out in Schedules 1 - 3 for the purpose of the Forward Plan for the ensuing four months subject at Schedules 1 and 2 to the addition of:

Financial Control Systems To consider provision to strengthen income and debtors systems within Social & Health Care, to develop the SAP management information system and review overall financial management within the authority	Leader of the Council	4 May 2004
Regional and Sub-Regional Planning To consider the County Council’s position in relation to current sub-regional studies and other developments affecting the future planning of the South East Region	Sustainable Development	4 May 2004
Specialist Nursing Care in Oxfordshire’s Special Schools – Scrutiny Review Recommendation of the Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee on lead commissioning or pooled budget arrangements for this service	Schools, Children & Young People	1 June 2004 (revised date)
Cornmarket Street, Oxford – Construction Costs Request by Council that the Executive hold an independent all-party inquiry into the escalation of costs	Transport	4 May 2004

2004/018: Transport Information Strategy for Bus Services

20 April 2004

Defer to 18 May to consider in the context of the revised Council priority on bus journeys

92/04. EXEMPT ITEM

RESOLVED: that the public be excluded during the consideration of item 14E in the Agenda since it was likely that if they were present during the item there would be a disclosure of "exempt" information as described in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 and specified below each item in the Agenda, i.e. information relating to any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

93/04.TRANSFER OF LAND AT WALLINGFORD UPPER AND LOWER SCHOOLS*

in the Chair

Date of signing 2004

* The report relating to the exempt item had not been made public and should be regarded as strictly private to those members and officers entitled to receive it.

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