Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on  15 September 2015 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2015 were approved and signed as a correct record.

Councillor Tanner had given notice of the following question to Councillor Nimmo Smith:

“Now that Oxford has a new transport strategy when does the Cabinet member anticipate being able to install double yellow lines on both sides of Donnington Bridge Road in Oxford to prevent parked cars blocking the cycle lanes?”

Councillor Nimmo Smith replied:

“As part of the county council’s Oxford Transport Strategy (OTS), adopted as part of the LTP in September, a number of key ‘Cycle Super Routes’ across the city, including Donnington Bridge Road, are identified as corridors for implementing upgraded cycle infrastructure.  As set out in the draft OTS, changes to parking restrictions will be considered as part of these upgrades, and local residents would of course be consulted.  We do not currently have funding for cycling improvements on Donnington Bridge Road and have no expectation of the funds in the short term.

OCC is continually looking for funding opportunities to introduce and enhance cycling schemes across the County, which Councillors will be pleased to note includes Donnington Bridge Road.”

Councillor Howson had given notice of the following question to Councillor Nimmo Smith

“Could the Cabinet member please explain why the closure of the Woodstock Road for the Oxford half marathon did not take place at the location cited in the temporary traffic order published in the Oxford Times only two days before the race was held?”

Councillor Nimmo Smith replied:

“Officers walked the route prior to the event and have confirmed that Woodstock Rd was closed at Little Clarendon St junction only, as per the Traffic Order.  It was not closed at St Margaret’s Rd junction. 

We believe the confusion may be that there was a ‘Road Closed Ahead access and public transport only’ sign on Woodstock Rd junction with St Margaret’s Rd as per the agreed plan.  St Margaret’s Rd was the signed traffic diversion in both directions for through traffic.

St Margaret’s Rd, Kingston Rd and Walton Street is also the signed diversion in both directions for other events which close Woodstock Rd (namely St Giles Fair and Remembrance Service). Leckford Rd, Observatory Street and Little Clarendon Street are not the signed diversion routes for these events and the Oxford Half Marathon used the same diversion route with some parking suspensions at key traffic ‘pinch points’ to ease the traffic congestion where possible.

Supplementary: Councillor Howson noted that it was a question of how the public interpreted the information and asked that in future it be made clear for the public what was to happen in practice. Councillor Nimmo Smith replied that nothing had been done differently for this event but that he noted and would take on board the concerns raised.

A petition was submitted by Councillor Fooks asking that the No. 17 bus service be retained.

The following requests to speak had been agreed:

Item 6 – Councillor Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance

Item 7 – Councillor Brighouse, Opposition Leader

Item 9 – Councillor Laura Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Item 10 - Councillor Laura Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Item 11 – Councillor Laura Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Mrs Sue Tanner, Rose Hill & Donnington Advice Centre

Item 12 – Councillor Gill Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families

Item 13 – Councillor Gill Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families

Item 14 – Councillor Liz Brighouse, Chairman of the Performance Scrutiny Committee

Item 18 – Councillor Nick Hards, local councillor for Didcot West.

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/042

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Chief Accountant Tel: (01865) 323981

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA6).

This report focuses on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2015/16 – 2017/18.  Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of August 2015.   Capital Programme monitoring and update is included at Part 3 and Part 4 sets out a change to Fees and Charges. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)                          note the report;

(b)                         approve the virement requests set out in Annex 2a;

(c)                          Recommend Council to approve:-

                                   i.           the virement in respect  of the unringfenced grant               received by the Council relating to the closure of the    Independent Living Fund as set out in paragraph 34;

                                  ii.           the transfer £2m from Public Health reserves to the            Children’s     Homes Capital Project as set out in         paragraph 66;

(d)                         approve the bad debt write off as set out in paragraph 59;

(e)                          note the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 4;

(f)                           approve the fees and charges as set out in Part 4 and Annex 7a;

(g)                         approve the updated capital programme in Annex 9 (changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 8c);

(h)                         approve the inclusion in the capital programme of :

                                   i.           £1.3m adult social care capital grant to fund the adult social care management system in the capital programme;

                                  ii.           £2.4m Disabled Facilities Grant which will be pass ported to District Councils;

                                 iii.           an increase in budget of £0.4m for Frideswide Square;

                                iv.           £5m increase in the Broadband programme reflecting contributions from District Councils and the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Cabinet considered a report that focussed on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2015/16 – 2017/18. Parts 1 and 2 included projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of August 2015. Capital Programme monitoring and update is included at Part 3 and Part 4 set out a change to Fees and Charges.

Councillor Nick Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance highlighted the difficult financial position particularly for children, education & families and adult social care. He noted that severe measures were likely to be needed such as a recruitment freeze and a stop on non-essential expenditure. He expressed concern that this could result in areas least able to cope being hit. He was concerned about the demands being placed on staff. He further commented that reductions in administration staff inevitably impacted on all staff, who then had to take on more administration work.  He referred to the road building plans within the capital programme, noted the growth plans that could result in thousands more homes being built and suggested that the Leader lobby the Local Enterprise Partnership to support the Council’s bids on road building.

Cabinet members responded to the points made with the Leader confirming that he was pushing for the schemes referred to. Councillor Lawrie Stratford Cabinet member for Finance accepted the concerns over staff and Cabinet generally thanked all staff for their continuing efforts in difficult circumstances.

Councillor Stratford introduced the contents of the report and moved the recommendations highlighting the revised Annex 2a set out in the addenda

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)                                note the report;

(b)                                approve the virement requests set out in the revised annex 2a submitted as an addenda;

(c)                                RECOMMEND Council to approve:-

                                            i.             the virement in respect of the unringfenced grant                  received by the Council relating to the closure of the         Independent Living Fund as set out in paragraph 34;

                                           ii.             the transfer £2m from Public Health reserves to the    Children’s      Homes Capital Project as set out in paragraph 66;

(d)                                approve the bad debt write off as set out in paragraph 59;

(e)                                note the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 4;

(f)                                  approve the fees and charges as set out in Part 4 and Annex 7a;

(g)                                approve the updated capital programme in Annex 9 (changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 8c);

(h)                                approve the inclusion in the capital programme of :

                                            i.             £1.3m adult social care capital grant to fund the adult social care management system in the capital programme;

                                           ii.             £2.4m Disabled Facilities Grant which will be pass ported to District Councils;

                                          iii.             an increase in budget of £0.4m for Frideswide Square;

                                         iv.             £5m increase in the Broadband programme reflecting contributions from District Councils and the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/099

Contact: Maggie Scott, Head of Policy Tel: (01865) 816081

Report by Leader of the Council (CA7).

To consider the expression of interest for devolution to Oxfordshire that was submitted to government on 4 September and refer this report on to Council on 3 November for a full debate.

Cabinet are asked to:

(a)      note the current position in discussions regarding devolution of powers to Oxfordshire, as set out in this paper; and

(b)      agree that a debate should be held at full council on 3 November on this issue in order to understand all members' views.

Cabinet considered a report setting out the expression of interest for devolution to Oxfordshire that was submitted to government on 4 September.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Opposition Leader, indicated that the Labour Group was supportive of the proposal in principle but that there were several issues to consider. This included how the bid was to be funded. Councillor Brighouse noted that Greater Manchester had seen a large amount of funding pumped into their bid and she doubted that this level of funding would be available nationally. She referred to issues around skills and employment and that the proposal were quite narrow in this regard and yet there were other relevant aspects such as social care and education. Upskilling needed to look at both valuable social jobs as well as technically skilled jobs and should focus on local development. She highlighted differences between Oxfordshire and Greater Manchester and in particular that on health Oxfordshire were net importers. Real intelligence was needed to inform the shape of the bid.

The Leader introduced the contents of the report stressing that the situation was very fast moving. He paid tribute to the way in which all the Councils in Oxfordshire had come together to make the bid possible. Each Council would now need to take it through their own decision making body. He highlighted that only half of the bids going forward had included health and that this was an exciting prospect. It was important that all councillors were able to make their views known.

During discussion a note of caution was sounded in relation to the 100% retention of the business rate. This had to be financially neutral and there was the possibility that Oxfordshire would receive less given the need to fund poorer areas in the north of the country. Maggie Scott explained that the position was changing and there should be no assumption that funding methods would remain fixed. Other funding mechanisms were being explored.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)      note the current position in discussions regarding devolution of powers to Oxfordshire, as set out in this paper; and

(b)      agree that a debate should be held at full council on 3 November on this issue in order to understand all members' views.

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/089

Contact: Kate Terroni, Deputy Director – Joint Commissioning Tel: (01865) 815792

Report by Director for Adult Social Care (CA8).

This report outlines the future model of health and care being established in the Henley-on-Thames area, including the plans for the new Townlands Hopsital, which was agreed at the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Governing Body on 24 September 2015.

The Cabinet is recommended to note the intentions of the Clinical Commissioning Group and the potential implications for the County council.

Cabinet considered a report outlining the future model of health and care being established in the Henley-on-Thames area, including the plans for the new Townlands Hospital, which was agreed at the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Governing Body on 24 September 2015.

Councillor Heathcoat introduced the contents of the report and moved the recommendations. During discussion Cabinet was advised that the Clinical Commissioning Group would bear the cost of the beds but that there may be some impact on the County Council. Potentially this was less than the cost of current care after a hospital stay.

Councillor Nimmo Smith was pleased at the efforts to provide some hospital facilities and hoped that the Townlands Steering Group would remain engaged.

Responding to a question from Councillor Hibbert Biles about whether the beds would be provided by CCG in perpetuity and whether this was included for in the contract Kate Terroni indicated that the intention was for a permanent arrangement. Councillor Heathcoat added that it was not possible to have clarity in perpetuity.

RESOLVED:           to note the intentions of the Clinical Commissioning Group and the potential implications for the County council.

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/051

Contact: Benedict Leigh, Strategic Commissioner Adults Tel: (01865) 323584

Report by Director for Adult Social Services (CA9).

To seek a decision in respect of the current contract for learning disability health services.

The Big Plan was approved by Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet on 17 March 2015 and by Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Governing Body on 27 March 2015. The final version of this plan, incorporating changes as agreed at Oxfordshire County Council cabinet and Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, is attached as Annex 1.

The Big Plan proposes significant changes to the way we provide healthcare to people with learning disabilities. Since the Big Plan was approved, commissioners have been working through a number of suggestions and comments from people with learning disabilities, families, GPs and providers.

In the light of this feedback Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group have decided to review both the timetable and approach to the implementation of the Big Plan.

Cabinet is:

(a)            RECOMMENDED to approve the Learning Disability Strategy for Oxfordshire;

(b)             ASKED to note the extension of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust’s contract for health services with Oxfordshire County Council

(c)            RECOMMENDED to approve the transfer of the contract for Learning Disability health services to Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group as soon as an acceptable contract has been agreed.

Cabinet considered a report seeking a decision in respect of the current contract for learning disability health services.

Councillor Laura Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care was grateful that concerns had been taken seriously and the transfer was safe and well managed. She queried the revised target dates and sought detailed information on the transfer of specialist skills, the adjustments in staff numbers, information on numbers of speech therapists and the cost implications of the transfer process. She was concerned that there was a risk that the Council may accrue costs by delay.

Kate Terroni, Deputy Director Joint Commissioning explained the difference in dates and the expected timescales. She commented that they were keen not to lose the specialist skills. Councillor Heathcoat added that they had been keen to take on board people’s concerns. Dates were not exact because of the need for flexibility to ensure a safe transfer. It was a complex area and discussions between all parties ensured an understanding of what was needed. There were staffing and financial implications but she believed it would be an exemplar service. Cabinet thanked Kate Terroni for all her efforts in achieving the current position.

Councillor Heathcoat moved the recommendations.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)            approve the Learning Disability Strategy for Oxfordshire;

(b)            note the extension of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust’s contract for health services with Oxfordshire County Council

(c)            approve the transfer of the contract for Learning Disability health services to Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group as soon as an acceptable contract has been agreed.

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/100

Contact: Kate Terroni, Deputy Director – Joint Commissioning Tel: (01865) 815792

Report by Director for Adult Social Care (CA10).

To seek approval for the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy.

The Adult Social Care sector in Oxfordshire is facing significant challenges with workforce capacity and capability, arising from growing demand for care and support and the increasing complexity of care and support needs.

Modelling by the Council has established that the county’s social care workforce needs to grow by up to 750 every year for the next 10 years just to keep pace with the growing numbers of people requiring care.

To address the longer term workforce issues, Oxfordshire County Council worked with stakeholders during 2014/15 to develop and produce the Oxfordshire Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy 2015/18 and draft implementation plan.

The purpose of the Workforce Strategy is to build the capacity and capability of the workforce and the implementation plan outlines practical steps to achieve this.

Cabinet is recommended to:

(a)            Endorse the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy 2015 to 2018.

(b)            Commit to implementing the strategy delivery plan.

(c)            Request regular progress reports from the Director of Adult Social Care on progress in implementing the strategy and towards achievement of its objectives and targets.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy.

Councillor Laura Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care welcomed the report and commented that she would like the Council to push for national recognition of health care professionals. She highlighted the need for affordable housing to attract and keep workers. She asked that in terms of partnership working officers think innovatively about organisations such as independent unions and to utilise the Local Enterprise Partnership. She also stressed the need to involve care workers.

Councillor Heathcoat, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care responding to the points made indicated that there had been recruitment drives and they were talking to the people doing the jobs.

During discussion Cabinet noted that through the LEP there were a number of apprenticeships. The aim had to be to make it a profession that people wanted to get into.

Councillor Heathcoat introduced the contents of the report and moved the recommendations together with an additional recommendation to present the report to the next full Council meeting.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)            endorse the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy 2015 to 2018;

(b)            commit to implementing the strategy delivery plan;

(c)            request regular progress reports from the Director of Adult Social Care on progress in implementing the strategy and towards achievement of its objectives and targets; and

(d)      agree that the report be presented to full Council.

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/052

Contact: Benedict Leigh, Strategic Commissioner – Adults Tel: (01865) 323584

Report by Director for Adult Social Services (CA11).

The information and advice strategy has been developed in response to the requirements in the Care Act 2014 for local authorities to provide information and advice relating to care and support issues for adults and carers.

The strategy sets out the council's strategic and commissioning intentions for this area of work whilst ensuring that the financial resources available for the provision of information and advice are used effectively so that the council is able to meet its statutory obligations.

Cabinet is

(a)            RECOMMENDED to approve the Information and Advice Strategy; and

(b)      Subject to the approval of the Information and Advice Strategy (above) Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the plan for the procurement of a specialist advice service for Oxfordshire.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval of the information and advice strategy developed in response to the requirements in the Care Act 2014 for local authorities to provide information and advice relating to care and support issues for adults and carers.

Mrs Sue Tanner, Rose Hill & Donnington Advice Centre, stated that the Centre would lose all its Oxfordshire County Council funding from next March. She detailed the work carried out by the Centre and the difficulty in carrying out that work when the funding was cut. She emphasised that much of the work was preventative, maximising income and minimising debts for local people. The loss of funding could end up costing the Council more in the long term.

Councillor Laura Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, commended the report which was very clear about the need for the proposals but she expressed concern about the impact on vulnerable people. She felt that the impact of the loss of funding on small providers had not been fully assessed. If there was any doubt about their ability to carry on then greater consideration needed to be given to the proposals. A single large provider could leave the council exposed to risk. She was pleased that a consortium bid would be welcomed.

Councillor Heathcoat, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care in introducing the contents of the report responded to the comments made.

RESOLVED:                     to:

(a)            approve the Information and Advice Strategy; and

(b)      Subject to the approval of the Information and Advice Strategy (above) to approve the plan for the procurement of a specialist advice service for Oxfordshire.

Cabinet Member: Children, Education & Families

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/175

Contact: Rebecca Matthews, Interim Deputy Director – Education & Early Intervention Tel: (01865) 815125

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA12).

The growth of school autonomy has triggered a debate about the role of local authorities and the conditions necessary to encourage and sustain a self-improving system. This paper argues that there is still significant strategic value in retaining in-house school improvement services.

 The Corporate Plan 2015-18, A Thriving Oxfordshire, states that the Council ‘has a crucial leadership role in ensuring there is a diverse supply of strong schools for the county’s children and a key role in continuing to improve educational attainment in the county.’

Oxfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Plan 2015-18 wants Oxfordshire to be ‘the best place in England for children and young people to grow up in, by working with every child and young person to develop the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to achieve their full potential.’

The plans set out in this paper  reinforce the Council’s aim for strong schools, which provide children and young people with appropriate knowledge, skills and understanding, which will be fundamental to the future of a thriving Oxfordshire. An in-house service, able to trade with all schools and settings to ensure its future viability, will provide the Council the opportunity to continue to improve educational standards for all.

While schools can, and do, receive support services from a variety of sources, the Council would be well placed to continue to have in-house capacity to achieve the corporate aims and targets. The proposals in this report  will provide for an integrated approach across health, social care, safeguarding and post 16 education and training. It will also enable a more integrated and bespoke approach for the future, to address whatever particular pressures or concerns face the county.

Cabinet  is RECOMMENDED To:

a)       approve, in principle, the creation of a ring-fenced trading service for Schools and Learning, trading with third parties and to allow for further developmental work and consultation with key stakeholders; and

b)       endorse the proposal to reconfigure the remaining services into a streamlined and integrated Central School Support Portfolio comprising the remaining non-delegable functions.

The growth of school autonomy has triggered a debate about the role of local authorities and the conditions necessary to encourage and sustain a self-improving system. Cabinet considered a report that argued that there is still significant strategic value in retaining in-house school improvement services.

Councillor Gill Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families expressed the Labour Group’s support for the recommendations and stressed the importance of keeping experienced and valued members of staff.

In response to a question Cabinet was advised that further reports would be submitted as necessary.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)      approve, in principle, the creation of a ring-fenced trading service for Schools and Learning, trading with third parties and to allow for further developmental work and consultation with key stakeholders; and

(b)      endorse the proposal to reconfigure the remaining services into a streamlined and integrated Central School Support Portfolio comprising the remaining non-delegable functions.

Cabinet Member: Children, Education & Families

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/065

Contact: Allyson Milward, Academies Manager Tel: (01865) 816447

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA13).

The Council has a strong track record of supporting schools to become academies: by December four out of five secondary schools and over a quarter of primary schools will have converted. To avoid the risks associated with fragmentation and isolation, particularly of small rural primary schools, it is proposed that the Council adopt a more assertive policy of actively encouraging the incorporation of the remaining maintained schools into sustainable formal collaborative groupings, primarily through the Multi Academy Trust model but also through the extension of the 'collaborative company' model and the pooling of more resources and responsibilities."

The following paper sets out the current position in the County and strategic implications for the programme following the publication of a new programme of legislative change by the new Government. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)            Adopt the principles set out at paragraph 24 of the ‘Strategic Implications for Academies Programme’ section above. 

(b)            Adopt a more assertive policy in identifying appropriate sponsors for schools required to convert to academy status. 

(c)            Promote appropriate groupings to form new Multi Academy Trusts and encourage the growth of existing Multi Academy Trusts based in the county. 

(d)            Further develop and promote the collaborative company model, both to incorporate more schools in these and to extend the scope of their pooling of resources and responsibility and

(e)            Use collaborative companies as a 'stepping stone' to the formation of Multi Academy Trusts.   

Cabinet had before them a report setting out the current position in the County and strategic implications for the academies programme following the publication of a new programme of legislative change by the new Government.

Councillor Gill Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families was supportive of encouraging collaborative groupings if schools were being forced to change. However she commented that the report was rather loosely worded and sought assurance that the Council would respect the right of schools to remain as maintained and to consider their own future. Councillor Tilley replied that it was about responding to the views of the PM who expects all schools to convert. The County was willing to discuss with any school to find the right solution for that school. She added that the Council had no powers to force any change.

RESOLVED:           to

(a)            Adopt the principles set out at paragraph 24 of the ‘Strategic Implications for Academies Programme’ section above.

(b)            Adopt a more assertive policy in identifying appropriate sponsors for schools required to convert to academy status.

(c)            Promote appropriate groupings to form new Multi Academy Trusts and encourage the growth of existing Multi Academy Trusts based in the county.

(d)            Further develop and promote the collaborative company model, both to incorporate more schools in these and to extend the scope of their pooling of resources and responsibility and

(e)             Use collaborative companies as a 'stepping stone' to the formation of Multi Academy Trusts.

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/043

Contact: Maggie Scott, Head of Policy Tel: (01865) 816081

Report by Head of Policy (CA14).

This paper provides details of performance for quarter one for the Cabinet to consider. The report is required so that the Cabinet can monitor the performance of the Council in key service areas and be assured that progress is being made to improve areas where performance is below the expected level.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note and discuss the performance reported in the dashboards

Cabinet considered a report which provided details of performance for quarter one (2015/16) in order to monitor the performance of the Council in key service areas.

Councillor Brighouse, Chairman of the Performance Scrutiny Committee reported on the discussions held at a meeting of the Performance Scrutiny Committee on 24 September which had focussed on the challenges of meeting cuts already included in the budget. The main focus had been on adult social care with discussion on delayed transfer of care and the workforce strategy. Other matters had included the costs of children placed outside the County and coming into care; the low capital receipt being achieved; the level of income from the Ardley site and the role of school nurses in smoking cessation.

Councillor Rose in moving the recommendation advised that he would be looking into the indicator relating to fire station availability which currently was of little use.

RESOLVED:           following discussion to note the performance reported in the dashboards.

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/083

Contact: Sue Whitehead, Principal Committee Officer Tel: (01865) 810262

Report by Head of Law & Culture (CA15).

To report on a quarterly basis any executive decisions taken under the specific powers and functions delegated under the terms of Part 7.2 of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 6.3(c)(i).  It is not for scrutiny call in

RESOLVED: to note the executive decision taken by the Chief Executive under the specific powers and functions delegated to her under the terms ofPart 7.2 of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 6.3(c)(i). 

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Sue Whitehead, Committee Services Manager (01865 810262)

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.

The Cabinet considered a list of items for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet together with changes and additions set out in the schedule of addenda.

RESOLVED:to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

In the event that any Member or Officer wishes to discuss the information set out in the Annex to Item 18, the Cabinet will be invited to resolve to exclude the public for the consideration of that Annex by passing a resolution in relation to that item in the following terms:

"that the public be excluded during the consideration of the Annexes since it is likely that if they were present during that discussion 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 the item in the Agenda".

NOTE: The report does not contain exempt information and is available to the public. The exempt information is contained in the confidential annex.

THE ANNEX TO THE ITEM NAMED HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ BY MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THEM.

THIS IS FOR REASONS OF COMMERCIAL SENSITIVITY.

THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THE CONTENTS SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED WITH OTHERS AND NO COPIES SHOULD BE MADE.

Resolution not needed. Item taken in public although the annexes remain confidential.

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/063

Contact: Philippa Patterson, Major Capital Projects Programme Manager Tel: 07891 566051

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CA18).

The information contained in the annex is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

3.       Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, in that where a tender or bidding process is in progressdisclosure would prejudice the position of the authority in the process of the transaction and the Council’s standing generally in relation to such transactions in future, to the detriment of the Council’s ability properly to discharge its fiduciary and other duties as a public authority

Request for delegation to the Chief Finance Officer and Director for Environment & Economy in consultation with the Leader the authority to approve the Stage 2 Full Business Case and the award of the construction contract.

Didcot is planned to grow by c10,000 homes over the next 20 to 25 years. As part of this growth the Great Western Park (GWP) housing development has already provided c1,000 dwellings and is expected to accommodatec of these homes..  The GWP development  generates the need for two new primary schools (in addition to the expansion of a neighbouring school) and one secondary school (in addition to part of the need for the UTC secondary facility which is underway at the site)  to ensure that the council has a sufficient supply of school places to meet the demand from local families.  The first new primary school will open in September 2016, followed by the secondary school in 2017 and then the second new primary in 2018.

This report is concerned with the secondary school (Aureus School) which is required by September 2017 and will be an 11-16 co-educational facility providing 1,200 places.   This scheme has been procured from the EFA Contractors Framework via a Future Schools Agreement as the secondary school was cited as one of 4 non-sample schools when Oxfordshire UTC was procured. 

The S106 requires the developer to transfer to the County Council a school site on receipt of 6 months notice from the County Council.  This notice was issued to the developer on 5 April 2015 and it is anticipated that the land transfer will have taken place on 4 October 2015.

A full planning application was submitted in June 2015 and this was considered and  determined as a delegated decision on 30 September 2015.

This report is being submitted for Cabinet to enable the project to contractually commit with a capital budget provision of £21.671m to support the programme delivery timeframe to allow the school to open for September 2017.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          approve the Full Business Case for the proposed Aureus Secondary School at Great Western  ...  view the full agenda text for item 100/15

The information contained in the annex is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

3.       Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, in that where a tender or bidding process is in progressdisclosure would prejudice the position of the authority in the process of the transaction and the Council’s standing generally in relation to such transactions in future, to the detriment of the Council’s ability properly to discharge its fiduciary and other duties as a public authority

Cabinet considered a report seeking a delegation to the Chief Finance Officer and Director for Environment & Economy in consultation with the Leader to approve the Stage 2 Full Business Case and the award of the construction contract for an 11-16 co-educational school providing 1,200 places.

Councillor Nick Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance supported the recommendations and stressed that the school would be needed by September 2017. He asked that local members be kept informed of any problems.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)      in the event that the approval of the planning application for the secondary school  and the completion of the land transfer has yet to take place, delegate to the Chief Finance Officer and Director for Environment & Economy in consultation with the Leader the authority to approve the Full Business Case; and

(b)       delegate to the Chief Finance Officer and Director for Environment & Economy in consultation with the Leader the authority to award the Design & Build contract.