Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Phillips.

- guidance note below

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2023 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

See Annex.

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection. 

To facilitate ‘hybrid’ meetings we are asking that requests to speak or present a petition are submitted by no later than 9am four working days before the meeting i.e., 9am on <<DATE>>.  Requests to speak should be sent to colm.ocaomhanaigh@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that your views are taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

6 Cabinet response to report from People Overview and Scrutiny Committee– Home to School Transport Working Group

Annalisa Miller

Jo Evelyn

10 Air Quality Strategy

Peter West

Report by the Corporate Director for Children’s Services and the Corporate Director for Environment and Place

In February 2022 the authority set up a Home to School Transport Working Group to review OCC’s School Transport policies and to make recommendations to People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Committee received that report on 30 March 2023 and they in turn provided a report for Cabinet’s consideration on 18 April 2023. This report considers in detail each recommendation

RECOMMENDATION

The Cabinet is recommended to approve the approaches presented in paragraph 7 of the report.

Cabinet had before it a report and recommendations from the Home to School Transport Working Group which had been established to consider:-

(a)            the Home to School Transport Policy and the options for any changes to the policy;

(b)            the impact on carbon emissions of any change in policy;

(c)             the equalities implications of any changes

The provision of Home to School Transport for eligible children was a statutory duty for local authorities. The Council determines and reviews its policy that applies to providing home to school transport for children of compulsory school age and also its Post 16 transport policy statement that applies to young people of sixth form age.

Jo Evans addressed the Cabinet regarding concerns on the future proposals for the “Spare Seats” scheme.  Ms Evans considered that the proposals were not sustainable in the long term and referred to examples where the alternative provision proposed by certain schools were inadequate and unaffordable for the families affected.

Annalisa Miller also addressed the Cabinet on the proposals in the report.  Ms Miller expressed concerns that the report did not provide details of specific costs of the “spare seats” scheme and savings that would be achieved by the changes to the policy.

The Executive Director (People) responded to the comments made by the members of the public.  He explained that the reforms to the policies concerning school transport would take time to progress and would take into account the needs of specific families. He gave an assurance that there would be ongoing discussions to find suitable solutions in individual cases.

The Chair thanked Cllr Graham and members of the Working Group for their report and recommendations.  She referred to the need for ongoing work to review these recommendations and the Council’s future policies on school transport taking into the issues affecting specific schools. 

Councillor Brighouse, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, also responded to concerns expressed by residents and said that she recognised that communications on the changes to the “Spare seats” scheme had caused concern for number of families. She reiterated that the Council was working hard to identify solutions affecting those families, particularly in two specific schools where alternative transport provision was being considered.

Councillor Andy Graham, Chair of the Working Group, addressed the Cabinet and referred to the immediate short-term issues that had been identified in this review, particularly concerning certain schools.  He suggested that the Cabinet would need to consider the wider longer-term issues in discission with local transport providers.

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Gant seconded the recommendations in the report,  and they were approved.

RESOLVED to approve the recommendations of the Home to School Transport Working Group set out in paragraph 7 of the report.

Cabinet will receive the following Scrutiny report:-

-        Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee of the Future of Retail and the High Street

Councillor Kieron Mallon, Chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, introduced the report “Future of the Retail Sector and the High Street” which summarised the Committee’s consideration of the issues affecting the local economy and the creation new retail sector job opportunities in the County.

The Committee received presentations from the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP). the Banbury Business Improvement District (Banbury BID) and officers from the Council and agreed recommendations which Councillor Mallon outlined. 

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, thanked the Scrutiny Committee for its work and referred to the Council’s objectives for area travel plans included within the Transport and Connectivity Plan, which would seek to encourage the regeneration of town centres and retail sites.  He suggested that the report should be shared with the District Councils in the County to assist with ongoing joint working on these initiatives.

Cabinet will formally respond to the Scrutiny Committee in due course.

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/050

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Head of Financial Strategy, Kathy.Wilcox@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Finance (CA8)

To note and seek agreement of the report and any recommendations.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    agree the virements in Annex 1a and supplementary estimate request in Annex 1c and note the virements in Annex 1b.

b)    note the additional one-off funding of £5.0m in 2023/24, notified since the budget was agreed by Council on 14 February 2023.

c)    noting the inflation and demand pressures contributing to the forecast overspend of £14.4m set out in the Business Management & Monitoring Report to Cabinet in March 2023, agree to top up general balances to the 2023/24 risk assessed level of £30.2m depending on the year end position for 2022/23. 

d)    agree to transfer the remaining additional funding expected for 2023/24 to the corporate contingency budget.

e)    agree the update to High Needs DSG budgets following the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s approval of the transfer of £2.3m funding from the Schools Block to High Needs.

Cabinet had before it a report which set out details of funding notified to the Council since the 2023/24 budget was agreed as well as other changes and risks which would need to be managed in 2023/24 and in the context of the Medium Term Financial Strategy. It also included an update on funding for the Early Intervention programme which was part of the 2023/24 budget for High Needs.

Councillor Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report.  He highlighted the additional funding which provided an overall improvement in the Council’s financial position and outlined how these funds would be allocated and the virements proposed in the report.

Councillor Miller moved and Councillor Brighouse seconded he recommendations in the report, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to

a)    agree the virements in Annex 1a and supplementary estimate request in Annex 1c and note the virements in Annex 1b.

b)    note the additional one-off funding of £5.0m in 2023/24, notified since the budget was agreed by Council on 14 February 2023.

c)    noting the inflation and demand pressures contributing to the forecast overspend of £14.4m set out in the Business Management & Monitoring Report to Cabinet in March 2023, agree to top up general balances to the 2023/24 risk assessed level of £30.2m depending on the year end position for 2022/23. 

d)    agree to transfer the remaining additional funding expected for 2023/24 to the corporate contingency budget.

e)    agree the update to High Needs DSG budgets following the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s approval of the transfer of £2.3m funding from the Schools Block to High Needs.

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/081

Contact:Susannah Wintersgill, Director Strategy, Insight & Communications, susannah.wintersgill@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA9).

Paper setting out final arrangements for engagement.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)            Note the progress set out in the report below.

(b)            Note the feedback from the stakeholder meetings held during April and May (annex 1).

(c)             Amend the seven strategic priorities following stakeholder feedback as set out in paragraph 16 below.

(d)            Agree the approach to the second phase of public engagement as set out in annex 2.

Cabinet had before it a report which provided an update on work underway, feedback from stakeholder meetings held to date and the plans for the second phase of public engagement regarding the use of a parcel of land known as ‘Land to East of Frieze Way / South of Kidlington Roundabout or the triangle’ for the development of a new stadium for Oxford United Football Club (OUFC).

Councillor Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report. He referred, in particular, to current progress with the project, the  feedback from stakeholder meetings held to date and the plans for the second phase of public engagement.

Councillor Miller moved and Councillor Sudbury seconded the recommendations,  and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

(a)            note the progress set out in the report below.

(b)            note the feedback from the stakeholder meetings held during April and May 2023 (annex 1).

(c)             amend the seven strategic priorities following stakeholder feedback as set out in paragraph 15 below.

(d)            agree the approach to the second phase of public engagement as set out in annex 2.

Cabinet Members: Travel & Development Strategy; Climate Change Delivery & Environment; Highway Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/051

Contacts: Joe Kay, Strategic Transport Lead, joseph.kay@oxfordshire.gov.uk; Katharine Eveleigh, Health Improvement Practitioner, katharine.eveleigh@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA10).

To seek approval of the OCC Air Quality Strategy.

Cabinet are RECOMMENDED to

Approve the Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Strategy and Route Map for launch on Clean Air Day (15^th June 2023). 

Cabinet had before it a report which provided an overview of the Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Strategy. It summarised the background to the strategy, development process and content of the strategy.

Peter West addressed the Cabinet and referred to Item 31 of the “Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Strategy Route Map” which stated  that the council should: “work with a range of data sources to understand the air quality impacts of LTNs and take action to mitigate any negative impacts identified.” He considered that the council did not understand the implications of the negative impacts or chose to ignore them.

Mr West gave a number of examples including the Cowley and East Oxford LTNs and in Headington where illegal NO2 levels on roads adjacent to LTNs were not being taken into account by the Council and said that that air quality monitors had been installed in the wrong places. Mr West asked that Council respond to his questions which raised concerns that the objectives within the Council’s Air Quality Strategy was not being applied in certain of its projects.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, introduced the report.  He referred to the importance of public health as key priority within the Council’s policies and outlined how the Air Quality Strategy would be a key element in delivering these objectives.

During discussion, members made the following points:-

·       The Council was not ignoring air quality monitoring data.  The results of data collection exercises would form part of report for full consideration by the Cabinet in due course

·       The Headington LTN scheme was not being progressed at the current time.

·       The Council recognised issues concerning air quality in specific areas of the County due to traffic congestion

·       The Air Quality Strategy would help deliver transport and place planning policies across the County

·       The importance of working with partners including district councils and community initiatives

Councillor Sudbury moved and Councillor O’Connor seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to approve the Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Strategy and Route Map for launch on Clean Air Day (15^th June 2023). 

Cabinet Member: Climate Change Delivery & Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/049

Contact: Beccy Micklem, Principal Biodiversity Officer, beccy.micklem@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA11).

To approve Oxfordshire County Council’s acceptance of its appointment as Responsible Authority for the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy, subject to the associated funding being considered by officers as sufficient and the Regulations and Guidance implementable and approve the Governance Structure for the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    note Oxfordshire County Council’s anticipated appointment as Responsible Authority for the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy

b)    approve the Governance Structure for the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Cabinet had before it a report on the proposed governance structure for the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)

The Environment Act 2021 introduced a requirement to produce Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS). LNRS would be spatial strategies that establish priorities and map proposals for specific actions to drive nature’s recovery and provide wider environmental benefits.

The County of Oxfordshire had been identified as a geographical area for an LNRS, and Oxfordshire County Council had accepted a nomination from the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to be the provisional Responsible Authority to lead production of the Oxfordshire LNRS in March 2022. The Council expected to be formally appointed Responsible Authority in May 2023.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment introduced the report.  He paid tribute to the work of Beccy Micklem, Principal Biodiversity Officer, in developing this strategy and commented, in particular on the joint working with partners and the financial provision.

Members welcomed the introduction of the LNRS and, during discussion, the following points were made:-

·       There would be a need to ensure ongoing financial provision in the long term

·       The strategy would have a significant impact on a range of Council policies

·       The importance of the natural environment and biodiversity in Oxfordshire and the opportunity for the Council, as lead authority, to work with a range of partners in delivering positive outcomes from the strategy

·       There should be more involvement from schools in the delivery of the strategy, particularly in view of their land assets

·       The Council should consider other types of engagement including organisations such as the Universities

Councillor Sudbury moved and Councillor Gant seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    note Oxfordshire County Council’s anticipated appointment as Responsible Authority for the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy

b)    approve the Governance Structure for the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/221

Contact: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh, Committee Officer, 07393 001096

Report by Director of Law & Governance (CA12).

To consider member appointments to a variety of bodies which in different ways support the discharge of the Council’s Executive functions.

RECOMMENDATION

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the appointments to the bodies

set out in the Annex to this report.

Cabinet had before it a report recommending member appointments to a variety of bodies which, in different ways, supported the discharge of the Council’s executive functions. The report reflected the basis on which appointments to the respective bodies had been made in the past and, subject to any adjustments that may be considered appropriate, invited the Cabinet to agree arrangements for filling the councillor places on those bodies

Councillor Leffman moved and Councillor Sudbury seconded the amended recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to agree the appointments to the bodies set out in the Annex

to the report subject to the following amendments:-

a)    Future Oxfordshire Partnership Infrastructure Advisory Group – the appointee should read Duncan Enright instead of Liz Leffman” Councillor Leffman was Chair of the Advisory Group and therefore a member of the Group in that capacity. Councillor Enright would take the position of OCC representative.

b)    Additional appointment – “Champion for Future Generations” – Cllr

Charlie Hicks.

c)     “Champion for Mental Health and Loneliness” - to be appointed.

d)    County Councils Network – Cllr Michael O’Connor to replace Cllr Mark Lygo

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/005

Contact: Belinda Dimmock-Smith, Capital Programme Manager, belinda.dimmocksmith@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Finance (CA13).

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)                      approve the revised budget provision of £11.2m for Wantage Eastern Link Road (Section 3).

b)                      approve the addition £2.7m road safety works in the vicinity of RAF Barford St John and RAF Croughton to the capital programme.

c)                      approve the addition of £4.0m of the £5.0m pipeline funding agreed in February 2023 to the capital programme to support the Vision Zero Delivery Programme.

d)                      approve the revised budget provision of £23.1m for the delivery of the new secondary school at Grove Airfield.

e)                      approve the revised budget provision of £9.3m for the completion of works at Blessed George Napier School, Banbury.

f)                        approve the addition of £0.8m to the programme to create an Energy Efficiency Recycling Fund for Oxfordshire County Council Maintained Schools.

Cabinet had before it a report setting out change requests requiring Cabinet approval that would be incorporated into the agreed programme and included in the next update to the Capital Programme in July 2023.   

Councillor Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report and explained the reasons for the proposed changes to the capital programme.

Councillor Miller moved, Councillor Sudbury seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    approve the revised budget provision of £11.2m for Wantage Eastern Link Road (Section 3).

b)    approve the addition £2.7m road safety works in the vicinity of RAF Barford St John and RAF Croughton to the capital programme.

c)    approve the addition of £4.0m of the £5.0m pipeline funding agreed in February 2023 to the capital programme to support the Vision Zero Delivery Programme.

d)    approve the revised budget provision of £23.1m for the delivery of the new secondary school at Grove Airfield.

e)    approve the revised budget provision of £9.3m for the completion of works at Blessed George Napier School, Banbury.

f)      approve the addition of £0.8m to the programme to create an Energy Efficiency Recycling Fund for Oxfordshire County Council Maintained Schools.

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh, Committee Officer Tel: 07393 001096

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 CA 14.  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.

Cabinet Member: Travel & Development Strategy

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/012

Contact: Abdul Waraich, Project Manager,

abdul.wairaich@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA15).

NB Annex A is published as a Supplementary Document due to its size.

To seek approval of the Statement of Reason and Orders, subject to delegation to officers and to make the Statutory Orders.

The information in this case is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed categories:

2. Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

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.

Annex B containing exempt information under the above paragraph is attached.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Confirm that the acquisition of the land identified on the map attached to this report (Annex B) (“the Order Map”) being the map accompanying The Oxfordshire County Council (Highways Infrastructure – A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 (“the CPO”) is necessary for highway purposes;

b)    Approve the CPO, the Order Map, The Oxfordshire County Council (Highways Infrastructure – A40 Access to Witney) (Side Roads) Order 2023 (“the SRO”), the plan accompanying the SRO (“SRO Plan”) all substantially in the form annexed to this report but to delegate to the Director of Transport and Infrastructure following consultation with the Director of Law & Governance, authority to modify them as necessary;

c)    Authorise the Director of Law & Governance to make The Oxfordshire County Council (Highways Infrastructure – A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 pursuant to Sections 239, 240, 246 and 260 of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) and Part II and III of Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 for the purpose of acquiring the land and interests shown on the Order Map and described in the Schedule to the CPO (or such lesser area of land should this in his opinion be appropriate) to facilitate the improvement of the A40 by the construction of two new west facing slip roads and other necessary related highway improvement works and mitigation on such land and to affix the Common Seal of the Council to the CPO and to the Order Map;

d)    Authorise the Director of Law & Governance to make The Oxfordshire County Council (Highways Infrastructure – A40 Access to Witney) (Side Roads) Order 2023 pursuant to Section 14 of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) to enable the stopping up of highways and the alteration and improvement of existing highways, and giving authority to the acquisition of necessary land pursuant to the CPO and to affix the Common Seal of the Council to the SRO and to the SRO Plan;

e)    Authorise the Director of Law & Governance to remove from the CPO any plot (or interest therein) no longer required to be acquired compulsorily, to amend the interests scheduled in the CPO (if so advised) and to request that the Secretary  ...  view the full agenda text for item 71/23

Cabinet had before it a report recommending approval of a Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order for the Access to Witney traffic scheme.

The scheme would provide new west-facing slip roads onto the A40 at Shores Green and new walking and cycling facilities on the B4022 and alongside the A40. The benefits included reduced traffic flow, reduced traffic delays and improved air quality within Witney town centre, improved connectivity, enhancements to active travel provision and safety, and support for residential and economic development in Witney. 

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, introduced the report.  He gave examples of the benefits that would be delivered from the scheme  and answered a number of members’ questions.

During discussion, members welcomed the introduction of the scheme and the positive outcomes that would be realised for communities in Witney.

RESOLVED to:

a)    Confirm that the acquisition of the land identified on the map attached to this report (Annex B) (“the Order Map”) being the map accompanying The Oxfordshire County Council (Highways Infrastructure – A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 (“the CPO”) is necessary for highway purposes;

b)    Approve the CPO, the Order Map, The Oxfordshire County Council (Highways Infrastructure – A40 Access to Witney) (Side Roads) Order 2023 (“the SRO”), the plan accompanying the SRO (“SRO Plan”) all substantially in the form annexed to this report but to delegate to the Director of Transport and Infrastructure following consultation with the Director of Law & Governance, authority to modify them as necessary;

c)    Authorise the Director of Law & Governance to make The Oxfordshire County Council (Highways Infrastructure – A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 pursuant to Sections 239, 240, 246 and 260 of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) and Part II and III of Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 for the purpose of acquiring the land and interests shown on the Order Map and described in the Schedule to the CPO (or such lesser area of land should this in his opinion be appropriate) to facilitate the improvement of the A40 by the construction of two new west facing slip roads and other necessary related highway improvement works and mitigation on such land and to affix the Common Seal of the Council to the CPO and to the Order Map;

d)    Authorise the Director of Law & Governance to make The Oxfordshire County Council (Highways Infrastructure – A40 Access to Witney) (Side Roads) Order 2023 pursuant to Section 14 of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) to enable the stopping up of highways and the alteration and improvement of existing highways, and giving authority to the acquisition of necessary land pursuant to the CPO and to affix the Common Seal of the Council to the SRO and to the SRO Plan;

e)    Authorise the Director of Law & Governance to remove from the CPO any plot (or interest therein) no longer required to be acquired compulsorily, to amend the interests scheduled  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71/23