Agenda and decisions

Cabinet - Tuesday, 19 September 2023 11.00 am

Venue: Room 2&3 - County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND. View directions

Contact: Chris Reynolds  Tel: 07542 029441; E-Mail:  chris.reynolds@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Link: video link https://oxon.cc/Cabinet19092023

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

2.

Declarations of Interest

- guidance note below

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 344 KB

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

4.

Questions from County Councillors

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working days before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the Cabinet’s delegated powers.

 

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

 

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

5.

Petitions and Public Address

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. 13 September 2023.  Requests to speak should be sent to committeesdemocraticservices@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.

Appointments

7.

Proposal from Oxford United Football Club to Oxfordshire County Council as Landowner - September 2023 pdf icon PDF 557 KB

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/173

Contact: Vic Kurzeja, Director of Property, vic.kurzeja@oxfordshire.gov.uk; Susannah Wintersgill, Director of Communications, Strategy and Insight, susannah.wintersgill@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Chief Executive (CA7)  

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

 

(a)            Note the feedback from the stakeholder engagement exercise undertaken in April and May 2023 (set out in Annex 2) and the public engagement exercise undertaken between 9 June and 23 July 2023 (set out in Annex 3).

 

(b)            Agree to proceed with a freehold sale of the land located to the east of Frieze Way / south of Kidlington roundabout known as the Triangle, based on the heads of terms which are being negotiated with Oxford United Football Club (OUFC).

The freehold sale of the land would be subject to:

·                 the receipt of planning consent and the production by OUFC of a net zero carbon plan, fully costed with clear timescales and outcomes, from design, construction and full operation of the stadium

·                 restrictive covenants to ensure that the land remains limited to use for stadium and sport purposes in perpetuity.

(c)             Agree that any capital receipt arising from a freehold sale would be used for the benefit of the local community.

(d)            Delegate authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, to negotiate and agree the final heads of terms, which would be substantially in accordance with the details set out in Annex 5 (exempt).

(e)            Delegate authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer, to conclude negotiations with the club and complete all necessary legal documentation for the sale.

 

(f)              Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to write to the club to outline requirements relating to the net zero carbon plan (set out in b above) and details of the restrictive covenants.

 

 

 

Final decision on whether Oxford United Football Club can acquire council-owned land at the Triangle to develop a new football stadium. Report on the feedback from the public engagement exercise undertaken in June and July 2023.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Recommendations amended and approved as follows:

 

(a)            Note the feedback from the stakeholder engagement exercise undertaken in April and May 2023 (set out in Annex 2) and the public engagement exercise undertaken between 9 June and 23 July 2023 (set out in Annex 3).

 

(b)            Accept the report from the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

(c)            Agree to proceed with a leasehold disposal of the land located to the east of Frieze Way/south of Kidlington roundabout known as the Triangle, based on the heads of terms which are to be negotiated with Oxford United Football Club (OUFC).

 

The leasehold disposal would be subject to:

i.             The receipt of planning consent

ii.           The production by OUFC of a net zero carbon plan [fully costed with clear timescales and outcomes, from design, construction and full operation of the stadium]

iii.          A clear and detailed set of proposals that show how OUFC will meet the commitments made to date to meet the Council’s strategic priorities to the satisfaction of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property

iv.         Obtaining a best value assessment of the leasehold disposal in accordance with the requirements of s123 Local Government Act 1972

v.           Restrictive covenants to ensure that the land remains limited to use for stadium and sports purposes for the term of the lease

 

(d)            Delegate authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, to negotiate and agree the final heads of terms

 

(e)            Delegate authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer, to conclude negotiations with the club and complete all necessary legal documentation for the leasehold disposal

 

(f)              Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to write to the club to outline requirements relating to the net zero carbon plan, a clear and detailed set of proposals and details of the restrictive covenants set out in (c) above.

 

8.

Report findings by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) pdf icon PDF 249 KB

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader including Children, Education & Young People’s Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/223

Contact: Jane Mumford, Interim Head of SEND jane.mumford@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Corporate Director for Children’s Services (CA8).

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

i)                 Note the findings of the Ombudsman’s investigation;

ii)               Note the procedures when consulting for new education placements for children with Education, Health, and Care plans; and to

iii)              Consider whether additional actions are presently needed to improve the timely completion of Education, Health, and Care plans.

 

Decision:

Recommendations approved.

 

9.

Time for Change: Improving Educational Opportunity for All Oxfordshire's Children and Young People - A report by the Oxfordshire Education Commission (TO FOLLOW)

Report by Corporate Director for Children’s Services

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to accept the main findings and recommendations of the Education Commission.

Decision:

Recommendations approved.

 

10.

Reports from Scrutiny Committees (TO FOLLOW)

Cabinet will receive the following Scrutiny reports:-

Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on LGA Peer Review on Comms

Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Consultation and Engagement Strategy

Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Business Transformation Programme

Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on  EDI Strategy and Action Plan

Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Workforce Strategy

Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Workforce Report and Data Q4 2022/23

Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Proposal from Oxford United Football Club to Oxfordshire County Council as Landowner (this report will be considered if available for this meeting)

 

 

11.

Business Management & Monitoring Report - July 2023 pdf icon PDF 339 KB

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/132

Contact: Louise Tustian, Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes, louise.tustian@oxfordshire.gov.uk / Kathy Wilcox, Head of Financial Strategy, kathy.wilcox@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Chief Executive / Director of Finance (CA11 ).

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

 

a) note the report and annexes.

b) approve the virement in Annex 2a.

c) note the use of £0.5m one – off funding (over the next two years) held in the COVID-19 reserve to further extend capacity needed within the Complaints and Freedom of Information (FOI) team within the Customer Service Centre.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

The recommendations were approved with an amendment shown in bold:

 

a)              note the report and annexes.

b)              approve the virement in Annex B-2a.

c)               note the use of £0.5m one – off funding (over the next two years) held in the COVID-19 reserve to further extend capacity needed within the Complaints and Freedom of Information (FOI) team within the Customer Service Centre.

 

12.

Capital Programme Approvals - September 2023 pdf icon PDF 229 KB

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/126

Contact: Natalie Crawford, Capital Programme Manager, natalie.crawford@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Director of Finance (CA12 ).

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

 

a)    approve the release of the £1m approved budget to complete Stage 0 of the Didcot Central Corridors South and Vale Programme.

b)    approve the release of £1.55m to progress with Stage 1 of the expanded Zero Emission Zone scheme and to approve the forward funding of £0.55m from the Budget Priority Reserve.

c)     approve a budget increase of £1.495m to a revised budget of £6.99m for Benson Relief Road to enable implementation of construction work, funded from additional S106 contributions and Growth Deal Funding and to forward fund the scheme in advance of secured S106 contributions.

d)    agree a revised budget of £24.1m to the A44 Corridor Improvements between and including Peartree to Cassington Road roundabout, an additional £4.1m funded from Growth Deal as detailed in paragraph 13.

e)    agree the inclusion of £0.95m for a programme of works into the Capital Programme, to upgrade two Gypsy and Traveller sites (utility buildings), funded from the agreed capital proposals (February 2023) in earmarked reserves.

 

Decision:

Recommendations approved.

 

13.

Pan-regional partnership for the Oxford-Cambridge area pdf icon PDF 325 KB

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/227

Contact: Robin Rogers, Programme Director (Partnerships & Delivery), robin.rogers@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Chief Executive (CA13).

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to confirm that the County Council will be a participant in the pan-regional partnership for the Oxford to Cambridge area

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Recommendations approved

 

14.

Household Waste Recycling Centre Strategy 2023 - 2043 pdf icon PDF 468 KB

Cabinet Member: Climate Change Delivery & Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/205

Contact: Rachel Burns, Waste Strategy Manager, rachel.burns@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA14 ).

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the Household Waste Recycling Centre Strategy 2023-2043

 

Decision:

Recommendations approved

 

15.

Local Aggregate Assessment for 2022 pdf icon PDF 271 KB

Cabinet Member: Climate Change Delivery & Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/207

Contact: Charlotte Simms, Minerals and Waste Local Plan Principal Officer

 

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA15).

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

 

a.     Approve the Local Aggregate Assessment presented in Annex 2;

 

b.    Authorise the Corporate Director of Environment and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment to review and publish Oxfordshire’s Recycled and Secondary Aggregate findings for 2022 once complete;

 

c.     Authorise the Corporate Director of Environment and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment to make any revisions and publish the Oxfordshire Local Aggregate Assessment for the calendar year 2022 on the Council website.

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Recommendations approved.

16.

Proposal to dispose of Rewley Road site pdf icon PDF 227 KB

Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member for Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/238

Contact: Vic Kurzeja: Director of Property & Services

vic.kurzeja@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Director of Property Services

 

 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to 

 

 

a.      Agree to the disposal of the Rewley Road site, as set out in exempt Annex 1, subject to negotiating and agreeing final heads of terms.

b.     Delegate authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, to negotiate and agree the final heads of terms which will be substantially in accordance with the details set out in exempt Annex 1.

c.     Delegate authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer, to conclude negotiations and complete all necessary legal documentation and any other steps necessary to implement the scheme as set out in the report.

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Recommendations approved.

17.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire & Rescue Service Property and Emergency Response Strategy for Oxford City and Carterton. pdf icon PDF 396 KB

Cabinet Member: Community Services & Safety

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/175

Contact: Matt Cook, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, matt.cook@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Assistant Chief Fire Officer (CA17).

 

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the Property and Emergency Response Strategy for Oxford City and Carterton

 

 

Decision:

Recommendations approved.

 

18.

Forward Plan and Future Business pdf icon PDF 274 KB

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.  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.