Meeting documents
County Council
Tuesday, 21 June 2005
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To All Members of the County Council Notice of a Meeting of the CouncilTuesday 21 June 2005 at 10.00 am County Hall, Oxford
Contact officer: Marion Holyman (Tel: 01865 810177; E-mail) AGENDA
To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2005 (CC1) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.
To make any changes in membership of the Cabinet, scrutiny and other committees on the nomination of political groups.
Prior to Council on 17 May 2005, the Cabinet was known as the Executive. References to ‘the Cabinet’ below should be read to include ‘the Executive’. In relation to Part 1, item 6 (County Council Energy Management Policy), the Cabinet RECOMMENDS Council to agree the inclusion in the Capital Programme in 2005/06 of energy conservation expenditure totalling £0.2m, funded from Prudential Funding. In relation to Part 1, item 8 (Use of Prudential Funding for Repairs and Maintenance), the Cabinet RECOMMENDS Council to agree the inclusion in the Capital Programme of additional property maintenance expenditure totalling £25m over the period 2005/06 to 2010/11 funded from Prudential Funding. In relation to Part 1, item 14 (Food Law Enforcement Service Plan), the Cabinet RECOMMENDS Council to approve the Food Law Enforcement Service Plan, as comprised in the Trading Standards Service and Performance Plan, for submission to the Food Standards Agency. In relation to Part 2, item 15 (Oxfordshire Plan/Best Value Performance Plan and Programme), the Cabinet RECOMMENDS the Council, subject to completion of the document with the outstanding BVPI outturn and target information as indicated, to approve the Plan for publication by 30 June 2005. In relation to Part 2, item 17 (Financial Monitoring), the Cabinet RECOMMENDS the Council to approve the virement of £0.200m from the budget for Early Education Funding for 3 & 4 Year Olds to a Foundation Stage Investment fund in the Capital Programme. In relation to Part 2, item 18 (Local Transport Plan 2006-11), subject to any further editorial amendments appearing to the Director for Environment & Economy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport to be necessary to ensure compliance with Department of Transport requirements, the Cabinet RECOMMENDS the Council to approve the Provisional Local Transport Plan, including the Provisional Bus Strategy, for submission by 31 July 2005. In relation to Part 2, item 19 (Future of Children’s Services and Related Organisational Change), the Cabinet RECOMMENDS the Council to endorse the re-designation of the Director for Learning & Culture as Director of Children’s Services, and of the Director for Social & Health Care as Director of Adult Social Services, with responsibilities to be defined as outlined, and authorise the consequential amendment of the Constitution to reflect their changed roles when the necessary organisational changes are introduced. Copies
of the Food Law Enforcement Service Plan, Oxfordshire Plan/Best Value
Performance Plan and Programme, and Local Transport Plan 2006-11 and
Bus Strategy are being circulated as separate documents and are available
for public inspection at County Hall.
The Head of Democratic Services reports as follows: The schedule of meeting dates proposed for the 2006/07 Council year is attached for approval (CC9) (download as .pdf file). The schedule has been drawn up to reflect the various rules regarding frequency of meetings set out in the Council’s Constitution and generally follows the pattern of meetings agreed for the current year. The schedule was circulated for comment to political groups and directorates prior to the election and the points raised were discussed at a meeting of Group Leaders immediately after the election. This process has resulted in some minor amendments to the Audit Committee dates. Another issue raised was whether meetings – especially of full Council – should be held only during school term time. Three Council meetings in the schedule would fall within the agreed school holidays: those in April 2006 (agreed as part of the current year’s timetable) and 2007; and the budget meeting in February 2007. The last-mentioned is time-critical, and officers have to recommend against any change. The April meetings could if desired be advanced by a week in each case to avoid the following holiday, and the relevant provision in the Constitution amended accordingly. The Council is RECOMMENDED:
To receive the report of the Monitoring Officer (CC10) on the work over the last four years of the Standards Committee.
Motions with Notice from Members of the Council
"This Council welcomes the introduction of free local bus travel for people aged 60 and over after 9.30 am on weekdays and all day at weekends, as announced by Gordon Brown in his March 2005 budget, because this has the potential to help Oxfordshire County Council to meet the objectives of the Local Transport Plan especially in respect of congestion. Therefore this Council calls upon the Government to fully fund free local bus travel for the over 60s as referred to in the first paragraph so that none of the cost will fall on Council Tax."
"Council believes that the Conservative Party’s manifesto proposals to make on-street car parking free in Oxford City during evenings and weekends represent a retrograde step in the light of the facts that:
"This Council informs the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust that their proposals to close four Day Hospitals for Older People are not considered acceptable unless or until funded provision is in place to fully meet the needs of current and future users and carers in each of the four towns affected."
Councillors Marilyn Badcock, Michael Badcock, Roger Belson, Billington, Norman Bolster, Iain Brown, Louise Chapman, Jim Couchman, Tony Crabbe, John Farrow, Mrs Catherine Fulljames, Patrick Greene, Sue Haffenden, Timothy Hallchurch MBE, David Harvey, Steve Hayward, Hilary Hibbert-Biles, Mrs Rosemarie Higham, John Howell, Ian Hudspeth, Ray Jelf, Colin Lamont, Kieron Mallon, G A Reynolds, David Robertson, Rodney Rose, Don Seale, Bill Service, C H Shouler, Dr Peter Skolar, Lawrie Stratford, Melinda Tilley, Nicholas P Turner, Carol Viney and Michael Waine "In the light of the change in control following the elections on 5 May 2005, Council resolves:
"Council acknowledges the need for the regeneration of the area referred to as Oxford West End. Council welcomes, therefore, the preparation by David Lock Associates for the client group comprising Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and South East England Development Agency of an Area Development Framework (ADF) for the West End which combines a design concept, a set of development principles and Supporting Papers intended to provide guidance on the preparation and implementation of the Area Action Plan (AAP). Council notes with approval the emphasis in the development principles for the West End to be accessible and permeable, to ensure easy access to and through the area, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists; and for there to be a new bus facility adjacent to the redeveloped Westgate Centre. Council further notes that the successful implementation of the regeneration of the West End and the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre is dependent upon the resolution of a number of transport issues. Council regrets that the Supporting Paper for transport highlights issues to be addressed but fails to identify solutions. Council regards the following as essential elements of acceptable solutions:
Accordingly, Council calls on the developers and the bus companies, working with the Highway Authority and the Local Planning Authority, to specify clearly practical solutions to the transport issues identified in the transport Supporting Paper as part of any planning application for the Westgate Centre as well as for the eventual Area Action Plan for the West End. Additionally, Council supports the principle of investigation with land-owners and British Waterways the feasibility of re-instating the canal basin on the site of the Worcester Street car park. Council supports the principles in the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016 that developments in the West End shall: optimise energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources; make appropriate provision of community infrastructure facilities for education, health and recreation for new residents where new and affordable housing is provided; and strengthen and diversify the cultural life of the city centre."
"In order to prevent people from sustaining serious injuries and fatalities when attempting to jump into the river Cherwell, this Council considers that it would probably be wise to close Magdalen Bridge on May Day, this special day of celebration. Council therefore invites the Cabinet to ask the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee to review the subject, with a view to arriving at a solution to the problem of needless injury, with the positive co-operation of all parties concerned."
"This Council notes that, on a motion from former Councillor Andrew Brown, the Council in January 2004 called for work to be done to make the Council’s services and staff more accessible to members of the public. This Council requests the Cabinet to ensure the speedy production of an up-to-date internal phone book, indexed by job description rather than by job title."
"This Council is shocked and horrified at the tragic loss of young lives and horrific injuries incurred in the recent accident on Oxford’s Eastern Bypass. This Council sends the heartfelt condolences of all members to the families and friends of all victims of the accident and resolves to request the Cabinet to arrange for the installation of a central barrier on the stretch of road concerned, without delay."
"This Council acknowledges the essential part played by education in the work to reduce re-use and recycle waste. The work of the Wild Waste Show has played a significant role in educating both children and their parents in Oxfordshire, yet its funding for future years is not secure. Council therefore agrees:
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