Agenda item

Councillor Phillips had given notice of the following question to Councillor Hibbert-Biles:

“The community based sexual health services in East Oxford are currently open 2 hours a day for 4 days a week. Given that a lot has been made of sexual health services provision improving under the management of the County Council can I be advised when community based services in Oxford City will be at the level provided by the NHS which was for an average of 6 hours a day for 6 days a week.”

Councillor Hibbert-Biles replied:

‘The site that is located in East Oxford is a new location opened to provide services at the beginning of July 2014 as part of a network of locations for services delivered by our provider across the County. It was agreed with the providers that as the clinic was a new site that the clinic would open in a “soft launch” to allow services in the clinic to settle in. It is planned that the clinic will have increase opening times from October which will provide increased access to the public from this location. The integrated service also delivers services in Oxford a short distance away at the Churchill Hospital site. The Churchill clinic provides access to extensive services six days a week for those who wish to access them. Both sites in Oxford now provide both Contraceptive & Sexual Health and Sexual Transmitted Infection testing & treatment which is a more comprehensive range of services than was previously available at the previous community site in East Oxford under the NHS which only delivered Contraception services.’

Supplementary: Councillor Phillips asked for information on the increased opening times and queried whether they will be open on a Saturday? It was agreed that Councillor Hibbert Biles would provide a written answer.

Councillor Phillips had given notice of the following question to Councillor Lindsay-Gale:

“The Service & Resource Planning 2015/16 document shows that the School Music Service will lose all its County Council funding by April 2017. Comprehensive analysis has been undertaken by officers and external consultants looking at the organisational options for this much valued service. Please advise when a decision about the organisational  status can be expected given that this decision is crucial when applying for funding from other sources?”  

Councillor Lindsay-Gale replied:

‘Following very detailed analysis of the Oxfordshire Music Service and it’s role as the lead partner in the Oxfordshire Music Education Hub by the Head of the Music Service, supported by officers in the County Council in the areas of H.R. Finance and Legal Services, the Music Service has developed a strong business plan for the next two years which is currently under discussion with senior officers in the Children, Education & Families Directorate.

The planning is aimed to increase efficiencies within the service, maximise and diversify income streams and streamline business practices in order to greatly reduce, and eventually eliminate, the need for regular revenue support from the County Council.

This process can currently be achieved within the Oxfordshire County Council framework; however, the Music Service will be supported by the directorate towards more independent working and is, for example, currently examining options for a new Management Information System that will greatly enhance business efficiency and customer interfaces.

There is currently no active process of privatisation or externalisation, but as the Music Service demonstrates its capacity to manage as a business unit with increasing independence from the County Council this position can and will be reconsidered.’

Supplementary: Asked whether the intention was still that all Council funding would be withdrawn by 2017 Councillor Lindsay-Gale replied that that was still currently the plan but that the date remained under review. Councillor Hudspeth added that they are confident of their ability to generate income.

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

“The Motion passed by 34 votes to 2 at Full Council on April 1st recommended that ‘The impact on the  health of Oxfordshire residents, from NOX and particulates, should be considered as new large developments are proposed and new transport strategies developed. This is immediately relevant in the development of Local Transport Plan (LTP) 4, the updated Oxford Transport Strategy and the Westgate and Northern Gateway developments.

How are you taking this into account in LTP4 and the transport proposals for major developments such as the Northern Gateway?

How are you taking into account the further recommendation that ‘all transport strategies should include an emphasis on the possible use of pollution-free fuels, freight consolidation strategies and alternative transport modes?”

Councillor Nimmo Smith replied:

'LTP4, including the main policy document and its area and supporting strategies, is currently being drafted, taking into account the feedback received in the recent consultation on its goals and objectives.  Impacts on human health and the environment will be key considerations, and will be assessed as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Plan.  Policy and strategies that support modal shift away from private motorised transport will have a positive impact on air quality, and at the local level, strategies will support the district councils' air quality action plans. We will also be developing policy to support the use of less polluting vehicles. The draft LTP will be subject to public consultation early in 2015.

As an example, the North Oxford Transport Strategy Technical Summary, which has informed policies within the City Council's Northern Gateway Area Action Plan, sets out measures that support health and air quality objectives such as a significant reduction in parking spaces for the employment element (compared to 'normal' parking standards).'

'Policy to support the use of less polluting vehicles'  - with regard to private vehicles, is something that we are struggling a bit with, but coming under pressure to adopt. The jury's still out on their sustainability, both in terms of whole-life carbon and the risk of increase in short distance car journeys. However, from an 'embracing technology' perspective we would probably want to be more positive in ours’

Supplementary: Asked how freight consolidation strategies were progressing Councillor Nimmo Smith replied that this was a national issue. He noted that with regard to the Northern Gateway, the scheme was the City Council’s although Oxfordshire County Council was consulted as a statutory consultee.