Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest that they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2009.

Agreed

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

Report of Chief Executive and Community and Corporate Planning Manager

Summary

To agree changes to the draft Cherwell Sustainable Community Strategy resulting from the formal public consultation and to confirm the District Councils representatives on the Local Strategic Partnership.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Note the results of the formal consultation on the draft Sustainable Community Strategy and to agree the changes resulting from the consultation.

(2)               Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to agree further amendments to the strategy in line with council policy as the Local Strategic Partnership signs of the final draft on 19 November 2009.

(3)               Agree the proposed District Council representatives to the Local Strategic Partnership.

Agreed

The Chief Executive submitted a report which proposed changes to the draft Cherwell Sustainable Community Strategy following formal public consultation and confirmation of the Council’s representatives on the Local Strategic Partnership.

Resolved

(1)               That the results of the formal consultation on the draft Sustainable Community Strategy are noted and the changes resulting from the consultation be agreed.

(2)               That authority to agree further amendments to the strategy in line with council policy be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(3)               That the: Leader, Portfolio Holder for Communications and the Chief Executive be agreed as the Council’s representatives on the Local Strategic Partnership.

Reasons – The draft sustainable community strategy outlines the key strategic priorities, opportunities and challenges for the district. The strategy will be reviewed on an annual basis and it will be actioned through a five year delivery plan which all local partners will be asked to contribute to. Performance will be reported on a quarterly basis.

Options

Report of Strategic Director Environment and Community

Summary

To consider the progress made on developing future services for the Horton GeneralHospital through the Better Healthcare Programme for Banbury and the surrounding areas. 

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Note the significant progress made by the Better Healthcare Programme for Banbury and the surrounding areas;

(2)               Endorse the current approach of the Better Healthcare Programme Board to implement consultant delivered obstetric and paediatric services, greater integration of emergency and GP out of hours work, specific initiatives to support the sustainability of general surgery and trauma and using the services provided at the Horton General Hospital for research and academic purposes.

Agreed with the additional resolution:

3) That the Executive thank all those who have participated in the Better Healthcare Programme for Banbury and Surrounding Areas.

The Strategic Director Environment and Community submitted a report which considered the progress made on developing future services for the Horton GeneralHospital through the Better Healthcare Programme for Banbury and surrounding areas.

Resolved

(1)               That the significant progress made by the Better Healthcare Programme for Banbury and the surrounding areas be noted.

(2)               That the current approach of the Better Healthcare Programme Board to implement consultant delivered obstetric and paediatric services, greater integration of emergency and GP out of hours work, specific initiatives to support the sustainability of general surgery and trauma and using the services provided at the Horton General Hospital for research and academic purposes, be endorsed.

(3)               That the Executive thank all those who have participated in the Better Healthcare Programme for Banbury and surrounding areas.

Options

Report of Chief Executive and Community and Corporate Planning Manager

Summary

This report covers the Council’s performance for the period 01 July to 30 September 2009 as measured through the Performance Management Framework.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To note the many achievements referred to in paragraph 1.3.

(2)               To request that officers report in the third quarter on the items identified in paragraph 1.4 where performance was below target or there are emerging issues.

(3)               To agree the responses identified to issues raised in the last quarterly performance report in paragraph 2.1 or to request additional action or information.

Agreed

The Chief Executive submitted a report which explained the Council’s performance for the period 1 July to 30 September 2009 as measured through the Performance Management Framework. The corporate scorecard is central to the framework and covers seven areas of performance: Local Area Assessment, the Community Plan, Corporate Plan Promises, Priority Service Indicators, Financial Performance, Human Resources and Customer Feedback.

Resolved

1)       That the many achievements in relation to the Local Development Framework and Housing Services be noted

2)       That Officers be requested to report in the third quarter on items with low performance such as the Markets contract and planning appeal decisions.

3)     That the responses to issues identified in the previous quarterly report be noted.

Reasons - This report presents the Council’s performance against its corporate scorecard for the second quarter of 2009/10. It includes an overview of our successes, areas for improvement and emerging issues to be considered. 

Report of Head of Finance

Summary

This report summarises the Council’s Revenue and Capital performance for the first 6 months of the financial year 09/10 and projections for the full 09/10 period. These are measured by the budget monitoring function and reported via the Performance Management Framework (PMF) informing the 09/10 budget process currently underway.

This report also reviews the treasury performance in Q2 2009/10.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)         To note the projected revenue & capital position at September 2009.

(2)         To approve the changes in the 2009/10 capital programme as follows:

·        Slip £2,281k of projects into 2010/11 capital programme and review as part of the 2010/11 budget process

·        Slip forward £13k of budget from the 2010/11 profiles to meet expenditure to be incurred in 2010/11.

·        Release £173k of expenditure from the capital budget as a result of savings identified on a number of schemes and use £82k for a supplementary estimate for the 2 schemes detailed in 2.11.

(3)         To note the Q2 performance against 2009/10 investment strategy

Agreed.

The Head of Finance submitted a report summarising the Council’s Revenues and Capital performance for the first six months of the 2009/10 financial year and projections for the full 2009/10 period. The performance and projections are measured by the budget monitoring function and reported via the Performance Management Framework which informs the 2009/10 budget process.

Resolved

1)     That the projected revenues and capital position at September 2009 be noted.

2)     That the changes to the 2009/10 capital programme as set out below be approved:

·        Slip £2,281k of projects into 2010/11 capital programme and review as part of the 2010/11 budget process

·        Slip forward £13k of budget from the 2010/11 profiles to meet expenditure to be incurred in 2010/11.

·        Release £173k of expenditure from the capital budget as a result of savings identified on a number of schemes and use £82k for a supplementary estimate for the 2 schemes detailed in 2.11.

3)     That the Q2 performance against 2009/10 investment strategy be noted.

Reasons - This report illustrates the Council’s performance against the 2009/10 Revenue and Capital Budget and includes details of Treasury Performance as at Qtr 2 – September 2009

The following reports contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

1 - Information relating to any individual.

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

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

4 – Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

Members are reminded that whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Resolved

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Report of Chief Executive and Head of Improvement

Summary

To consider the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review report and the recommendations arising from the report       

Recommendations as set out in the exempt report agreed with amendment:

recommendation 2c to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to determine the exact proposals.

The Chief Executive and the Head of Improvement submitted a joint report which considered the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review of Human Resources. The review formed part of the Value for Money programme of reviews, which aimed to cover all services within the council and improve the value of services offered to residents of Cherwell. 

Resolved

That the recommendations set out in the exempt minutes be agreed.

Report of Head of Economic Development and Estates

Summary

To update members on the progress of the proposed redevelopment scheme, and seek approval for the revised arrangements proposed to deliver this project.

Recommendations as set out in the exempt report agreed with an amendment:

Recommendation (1) to agree the proposals in the exempt annex in principle subject to the review of the accounting treatment of the transactions detailed in the exempt annex by the Head of Finance and the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Organisational Development and the Leader.

The Head of Economic Development and Estates submitted a report which updated members on the progress of the proposed redevelopment scheme, and sought approval for the revised arrangements proposed to deliver this project.

Resolved

That the proposed financial arrangements set out in the exempt appendix be agreed in principle subject to the review of the accounting treatment of the transactions detailed in the exempt annex by the Head of Finance and the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Organisational Development and the Leader.