The Executive Director Sustainable City submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 20 March 2018 to seek authority to enter into an Agency Agreement with Oxfordshire County Council to provide highway maintenance services on the classified road network in the City, in addition to the works already undertaken on minor roads under section 42 of The Highways Act 1980.

The report is attached here. The appendices are available as part of the agenda for the City Executive Board meeting.

The City Executive Board agreed the recommendations in the report and resolved to recommend to Council the inclusion of a gross expenditure and gross income budget of £1.56 million for the year 2018-19 i.e. nil cost to the Council.

Councillor Hollingsworth, Board Member forPlanning, Sustainability & Regulatory Services, will move the recommendations.

Recommendation: the City Executive Board recommends that Council agree:

the inclusion of a gross expenditure and gross income budget of £1.56 million for the year 2018-19 i.e. nil cost to the Council.

Council considered a report of the Executive Director Sustainable City, submitted to the City Executive Board on 20 March 2018, seeking authority to enter into an Agency Agreement with Oxfordshire County Council to provide highway maintenance services on the classified road network in the City, in addition to the works already undertaken on minor roads under section 42 of The Highways Act 1980.

Councillor Brown, Leader of the Council, presented the report and moved the recommendations which were adopted on being seconded and put to the vote

Council noted that the confidential information would be released when appropriate; under the agency agreement the Council did not have complete control over the scheduling of repairs; and the contract would be signed at a future date. Council noted concerns over the allocation and amount of funding for road repairs in the city, the reactive nature of repairs, and the poor quality of some repairs made by utility companies.

Council resolved to:

approve the inclusion of a gross expenditure and gross income budget of £1.56 million for the year 2018-19 i.e. nil cost to the Council.

Lead Member: Planning, Sustainability & Regulatory Services (Councillor Alex Hollingsworth)

The Executive Director Sustainable City has submitted a report to seek  authority to enter into an Agency Agreement with Oxfordshire County Council to provide highway maintenance services on the classified road network in the City, in addition to the works already undertaken on minor roads under section 42 of The Highways Act 1980.

Recommendations: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1) Authorise the Executive Director Sustainable City, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Monitoring Officer and Section 151 officer, to negotiate and enter into an agency agreement with Oxfordshire County Council under which Oxford City Council would be appointed to carry out certain highway maintenance on the classified road network in the City as the agent of Oxfordshire County Council, in accordance with the provisions of s101 Local Government Act 1972 and other enabling legislation; 

2) Authorise the proposed Service Contract with Oxford Direct Services Ltd be extended to cover the provision of these works as the sub-contractor of Oxford City Council;

3) Note  that in entering into the proposed contract with Oxfordshire County Council, up to three members of Oxfordshire County Council staff may be subject to the TUPE regulations, and thus would transfer their employment to Oxford Direct Services Ltd; and

4) Recommend to Council the inclusion of a gross expenditure and gross income budget of £1.56 million for the year 2018-19 i.e. nil cost to the Council

The Executive Director Sustainable City had submitted a report to seek  authority to enter into an Agency Agreement with Oxfordshire County Council to provide highway maintenance services on the classified road network in the City, in addition to the works already undertaken on minor roads under section 42 of The Highways Act 1980.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Board Member for Planning, Sustainability & Regulatory Services, introduced the report. The proposal that the City Council should take over responsibility for highway maintenance on the classified road network in the City would result in better value for money than hitherto, and be good for road users and tax payers. The Council was particularly well placed to undertake this responsibility having its own depot in the City. It was important to note that, while very beneficial, the new arrangements did not represent a panacea for the poor condition of the City’s road as the money available for road improvement/repair was still finite.

The particular importance of ensuring safe road surfaces for cyclists was noted.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1) Authorise the Executive Director Sustainable City, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Monitoring Officer and Section 151 officer, to negotiate and enter into an agency agreement with Oxfordshire County Council under which Oxford City Council would be appointed to carry out certain highway maintenance on the classified road network in the City as the agent of Oxfordshire County Council, in accordance with the provisions of s101 Local Government Act 1972 and other enabling legislation; 

2) Authorise the proposed Service Contract with Oxford Direct Services Ltd be extended to cover the provision of these works as the sub-contractor of Oxford City Council;

3) Note  that in entering into the proposed contract with Oxfordshire County Council, up to three members of Oxfordshire County Council staff may be subject to the TUPE regulations, and thus would transfer their employment to Oxford Direct Services Ltd; and

4) Recommend to Council the inclusion of a gross expenditure and gross income budget of £1.56 million for the year 2018-19 i.e. nil cost to the Council