Councillors Fry, Hayes, Malik and van Nooijen submitted apologies.

Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 2 February 2015 and the budget meeting of Council held on 18 February 2015.

Council agreed to approve the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 2 February 2015 and the budget meeting held on 18 February 2015 as a true and correct record.

There were no declarations of interest made.

Any changes to appointments to committees will be circulated with the briefing note.

There were no appointments to committees.

Announcements by:

(1)          The Lord Mayor

(2)          The Sheriff

(3)          The Leader of the Council

(4)          The Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer

The Lord Mayor announced;

-       his charity dinner had raised over £2,000 for the Lord Mayor’s charities.

-       he would be visiting the city’s twin cities of Bonn and Leiden in the first week of May.

The Sheriff reported on his attendance at an Oxford Rugby League event and encouraged members to contact him about promoting opportunities to become involved in the sport.

The Leader of the Council informed members that the Palestine Unlocked celebration of Palestinian life and culture would take place between 4^th and 21^st June.

The Council’s Chief Finance Officer announced:

“£300k was placed into the 2014/15 budget as a corporate policy contingency; it was agreed that the contingency was not required and was to be removed for the 2015/16 budget.  This budget removal was unfortunately shown on Appendix 3 (page 65, line 21) to the Budget setting report against Culture rather than Policy due to an administrative error; this then fed through to Appendices 1 (page 24) and 2 (page 26).

This gave the impression that there was a reduction in the Council’s Culture which is not actually the case. There is no effect on the Council’s overall service budgets from the removal of the £300k. Had the administrative error not occurred, the Culture budget for 2015/16 would have been £456k on Appendices 1 and 2.

An approval will be sought from CEB in 2015/16 to vire £300K from Policy to Culture to correct the budget.”

The Leader will propose altering the date of the September Council meeting to Wednesday 23 September at 5.00pm. It was originally scheduled for Monday 21 September.

Council are asked to agree to change the date of the September meeting to Wednesday 23 September at 5.00pm.

Following a proposal from the Leader, Council agreed to change the date of the Council meeting from 21 September 2015 to 23 September 2015.

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Board member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.10 and 11.11.

The full text of any address or question must be received by the Head of Law and Governance by 5.00 pm on Tuesday 7 April 2015.

Full details of addresses submitted by the deadline will be provided in the briefing note. Full details of questions submitted by the deadline, and written responses where available, will be provided in the briefing note.

There were no addresses or questions.

The Head of Policy, Culture and Communication submitted a report and draft strategy to the City Executive Board on 12 March 2015 (attached here).

This details the development of the draft Culture Strategy 2015 – 18, an overview of its vision and priorities and reports on the results of public consultation. It proposes approval of the strategy in the light of consultation.

The relevant minute (152) of the City Executive Board meeting on 12 March is attached later in this agenda. The Board agreed to approve the strategy as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The City Executive Board recommends Council to APPROVE the Culture Strategy 2015 – 2018 as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

Council had before it a report, the draft Culture Strategy, and the recommendations of the City Executive Board on 12 March 2015.

Councillor Simm moved and Councillor Price seconded the adoption of the Culture Strategy.

Council resolved to approve the Culture Strategy 2015 – 2018 as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Heads of Finance and Business Improvement and Technology have submitted a report which details the Council’s Finances, Risk and Performance as at the end of Quarter 3, 31 December 2014.

Appendices to the report were submitted to the City Executive Board on 12 March 2015 and are available as part of the papers for that meeting but not reproduced here.

The relevant minute (154) of the City Executive Board meeting on 12 March is attached. The Board agreed to approve the strategy as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The City Executive Board recommends to Council:

1.    (approval of) a supplementary capital budget of £200,000 for welfare facilities at Cowley Marsh depot as detailed in paragraph 5 (of the report);

2.    that all end of year revenue surpluses from 2014/15 be transferred into a property investment reserve, subject to (a) below, in order that the funds can be invested to provide future income streams or to further policy objectives including the allocation of £550,000 in relation to the purchase of the freehold of St.Aldate’s Chambers.

(a)  City Executive Board agreed to note the risks and potential financial penalties relating to Homes and Communities Agency Grant Funding as outlined in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the report.

Council had before it a report setting out the Council’s Finances, Risk and Performance as at the end of Quarter 3, 31 December 2014, and the recommendations of the City Executive Board on 12 March 2015.

Councillor Turner moved the recommendation in the report and these were agreed on being seconded by Councillor Fooks and put to the vote.

Council resolved:

1.    to approve a supplementary capital budget of £200,000 for welfare facilities at Cowley Marsh depot as detailed in paragraph 5 (of the report);

2.    that all end of year revenue surpluses from 2014/15 be transferred into a property investment reserve (subject to the risks and potential financial penalties relating to Homes and Communities Agency Grant Funding as outlined in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the report) in order that the funds can be invested to provide future income streams or to further policy objectives including the allocation of £550,000 in relation to the purchase of the freehold of St.Aldate’s Chambers.

The Head of Environmental Development has submitted a report which seeks Council’s adoption of the draft Street Trading Policy 2015, following approval by the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 27 January 2015.

The relevant minute (15) of the General Purposes Licensing Committee meeting on 27 January is attached as Appendix 2. The Committee agreed to approve the draft Street Trading Policy 2015 and recommend it to Council for adoption.

Officer recommendation: That the Council adopt the draft Street Trading Policy 2015.

Council had before it a report setting out the draft Street Trading Policy 2015 for adoption following approval by the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 27 January 2015, and the recommendations of that committee.

Councillor Clarkson moved adoption of the Street Trading Policy and this was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Councillor Wolff asked that officers took into account the primary activity being carried out when enforcing this policy; for example in relation to buskers selling their music as a secondary activity.

Council resolved to adopt the Street Trading Policy 2015 as set out in the appendix to the report.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report recommending changes to the Council’s constitution.

Officer Recommendation: That Council approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report and in:-

Appendix 1 - Finance Rules;

Appendix 2 - Contract Procedure Rules;

Appendix 3 - Planning Code of Practice;

Appendix 4 - Miscellaneous proposed changes

Council had before it a report recommending changes to the Council’s constitution, set out in appendices to the report.

Councillor Price moved adoption of the changes as set out and this was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report and in:

Appendix 1 - Finance Rules;

Appendix 2 - Contract Procedure Rules;

Appendix 3 - Planning Code of Practice;

Appendix 4 - Miscellaneous proposed changes.

The Head of Human Resources and Facilities has submitted a report setting out one new and two revised employment policies for approval.

The policies are attached as appendices 1 to 3 of the report.

Officer recommendations: That Council:

1. Approve the following policies with immediate effect:

·         Policy and Procedure for Managing Allegations against Employees and Volunteers Working with Children and Vulnerable Adults

·         Family Leave Policy and Procedure

2. Authorise the Head of Human Resources to amend the policies and procedures from time to time in order to correct any factual or legal errors.

3. Approve the updated annual Pay Policy Statement for publication.

Council had before it a report setting out one new and two revised employment policies for approval, attached as appendices to the report.

Councillor Price moved the recommendations in the report, and this was agreed on being seconded by Councillor Simm and put to the vote.

Councillor Price said it may be possible to show more details of the ratio between highest and lowest earners than that set out in the prescribed format.

Council resolved to:

1.    approve the updated annual Pay Policy Statement for publication.

2.    approve the following policies with immediate effect:

·         Policy and Procedure for Managing Allegations against Employees and Volunteers Working with Children and Vulnerable Adults

·         Family Leave Policy and Procedure

and authorise the Head of Human Resources to amend the policies and procedures from time to time in order to correct any factual or legal errors.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report requesting that Council grant the Freedom of the City of Oxford to The Rifles, first bestowed on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1945 and subsequently exercised by the Royal Green Jackets, and allow them to exercise the Honour of the Freedom of Entry to the City of Oxford, by parading through Oxford City on Sunday 24 May 2015.

Officer recommendations: ThatCouncil:

1.    Grant the Freedom of Oxford, first bestowed on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1945 and subsequently exercised by the Royal Green Jackets, to The Rifles as a mark of the City’s respect and appreciation of their continued service to their Country; and

2.    Note that The Rifles will exercise the Freedom of Entry to the City of Oxford, by parading through Oxford City on Sunday 24May 2015.

Council had before it a report requesting that Council grant the Freedom of the City of Oxford to The Rifles, and allow them to exercise the Honour of the Freedom of Entry to the City of Oxford.

Councillor Price moved the recommendations in the report, and these were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved:

1.   that the Freedom of Oxford, first bestowed on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1945 and subsequently exercised by the Royal Green Jackets, now be granted to The Rifles as a mark of the City’s respect and appreciation of their continued service to their Country; and

2.   to note that The Rifles will exercise the Freedom of Entry to the City of Oxford, by parading through Oxford City on Sunday 24 May 2015.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report which reports the Council’s application of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 

Officer recommendation: That Council note the Council’s use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) for the period 1 April 2014 to 31March 2015.

Council had before it a report detailing the Council’s application of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Councillor Price moved the recommendation in the report, and this was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to note the Council’s use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.

Questions to Board members about the minutes of the Board meetings. This item has a time limit of 15 minutes.

1.    Minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2015.

2.    Minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2015.

3.    Minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2015.

Council had before it the minutes of the City Executive Board meetings of 29 January, 12 February and 12 March 2015.

On Minute 130 bullet point 5, Councillor Wolff asked for clarification of the intent and cost of the commentary that graffiti would be removed from private property free. Councillor Tanner said that it not the policy to remove graffiti from private property for no charge: offensive graffiti would be removed the day it was reported; other graffiti is removed from the Council’s property; there would be an officer recruited to work with private owners to establish procedures to remove graffiti; and advice on removal, or removal at a charge, was offered to private owners.

Council noted that the approved Minute130 contained a typographical error in the commentary and that £250,000 (not £250M) was available for youth ambition work.

On Minute 146, Councillor Simmons commented that resolutions 4 and 5 would be challenging to implement but the council was keen to see the Oxford living wage supported by all employers.

On Minute 148 Councillor Fooks asked how many social rented houses would be built this year and how much of the discretionary housing payment grant was returned. Councillor Seamons said that 107 further council homes and other affordable homes would be completed this year; figures for the second part were not to hand.

On Minute 148 Councillor Benjamin asked about the social housing tenure; Councillor Seamons said that six were ‘affordable rent’ and the majority of proposed houses would be social rents.

Questions on notice received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.9(b).

Questions may be asked of the Lord Mayor, a Member of the City Executive Board or a Chair of a Committee.

The full text of questions must be received by the Head of Law and Governance by no later than 1.00pm on Thursday 2 April 2015.

Full details of all questions, and written responses where available, will be provided in the briefing note.

Questions on notice submitted in accordance with Council procedure rule 11.9(b), written responses, and supplementary question and responses asked of the Board members and Leader are set out below.

To the Board member for Educational Attainment and Youth Ambition, Councillor Kennedy

1.            From Councillor Gant

In considering recent reports into educational attainment in Oxford, will the leader accept that at KS1 and KS2 Oxford city had the lowest %s of pupils reaching expected attainment in the county in both 2013 and 2014 despite progress being made with only reading not being worst in county, as paragraphs 1 and 2 of the document "School Performance 2013-14" shows; that the aggregate data for the city masks considerable differences and that in fact the spread between best and worst outcomes in progression is far worse than the average would suggest?

Written Response

I should like to thank Councillor Gant for again raising the issue of poor performance of primary schools in the city. However, the schools which we supported made substantial improvements. Between 2012 and 2014, the schools which followed our education attainment  programme saw a 10 percentage point  increase in the number of children achieving level 2 in reading, writing and maths at age 7, from 65% to 75%. This contrasts with a 4 percentage point increase across Oxfordshire primaries. And the same schools saw a 4 percentage point increase in level 4 in reading, writing and maths at age 11, from 59 to 63%, as against a single percentage point increase across the county. This indicates that educational attainment in the most disadvantaged schools in the city can be raised by consistent and appropriate teaching methods. We hope that these improvements will provide a sound basis for bringing the performance of these schools closer to the county wide average.

We understand that the County Council is reviewing its role in supporting educational attainment, and we are committed to working with county colleagues and teachers to realise the educational potential of children in city schools.

Supplementary Question

Would you agree that the way forward would be to allow schools greater freedom to spend the money?

Response

While it is important that schools set their own policies, cuts to education budgets have increased the effects of disadvantage and the programme was designed to reduce these.

To the Board member for Housing and Estate Regeneration, Councillor Seamons

2.            From Councillor Fooks

I am sure that we all applaud the installation of solar PV (photovoltaics) on Council housing stock, to reduce carbon emissions and reduce tenants’ electricity bills. Can the Board member tell Council how the benefits can be shared out among those tenants who do not yet have any such panels or other source of renewable energy for their homes?

Written response

There is no practical way that tenants who do not have PV or other renewables installed directly benefit from those who have. However, as PV’s represent an investment by the HRA the resultant income directly received by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Board member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.10 and 11.11.

The full text of any address or question must be received by the Head of Law and Governance by 5.00 pm on Tuesday 7 April 2015.

Full details of addresses submitted by the deadline will be provided in the briefing note. Full details of questions submitted by the deadline, and written responses where available, will be provided in the briefing note.

Jane Alexander addressed Council. The text of her address is attached to the minutes.

Nigel Gibson addressed Council. The text of his address is attached to the minutes.

Chaka Artwell addressed Council. The text of his address is attached to the minutes.

Councillor Rowley responded to the three speakers and in summary said

With any change it's inevitable that some people will be inconvenienced, and while we've tried to minimise the inconvenience, of course we're genuinely very sorry for that.

However, the success of the Leys Pools and Leisure Centre has proved this Council right in the decisions it has taken. In its first three months it has had over 160,000 visitors - almost as many as Temple Cowley, Blackbird Leys and the old Blackbird Leys Pool together had in six.

So I don't apologise for doubling the number of leisure visits in East Oxford.  I'm sure most people will share my pleasure that so many thousands more people have been able to enjoy world-class public leisure facilties.

Nor should our officers apologise for achieving a number of awards that recognise their hard work, intelligence and dedication in very difficult times.  Seven years ago this Council was failing.  It was in no shape to face the challenges ahead.  Now it is a beacon of first-rate, publicly owned, publicly accountable service provision, and that is due above all to our workforce. I am grateful to the speakers for giving me another opportunity to thank them.

Sarah Lasenby put her question to the Leader of the Council.

The text of the question and written response supplied before the meeting is attached to the minutes.

(a)          Each ordinary meeting of Council receives a written report concerning the work of one of the partnerships on which the Council is represented.

On behalf of Councillor Tanner the Interim Head of Environmental Development has submitted a report on the work of the Environment Partnership (attached).

Council is invited to comment on and note the submitted report.

(b)          Members who are Council representatives on external bodies or Chairs of Council Committees who consider that a significant decision or event has taken place, may give notice to the Head of Law and Governance by 1.00 pm on Wednesday 8 April that they will present a written or oral report on the event or the significant decision and how it may influence future events.

(c)          The programme of reporting the work of partnerships at future meetings will be:

Oxford Strategic Partnership – 20July 2015

Oxfordshire Health Improvement Board – 21 September 2015

Overview report on All Oxfordshire Partnerships – 7 December 2015

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership – 8 February 2016

Oxfordshire Growth Board – 19 April 2016

Community Safety – July 2016

Environmental and Waste – September 2016

Council had before it a report on the work of the Environment Partnership.

Councillor Tanner moved the report.

Council noted the report without comment.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee has submitted a report which updates Council on the activities of scrutiny and other non-executive Councillors since the last meeting of Council (attached).

Council is invited to comment on and note the report.

Council had before it the report of the Scrutiny Committee Chair.

Councillor Simmons moved the report, highlighted the work of the scrutiny panels, and thanked all the councillors and officers who had attended meetings during the past year.

Council noted the report without comment.

Motions received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.16.

The full text of motions received by the Head of Law and Governance by the deadline of 1.00pm on Monday 30 March 2015, and as amended by the proposer, is attached to this agenda.

Substantive amendments to these motions must be received by the Head of Law and Governance by no later than 1.00pm on Thursday 9 April 2015. The briefing note will contain any substantive amendments submitted before its publication.

1.    Using your Vote (proposed by Cllr Tanner,  seconded by Cllr Clack)

Labour member motion

This City Council urges every resident who can to use their vote in the General Election on May 7th. We call on each of the candidates in the Oxford East and Oxford West & Abingdon constituencies:

a)         to speak up for local government

b)         to pledge to build the homes Oxford desperately needs

c)         to support our schools and universities

d)         to back a vibrant low carbon economy

e)         to commit to a Living Wage and

f)          to promote an international, safe and tolerant city.

We expect those elected to represent Oxford in the House of Commons to fight for a fairer, greener and even more beautiful city for all.

2.    Housing (proposed by Cllr Fooks, seconded by Cllr Wade)

Liberal Democrats member motion

Council notes the increasing disparity in housing costs between the social housing sector and the private sector. This risks Oxford becoming a city of only the very well-off and the not-at-all well-off, with no housing within reach of middle income households. Key workers such as teachers and nurses can no longer afford to live in Oxford, and communities become unbalanced.

Council asks the Executive Board to ask officers to investigate new models of housing provision which would include starter homes, key worker housing and self-build in any new developments. This is likely to require the setting up of a separate housing company.

Council recognises the concerns of neighbouring districts over proposals to build on green belt land outside the City and asks the Oxfordshire Growth Board to ensure that the current Green Belt Review is thorough, transparent and involves proper public consultation.

Dialogue with the county and the districts must continue.

Council recognises that the current jobs/homes imbalance – 46,000 people commuting in every day – will get worse with the thousands of new jobs expected in the City. Council asks the Administration to work with the County Council as the Highway Authority to ensure that the provision of excellent public transport links is fully recognised in LTP4.

3.    Controlling the Housing Investment Market (proposed by Cllr Hollick, seconded by Cllr Brandt)

Green member motion

This Council notes that housing rents in Oxford are some of the highest in the Country. That increasing numbers of new and converted properties are being purchased by buy-to-let landlords and overseas investors who are being attracted to Oxford because of the high returns. With high housing demand, this is leading to a spiral of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 119.

Council had before it six motions on notice and amendments submitted in accordance with Council procedure rule 11.16, and reached decisions as set out below.

1.         Using your Vote

Councillor Tanner proposed his submitted motion, seconded by Councillor Clack.

This City Council urges every resident who can to use their vote in the General Election on May 7th. We call on each of the candidates in the Oxford East and Oxford West & Abingdon constituencies:

a) to speak up for local government

b) to pledge to build the homes Oxford desperately needs

c)  to support our schools and universities

d) to back a vibrant low carbon economy

e) to commit to a Living Wage and

f)   to promote an international, safe and tolerant city.

We expect those elected to represent Oxford in the House of Commons to fight for a fairer, greener and even more beautiful city for all.

Prior to the meeting, Councillor Hollick proposed amendments, seconded by Councillor Benjamin.

•   amend (b) to read ‘to pledge to build the affordable homes that are desperately needed in Oxford and the surrounding area’

•   amend (e) to read ‘to commit to a national Living Wage and the Oxford Living Wage’

Prior to the meeting, Councillor Fooks proposed amendments

•   replace (a) with ‘to stand up for local government, campaigning for proper funding and devolution of both powers and budgets to a local level’

•   insert ‘colleges’ in line (c), so that it reads ‘to support our schools, colleges and universities’.

Councillor Tanner accepted both amendments and Council debated the motion as amended.

After debate and on being put to the vote, the motion was declared carried:

Council agreed to adopt the motion as set out below:

This City Council urges every resident who can to use their vote in the General Election on May 7th. We call on each of the candidates in the Oxford East and Oxford West & Abingdon constituencies:

a) to stand up for local government, campaigning for proper funding and devolution of both powers and budgets to a local level

b) to pledge to build the affordable homes that are desperately needed in Oxford and the surrounding area

c)  to support our schools, colleges and universities

d) to back a vibrant low carbon economy

e) to commit to a national Living Wage and the Oxford Living Wage

f)   to promote an international, safe and tolerant city.

We expect those elected to represent Oxford in the House of Commons to fight for a fairer, greener and even more beautiful city for all.

2.         Housing

Councillor Fooks proposed her submitted motion, seconded by Councillor Wade.

Council notes the increasing disparity in housing costs between the social housing sector and the private sector. This risks Oxford becoming a city of only the very well-off and the not-at-all well-off, with no housing within reach of middle income households. Key workers such as teachers and nurses can no longer afford to live in Oxford, and communities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.