Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

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Speaking at a Council or Committee meeting

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall

Contact: Jennifer Thompson, Committee and Members Services Officer  email:  democraticservices@oxford.gov.uk tel: 01865 252275

Items
No. Item

Tribute to the Council's Monitoring Officer, Jeremy Thomas

The Lord Mayor announced the sudden and unexpected death of Jeremy Thomas, the Council’s Monitoring Officer and Head of Law and Governance, on 11 September. The Lord Mayor and Councillors Price, Fooks and Simmons, on behalf of their groups, paid tribute to Mr Thomas and Council observed a minute’s silence in his memory.

29.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Councillors Anwar, Gant, Hayes, and Wade submitted apologies.

30.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

Minute 39: Councillors Abbasi and Malik declared that this item affected one of their disclosable pecuniary interests and left the chamber for the duration of this item.

31.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 187 KB

Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 25 July 2016.

 

Council is asked to approve the minutes as a correct record.

Minutes:

Council agreed to approve the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 25 July 2016 as a true and correct record and that the Lord Mayor should sign these as such.

32.

Appointment to Committees

There are no proposed changes to committee membership. Any notification after publication of the agenda will be circulated with the briefing note.

Minutes:

There were no changes to appointments.

33.

Announcements

Announcements by:

(1)          The Lord Mayor

(2)          The Sheriff

(3)          The Leader of the Council

The Leader of the Council will also call on Councillor Rowley to make a statement to Council.

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

Minutes:

At the invitation of the Lord Mayor, the Deputy Lord Mayor spoke about the award of the Freedom of the City to Lesley Dewhurst at a ceremony on 14 September.

 

The Sheriff informed Council:

·         she had attended the Battle of Britain commemoration ceremony;

·         she had attended the match between MK Dons and Oxford City football teams;

·         she had taken part in the successful annual round up of cattle on Port Meadow and thanked all who had supported this.

 

The Leader of the Council asked Councillor Rowley to make a statement.

 

Councillor Rowley said:

Members will be aware from press reports that I was involved in an incident at the count for the EU referendum held in the Town Hall on the evening of 23rd June 2015. I would like this evening to make a statement of apology to Council and to the wider public in respect of my conduct that night.

My actions on arriving at the count that night fell far short of the conduct which is expected of elected members of Council. I caused a number of members of staff an unnecessary degree of distress while they were simply doing their job.

I am sorry that my actions escalated the situation I have sent a personal apology to the town hall and security staff on duty that evening. However it has to be emphasised that all members of council staff are entitled to respect at work at all times. This statement therefor conveys a similar apology to my fellow councillors, the wider public, and everyone who works for this council

 

The Lord Mayor thanked Councillor Rowley and stated that this concluded the matter.

34.

Public addresses and questions that relate to matters for decision at this meeting

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Board member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.11 and 11.12 relating to matters for decision on this agenda.

 

The request to speak accompanied by the full text of the address or question must be received by the Head of Law and Governance by 5.00 pm on Friday 23 September.

 

The briefing note will contain the text of addresses and questions submitted by the deadline, and written responses where available.

 

A total of 45 minutes is available for both public speaking items. Responses are included in this time. Up to five minutes is available for each public address and three minutes for each question.

Minutes:

There were no addresses or questions.

35.

Submission to ERDF Innovation Call for Oxfordshire pdf icon PDF 143 KB

The Executive Director, Regeneration and Housing submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 15 September 2016 which requested approval to commit match funding towards the Oxford City Council led element of the ERDF Innovation allocation for Oxfordshire if  funds are successfully awarded.

 

The report and appendices are attached. The relevant Executive Board minute is attached later in the agenda.

 

The Board member will move the recommendation.

 

Recommendation:

 

The City Executive Board recommends Council to approve the required match funding to deliver the capital (£33,939) and revenue (£45,000) elements of the projects detailed in this report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered a report to the City Executive Board on 15 September 2016 requesting approval to commit match funding towards the Oxford City Council led element of the ERDF Innovation allocation for Oxfordshire if funds are successfully awarded.

 

Council resolved toapprove the required match funding to deliver the capital (£33,939) and revenue (£45,000) elements of the projects detailed in this report.

36.

Quarterly Integrated Performance 2016/17 - Q1 pdf icon PDF 111 KB

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 15 September to update Members on the Council’s Financial Risk and Performance as at 30 June 2016.

 

The report is attached and the Council decision is referenced in paragraph 12. Appendices are available as part of the Executive Board agenda and are not directly relevant to this decision. The relevant Executive Board minute is attached later in the agenda.

 

The Board member will move the recommendation.

 

Recommendation:

 

The City Executive Board recommends that Council approve the additional budget of £0.118 million and £0.399 million for Super Connected Cities and Disabled Facilities Grant expenditure (respectively) to be financed from external grant funding in accordance with paragraph 12 of the report.

Minutes:

Council considered a report to the City Executive Board on 15 September updating Members on the Council’s Financial Risk and Performance as at 30 June 2016, including requests for changes to the budget.

 

Council resolved toapprove the additional budget of £0.118 million and £0.399 million for Super Connected Cities and Disabled Facilities Grant expenditure (respectively) to be financed from external grant funding in accordance with paragraph 12 of the report.

37.

Review of Building Control Fees and Charges 2016 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

The Head of Planning and Regulatory Service submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 15 September setting out revised Building Control application fees and introducing one new charge.

 

The Council’s Constitution provides that the Executive Board can set fees and charges (to the extent that the budget has not set fees and charges) for executive functions. In-year changes to fees and charges have to be referred to Council for decision.

 

The report is attached. The relevant Executive Board minute is attached later in the agenda.

 

The Board member will move the recommendation.

 

Recommendation:

 

The City Executive Board recommends Council to approve the proposed Building Control application fees and charges to take effect from 30 September 2016.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered a report to the City Executive Board on 15 September setting out revised Building Control application fees and introducing one new charge.

 

The Council’s Constitution requires that in-year changes to fees and charges are referred to Council for decision.

 

Council resolved to approve the proposed Building Control application fees and charges as set out in the report and the appendix to take effect from 30 September 2016.

38.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2015/2016 pdf icon PDF 195 KB

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 15 September 2016 which sets out the Council’s treasury management activity and performance for the financial year 2015/2016. 

 

The report also identifies some reductions in interest rates in 2016/17 and recommends a change to the Treasury Strategy for 2016/17 which is a matter for Council.

 

The report and appendices are attached. The relevant Executive Board minute is attached later in the agenda.

 

The Board member will move the recommendation.

 

Recommendation:

 

The City Executive Board recommends that Council approve the amendment to the Specified Investments list attached at Appendix 1 and paragraphs 35 – 37 of the report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered a report to the City Executive Board on 15 September 2016 setting out the Council’s treasury management activity and performance for the financial year 2015/2016. Appendix 1 proposed limits to Money Market Fund investments, AAA rating, of £25m per institution, with a maximum maturity period of ‘liquid’.

 

Council resolved to approve the amendment to the Specified Investments list attached at Appendix 1 and paragraphs 35 – 37 of the report.

39.

Hackney Carriage & Private Hire: Proposals to amend the criteria and conditions applicable - safeguarding pdf icon PDF 143 KB

The Head of Community Services submitted a report to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 20 September to seek the approval of amendments to the criteria applicable to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trades in order to promote safeguarding and awareness of safeguarding.

 

The proposals that require the approval of this Committee and Council are:

 

Ø  The introduction of Mandatory Safeguarding Awareness Training to be attended by all licensed drivers.

 

Ø  Requiring all drivers to sign up to the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) Update Service.

 

The report and the relevant minute of the committee are attached.

 

The Chair of the General Purposes Licensing Committee will move the recommendation.

 

Recommendation:

 

The General Purposes Licensing Committee recommends that Council adopt the amendments to the criteria applicable to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trades as set out in the report and appendix.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillors Abbasi and Malik, having declared that this item affected one of their disclosable pecuniary interests, left the chamber for the duration of this item.

 

Council considered a report to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 20 September 2016 asking for approval of amendments to the criteria applicable to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trades in order to promote safeguarding and awareness of safeguarding.

 

Council resolved to adopt the amendments to the criteria applicable to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trades as set out in the report and appendix.

40.

Appointment of Monitoring Officer and Returning Officer pdf icon PDF 94 KB

The Chief Executive has submitted a report recommending changes to the appointments of statutory officers.

 

The Leader of the Council will move the recommendations.

 

Council is recommended to

1.    Approve the appointment of Peter Sloman, Chief Executive as the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer

 

2.    Approve the designation of the Lindsay Cane, Acting Head of Law & Governance as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

Minutes:

Council considered a report from the Chief Executive recommending changes to the appointments of statutory officers.

 

Council resolved to

 

1.    with immediate effect, appoint Peter Sloman, Chief Executive, as the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer; and

 

2.    with immediate effect designate Lindsay Cane, Acting Head of Law and Governance, as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

41.

Attendance Management Policy and Procedure pdf icon PDF 94 KB

The Head of Business Improvement has submitted a report to approve the implementation of a revised Attendance Management Policy and Procedure.

 

The Board member for Customer and Corporate Services will move the recommendations and the Chief Executive will answer any questions.

 

Recommendations: That Council resolves to:

 

1.    Approve the Attendance Management Policy and Procedure attached at Appendix 1 with immediate effect.

 

2.    Delegate authority to the Head of Business Improvement to amend the policies to reflect administrative changes and to correct any factual or legal errors.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered a report of the Head of Business Improvement seeking approval of the implementation of a revised Attendance Management Policy and Procedure.

 

The Board Member for Customer and Corporate Services reported that the unions (Unison and UNITE) had raised no concerns about the policy.

 

Council resolved to:

 

1.    approve the Attendance Management Policy and Procedure attached at Appendix 1 to the report with immediate effect; and

 

2.    delegate authority to the Head of Business Improvement to amend the policies to reflect administrative changes and to correct any factual or legal errors.

42.

City Executive Board Minutes pdf icon PDF 148 KB

This item has a time limit of 15 minutes.

 

Councillors may ask the Board Members questions about matters in these minutes.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council had before it the minutes of the City Executive Board meetings of 14 July, 8 August and 15 September 2016.

 

On Minute 56, Councillor Fooks asked for the breakdown of the £452M invested on the Northern Gateway project.

 

On Minute 56, Councillor Simons asked about the status of the Scrutiny Committee’s comments. The Leader reported that these were included in the council’s comments to the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and were likely to be included in the final LEP document.

43.

Questions on Notice from Members of Council pdf icon PDF 202 KB

Questions on notice from councillors received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.10(b).

 

Questions on notice may be asked of the Lord Mayor, a Member of the City Executive Board or a Chair of a Committee. One supplementary question may be asked at the meeting.

 

The full text of questions must be received by the Head of Law and Governance by no later than 1.00pm on Thursday 22 September.

 

The briefing note will contain all questions submitted by the deadline, and written responses where available.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Azad joined the meeting at the start of this item.

 

Members of Council submitted 29 written questions to members of the City Executive Board. The questions, written answers, and summaries of supplementary questions and answers are in the supplement to the minutes.

44.

Public addresses and questions that do not relate to matters for decision at this Council meeting pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Board member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.11 and 11.12 and not related to matters for decision on this agenda.

 

The request to speak accompanied by the full text of the address or question must be received by the Head of Law and Governance by 5.00 pm on Friday 23 September.

 

The briefing note will contain the text of addresses and questions submitted by the deadline, and written responses where available.

 

A total of 45 minutes is available for both public speaking items. Responses are included in this time. Up to five minutes is available for each public address and three minutes for each question.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council heard addresses and questions to members of the City Executive Board from members of the public submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedure rules.

 

Addresses were heard from:

 

Fran Ryan, Homes for Oxford – solutions to Oxford’s housing need

Dr Ruvi Ziegler - Unaccompanied Refugee Children: Oxford’s Role

 

Questions were heard from:

 

Mr Artwell - Community Centre Management

Dr Stefan Piechnik - Tower Block refurbishment

 

Board members responded to the addresses and questions.

 

The Lord Mayor thanked those speaking.

 

The supplement to the minutes contains the full text of addresses and questions delivered as submitted; and written responses and summaries of verbal responses from the Board Members.

45.

Outside organisation/Committee Chair reports and questions pdf icon PDF 126 KB

On behalf of Councillor Tanner, Board member for Clean and Green Oxford,the Environmental Sustainability Manager has submitted a report on the work of the Oxford Environment Partnership.

 

Recommendation

Council to note the content of the report

 

Each ordinary meeting of Council shall normally receive a written report concerning the work of one of the partnerships on which the Council is represented.

 

The programme of reporting at future meetings will be:

 

·         December 2016: Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership

·         February 2017: Oxfordshire Partnerships report (covering all partnerships)

·         April 2017: Oxfordshire Strategic Partnership

 

Members who are Council representatives on external bodies or Chairs of Council Committees who consider that a significant decision or event has taken place, will give notice to the Acting Head of Law and Governance by 1.00 pm on Monday 26 September that they wish present a written or oral report on the event or the significant decision and how it may influence future events.

Minutes:

Council had before it a report of the Board member for Clean and Green Oxford on the work of the Oxford Environment Partnership.

 

Councillor Tanner introduced the report.

 

In response to questions he said:

·         he proposed that the council look at significantly improving standards in new buildings to reduce carbon emissions;

·         all councils have and were continuing to make representations about the lack of electricity grid capacity in the county.

 

Council noted the report.

46.

Scrutiny Committee Annual Report pdf icon PDF 3 MB

On behalf of the Scrutiny Committee the Scrutiny Officer has submitted the Committee’s annual report for 2015/16.

 

The current Chair of the Committee, Councillor Gant, and the Chair of the Committee for 2015/16, Councillor Simmons, will introduce this report and answer questions.

 

Council is invited to comment on and note the report.

Minutes:

Council had before it the 2015/16 Annual Report of the Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor Simmons, the Committee’s Chair for 2015/16 spoke on the report and thanked the members and Chairs of the Panels and the committee members for their work and the difference this had made to the Council’s policies.

 

The Leader thanked Councillor Simmons and the council’s scrutiny officer for their work over the year.

 

Council noted the report without comment.

47.

Motions on notice pdf icon PDF 159 KB

This item has a time limit of 60 minutes.

 

The full text of motions received by the Acting Head of Law and Governance in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.17 by the deadline of 1.00pm on Monday 19 September is below. Motions will be taken in turn from the Liberal Democrat, Green, and Labour groups in that order.

 

Substantive amendments to these motions must be sent by councillors to the Acting Head of Law and Governance by no later than 10.00am on Wednesday 28 September so that they may be circulated with the briefing note.

 

Minor technical or limited wording amendments may be submitted during the meeting but must be written down and circulated.

 

Council is asked to consider the following motions:

 

1.    Local Government reorganisation(proposed by Councillor Gant, seconded by Councillor Fooks)

 

Liberal Democrat member motion

Council notes that government is still open to practical suggestions for local government reorganisation. Council notes that the benefits are far more likely to be achieved if council leaders in Oxfordshire are serious about reaching a consensus.

 

Council also notes that both of the recently-commissioned reports identified strengths and weaknesses in each proposal, and made recommendations for addressing them.

 

Council believes these recommendations are capable of forming the basis for further discussion.

 

Council therefore:

 

Calls on all council leaders in the county to resume talks about a workable model of local government reorganisation, with the express intention of reaching a workable consensus, and with the primary objective of achieving the best outcomes for the people of Oxford in terms of service delivery and efficiencies, while ensuring local accountability is retained or enhanced.

 

Calls on the leader of Oxford City Council to play a full and constructive part in such talks.

 

2.    Banning Glyphosate(proposed by Councillor Brandt, seconded by Councillor Thomas)

 

Green member motion

This Council notes that there is growing evidence that glyphosate is a higher health risk than previously assumed, and that the World Health Organisation has recently upgraded glyphosate to ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’*.

 

It further notes that other local councils in Britain - Hammersmith & Fulham being the most recent - have already decided to ban the use of glyphosate and other chemicals from all their own operations. This is in the wake of large cities all over the world - such as Barcelona, Hamburg and Paris - who have already decided on a ban, and the Netherlands and Denmark, which have banned the use of glyphosate in urban areas.

 

In light of the known risk to human health, this Council resolves to ask the City Executive Board to follow the precautionary principle and:

 

1.            Pledge to cut out the use of glyphosate completely from all its in-house operations (including in Parks, and Streetscene) within one year.

2.            Consider the one year period until the ban takes effect as a testing period, during which the council will test non-chemical and mechanical alternatives to glyphosate. Banning glyphosate will not result in increased use of other chemical weed-killers.

3.            Use  ...  view the full agenda text for item 47.

Minutes:

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

 

Motions adopted

1.    Local Government reorganisation

3.    Housing Benefit

4.    Refugees and Immigration

 

Motions rejected

2.     Banning Glyphosate

 

Motions not taken

Two motions were not taken because the time allowed in the Council’s procedure rules had elapsed.

 

5.     EUchoose: Oxford's future within the EU

6.     Re-introduction of Grammar Schools

 

The full minute and text for each adopted motion is below.

47a

Local Government reorganisation

Minutes:

Councillor Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor Fooks, proposed Councillor Gant’s submitted motion:

Council notes that government is still open to practical suggestions for local government reorganisation.

Council notes that the benefits are far more likely to be achieved if council leaders in Oxfordshire are serious about reaching a consensus.

Council also notes that both of the recently-commissioned reports identified strengths and weaknesses in each proposal, and made recommendations for addressing them.

Council believes these recommendations are capable of forming the basis for further discussion.

Council therefore:

·           Calls on all council leaders in the county to resume talks about a workable model of local government reorganisation, with the express intention of reaching a workable consensus, and with the primary objective of achieving the best outcomes for the people of Oxford in terms of service delivery and efficiencies, while ensuring local accountability is retained or enhanced.

·           Calls on the leader of Oxford City Council to play a full and constructive part in such talks.

 

Councillor Price, seconded by Councillor Tanner, proposed an amendment:

 

·           Sentence 1: replace 'local government reorganisation' with 'devolution of funding and powers to local government'

·           Sentence 2: replace everything after 'notes that' with 'the government have made it crystal clear that devolution deals will only be agreed with groups of local authorities that make unified and consensual proposals to government' In the section after Council therefore: replace 'local government reorganisation' with 'devolution'.

 

After debate and on being put to the vote, the amendment was declared carried.

 

After being put to the vote, the amended motion was declared carried.

 

Council resolved to adopt the motion as set out below:

Council notes that government is still open to practical suggestions for devolution of funding and powers to local government. Council notes the government have made it crystal clear that devolution deals will only be agreed with groups of local authorities that make unified and consensual proposals to government.

Council also notes that both of the recently-commissioned reports identified strengths and weaknesses in each proposal, and made recommendations for addressing them.

Council believes these recommendations are capable of forming the basis for further discussion.

Council therefore:

·           Calls on all council leaders in the county to resume talks about a workable model of devolution, with the express intention of reaching a workable consensus, and with the primary objective of achieving the best outcomes for the people of Oxford in terms of service delivery and efficiencies, while ensuring local accountability is retained or enhanced.

·           Calls on the leader of Oxford City Council to play a full and constructive part in such talks.

47b

Banning Glyphosate

Minutes:

Councillor Brandt, seconded by Councillor Thomas, proposed her submitted motion:

This Council notes that there is growing evidence that glyphosate is a higher health risk than previously assumed, and that the World Health Organisation has recently upgraded glyphosate to ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’*.

It further notes that other local councils in Britain - Hammersmith & Fulham being the most recent - have already decided to ban the use of glyphosate and other chemicals from all their own operations. This is in the wake of large cities all over the world - such as Barcelona, Hamburg and Paris - who have already decided on a ban, and the Netherlands and Denmark, which have banned the use of glyphosate in urban areas.

In light of the known risk to human health, this Council resolves to ask the City Executive Board to follow the precautionary principle and:

1. Pledge to cut out the use of glyphosate completely from all its in-house operations (including in Parks, and Streetscene) within one year.

2. Consider the one year period until the ban takes effect as a testing period, during which the council will test non-chemical and mechanical alternatives to glyphosate. Banning glyphosate will not result in increased use of other chemical weed-killers.

3. Use the opportunity of the end of the current weed spraying contract in April 2017 to request the contractor ceases to use glyphosate, or find another local contractor who will abide by a glyphosate ban.

4. Grant an exception to the above ban regarding the control of Japanese knotweed, or other invasive species, where there are currently no effective mechanical techniques available. However, in this case glyphosate will only be stem-injected, rather than sprayed, to reduce its spread in the environment.

* “The IARC Working Group that conducted the evaluation considered the significant findings from the US EPA report and several more recent positive results in concluding that there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. Glyphosate also caused DNA and chromosomal damage in human cells, although it gave negative results in tests using bacteria.”(International Agency for Cancer Research (IACR), WHO, Monograph Volume 112: evaluation of five organophosphate insecticides and herbicides, 20th May 2015. http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/pdf/MonographVolume112.pdf

 

Councillor Landell Mills, seconded by Councillor Goddard, proposed an amendment:

After point 4 add:

5. Undertake that the year-long ban on glyphosate is reviewed to assess the cost of using alternative weed controls, their effectiveness and the environmental benefits, and any extra demands placed on staff time.

 

This amendment was accepted by the proposer.

 

After debate and on being put to the vote, the amended motion was declared lost.

 

Council resolved not to adopt the motion set out above.

47c

Housing Benefit

Minutes:

Councillor Hollingsworth, seconded by Councillor Simmons, proposed his submitted motion:

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared carried.

 

Council resolved to adopt the motion as set out below:

Council notes that the government has made a statement about the future of housing benefit in supported accommodation.  Council believes that while the government’s proposed delay in the restriction of housing benefit to the level of the Local Housing Allowance until 2019/20 is welcome, this change still runs the risk of jeopardising the future of hostels and other services such as refuges.  Council believes that the proposed restriction of rents to the LHA level, with the remainder funded by a “top up” of funds locally, relies upon making an adequate level of funding available locally, and also giving certainty to supported accommodation providers to allow them to plan and invest.  Council regrets the decision to insist upon a 1% rent reduction in supported housing for each of the next three years, and believes that, at a time of cuts to other public funding, this will impose unacceptable pressure upon hostel providers in Oxford and elsewhere. 

Council resolves to ask the Leader and Chief Executive to make appropriate representations to our local MPs, and also respond robustly to the forthcoming government consultation on this issue.

47d

Refugees and Immigration

Minutes:

Councillor Landell Mills, seconded by Councillor Goddard, proposed his submitted motion, including his amendments submitted subsequent to publication of the agenda.

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared carried.

 

Council resolved to adopt the motion as set out below:

Council notes:

1.    the refugee crisis over the summer including refugees from Syria but also from other countries; the publication of a House of Lords report on unaccompanied migrant children in July 2016 and the visit by a delegation of senior local government figures to the Calais ‘jungle’ migrant camp in August 2016.

2.    that an estimated 88,000 unaccompanied children are believed to be travelling through continental Europe, falling prey to exploitation and abuse.

3.    and celebrates the generous response of Oxford residents at the ‘Refugees Welcome’ event last September and the excellent ongoing work of Asylum Welcome and other refugee organisations, and confirms its commitment to build on that spirit of welcome.

4.    that Coventry City Council initially undertook to accommodate 50 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, and now houses around 250 refugees.

5.    the significant work of council officers in coordinating a county wide group to welcome refugees, and this week's announcement of a further 10 families

 Council believes and agrees:

1.    that the UK must welcome its fair share of refugees to ease this crisis including unaccompanied refugee children.

2.    that Oxford, as a city of sanctuary, should be at the forefront of the effort to promote safety and inclusion to people seeking refuge and sanctuary.

3.    that refugees contribute a huge amount to local communities throughout the UK.

4.    that, the whole process of resettlement - from assessment overseas, through placement with individual councils, to accessing essential services – must be rooted in the best interests of the child and adequately resourced.

5.    that central Government should make additional funding available to local authorities to help with this and to build capacity, recognising pressures on housing and schools.

6.    that, working together, local and central government can provide safety, stability and support to children in desperate need.

7.    with the comments of David Simmons, Chair of the Local Government Association's Asylum, Refugee and Migration task group, that councils require more funding to cope with the resettlement challenges.

Council therefore:

1.    welcomes the central Government’s commitment in the Immigration Act 2016 to create a resettlement scheme to bring unaccompanied refugee children from continental Europe to safety in the UK, but notes the very slow progress that has been made in implementing a scheme to cater for this highly vulnerable group.

2.    calls council members to sign Liberty’s statement of support, pressuring central government to honour its commitment without delay (https://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/campaigning/protect-refugee-children). 

3.    recognises the important role that the City Council and residents of Oxford have been playing in caring for children and their families seeking sanctuary, and the excellent liaison with the County Council that has been developed over the past 18 months in caring for unaccompanied minors.

4.    urges central  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47d