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 5.00pm on 2 February.

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 or question.

Council heard addresses from members of the public. The full text of the addresses where these were delivered as submitted and questions and responses are in the supplement to these minutes.

1. Alasdair de Voil, ILoveOxford Tours Director delivered an address requesting scrutiny of the contractual arrangements for the provision of tourism information services (address attached).

Councillor Price drew the speaker’s attention to the written response in the supplement (response attached)

2. Roger Parry, Summertown Stars AFC delivered an address  requesting Council to provide Facilities at Five Mile Drive Recreation Ground from September 2016. He presented a petition with over 500 signatures.

Councillor Lygo, the Board Member, replied, saying in summary:

The old pavilion facility at Five Mile Drive is being demolished due to its poor condition. It was previously used by Summertown Stars for toilet facilities, storage and to be able to make hot drinks. As a replacement we recently provided the club with a mobile unit which has toilet facilities, storage, areas to make hot drinks and a space for officials to use if needed. We will leave this facility on the site for the immediate future while we work with the club around alternate funding options at Five Mile Drive. Without raising expectations we will work with you to improve facilities.

We have worked closely with the club and the Oxfordshire F.A over the past few years. Currently we are undertaking a major refurbishment at Cutteslowe Park lower pavilion which is the main home of Summertown Stars. This is a significant investment from Oxford City Council, Football Foundation and Sport England of around £750,000.

And also be aware that there will be a meeting between relevant parties to look at the issues around the pavilion’s maintenance.

3. Nigel Gibson, Save Temple Cowley Pools delivered an address titled Closing Temple Cowley Pools -  the consequences (address attached).

Councillor Lygo, the Board Member, replied summarising the current usage of the replacement facilities.

4. Oxford University Student Union President Becky Howe delivered an address in support of the motion titled ‘Scrapping of student grants and curbing of access to higher education for disadvantaged young people’ (address attached).

Councillors Rowley and Hayes thanked Ms Howe for addressing the meeting.

5. Patrick McDonald, Oxford Catalyst Ventures Ltd delivered an address titled a growing social injustice - building starter-homes for first time buyers in Oxford (address attached).

Councillors Rowley and Hollingsworth, the Board Members, replied in summary that as even housing for purchase at 80% of market rate is unaffordable for most people in Oxford, this is why we will continue to focus our limited resources on providing affordable rented housing. However the speaker made some very good points and suggestions and Board Members would be happy to continue discussions with Mr McDonald to find ways to provide the housing people in Oxford need. The Council had launched a review of the local plan and in due course would be seeking comments on this.

6. Jane Alexander and Heather Dalitz delivered an address titled Oxford - Health Consequences of Poor Decisions (address delivered as attached with additional comments).

Councillor Lygo, the Board Member, gave a brief reply.

7. Judith Harley asked a question about land at Cox’s Yard, Temple Cowley (text attached) and also asked why the plot was only fenced off in the last year.

Councillor Hollingsworth , on behalf of the Board Member, referred to the written response published in the supplement:

The land in question was not purchased in 2010: it was acquired as part of Temple Farm, Temple Road for the sum of £2800 on 9/4/1936. Temple Cowley Pool, Library and part of the School were subsequently built on the majority of the site.  The land was officially registered in the City Council’s freehold ownership in 2010 as part of the Voluntary Registration of Title (VRT) scheme. The small piece of land is currently unused as the Council has no direct access. In the short term there are no expectations for use or disposal, due to this issue of access.  Longer term the land may be used to support local development. As far as officers are aware no income has been derived from the land. It may be possible to provide a written answer to the last point.