Decisions

Decisions

Use the search options at the bottom of the page to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the council’s committees and officers.

Earlier - Later

Decisions published

24/04/2017 - Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 ref: 1311    For Determination

To report the Council’s application of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Council considered a report of the Acting Head of Law and Governance.

 

Council resolved to note the Council’s use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigative Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) for the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017.

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Jeremy Franklin


24/04/2017 - Arrangements for the appointment of an Interim Chief Executive ref: 1308    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

As Chair of the Appointments Committee, Councillor Price proposed revised recommendations tabled at the meeting.

 

He explained that the Appointments Committee were interviewing candidates for the post of Interim Chief Executive In order to allow a proper handover before the current Chief Executive left it was not considered practicable to wait until Full Council could be convened to confirm an appointment. Council must have an appointed Head of Paid Service as required in law.

 

Council resolved:

1.    to delegate responsibility to and authorise the Appointments Committee to make an appointment to the positon of Interim Chief Executive to replace Peter Sloman; and

2.    that the Appointments Committee has authority to agree the start date and initial period of appointment and other terms of employment of the Interim Chief Executive as the committee considers reasonable; and

3.    that the person appointed as Interim Chief Executive will, as set out in the Constitution, be designated as Head of Paid Service as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, Section 4(1), from the first day of their formal employment in that role with Oxford City Council after the current Head of Paid Service ceases to be employed in the post of Chief Executive.

 


24/04/2017 - Motion on notice proposed by Councillor Simmons ref: 1324    For Determination

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

This motion was not taken as the allowed time had elapsed.


24/04/2017 - Addressing concerns about short-term lets via websites ref: 1325    For Determination

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

This motion was not taken as the allowed time had elapsed.


24/04/2017 - Joint working to address needs of the boating community ref: 1323    For Determination

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Councillor Wade proposed her submitted motion, accepting the submitted amendment proposed by Councillor Sinclair.

 

Councillor Landell Mills seconded the amended motion.

 

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

 

Council resolved to agree the following motion:

 

This Council welcomes the work done by the Board member and City Council officers in consulting with the boating community, riparian owners, the Canal and River Trust and others on the draft waterways PSPO.  This Council notes that on 6 April the CEB approved the following recommendations which were supported by the Scrutiny Committee.

These were as follows:

1. Not to progress the proposal for a Public Spaces Protection Order for the generality of the waterways of Oxford;

2. Commission officers to develop localised solutions to public safety concerns for four identified priority areas;

3. Commission officers to further develop policy proposals that will address public safety and antisocial behaviour problems and improve public enjoyment of the city’s waterways resources.

 

This Council will now continue to develop the solutions on the identified areas with local stakeholders and particularly welcomes the investment and commitment to improving the city’s waterways. This Council now asks the Board member to request officers to continue working with the Canal and River Trust to explore a range of possible measures, which could, if practical, include the following:

a)     a sanitary facility on the Thames in Oxford - currently there is no disposal point for sewage between Abingdon and Eynsham (there is one on the canal at St Edward's but this is difficult to reach from the Thames). The disposal point could also include a waste disposal facility to save rubbish piling up.

b)     a caretaker boater with a boat moored at a city site, to manage over-staying, inappropriate behaviour etc. The City Council would provide a free mooring in Oxford (worth perhaps £300 – £500 p.m.) with the boater performing caretaking duties in exchange, initially perhaps 12 hours p.w. This proposal would involve no cost to the Council beyond the use of a mooring.

 


24/04/2017 - Supporting Local Social Enterprise ref: 1322    For Determination

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Councillor Smith proposed her submitted motion, seconded by Councillor Hayes.  

 

Councillor Gant proposed his submitted amendment, seconded by Councillor Wade.

 

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

 

After debate and on being put to the vote, the motion as originally proposed was declared carried.

 

Council resolved to agree the following motion:

 

Social enterprise is a business that trades for a social and/or environmental purpose. It will have a clear sense of its ‘social mission’: which means it will know what difference it is trying to make, who it aims to help, and how it plans to do it. It will bring in most or all of its income through selling goods or services. And it will also have clear rules about what it does with its profits, reinvesting these to further the ‘social mission’.

Since 2014 Oxfordshire has been designated a ‘social enterprise place’ by Social Enterprise UK: this designation recognises the variety of local social enterprises on our doorstep and makes it easier to stay informed about what local social enterprises have to offer.

 

As a council we already recognise that our procurement power is a mechanism for delivering and realising tangible benefits for local communities.  Over 50% of the Council’s spend is local to Oxfordshire with approximately 27% of this being paid to Small and Medium Enterprises.  Social Value is also a key consideration when high value contracts are let.

 

This Council asks the City Executive Board:

to establish an officer group to identify any further actions to embed the Social Value Act and its principles across the council and encourage the use of local social enterprise suppliers; and to recommend to the Board Member any changes to the Procurement Strategy or rules to achieve this.

 

 


24/04/2017 - Making vacant buildings within Oxford available for the use as temporary homeless shelters ref: 1321    For Determination

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Councillor Thomas proposed his submitted motion.

 

He said he would accept Councillor Rowley’s submitted amendment provided Councillor Rowley agreed a further minor amendment (read out at the meeting as ‘the Council requests the City Executive Board to commission a report from officer to be submitted to the Board no later than September 2017 on the process and procedures that could be used to make empty properties available for use as temporary homeless shelters’).

 

Councillor Rowley agreed to this change and Councillor Thomas then proposed his submitted motion as amended.

 

Councillor Simmons seconded the amended motion.

 

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

 

Council resolved to agree the following motion:

 

Recognising:

        the growing number of individuals sleeping on our streets;

        the dangers of sleeping rough;

        the significant number of long and short-term vacant buildings within the city;

        the potential to move on with their lives and off the street (into permanent accommodation and employment) that a period of stable and safe accommodation could offer many of those current sleeping rough;

The Council requests the City Executive Board to commission a report from officers to be submitted no later than September 2017 on the processes and procedures that could be used to make empty properties available for use as temporary homeless shelters.

 


24/04/2017 - Power to impose a tourist tax in Oxford ref: 1320    For Determination

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

This motion was debated before Minute 102 as there was sufficient time before the scheduled start of the public speaking item.

 

Councillor Wilkinson proposed her submitted motion, seconded by Councillor Goff.

 

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

 

Council resolved to agree the following motion:

 

Council notes that a number of local authorities are currently lobbying for the power to impose tourist bed taxes or “hotel levies”. These include Camden, Westminster, Bath, Birmingham, Brighton, Edinburgh and Cornwall.

 

Council also notes the recent support by the Mayor of London for the introduction of such a levy following the publication for the London Finance Commission by the GLA of Working Paper 83 entitled Options for a tourism levy for London. This report gives details of tourist taxes levied across the world in cities that have a high proportion of tourists.

 

Council recognizes that the British Hospitality Association is strongly opposed to any imposition of a bed tax, and that the VAT rates in the UK on hotel accommodation are much higher than in other EU countries.

 

Oxford is the seventh most visited city in the UK by international visitors and is the tourism gateway to the rest of Oxfordshire. The opening of the new Westgate retail offer is expected to generate increased visits to Oxford. Council welcomes tourism in Oxford as this brings many benefits to the City, however this does bring with it an extra demand for infrastructure and environmental improvements, and cost to the Council of increased workload in some departments, for example Streetscene and Parks.

 

Council notes that there are uncertainties ahead post-Brexit with respect to Oxford’s economy, and that it may be wise to join other authorities in lobbying for the power to introduce and retain a tourism levy.

 

Council therefore asks the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to work with other local authorities representing cities with high rates of tourism to lobby jointly for the devolution of the above power. It further requests that Council writes to Oxford’s two MPs to inform them of this Council’s motion and ask for their support.

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);


24/04/2017 - Minutes of meeting Thursday 6 April 2017 of City Executive Board ref: 1314    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Questions asked of the Board Members on these minutes and their responses are listed below.

·         Minute 159 (d) – Councillor Fooks asked whether the City Council’s views on the workplace levy had changed given the County Council’s comments.

 

Councillor Hollingsworth said it had not.

Wards affected: Marston;


24/04/2017 - Appointment to Committees ref: 1305    For Determination

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

At the meeting, Councillor Price proposed and Council agreed that Councillor Lygo be appointed to the vacancy on East Area Planning Committee for the remainder of the municipal year.


24/04/2017 - Petition - Help re-open Lucy Faithfull House Homeless accommodation ref: 1317    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Council considered a petition meeting the criteria for debate under the Council’s petitions scheme in line with the procedure for large petitions.

 

Council heard an address from Neo, the head petitioner. He spoke about the problems of the (by his estimate) nearly 130 homeless people in the city who needed a home and a safe place to go. Lucy Faithfull House would get people off the streets. Half of the people housed by the Iffley Open House project were in work but had no home - if they stayed on the streets they would lose their jobs. More and more people were forced out of their homes. He had seen at least 20 new people on the city streets coming here from across the county. These were massive failures by government. To solve the issues there needed to be collective responsibility: everyone needed to work together. There was a desperate need for the facilities Lucy Faithfull House could provide.

 

Council considered two motions submitted in response to the petition, circulated before the meeting.

 

Councillor Rowley proposed his motion, seconded by Councillor Turner.

 

Councillor Thomas proposed his motion, seconded by Councillor Gant.

 

After debate and on being put to the vote:

·         Councillor Rowley’s motion was declared carried

·         Councillor Thomas’ motion was declared lost.

 

Council resolved to approve the following motion in response to the petition, as proposed by Cllr Rowley:

 

Council notes the petition, and welcomes the support from the signatories for sustainable solutions to single-person homelessness in Oxford.

As elsewhere in the country, the rise in single-person homelessness is as a consequence of the government’s attack on Social Security, its cuts in mental health provision, and its failure to increase the number of affordable and social homes over the last seven years in government.

 

In noting the petition, Council also observes that re-use of Lucy Faithfull House would not be a sensible proposition, because no need has been demonstrated. All of the LFH beds have been replaced by beds in Oxford with support provided, and existing homelessness provision is not over-occupied. Council also noted, in rejecting the Budget amendment referred to, that there is no way to make LFH sustainable beyond the lifetime of the Budget.

 

Council notes that its current approach to homelessness funding has allowed us to shield vital services affected by County Council cuts and maintain funding for services across the City.

 

Council also notes that it is untrue that "luxury" accommodation is intended to be built on the Lucy Faithfull House site. The site has potential to contribute to the Council's affordable housing strategy, although this will require an agreement with the leaseholder.


24/04/2017 - Minutes ref: 1304    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Council agreed to approve the minutes of 6 February 2017 and 20 February 2017 as a true and correct record of these meetings and that the Lord Mayor should sign these as such.


24/04/2017 - Annual Pay Policy Statement 2017 ref: 1310    For Determination

Review and approval of annual pay policy statement in accordance with legislative requirements,

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Council considered a report of the Head of Business Improvement setting out the Annual Pay Policy Statement in accordance with legislative requirements.

 

Council resolved to approve the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2017 as attached at Appendix 1 to the covering report.

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Helen Bishop


24/04/2017 - Constitution Review 2017 ref: 1309    For Determination

An annual report to propose any required changes to the constitution.

Decision Maker: Council

Made at meeting: 24/04/2017 - Council

Decision published: 23/05/2017

Effective from: 24/04/2017

Decision:

Council considered a report of the Acting Head of Law and Governance setting out proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution.

 

Council resolved to approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report and detailed in appendices 1 to 4:

 

Appendix 1 – Petitions Scheme

Appendix 2 – Contract Procedure Rules

Appendix 3 - Miscellaneous proposed changes

Appendix 4 – Annex to Whistleblowing Policy

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);


16/05/2017 - Appointment of Sub-Committee ref: 1330    Information Only

Decision Maker: Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee

Made at meeting: 16/05/2017 - Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee

Decision published: 17/05/2017

Effective from: 16/05/2017

Decision:

The Acting Head of Law and Governance submitted a report to establish licensing casework sub-committees for the 2017-18 Council year. To deal with casework flowing from the Council’s responsibilities under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005.

 

The Committee’s legal representative presented the report.

 

The Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee resolves to:

 

1.    Appoint as many licensing casework sub-committees of three members as there are combinations of three members in the total number of members of the Committee;

 

2.    Note that the Sub-Committees’ powers and duties are as set out in the Appendix 1 to this report.

 

3.    Agree dates on which the Sub-Committees will meet if required.

 

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);


11/05/2017 - Disposal of 156 Walton Street ref: 1327    Recommendations Approved

156 Walton Street is a HRA property that has become void. The report sets out how the sale of this high value property could generate additional homes for those in need.

Decision Maker: City Executive Board (became Cabinet on 13 May 2019)

Made at meeting: 11/05/2017 - City Executive Board (became Cabinet on 13 May 2019)

Decision published: 12/05/2017

Effective from: 17/05/2017

Decision:

The Head of Housing Services submitted a report which sought approval for the marketing and sale of the freehold of 156 Walton Street on the open market and the use of the resulting receipt to purchase additional affordable homes for households in need.

 

Cllr Rowley, Board Member for Housing presented the report.  He said this was a one off decision to sell off a council house in an expensive area to buy housing in other areas.  The property is vacant and run down and is worth a lot of money.

 

The money from the sale will go towards buying housing in Oxford. It will be rented at the local housing allowance rate to provide affordable housing

 

A further report will be submitted to the Board in July 2017.

 

The City Executive Board resolved to:

 

1.    Approve in the disposal of the freehold of 156 Walton Street and delegate authority to the Head of Housing to approve the actual terms following a marketing exercise.

 

2.    Note that a further report will be submitted to a future CEB setting out the preferred route for purchasing the additional properties once options and the most expedient route have been fully understood.

 

Wards affected: North;

Lead officer: Alan Wylde


11/05/2017 - South Oxford Science Village Planning Application ref: 1328    Recommendations Approved

To request delegated authority to submit a planning application for Grenoble Road.

Decision Maker: City Executive Board (became Cabinet on 13 May 2019)

Made at meeting: 11/05/2017 - City Executive Board (became Cabinet on 13 May 2019)

Decision published: 12/05/2017

Effective from: 17/05/2017

Decision:

The Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services submitted a report which sought approval to join Magdalen College and Thames Water in the submission of a planning application for the proposed South Oxford Science Village at Grenoble Road, to fund the determination of the application including pursuing any appeal processes that may ultimately be necessary

 

Cllr Bob Price, Board Member for Corporate Strategy and Economic Development presented the report.  He said the first instalment of the money had been budgeted for and this report was requesting another $222,000 for the next phase of the application process.

 

Cllr Turner suggested the Board try and foresee potential future project costs during the budget process to avoid mid-term budget requests.

 

The City Executive Board resolved to:

 

1.    Delegate authority to the  Executive Director, Sustainable City, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to join Magdalen College and Thames Water in the submission of a planning application for the South Oxford Science Village and, if necessary, to pursue the application at appeal.

 

2.    Approve pursuing the South Oxford Science Village site through the South Oxfordshire Local Plan process, including examination; and if necessary, through a planning appeal or call-in inquiry.

 

Give project approval for the sum of up to £220,000 representing the Council’s share of the costs in accordance with paragraph 4.5 of the Council’s constitution to cover additional technical studies and a planning application, and a potential call-in inquiry or appeal. This is in addition to the approved current budget provision of £560,000, which covers promoting the scheme through the Local Plan, and provides the basis for a potential planning application.

Lead officer: David Edwards


11/05/2017 - Fusion Lifestyle’s 2017/18 Annual Service Plan for the management of the council’s leisure facilities. ref: 1326    Recommendations Approved

The report will recommend that the City Executive Board endorse Fusion Lifestyle’s Annual Service Plan for the management of the Council’s leisure facilities for 2017/18.

Decision Maker: City Executive Board (became Cabinet on 13 May 2019)

Made at meeting: 11/05/2017 - City Executive Board (became Cabinet on 13 May 2019)

Decision published: 12/05/2017

Effective from: 17/05/2017

Decision:

The Head of Community Services submitted a report which endorsed Fusion Lifestyle’s 2017/18 Annual Service Plan for the continuous development, management and operation of leisure services in Oxford– as recommended by the Leisure Partnership Board.

 

The Head of Community Services outlined the background of the service plan.  He said the leisure centres are very busy and there are challenges for Fusion around wear and tear and cleanliness.

 

Cllr Smith, Board Member for Leisure, Parks and Sport presented the report.  She outlined the focus areas for the following year:

·         To increase participation by 5%;

·         To reduce carbon emissions by 5% each year for example by replacing light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs and to buy a pool cover for the Hinksey Pool.  However there are logistics issues about the shape of the pool. 

·         To promote free swimming classes for the under 17s. We plan to review the timetable for swim school classes with Fusion officers to implement this.

·         A crèche facility at Ferry Leisure Centre is also a priority.

 

Cllr Smith thanked the Leisure and Performance Manager for all her hard work managing the Fusion contract.

 

Cllr Price said the usage targets looked extremely challenging; how realistic are they especially the 12,000 increase in BME visits? The Head of Community Services said Fusion has a good track record which does suggest they will achieve them. They had agreed the targets so they must be fairly confident they can meet them. 

 

Cllr Hollingsworth said there were limitations on collecting data. Are we trying to get existing users to attend more frequently or new users starting?  It is not mentioned in the report.  The Head of Community Services said more work was needed to improve data capture of usage figures, particularly at the Ferry Leisure Centre.

 

Cllr Turner asked about the healthy options in the vending machines. Cllr Smith said it had been piloted at the Leys Leisure Centre and when the contract for the café at Ferry ends later this year, we can change the offer in the vending machines. Both healthy and unhealthy foods will be available.

 

Cllr Kennedy asked about pool maintenance at Hinksey Pool. She said there were maintenance issue that had not been fixed and asked whether it was possible for Fusion to show how they have improved their maintenance schedule. The Head of Community Services apologies for this and said he would look into it.

 

The Chief Executive said he was happy with customer satisfaction, the Council scored 2nd out of 22 local authority leisure centres

 

Cllr Price asked for a progress report on the Horspath Sports village to the Board in September.

 

The City Executive Board resolved to:

 

1.    Endorse the Fusion Lifestyle Annual Service Plan for 2017/18 as recommended by the Leisure Partnership Board.

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Lucy Cherry