Council agreed to adopt the procedure (amended to these minutes) for dealing with the budget debate.

The Lord Mayor made the following announcements:

(1)          The Rainbow Flag would be flown form the Town Hall flag pole on Saturday 22^nd February 2014, to mark the closing of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

(2)          The Commonwealth Flag will be presented to the Council and flown from the town Hall flag pole on Monday 10^th March 2014.

(3)          On behalf of the Full Council, the Lord Mayor congratulated Councillor Laurence Baxter on the announcement of his engagement.

(4)          Val Howlett, was to retire having been an employee with the Council for many years, initially as a telephonist and more recently as a member of Facilities Management.  Council wished to record its thanks and to wish her well in her retirement.

(5)          William Reed, Democratic Services Manager was to retire after 41 years and 8 months service with the City Council.  First as an Assistant in the Information Centre in 1972, followed by positions as a trainee Committee Secretary, Committee Secretary, Principle Committee Secretary and more recently as the Democratic Services Manager. 

Council noted that during his many years of service, William Reed had clerked all of the Committees appointed by Council, most notably the Full Council meeting and the former Highways and Traffic Committee.

Council thanked William Reed for his service and wished him a happy and restful retirement.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Michael Gotch, Mick Haines, Shah Jahan Khan, David Rundle, Val Smith, Louise Upton and Dick Wolff.

None declared.

Public addresses and questions 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 5.00pm on Thursday 13^th February 2014.

Full details of addresses and questions submitted by the deadline will be provided separately prior to the meeting.

No requests to address Council or ask questions were received from members of the public.

The Head of Finance will submit a report under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 which requires him to report to the Council on:

(a)       The robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the calculations of the budget, and

(b)       The adequacy of the proposed financial reserves.

Council will be asked to note the report when setting its budget for 2014/15 and the indicative budgets for 2015/16 – 2017/18.

This report will be circulated separately prior to the meeting.

The Head of Finance submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 which required the Council’s Chief Financial Officer report to Council on:

(a)       The robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the calculations of the budget, and

(b)       The adequacy of the proposed financial reserves.

Council agreed to note the report.

The Head of Finance has submitted two reports which will be submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014 as follows:

(1)          The Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2014/15 to 2017/18 and the Council’s 2014/15 Budget;

(2)          Supplementary Report - Medium Term Financial Strategy 2014-15 to 2017-18 and 2014-15 Budget: A Fair Future for Oxford

An extract from the minutes of the City Executive Board held on 12^th February 2014 will be circulated prior to this meeting of Council.

Council had before it the following:

(1)          Report of the Head of Finance, submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014;

(2)          Supplementary budget report of the Head of Finance, submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014, following the Government’s late announcement of ‘excessive Council Tax’ level;

(3)          Extract from the minutes of the City Executive Board held on 12^th February 2014;

(4)          Supplementary budget report of the Head of Finance, concerning a change to the recommendation of the City Executive Board of 12^th February 2014, on Council Tax discounts;

(5)          Liberal Democrat Group alternative budget proposals;

(6)          Green Group alternative budget proposals;

(7)          A revised Green Group alternative budget proposals (revenue);

Councillor Ed Turner, seconded by Councillor Bob Price, moved and spoke to the Administration’s budget.

Councillor Jean Fooks, seconded by Councillor Mark Mills, moved and spoke to the Liberal Democrat Group alternative budget.

Following a further debate, Council resolved under procedure Rule 11.19(d) to have a named vote. The result of the named vote was as follows:

For the Liberal Democrat Group amendment – Councillors Mohammed Niaz Abbasi, Tony Brett, Mohammed Altaf-Khan, Jim Campbell, Jean Fooks, John Goddard, Graham Jones, Stuart McCready, Mark Mills, Gwynneth Royce, Ruth Wilkinson

Against the Liberal Democrat Group amendment – Councillor Laurence Baxter, Elise Benjamin, Susan Brown, Beverley Clack, Mary Clarkson, Colin Cook, Van Coulter, Stephen Curran, Roy Darke, James Fry, Sam Hollick, Rae Humberstone, Pat Kennedy, Ben Lloyd-Shogbesan, Mark Lygo, Jajjid Malik, Helen O’Hara, Michele Paule, Susanna Pressel, Bob Price, Mike Rowley, Gill Sanders, Scott Seamons, Craig Simmons, Dee Sinclair, John Tanner, Ed Turner, Oscar Van Nooijen, David Williams

Abstentions – None

With more Councillors voting against than for, the Liberal Democrat Group alternative budget proposals they were not carried.

Councillor Craig Simmons, seconded by Councillor Sam Hollick, moved and spoke to the Green Group alternative budget.

Following a further debate, Council resolved under procedure Rule 11.19(d) to have a named vote. The result of the named vote was as follows:

For the Green Group amendment – Councillors Elise Benjamin, Sam Hollick, Craig Simmons, David Williams

Against the Green Group amendment – Councillors Tony Brett, Mohammed Niaz Abbasi, Mohammed Altaf-Khan, Laurence Baxter, Susan Brown, Jim Campbell, Beverley Clack, Mary Clarkson, Colin Cook, Van Coulter, Stephen Curran, Roy Darke, Jean Fooks, James Fry, John Goddard, Rae Humberstone, Graham Jones, Pat Kennedy, Ben Lloyd-Shogbesan, Mark Lygo, Sajjid Malik, Stuart McCready, Mark Mills, Helen O’Hara, Michele Paule, Susanna Pressel, Bob Price, Mike Rowley, Gill Sanders, Scott Seamons, Dee Sinclair, John Tanner, Ed Turner, Oscar Van Nooijen, Ruth Wilkinson

Abstentions – None

With more Councillors voting against than for, the Green Group alternative budget proposals they were not carried.

Amendments

Amendment 1 - Councillor Jean Fooks, Seconded by Councillor Stuart McCready, moved an amendment to the Administration’s budget for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

The Head of Policy, Culture and Communications has submitted a report, on the consultation on the Corporate Plan 2014-2018

This report was submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014. An extract from the minutes of this meeting will be circulated separately prior to this meeting of Council.

Council is asked to:

(a)          To approve the Corporate Plan 2014-2018;

(b)          To delegate authority to the Head of Policy, Culture and Communications to make minor textual amendments where necessary in preparation for formal publication of the Corporate Plan 2014-18.

Council had before it the following (previously circulated, now appended):

(1)          Report of the Head of Policy, Culture and Communications which had also been submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014.  The report detailed the outcomes of the consultation on the Corporate Plan 2014-2018

(2)          Extract from the minutes of the City Executive Board held on 12^th February 2014.

Councillor Bob Price moved and spoke to the report.

Councillor Jim Campbell seconded by Councillor Mark Mills moved an amendment as follows:

In the main Corporate Plan document on page 10, under the heading of Improving Oxford’s City Centre, to add a fourth bullet point as follows:

·                     Working in partnership with the traders to make effective use of the findings of the Retail group’s report on the Future of the Covered Market, to increase footfall in the Market, and to ensure it plays a key role in the City Centre Retail offer.

Councillor Bob Price accepted the amendment and following a vote Council agreed:

(a)          The Corporate Plan 2014-18 as amended;

(b)          To delegate authority to the Head of Policy, culture and Communications to make minor textual amendments where necessary, in preparation for the formal publication of the Corporate Plan 2014-18.

The Head of Finance has submitted a report which presents the Treasury Management Strategy for 2014/15 with the Prudential Indicators for 2014/15 – 2017/18.

This report was submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014. An extract from the minutes of this meeting will be circulated separately prior to the meeting of Council.

Council is asked to:

(1)          Approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2014/15, and the treasury prudential indicators at paragraphs 13 – 28.

(2)          Approve the Investment Strategy for 2014/15 and the detailed investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 29 – 48 and appendix 1, including the changes highlighted in paragraph 9.

(3)          Adopt and approve the Prudential Indicators and limits for 2014/15 to 2017/18 as set out in paragraphs 50-51 and Appendix 2 below.

(4)          Approve the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) statement at paragraphs 18 – 28 which sets out the Council’s policy on repayment of debt.

Council had before it the following (previously circulated, now appended):

(1)          Report of the Head of Finance which had also been submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014. The report presented the Treasury Management Strategy for 2014/15 with Prudential Indicators for 2014/15 – 2017/18

(2)          Extract from the minutes of the City Executive Board held on 12^th February 2014.

Councillor Ed Turner moved and spoke to the report.

Following a debate, Council voted and agreed to:

(1)          Adopt the Treasury Management Strategy 2014/15, and to approve the treasury prudential indicators at paragraphs 13 – 28 of the report;

(2)          Approve the Investment Strategy for 2014/15 and the detailed investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 29 – 48 of and Appendix 1 to the report, including the changes highlighted in paragraph 9 of the report;

(3)          Approve the Prudential Indicators and limits for 2014/15 to 2017/18 as set out in paragraphs 50-51 of and Appendix 2 to the report;

(4)          Approve the Minimum Revenue Provision statement (which sets out the Council’s policy on repayment of debt) at paragraphs 18 – 28 of the report.

The Head of Finance will submit a report on the Council Tax for 2014/15.

This report will be circulated separately prior to the meeting.

The Head of Finance submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which set out the necessary calculations to enable Council to set the 2014/15 Council Tax for Oxford City, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Acts, 1988 and 1992, as amended by the Localism Act 2011.

Councillor Ed Turner moved and spoke to the report.

Council agreed:

(a)          To approve for 2014/15: -

(1)          The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £11,582,179 (inclusive of Parish Precepts). Net of the Parish Precepts, the figure is £11,420,559;

(2)          The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parishes) of £273.53 a 1.99% increase on the 2013/14 figure of £268.19. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £277.40, a 2.01% increase on the 2013/14 figure of £271.93;

(3)          The contribution of £10,000 to the Parish of Old Marston in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery;

(4)          The amount of £495,020 to be treated as Special Expenses;

(5)          The Band D Council Taxes for the various areas of the City (excluding the Police and County Council’s additions) as follows:-

                        Littlemore                                           £293.24

                        Old Marston                                      £302.24

                        Risinghurst and Sandhills             £290.03

                        Blackbird Leys                                  £270.91

                        Unparished Area                             £275.78

These figures include the Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £261.67.

(b)          To note:

(1)          Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 26 of the Officers report;

(2)          The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 27 of the Officers report;

(3)          The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,646.32 including Parish Precepts.

If Council wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any aspects of the preceding agenda items it will be necessary for Council to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 specifying the grounds on which their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act if and so long as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(The Access to Information Procedure Rules – Section 15 of the Council’s Constitution – sets out the conditions under which the public can be excluded from meetings of the Council.

None.