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 

Items
No. Item

75.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Councillors Brandt, Malik and Simm submitted apologies.

76.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 1 December 2014.

Minutes:

Council agreed to approve the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 1 December 2014 as a true and correct record subject to correcting resolution 8 of Minute 66 to read “that a mechanism be put in place for dealing with special circumstances in relation to Dependent Carers’ Allowances, namely that it be delegated to the Head of Law and Governance and the Committee and Members’ Services Manager” as set out in the report and agreed by Council.

77.

Declarations of Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations made.

78.

Appointment to Committees

Minutes:

There were no appointments.

79.

Announcements

Announcements by:

(1)          The Lord Mayor

(2)          The Sheriff

(3)          The Leader of the Council

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

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor announced that since the last meeting the following had taken place:

-       Chinese economic development officers had visited to investigate local joint ventures;

-       the Broad Street Christmas market;

-       the Christmas fun run in Christ Church Meadow;

-       the Lord Mayor’s Christmas reception;

-       the Lord Mayor’s Christmas carol concert which raised £2,479.15 for the Mayor’s charities;

-       Princess Anne’s visit to the Oxford Farming Conference;

-       The leaving reception for Oxford Brookes Vice Chancellor Janet Beer.

 

He reminded councillors that the Lord Mayor’s charity dinner would be held on 27 March 2015.

 

The Leader of the Council announced:

-       Nominations for the civic office holders for the 2015/16 municipal year would be:

Lord Mayor – Councillor Humberstone

Deputy Lord Mayor – Councillor Cook

Sheriff – Councillor Malik.

-       The Chief Constable’s presentation to councillors would be on 13 April before the Council meeting.

80.

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 11.10 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 27 January 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.

Minutes:

There were no addresses or questions.

81.

Affordable Housing contributions in light of the amended national Planning Practice Guidance pdf icon PDF 276 KB

Report of the Head of City Development.

 

Council is asked to agree how affordable housing contributions will now be sought in the light of the amended national Planning Practice Guidance

 

Council is recommended to:

 

1.    endorse the recommended approach set out in the report and Appendix 4; and

2.    agree that it is not revoking or modifying Policies HP3 and HP4, that they retain the status of up-to-date adopted development plan policies under s38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 but the Council is acknowledging the likely effect of the amended national Planning Practice Guidance.

Minutes:

Council had before it a report recommending how affordable housing contributions will be sought in the light of the amended national Planning Practice Guidance.

 

Councillor Price moved and Councillor Turner seconded the report.

 

Council agreed to:

 

1.    endorse the recommended approach set out in the report and Appendix 4; and

2.    agree that it is not revoking or modifying Policies HP3 and HP4, that they retain the status of up-to-date adopted development plan policies under s38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 but the Council is acknowledging the likely effect of the amended national Planning Practice Guidance.

82.

Street Trading Policy pdf icon PDF 83 KB

The attached report and policy have been submitted to the General Purposes Licensing Committee for consideration at their meeting on 27 January.

 

The report details the responses to the public consultation on the Street Trading Policy review 2014 (attached as Appendix A to the papers for the committee meeting and not reproduced here) and asks the Committee’s to agree the revised Street Trading Policy and recommend this to Council for adoption. The policy to be considered by the Committee is attached.

 

The decision and recommendations of the Committee will be reported in the briefing note along with any additional or replacement recommendations to Council.

 

Council is recommended to:

 

consider the recommendations to Council made by the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 27 January 2015.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Clarkson, Chair of the General Licensing Committee, recommended deferring consideration of this item to the next meeting and Council concurred. The policy was not discussed at this meeting.

83.

City Executive Board Minutes pdf icon PDF 27 KB

Questions to the 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 10 December 2014.

 

2.    Minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014.

 

3.    Minutes of the meeting held on 23 December 2014.

 

4.    Minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2015 (to follow)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council had before it the minutes of the City Executive Board meetings of 10 December 2014, 17 December 2014 and 23 December 2014.

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2015 were not yet available and so would be taken at the next ordinary meeting.

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014

 

On Minute 95, Councillor Fooks asked if the street cleaning standards and information on council’s powers to remove graffiti could be circulated to all members. Councillor Tanner gave assurances this would be done.

 

On Minute 97, Councillor Fooks asked about the results of the budget consultation. Councillor Turner answered that this ran from before Christmas to the end of January and a summary of responses would be included in the  budget report

 

Councillor Simmons thanked the City Executive Board for respecting the scrutiny process when deciding the future of Temple Cowley Pools and Councillor Price thanked the scrutiny committee on their consideration of this issue.

84.

Questions on Notice from Members of Council pdf icon PDF 61 KB

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 Monday 24November 2014.

 

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

Minutes:

Questions were asked of the Board members and Leader and responses given.

 

Board member for Educational Attainment and Youth Ambition, Councillor Kennedy

1.    From Councillor Gant

Following the presentation of the report by the KRM educational organisation to CEB, will the board member acknowledge that the scheme has failed to deliver councils own published target for improvements at KS2? While we wholeheartedly support councils desire to address a significant problem, will he acknowledge that council should have been more ready to consider combining with the similar, more successful, scheme run by the county? Will he support us in calling for the KRM project not to be continued, and for underspent funds, and any further available funds, to be made available for schemes which genuinely address the real educational needs in the city?

 

Written response

I am not sure where Cllr Gant is getting his information from but the comprehensive report presented by Dr Jonathan Solity to the Scrutiny Committee set out very impressive gains in educational attainment in the schools which chose to take up this programme funded by the City Council.

 

Of course KRM is just part of the overall programme designed by and agreed with the schools to meet the ambitious targets for 2016. As it is only January 2015 we do not know whether we shall meet them or not. However, progress is strong as we can see from the recent results for schools across Oxfordshire. The schools which chose to follow the overall educational attainment programme are showing twice as much progress as other schools in Oxfordshire at age 7 and at age 11 the progress is four times as much.  This represents substantial progress towards the 2016 targets, rather than failure.

 

It was always intended that, as soon as possible, that schools would become self-sufficient in the approaches and techniques advocated in the KRM approach. As such there was no long term commitment to funding the KRM programme.

 

We are awaiting the results of an evaluation currently being carried out by Professor Deborah McGregor of Oxford Brookes University. She is currently visiting all the target schools. As part of this process she is asking head teachers what support they would find most helpful to assist them in their continuing journey of raising achievement. We are waiting for her report in early March before deciding how to commit the funding for the next two years.

 

Supplementary question

This programme won’t achieve results if schools do not take part. Would the Board Member agree that without the take up it cannot achieve its stated objectives?

 

Response

This programme is available only to Oxford City schools. Schools using the programme have greater improvements in achievement at ages 7 and 11 than those across the county as a whole. This shows that attainment can be improved in the city and the programme should be supported.

 

Board member for Leisure Contract and Community Partnership Grants, Councillor Rowley

2.    From Councillor Thomas

I'm sure the board member is aware of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

85.

Public addresses and questions that do not relate to matters for decision at this Council meeting pdf icon PDF 32 KB

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 27 January 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.

Minutes:

Nigel Gibson representing Save Temple Cowley Pools - A successful social enterprise in East Oxford, addressed Council. The text of his address is attached to the minutes.

 

Councillor Rowley responded briefly to Mr Gibson.

86.

Outside organisation/Committee Chair reports and questions pdf icon PDF 98 KB

(a)          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 Head of Law and Governance by 1.00 pm on Thursday 29 January 2015 to present a written or oral report on the event or the significant decision and how it may influence future events.

The next programmed report is Environment and Waste (April 2015)

 

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

 

On behalf of Councillor Sinclair, the Head of Environmental Development has submitted a report on the work of the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership.

 

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

Minutes:

Councillor Sinclair moved the report.

 

Councillors commented on the negative impact of potential cuts to domestic violence services, voluntary services generally, and to CCTV across the city; and welcomed multi-agency work. In response to comments, Councillor Sinclair undertook to review how rough sleeping was described.

 

Council noted the report on the work of the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership.

87.

Scrutiny Committee Briefing pdf icon PDF 202 KB

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.

 

Council is invited to comment on and note the report.

Minutes:

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

 

Councillor Simmons moved the report. The executive board had considered several reports from the committee and adopted their recommendations. He outlined the work of the two standing panels and three review panels, in particular the Finance Panel’s work on the budget and their forthcoming discussion on European funding opportunities, and thanked the Chairs of the panels.

 

Council noted the report without comment.

88.

Motions on Notice pdf icon PDF 54 KB

Motions received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.16.

 

Motions received by the Head of Law and Governance by the deadline of 1.00pm on Wednesday 21 January 2015, and as amended by the proposer, are below in full.

 

Substantive amendments to these motions must be received by the Head of Law and Governance by no later than 1.00pm on Friday 30 January. The briefing note will contain any substantive amendments submitted before its publication.

 

MOTIONS ON NOTICE –motions from Liberal Democrat, Green, Labour groups in turn.

 

(1)  Devolution for Councils (Proposed by Councillor Fooks, seconded by Councillor Gant)

 

Liberal Democrat member motion.

 

Council notes:

a) The strong and enthusiastic participation shown by the people of Scotland in a remarkable democratic process leading to the Referendum on 18 September;

b)         The resulting increased discussion on the devolution of powers from central government in Westminster and Whitehall.

 

Council believes:

I.   That power should be devolved to the people in all parts of the United Kingdom;

II. That England is currently ruled by an over-centralised state that fails to reflect localities and regions;

III. That concentrating more power to English MPs in Westminster is not the answer for English devolution and that passing power down to local areas of England is essential.

 

Council therefore calls for the leaders of the three political groups on Oxford City Council to ask Oxford’s MPs to join them in lobbying Government to plan for urgent major devolution of power, including tax raising and spending, from central government to the regions, counties, boroughs & districts and cities of England.

 

and that such lobbying should emphasise:

   that the devolution of powers and finance to English councils be carried out in ways that enhance and strengthen local democratic bodies. This must include agreement that it shall be for local people and communities to decide their form of democratic leadership without having a specific model imposed (for example directly elected Mayors) in return for more powers;

   a recognition that English devolution must include both large cities and county areas, as the many councils not within city regions must also gain greater powers and finance in order to build successful and prosperous futures.

 

Council further asks that this devolution should include consideration of the role that could be played by local elected bodies such as area committees or parish councils within the current district structure.

 

(2)   Reversing NHS privatisation (Proposed by Councillor Hollick)

 

Green Group member motion

 

Council notes that at the start of this year the first private company to run a hospital walked away from its contract. This followed critical findings from the Care Quality Commission around inadequate standards for safety and patient care.

 

Council believes that this example clearly illustrates the dangers of privatisation in the NHS, and is concerned that uncertainty created by private providers could increase now that the Secretary of State’s duty to provide has been abolished by the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.

 

Council welcomes the Private Member’s Bill from Clive Efford  ...  view the full agenda text for item 88.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

(1)     Devolution for Councils

Councillor Fooks proposed her submitted motion, seconded by Councillor Gant:

 

Council notes:

a) The strong and enthusiastic participation shown by the people of Scotland in a remarkable democratic process leading to the Referendum on 18 September;

b)         The resulting increased discussion on the devolution of powers from central government in Westminster and Whitehall.

 

Council believes:

I.   That power should be devolved to the people in all parts of the United Kingdom;

II. That England is currently ruled by an over-centralised state that fails to reflect localities and regions;

III. That concentrating more power to English MPs in Westminster is not the answer for English devolution and that passing power down to local areas of England is essential.

 

Council therefore calls for the leaders of the three political groups on Oxford City Council to ask Oxford’s MPs to join them in lobbying Government to plan for urgent major devolution of power, including tax raising and spending, from central government to the regions, counties, boroughs & districts and cities of England.

 

and that such lobbying should emphasise:

   that the devolution of powers and finance to English councils be carried out in ways that enhance and strengthen local democratic bodies. This must include agreement that it shall be for local people and communities to decide their form of democratic leadership without having a specific model imposed (for example directly elected Mayors) in return for more powers;

   a recognition that English devolution must include both large cities and county areas, as the many councils not within city regions must also gain greater powers and finance in order to build successful and prosperous futures.

 

Council further asks that this devolution should include consideration of the role that could be played by local elected bodies such as area committees or parish councils within the current district structure.

 

Councillor Turner proposed an amendment, submitted in advance of the meeting, seconded by Councillor van Nooijen:

 

Amend III to add before “local areas of England” the words “city regions and local areas of England”.

 

Delete (in the paragraph beginning “Council therefore calls…”) the words “tax raising and spending”, and instead add at the end of the paragraph: “Council believes local government needs more fiscal autonomy – for instance, the ability to levy modest taxes on tourism – but that there should not be an erosion of national solidarity, such that areas with lower tax bases are placed in an even worse economic situation, on the back of the disproportionate cuts they have suffered under the Coalition government.

 

Delete the final paragraph and amend to read: “Council further believes that democratic transparency would be enhanced by introducing single-tier local government to Oxfordshire based upon several district councils becoming unitary, and that such councils should make the greatest possible effort to involve all sections of their communities in decision-making.”

 

After  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

89.

Matters exempt from publication

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)

 

Minutes:

None.