There were no declarations.

Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 5 December 2016.

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

With a change to Minute 58 to note that the Board Member’s response to Sarah Lasenby’s address was on behalf of all councillors from all political groups, Council agreed to approve the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 5 December 2016 as a true and correct record and that the Lord Mayor should sign these as such.

No proposed changes of membership have been submitted.

Any proposed changes will be circulated with the briefing note.

There were no changes to appointments.

Announcements by:

(1)          The Lord Mayor

(2)          The Sheriff

(3)          The Leader of the Council

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

The Lord Mayor announced

·         the Christmas carol concert raised nearly £3000

·         he had welcomed Princess Anne at the annual Farming conference and had welcomed the Indonesian ambassador on his visit to the city

·         activities to mark World Cancer Day 4 February

·         the holding of the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony

·         there would be an event to mark 1 Day without us on 20 February

·         the annual Oxclean would take place on 3 to 5 March

The Leader announced:

·         he had asked the organisers of the excellent one-day exhibition on Holocaust Memorial Day if this could be displayed for a longer period;

·         congratulations to the council’s tenancy involvement team and the active leisure team in community services on their recent awards.

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 Tuesday 31January.

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.

There were no addresses or questions.

The Assistant Chief Executive submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 15 December 2016 which updated members on recent developments on devolution and makes a recommendation to Council to support in principle the submission of a devolution bid with a governance model based on the current two-tier structure for local government with a combined authority and elected mayor.

The report is attached.

The Leader of the Council will present the report.

Recommendation:

The City Executive Board resolved torecommend to Council that it approves the inclusion of the City Council in the submission of a devolution bid to government for a combined authority and a directly elected mayor

Council considered a report submitted to the City Executive Board on 15 December 2016 which updated members on recent developments on devolution and makes a recommendation to Council to support in principle the submission of a devolution bid with a governance model based on the current two-tier structure for local government with a combined authority and elected mayor.

Councilresolved to approve the inclusion of the City Council in the submission of a devolution bid to government for a combined authority and a directly elected mayor.

The Executive Director for Community Services submitted a report to the City Executive Board on15 December seeking approval for the publication and submission of Oxford’s sustainable energy action plan (‘Low Carbon Oxford: A Route Map to 2020’) to the EU Covenant of Mayors scheme.

The report is available on the agenda for that meeting and is not reproduced here.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Approve the ‘Low Carbon Oxford: A Route Map to 2020’ report and the accompanying Sustainable Energy Action Plan to the European Commission’s Covenant of Mayors initiative.

2.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Community Services to amend and agree the final text and design; and then submit the Low Carbon Oxford: A Route Map to 2020’ report and the accompanying Sustainable Energy Action Plan to the European Commission’s Covenant of Mayors initiative.

The Board Member for a Clean, Green Oxford will present the report.

Recommendations:

The City Executive Board recommends that Councilnotes that the submission of the Sustainable Energy Action Plan to the Covenant of Mayors fulfils the Council’s decision of 20 July 2015 to sign up to the Compact of Mayors as these two initiatives are merging into a single global initiative.

Council considered a report submitted to the City Executive Board on15 December seeking approval for the publication and submission of Oxford’s sustainable energy action plan (‘Low Carbon Oxford: A Route Map to 2020’) to the EU Covenant of Mayors scheme.

Council noted that the submission of the Sustainable Energy Action Plan to the Covenant of Mayors fulfils the Council’s decision of 20 July 2015 to sign up to the Compact of Mayors as these two initiatives are merging into a single global initiative.

This item has a time limit of 15 minutes.

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

Council had before it the minutes of the City Executive Board meeting of 15 December 2016.

On Minute 99, councillors asked whether the Leader was proposing contributing to smart signs on the outskirts of the city to inform drivers of capacity at all park and ride sites; and whether the air quality management plan would be informed by the recent guidelines on air quality and human health. Councillors Price and Tanner said that the council would make use of the information on the impact of air quality on human health and the council would work with the County Council to provide car park management signs.

On Minute 101, Councillor Fooks asked whether the budget consultation had been adequate and meaningful given the 45 responses. Councillor Turner said that he had elected not to widely advertise the on-line consultation and good responses were received.

On Minute 104, councillors asked about the impact of the proposed transfer station on the park and ride; journey times; and whether there could be recycling and reuse of materials directly from the site such as glass crushed for aggregate. Councillors Price and Tanner said that the proposal still had to receive planning permission and those constraints may require a change in location. The use was also constrained by the site’s proximity to a residential area. Redbridge was a large under-used site and other new and enlarged park and ride sites should be available in the next few years.

Council had before it the minutes of the City Executive Board meeting of 19 January 2017 but asked no questions.

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 Monday 30 January.

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

Member of Council submitted 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 these minutes.

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 Tuesday 31 January.

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.

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:

1.         Adam Berry

2.         Sobiah Hussain

3.         Rick Mower, Director of RAW Workshop

4.         Liz Sawyer

5.         Sarah Lasenby

6.         Artwell

7.         Jane Alexander

Board members responded to these addresses.

The Lord Mayor thanked those speaking.

The supplement to the minutes contains the full text and addresses delivered broadly as submitted; summaries where these were not delivered as submitted; and summarised verbal responses from the Board Members.

This item has a 15 minute time limit in total.

The head petitioner has been invited to speak to Council for a maximum of 5 minutes at the start of this item.

Council is asked to consider a petition meeting the criteria for debate under the Council’s petitions scheme in line with the procedure for large petitions.

The full text of the petition is contained in the accompanying report of the Acting Head of Law and Governance.

The petition proposes that: We the undersigned citizens of Oxford’s – Muslims originated from the State of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan ….. strongly urge our Local Council and councillors; national leaders – MP and MEP’s to act now to demand India to stop violent crackdown of innocent civilians in Kashmir Valley. This is the petition motion.

Councillor Goddard has submitted a motion setting out suggested actions in response to this petition and will be asked to propose this.

Should any councillor wish to propose another motion in addition to or different to proposals set out by the petitioner or Councillor Goddard then this will be treated as a second substantive motion to Council. Substantive motions and amendments to Councillor Goddard’s motion on this petition must be sent to the Acting Head of Law and Governance by 10am on 3 February.

Council is recommended to:

·           hear the head petitioner for the petition;

·           debate the proposal to the Council contained within the petition; and

·           decide the action it wishes to take.

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 the head petitioner’s address (attached to the supplement to the minutes) and considered the motions submitted in response to the petition.

Councillor Goddard withdrew his submitted motion asking the Council to take the action requested in the petition. Councillor Chapman proposed the motion submitted by Councillor Rowley and amended this as set out below. On being seconded by Councillor Goddard, debated and put to the vote this was declared carried.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

(1)  Council thanks those concerned members of the public who have addressed and petitioned us on the subject of Kashmir.  We share their grave concern for the safety and welfare of the people of Kashmir; we condemn the violence and lament the loss of life.  We also share the petitioners' hope for a just peace.

(2)  Council believes that a permanent resolution to the Kashmir dispute would bring considerable benefits to the people of Kashmir, enhance the overall peace and security of the region, and bring comfort to many Oxford’s British Kashmiris with their family connections there.

(3)  To those ends, Council calls on both elected Members of Parliament of Oxford and on MEPs living in Oxford to urge the Government to engage with international partners to:

(a)  Press all sides in the dispute to condemn all political violence and any abuse of human rights, in particular the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, and observe all international standards of human rights;

(b)  Insist that all sides permit unimpeded access for international human rights monitors throughout Kashmir;

(c)  Involve the people of Kashmir themselves in any dialogue as well as the state parties to the dispute;

(d)  Protect civilians, promote peace, and work toward a negotiated and democratic solution that will allow the people of Kashmir to exercise their right to decide their own future free from coercion and intimidation.

1.    On behalf of Councillor Price, the Policy and Partnerships Manager has submitted a report to provide members with an update on the key Oxfordshire wide partnerships

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

2.    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:

·         April 2017: Oxfordshire Strategic Partnership

3.    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 2 February that they wish present a written or oral report on the event or the significant decision and how it may influence future events.

Council had before it a report from the Economic Development Manager (submitted on behalf of Councillor Price)giving an update on the work of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Council notedthe report.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee has submitted a report which updates Council on the activities of scrutiny and other non-executive Councillors and the implementation of recommendations since the last meeting of Council.

Council is invited to comment on and note the report.

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

Councillor Gant moved the report; thanked Councillor Tidball and the devolution review group for their work; reported that the Finance review group had concluded their work on the budget; and reported that Councillor Coulter would be chairing the new Health Inequality Panel.

He asked for suggestions for review topics.

Council noted the report without comment.

This item has a time limit of 60 minutes.

The full text of motions received by the Head of Law and Governance in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.17 by the deadline of 1.00pm on Wednesday 25 January is below. Motions will be taken in turn from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green, and groups in that order.

Substantive amendments to these motions must be sent by councillors to the Head of Law and Governance by no later than 10.00am on Friday 3 February so that they may be circulated in a report 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, the full text of which is below:

a.    Support the Paris Climate Change Agreement

proposed by Councillor Tanner - Labour member motion

b.    Waiver of fees for interments of stillborns, babies and children

proposed by Councillor Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor Wade - Liberal Democrat member motion           

c.    Avoiding a ‘Hard Brexit’

proposed by Councillor Simmons, seconded by Councillor Brandt - Green member motion

d.    Secondary School Funding and Pupil Places in Oxford

proposed by Councillor Tidball, seconded by Councillor Price - Labour member motion

e.    City Council’s response to One Oxfordshire

proposed by Councillor Simmons, seconded by Councillor Wolff - Green member motion

f.     Supporting Local Social Enterprise

proposed by Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor Hayes - Labour member motion

Council had before it six motions on notice and amendments submitted in accordance with Council procedure rule 11.17, and reached decisions as set out below.

Council adopted motions:

a.    Support the Paris Climate Change Agreement

b.    Waiver of fees for interments of stillborn babies, babies and children

c.    Secondary School Funding and Pupil Places in Oxford

d.    City Council’s response to One Oxfordshire

Two motions were not taken as the time for debate had elapsed:

e.    Avoiding a ‘Hard Brexit’

f.     Supporting Local Social Enterprise

Labour member motion

This Council is deeply concerned by the reported views of the president of the United States about climate change. We welcome the conclusion of the United Nations climate change conference in Marrakesh that the Paris Agreement should be implemented in full.

For the sake of Oxford’s children and grandchildren we again commit this city to playing its full part in tackling climate change. We will continue to work to reduce CO2 and other climate warning gases in Oxford. We will continue to embrace a low carbon future for the benefit of the people of Oxford and the wider world.

We congratulate the residents of Oxford on making big reductions in their carbon footprints at home, travelling and at work. We continue to support the aim of reducing Oxford’s carbon footprint by 40% by 2020, compared to levels in 2005. In line with the Paris Agreement target, we pledge to work in partnership with others to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across Oxford within the second half of the century.  As part of this commitment we also pledge that the Council will, by 2050, use only 100% renewable energy. We ask the City Executive Board to set appropriate interim targets to ensure that these pledges are achieved.

Oxford City Council will carry-on reducing its own carbon footprint by at least 5% a year every year. We will continue to work with Low Carbon Oxford, the Low Carbon Hub, the Covenant of Mayors, Climate Alliance and others to reduce carbon emissions across the whole of Oxford city.

We call on our MPs and MEPs to do all they can to support the Paris Climate Change Agreement. We call on the other councils of Oxfordshire, our twin cities and everyone in Oxford to redouble their efforts to prevent the over-heating of our planet.

Councillor Tanner proposed his submitted motion, seconded by Councillor Landell Mills.

Councillor Simmons proposed his amendment, seconded by Councillor Brandt.

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 was declared carried.

Council resolved to adopt the motion as set out below:

This Council is deeply concerned by the reported views of the president of the United States about climate change. We welcome the conclusion of the United Nations climate change conference in Marrakesh that the Paris Agreement should be implemented in full.

For the sake of Oxford’s children and grandchildren we again commit this city to playing its full part in tackling climate change. We will continue to work to reduce CO2 and other climate warming gases in Oxford. We will continue to embrace a low carbon future for the benefit of the people of Oxford and the wider world.

We congratulate the residents of Oxford on making big reductions in their carbon footprints at home, travelling and at work. We continue to support the aim of reducing Oxford’s carbon footprint by 40% by 2020, compared to levels in 2005. In line with the Paris Agreement target, we pledge to work in partnership with others to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across Oxford within the second half of the century.  As part of this commitment we also pledge that the Council will, by 2050, use only 100% renewable energy. We ask the City Executive Board to set appropriate interim targets to ensure that these pledges are achieved.

Oxford City Council will carry-on reducing its own carbon footprint by at least 5% a year every year. We will continue to work with Low Carbon Oxford, the Low Carbon Hub, the Covenant of Mayors, Climate Alliance and others to reduce carbon emissions across the whole of Oxford city.

We call on our MPs and MEPs to do all they can to support the Paris Climate Change Agreement. We call on the other councils of Oxfordshire, our twin cities and everyone in Oxford to redouble their efforts to prevent the over-heating of our planet.

Council is sympathetic to the suffering of families in Oxford who experience the loss of stillborns, babies and children and wishes to support grieving parents as much as it can.

Council notes that the number of interments of stillborns, babies and children in Oxford during the financial year 2015/2016 was as follows:

Botley Cemetery – 7

Headington Cemetery – 2

Wolvercote Cemetery – 6

Total – 15

Council further notes that the average number of such interments between 1998 and 2016 has been 18 per year, with a peak of 23 in financial year 2007/2008.

Income for fees and charges for 2015/16 interments of stillborns, babies and children in Oxford totalled £5,100.

Council notes the debate on baby loss in the House of Commons on 13 October 2016 and the excellent support given by Sands Stillborn and Neonatal death charity, and understands that some local authorities do not make a charge in these circumstances.

Council therefore requests the Chief Executive to investigate whether a mechanism for waiving fees charged by the Council for the burial of children or stillborns of Oxford residents might be introduced.

Reference

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-10-13/debates/721CDF48-A721-4408-AA94-BE694FA1E7FC/BabyLoss

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

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

Council resolved to adopt the motion as set out below:

Council is sympathetic to the suffering of families in Oxford who experience the loss of stillborn babies, babies and children and wishes to support grieving parents as much as it can.

Council notes that the number of interments of stillborn babies, babies and children in Oxford during the financial year 2015/2016 was as follows:

Botley Cemetery – 7           

Headington Cemetery – 2      

Wolvercote Cemetery – 6

Total – 15

Council further notes that the average number of such interments between 1998 and 2016 has been 18 per year, with a peak of 23 in financial year 2007/2008.

Income for fees and charges for 2015/16 interments of stillborn babies, babies and children in Oxford totalled £5,100.

Council notes the debate on baby loss in the House of Commons on 13 October 2016 and the excellent support given by Sands Stillborn and Neonatal death charity, and understands that some local authorities do not make a charge in these circumstances.

Council therefore requests the Chief Executive to investigate whether a mechanism for waiving fees charged by the Council for the burial of children or stillborn babies of Oxford residents might be introduced.

Green Member motion

This Council notes the One Oxfordshire proposals recently published by Oxfordshire County Council which make the case for a single, countywide unitary authority. This will involve the abolition of Oxford City Council.  

This Council has just completed its own cross-party scrutiny review (Devolution Working Group) which looked at both local government reorganisation and devolution.

All these scrutiny recommendations have since been accepted by the City Executive Board. 

This Council believes that the recommendations from the scrutiny review group remain relevant and should form the basis of a robust response from the City Council opposing the One Oxfordshire proposals.

With Council’s agreement this motion was moved to be taken third in the debate.

Councillor Simmons proposed his submitted motion, seconded by Councillor Wolff.

Councillor Gant, having submitted an amendment, withdrew this on the advice of the Monitoring Officer that it would negate the spirit of the original motion.

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

Council resolved to adopt the motion as set out below:

This Council notes the One Oxfordshire proposals recently published by Oxfordshire County Council which make the case for a single, countywide unitary authority. This will involve the abolition of Oxford City Council. 

This Council has just completed its own cross-party scrutiny review (Devolution Working Group) which looked at both local government reorganisation and devolution.

All these scrutiny recommendations have since been accepted by the City Executive Board.

This Council believes that the recommendations from the scrutiny review group remain relevant and should form the basis of a robust response from the City Council opposing the One Oxfordshire proposals.

Labour member motion

Continuing its decimation of funding for our children’s education, the Tory Government’s Fairer Funding proposals  will hit disadvantaged children hardest and will leave 98% of schools facing a real terms cut in per-pupil funding.. That’s an average cut to secondary schools of -£405,611 and an average loss per secondary school pupil of -£477. In Oxford, schools such as the Oxford Academy will face a damaging -£414,208 cut in its funding by 2019 and a -£616 cut per pupil.

This reform will place more pressure on the shortage of secondary school places in Oxford.  The way in which school location and catchment areas have worked has meant that several areas of the city have been unable to count any one school as the school for their local community. Parental choice has simply not been operating effectively. As a result, children have been scattered across many different schools when they go into year 7, leading to the break up of friendships and local peer groups and long bus and cycle journeys across the city. It also causes huge amounts of stress for children with Special Educational Needs. By 2019, there will not be enough places in Oxford secondaries for all the children who are moving up in that year. The proposals for a new free school on the Meadowbrook site are controversial and have been delayed. An interim solution involving temporary buildings on the Cherwell School site, allowing time for a satisfactory long term alternative (possibly on Osney Mead) is being developed. It is vital that measures are put in place within the next few months to meet the 2019/20 ‘bulge’; and that time is given to find the best long term solution to meet the expected pattern of population growth across the city.

Council calls on our local MPs to support the City Council in opposing these funding reductions and calls on the City Executive Board to work with the University, the River Academy Trust and the City Council’s planning team, and to consult with Oxfordshire County Council, to find a satisfactory long term solution to the capacity problems of Oxford’s secondary schools.

Councillor Tidball proposed her submitted motion, seconded by Councillor Price.

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

Council resolved to adopt the motion as set out below:

Continuing its decimation of funding for our children’s education, the Tory Government’s Fairer Funding proposals  will hit disadvantaged children hardest and will leave 98% of schools facing a real terms cut in per-pupil funding.. That’s an average cut to secondary schools of -£405,611 and an average loss per secondary school pupil of -£477. In Oxford, schools such as the Oxford Academy will face a damaging -£414,208 cut in its funding by 2019 and a -£616 cut per pupil.

This reform will place more pressure on the shortage of secondary school places in Oxford.  The way in which school location and catchment areas have worked has meant that several areas of the city have been unable to count any one school as the school for their local community. Parental choice has simply not been operating effectively. As a result, children have been scattered across many different schools when they go into year 7, leading to the break up of friendships and local peer groups and long bus and cycle journeys across the city. It also causes huge amounts of stress for children with Special Educational Needs. By 2019, there will not be enough places in Oxford secondaries for all the children who are moving up in that year. The proposals for a new free school on the Meadowbrook site are controversial and have been delayed. An interim solution involving temporary buildings on the Cherwell School site, allowing time for a satisfactory long term alternative (possibly on Osney Mead) is being developed. It is vital that measures are put in place within the next few months to meet the 2019/20 ‘bulge’; and that time is given to find the best long term solution to meet the expected pattern of population growth across the city.

Council calls on our local MPs to support the City Council in opposing these funding reductions and calls on the City Executive Board to work with the University, the River Academy Trust and the City Council’s planning team, and to consult with Oxfordshire County Council, to find a satisfactory long term solution to the capacity problems of Oxford’s secondary schools.

Green member motion

This Council notes the recent Supreme Court decision which will force the Government to consult Parliament on the triggering of Article 50. 

This Council has previously opposed leaving the EU, as have the majority of the City's electorate (despite the many EU nationals that reside in the City being prevented from voting in the referendum). Groups such as ‘Oxford for Europe’ continue to enjoy high levels of support as witnessed by the recent sell-out public meeting. 

This Council has also previously noted the benefits of EU membership to Oxford and the local economy including the retention of common product and environmental standards and the free movement of people.

This Council is deeply concerned at the recent announcement that this Government, if it wins a Parliamentary vote on Article 50, is committed to negotiating a 'hard Brexit' which goes directly against the wishes of this Council and the people it represents. Announcements by Ministers strongly suggest that, to trade competitively outside of the EU trading bloc, they would be willing to turn the UK into a low tax - low spend - low regulation economy which will mean further austerity cuts, weakening social and environmental standards and diminished worker's rights. All of which will impact directly on this Council and the services we deliver.

An increasing number of progressive MPs are recognising that the only way to prevent a 'hard Brexit' is to try and amend any motion on Article 50 presented to Parliament to ensure that a 'hard Brexit' is no longer the UK's primary negotiating position and, if that fails, to vote against triggering Article 50.

This Council asks the leader to write to our local MPs, on behalf of the elected members of this Council, asking them to join this group of progressive MPs with the aim of preventing a 'hard Brexit'.

References: Council motions on

18 April 2016   Oxford City Council support EU membership                         http://mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=157&MId=3476&Ver=4

5 December 2016 Oxford's future within the EU - motion including amendment http://mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=157&MId=4108 

With Council’s agreement this third motion was deferred till later in the debate to allow debate on the motion ‘City Council’s response to One Oxfordshire’. This was then not taken as the time for debating motions had then elapsed.

Labour member 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 it’s 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.

This was not taken as the time for debating motions had elapsed.