Council heard brief tributes from the Lord Mayor and then stood for a minute’s silence in memory of former Lord Mayors Jean Fooks, Tony Williamson and Lady Patsy Yardley who had recently passed away.

Councillor Malik declared that the decisions at Minutes 88 and 94 affected his disclosable pecuniary interest and he would leave the meeting and take no part in the debate on these items.

Group Leaders may announce and clarify any changes to the nominations for their seats on committees.

Councillor Gant announced and Council noted a change to the appointment to the Liberal Democrat seat on:

General Purposes Licensing Committee - Councillor Wade to replace Councillor Landell-Mills.

Announcements by:

1.    The Lord Mayor

2.    The Sheriff

3.    The Leader of the Council (who may with the permission of the Lord Mayor invite other councillors to make announcements)

4.    The Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer

The Lord Mayor reminded councillors that his annual charity dinner was on 9 March.

He requested, and Council agreed, to change the start time of the Annual Council meeting on 13 May to 6pm for the formal business and 7pm for the Mayor Making ceremony.

The Leader of the Council announced that from 1 March Councillor Tidball would replace Councillor Simm as Board Member for Supporting Local Communities. She thanked Councillor Simm for covering this portfolio during Councillor Tidball’s maternity leave. 

The procedure for this meeting including timings for the debate on the Council’s budget, capital programme and medium term financial strategy as recommended by the City Executive Board is set out in the Council’s Constitution at 11.4.

Any amendments to the procedure must be agreed by majority vote and will only apply to this meeting.

Recommendation: Council is recommended to agree that the times permitted for each stage in the budget debate are as detailed in the Council’s Constitution

Council noted the procedure and agreed that the timings for each stage of the debate would be as detailed in the Council’s Constitution.

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Board member received in accordance with Council’s Procedure Rules and relating to matters for decision in Part 1 of 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 Thursday 7 February.

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

A total of 30 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 up to three minutes for each question.

There was one address to Council from Patrick Coulter (Headington Neighbourhood Forum) in support of the proposed governance review for a community council for

Headington.

The full text of his speech is set out in the briefing note.

Councillor Brown thanked Mr Coulter for his speech and said she hoped that the report would be approved.

Report of the Head of Financial Services on the soundness of the financial proposals before Council.

The Head of Financial Services will present the report and recommendations.

Recommendations: That Council notes this report in setting its budget for 2019/20 and the indicative budgets for 2020/21 – 2022/23.

Council considered a report from the Head of Financial Services on the soundness of the financial proposals before Council. The Head of Financial Services drew attention to the key points including risks and to the levels of the Council’s reserves and balances and contingencies.

Council resolved to note the report and its implications.

On 5 February the Scrutiny Committee will consider its Budget Review Group’s report on the 2019/20 budget before submitting to the City Executive Board for its consideration (report to follow).

The Board’s response will be tabled or reported at this meeting.

The Chairs of the Scrutiny Panel and Finance Panel will present the report and recommendations.

Recommendation: Council is asked to note the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee and the City Executive Board’s response.

Council considered the report and recommendations of the Budget Review Group of the Scrutiny Committee to the City Executive Board meeting on 12 February and the Board’s response. Councillor Fry, Chair of the Budget Review Group, explained the Panels’ approach to scrutinising the budget and formulating their recommendations and drew attention to the key findings in the report.

Council resolved to note the report and the response.

The Licensing and Gambling Acts and General Purposes Licensing Committees considered at their meetings on 23 January reports on fees and charges for the licensing functions falling within their remits.

The draft minutes of the Committees and the reports accompanying the three sets of fees and charges are attached. These fees and charges are also included in the budget papers at Item 9.

The Committee Chairs may wish to present the recommendations.

Recommendations: the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee and the General Purposes Committee recommend:

That Council agree the licence fees and charges for 2019/20 as set out in Items 9a, 9b and 9c (and repeated in Item 10 Appendix 7 (relevant Community Services Fees and Charges and relevant Planning and Regulatory Fees and Charges).)

Councillor Malik having declared this item related to his disclosable pecuniary interests, withdrew from the council chamber for the duration of this item.

Councillors Cook and Clarkson, Chairs of the Licensing Acts Committee and the General Purposes Licensing Committee, presented the report and moved the recommendations for their respective committees.

On being seconded and put to the vote these were agreed.

Council resolved to agree the licence fees and charges for 2019/20 as set out in the appendices to the reports to the committees and repeated in the budget book at Appendix 7 (relevant Community Services Fees and Charges and relevant Planning and Regulatory Fees and Charges).

The Head of Financial Services will submit a report to the City Executive Board on 12 February which presents the outcome of the budget consultation and seeks agreement of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2020-21 to 2022-23 and the Budget for 2019-20 for recommendation to Council (published as a supplementary pack).

The City Executive Board is asked to consider the outcome of the public consultation, agree the amendments to the Consultation Budget set out in the report, and make recommendations to Council. Any changes to the final recommendations to Council and any amendments resulting from the City Executive Board meeting will be tabled at the Council meeting.

Amendments to the budget submitted by opposition groups or individual councillors must be received before 1.00pm on Tuesday 12 February and will be circulated with the briefing note.

Councillor Turner, the Board Member for Finance and Asset Management, will present the report and move the City Executive Board’s recommendations.

The procedure for this item is set out in Part 11.4 of the Council’s Constitution.

Recommendations: Council is recommended to:

a.    consider the City Executive Board recommendations to Council, including the budget published as part of the agenda for this meeting along with any amendments resulting from the CEB meeting of 12 February tabled at this meeting;

b.    consider the substantive amendments proposed by the opposition groups; and published with the briefing note;

c.    consider individual amendments; and

d.    agree the recommendations from the City Executive Board as presented to Council, or with further amendments as decided by Council.

Subject to the recommendations of the City Executive Board at their meeting on 12 February:

Council is recommended to resolve to:

1.    Approve the 2019-20 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and the General Fund and  Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Plan as set out in  Appendices 1-10 of the report, noting:

a)    the Council’s General Fund Budget Requirement of £24.167 million for   2019/20 and an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 2.99% or £8.94 per annum representing a Band D Council Tax of £307.80 per annum;

b)    the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2019/20 of £42.466 million and a reduction of 1% (£1.03/wk) in social dwelling rents from April 2019 giving a revised weekly average social rent of £102.26 as set out in Appendix 4;

c)    the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as shown in Appendix 6.

2.    Agree the fees and charges shown in Appendix 7.

3.    Delegate to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Board Member for Finance and Assets the decision to determine whether it is financially advantageous for the Council to enter into a Business Rates Distribution Agreement as referred to in paragraphs 12-14 of the report.

4.    Ratify their decision to implement the Premium Council Tax of 100% for properties that have been empty for more than 2 years and approve the escalated rate of premium council tax when permitted to do so. (Para 17-19  ...  view the full agenda text for item 89.

Councillor Malik re-joined the meeting at the start of this item.

Council had before it and considered:

·         The report  of the Head of Finance and the budget and medium term financial strategy submitted to the City Executive Board for consideration on 12 February 20189

·         The extract of the draft minutes of that meeting;

·         The Liberal Democrat group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note;

·         The Green group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note;

·         The Head of Finance’s comments on the amendments published with the briefing note;

·         Additional recommendations to, and accepted by, the Executive Board published with the briefing note including a revised Appendix 6 (Capital);

·         One individual amendment submitted and circulated  at the meeting

Councillor Turner, seconded by Councillor Brown, moved the City Executive Board recommendations.

Councillors Haines left and Councillor Corais arrived at this point.

a)    Liberal Democrat group amendments to the budget

Councillor Roz Smith, seconded by Councillor Wade, moved the Liberal Democrat group amendments.

After debate, Councillor Turner called for a named vote on the amendments. This being supported by more than the required 10 councillors, a named vote was taken:

For the amendments – Councillors Altaf-Khan, Gant, Goddard, Gotch, Harris, Landell Mills, Roz Smith, Wade (8)

Against the amendments- Councillors Arshad, Azad, Bely-Summers, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Cook, Corais, Curran, Djafari-Marbini, Donnelly, Fry, Hayes, Hollingsworth, Howlett, Kennedy, Lygo, Malik, McManners, Munkonge, Pressel, Rowley, Rush, Simm, Linda Smith, Tanner, Tarver, Taylor, Turner, Upton (30)

Abstentions- Councillors Simmons, Wolff (2)

With more councillors voting against than for, the Liberal Democrat amendments were not carried.

b)   Green group amendments to the budget

Councillor Simmons, seconded by Councillor Wolff, moved and seconded the Green group amendments.

After debate these were put to the vote.

With more councillors voting against than for, the Green group amendments were not carried.

c)     Individual amendment to the City Executive Board budget as proposed

Councillors Gant and Goddard left before this point.

Councillor Roz Smith, seconded by Councillor Simmons, moved an amendment: Cut communications officer posts by 1FTE and put funds into supporting Experience Oxfordshire and a 0.5FTE Carbon Accountant post (reducing communications posts by £45k and allocating £20k to Experience Oxfordshire and £25k to the part time post) to start immediately and continue for 4 years.

The S151 officer confirmed the proposals were arithmetically correct.

After debate this was put to the vote.

With more councillors voting against than for, the amendment was not carried.

d)   Decision on the City Executive Board budget

After a debate, the recommendations of the City Executive Board including the details of the medium term financial strategy, budget, capital programme, HRA, fees and charges and other matters as set out in the published agenda and briefing note for this meeting were put to the vote.

In accordance with legislative requirements, a recorded vote was then taken:

For the City Executive Board recommendations to Council – Councillors Arshad, Azad, Bely-Summers, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Cook, Corais, Curran, Djafari-Marbini, Donnelly,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

Liberal Democrat Group’s amendments to the revenue and capital budgets, including explanation, for debate.

These will be published in the Briefing Note.

Green Group’s amendments to the revenue and capital budgets, including explanation, for debate.

These will be published in the Briefing Note.

If the City Executive Board agrees changes to the recommendations, or changes or corrections to the published report or appendices, these will be tabled at the meeting.

Individual amendments to the revenue and capital budgets, including explanation, for debate.

These will be published in the Briefing Note.

The Head of Financial Services has submitted a report which sets out the necessary calculation to enable Council to set the 2019/20 Council Tax for Oxford City.

Councillor Turner, the Board Member for Finance and Asset Management will move the recommendations and the Head of Financial Services will be available to answer questions.

Recommendations: subject to the decisions at Item 10 above, Council is asked to approve for 2019/20:

1.    The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £14,201,686 including Parish precepts and £13,941,621 excluding Parish precepts.

2.    The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £307.80 a 2.99% increase on the 2018/19 figure of £298.86. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £313.54, a 3.21% increase (see paragraphs 2 to 6 of the report).

3.    A contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery (see paragraphs 12 and 13 of the report). 

4.    The amount of £603,750 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 19 of the report).

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

Littlemore       £348.68

Old Marston  £340.49

Risinghurst and Sandhills£329.55

Blackbird Leys          £313.44

Unparished Area     £310.35

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £294.47.

Council is also asked to note:

6.    Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 22 of the report.

7.    The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 23 of the report, and

8.     The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,988.65 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner).

A recorded vote will be taken.

Councillor Bely-Summers left before the vote on this item.

Council considered a report of the Head of Financial Services setting out the necessary calculation to enable Council to set the 2019/20 Council Tax for Oxford City.

Councillor Turner, Board Member for Finance and Asset Management, moved and Councillor Brown seconded the recommendations.

In accordance with legislative requirements, a recorded vote was then taken:

For the recommendations to Council – Councillors Altaf-Khan, Arshad, Azad, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Cook, Corais, Curran, Djafari-Marbini, Donnelly, Fry, Gotch, Harris, Hayes, Hollingsworth, Howlett, Kennedy, Landell Mills, Lygo, Malik, McManners, Munkonge, Pressel, Rowley, Rush, Simm, Simmons, Linda Smith, Roz Smith, Tanner, Tarver, Taylor, Turner, Upton, Wade, Wolff (37)

Against and abstentions – none

Council resolved in accordance with the named vote above to approve for 2019/20:

1.    The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £14,201,686 including Parish precepts and £13,941,621 excluding Parish precepts;

2.    The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £307.80 a 2.99% increase on the 2018/19 figure of £298.86. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £313.54, a 3.21% increase (see paragraphs 2 to 6 of the report);

3.    A contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery (see paragraphs 12 and 13 of the report);

4.    The amount of £603,750 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 19 of the report);

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

Littlemore       £348.68

Old Marston  £340.49

Risinghurst and Sandhills £329.55

Blackbird Leys          £313.44

Unparished Area     £310.35

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £294.47.

Council resolved to note:

6.    Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 22 of the report.

7.    The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 23 of the report, and

8.     The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,988.65 including Parish Precepts (the Head of Finance having had confirmation of the Band D figures noted above from the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner).

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 12 February which presents the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 together with the Prudential Indicators for referral to Council.

Councillor Turner, the Board Member for Finance and Asset Management, will present the report.

Recommendations: subject to the decision of the City Executive Board, Council is recommended to approve:

1.    The Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 as set out in paragraphs 15 to 60 of the report and the Prudential Indicators for 2019/20 – 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

2.    The Borrowing Strategy at paragraphs 23 to 35 of the report;

3.    The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at paragraphs 36 to 37 of the report which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account; and

4.    The Investment Strategy for 2019/20 and investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 38 to 59 of the report and Appendix 1 of the report.

Council considered a report of the Head of Financial Services asking Council to approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 together with the Prudential Indicators.

Councillor Turner, Board Member for Finance and Asset Management, presented the report and moved the recommendations which were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to approve:

1.  The Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 as set out in paragraphs 15 to 60 of the report and the Prudential Indicators for 2019/20 – 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

2.  The Borrowing Strategy at paragraphs 23 to 35 of the report;

3.  The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at paragraphs 36 to 37 of the report which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account; and

4.  The Investment Strategy for 2019/20 and investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 38 to 59 of the report and Appendix 1 of the report.

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 12 February which presents the Capital Management Strategy 2019/2020 for referral to Council.

Councillor Turner, the Board Member for Finance and Asset Management, will present the report.

Recommendations: subject to the decision of the City Executive Board Council is recommended to approve the Capital Strategy as attached at Appendix A of the report.

Council considered a report of the Head of Financial Services asking for approval of the Capital Management Strategy 2019/2020.

Councillor Turner, Board Member for Finance and Asset Management, presented the report and moved the recommendations which were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to approve the Capital Strategy as attached at Appendix A of the report.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report to brief Council on the request to create a community council in the area covered by the 2017 Headington neighbourhood plan referendum.

Councillor Brown, Leader of the Council, will present the report

Recommendation: That Council resolves to agree the terms of reference for the community governance review for the Headington area.

Council considered a report of the Head of Law and Governance setting out details of a request to create a community council in the area covered by the 2017 Headington neighbourhood plan referendum and the proposed terms of reference and consultation.

Councillor Brown, Leader of the Council, presented the report with changes to Appendix 1: Who carries out the Review?...meeting of Council in October 2019 and confirmed that an email address/ weblink would be included on the pamphlet.

Councillors for the Headington area asked that all city and county councillors in the CGR area see the draft pamphlet before it was issued.

Councillor Brown moved the recommendations which were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to agree the terms of reference for the community governance review for the Headington area as set out in the report.

The Head of Community Services submitted a report to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 23 January 2019 to recommend introduction of emission standards for Hackney Carriage Vehicles and amend the vehicle age limit for Private Hire Vehicles licensed by this Authority.

The minutes of the General Purposes Licensing Committee are attached at agenda item 9c.

Councillor Cook, Chair of the Committee will present the report.

Recommendations: the General Purposes Licensing Committee resolved to recommend Council to:

1.    approve the recommended option for  introduction of new emission standards for Hackney Carriage Vehicles licensed by this Authority;

2.    approve the recommended amendment to vehicle age criteria for licensing of new Low and Ultra Low Emission Private Hire Vehicles.

Councillor Malik having declared this item related to his disclosable pecuniary interests, withdrew from the council chamber for the duration of this item.

Council considered the report of the Head of Community Services and the recommendation from the General Purposes Committee to introduce emission standards for Hackney Carriage Vehicles:

and amend the vehicle age limit for Private Hire Vehicles licensed by this Authority:

vehicle age limit for first licensing of new Low and Ultra Low Emission Private Hire Vehicles to the following “The maximum age for a new Private Hire Vehicle to obtain a license is “less than five years of age” or “less than seven years of age for Alternative Fuel Type Vehicles (Tax Code TC59 definition), OR petrol vehicles (TC 48 definition) OR diesel vehicles (TC 49 definition AND meeting the RDE2 standard), that also produce CO2 emission figures of 110g/km or less as displayed in the DVLA V5 Vehicle Registration Certificate.”

Councillor Clarkson, Chair of the General Purposes Licensing Committee, moved the recommendations which were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

1.    approve the recommended option (set out in the report and above) for the introduction of new emission standards for Hackney Carriage Vehicles licensed by this Authority;

2.    approve the recommended amendment to vehicle age criteria(set out in the report and above)  for licensing of new Low and Ultra Low Emission Private Hire Vehicles.