The film of the Council meeting can be watched here

(full link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4pJxxFfceo )

Minute 36 (d): Councillor Gant declared that he had a disclosable pecuniary interest in the motion as his wife was a member of HMG Natural Capital Committee, and he left the room and took no part in the debate or decision on this item.

Minute 36 (a) Councillor Turner left the room and took no part in the debate or decision on this item as it concerned matters relevant to his secondment to The Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Minutes of the meetings of Council held on:

·         29 April 2019.

·         13 May 2019

·         17 July 2019 (published in the briefing note)

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

Note: Questions on Notice, public addresses, and the responses to these are included in the full minute pack of the previous meeting, from page 17 onwards, and available from the links here:  29 April; 13 May; 17 July

Council agreed to approve as a true and correct record the minutes of:

1.    the ordinary meeting on 29 April 2019

2.    the annual meeting on13 May 2019; and

3.    subject to correction of spellings and republication, the special meeting on 17 July 2019.

The Head of Law and Governance has been notified of a change of membership requested by group leaders.

Council is asked to confirm the following appointments to committees.

·         East Area Planning Committee - Councillor Garden to replace Councillor Wade

Any further proposed changes will be circulated with the briefing note.

Council agreed to appoint Councillor Garden to replace Councillor Wade on the East Area Planning Committee.

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 announced his main civic events since the Annual Council meeting including:

·         The official visit to the city by Prince Harry

·         D Day commemorations and the unveiling of a plaque at Normandy Crescent

·         The Freedom of the City ceremony

·         Events including the Oxford Festival of Arts, the Council of Faiths Friendship walk; and involving his chosen charities and the Council’s twin cities

·         The City Council team maintained their tradition of losing the annual Oxford-Abingdon inter-council bowls match.

The Lord Mayor asked the City Rector, Rev Anthony Buckley to introduce himself and his role. Rev Buckley said he was grateful for the kind welcome to the city, and that he saw his role as city rector as being available to councillors and staff and representing those who valued the council’s work. He extended an open invitation to councillors to meet and talk with him.

The Sheriff announced the events he had attended including the Friendship walk, nursery visits, and the annual cattle roundup on Port Meadow followed by losing the Aunt Sally match to the Freemen.

The Leader of the Council announced that she had appointed Councillor Djafari-Marbini as the Council’s Migrant Champion.

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Board member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 11.12, 11.13, and 11.14 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 Tuesday 16 July 2019.

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 up to three minutes for each question.

There were no addresses or questions.

The Head of Housing Services submitted a report proposing changes to the arrangements between the Council’s group of Housing companies and the Council’s Housing Revenue Account for the delivery of affordable housing in response to recent government policy changes and recommending a review of future Oxford City Housing Limited (OCHL) development with a view to expanding activity and accelerating affordable housing delivery to Cabinet on 29 May 2019.

The minutes of this meeting are available at Item 16 of this agenda.

Councillor Rowley, the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing, will present the report.

Recommendations: Cabinet recommends that Council:

1.    increase the HRA capital programme by £45.303m so that adequate additional budgetary provision is made available for the acquisitions to take place ( see Appendix 1 of the report);

2.    approve a revised HRA budget and Business Plan that incorporates the new acquired dwellings that impacts on rental income, maintenance spend, interest payments, debt redemption activity and other matters as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

3.    approve the re-phasing of the loans from the  General Fund Capital Programme in relation to the borrowing activity of OCHL over the MTFP period 2019/20 to 2022/23 (see Appendix 1).

Council considered a report of the Head of Housing submitted to Cabinet on 29 May 2019 proposing changes to the arrangements between the Council’s group of Housing companies and the Council’s Housing Revenue Account for the delivery of affordable housing in response to recent government policy changes and recommending a review of future Oxford City Housing Limited (OCHL) development with a view to expanding activity and accelerating affordable housing delivery.

Councillor Rowley, the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing presented the report and moved the recommendations, which were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to

1.            increase the HRA capital programme by £45.303m so that adequate additional budgetary provision is made available for the acquisitions to take place as set out in Appendix 1 of the report;

2.            approve a revised HRA budget and Business Plan that incorporates the new acquired dwellings that impacts on rental income, maintenance spend, interest payments, debt redemption activity and other matters as set out in Appendix 2 of the report; and

3.            approve the re-phasing of the loans from the  General Fund Capital Programme in relation to the borrowing activity of OCHL over the MTFP period 2019/20 to 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to seeking approval of a revolving loan facility for the Low Carbon Hub IPS (Industrial and Provident Society) to Cabinet on 29 May 2019.

The minutes of this meeting are available at Item 16 of this agenda.

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

Recommendations: Cabinet recommends that Council:

make budget provision of £2.3 million to enable this revolving loan facility to the Low Carbon Hub to be created.

Council considered a report of the Head of Financial Services submitted to the Cabinet on 29 May 2019 seeking approval of a revolving loan facility for the Low Carbon Hub IPS (Industrial and Provident Society).

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

Council resolved to make budget provision of £2.3 million to enable the revolving loan facility to the Low Carbon Hub to be created.

The Head of Community Services submitted a report highlighting the requirements of delivering the OVO Energy Women’s Cycle Tour in Oxfordshire over the next three years (2019, 2020 and 2021) to Cabinet on 29 May 2019.

The minutes of this meeting are available at Item 16 of this agenda.

Councillor Upton, the Cabinet Member for Healthy Oxford, will present the report.

Recommendations: Cabinet recommends that Council:

allocate a budget of £30,000 funded from reserves to pay the City Council’s share of the costs for 2019.

Councillor McManners arrived during this item.

Council considered a report of the Head of Community Services submitted to the Cabinet on 29 May 2019 highlighting the requirements of delivering the OVO Energy Women’s Cycle Tour in Oxfordshire over the next three years (2019, 2020 and 2021).

Councillor Upton, the Cabinet Member for Healthy Oxford, presented the report and answered questions. She moved the recommendations, which were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to allocate a budget of £30,000 funded from reserves to pay the City Council’s share of the costs of delivering the OVO Energy Women’s Cycle Tour in Oxfordshire for 2019.

The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted a report to consider the recommendations in the “Unmet Demand Survey” report (2018) and agree the Policy on Hackney Carriage Quantity Control to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 14 May 2019.

The Committee resolved to accept the recommendations in the report. The minutes of this meeting are availableherealong with the appendices to the attached report.

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

Recommendation: The General Purposes Licensing Committee recommends that Council:

1.    note that there is currently no significant unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles; and therefore

2.    resolve to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

3.    resolve that a further “Unmet Demand survey” be commissioned in 2021, subject to any changes to relevant legislation.

Council considered a report of the Head of Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 14 May 2019 asking for consideration of the recommendations in the “Unmet Demand Survey” report (2018) and agree the Policy on Hackney Carriage Quantity Control.

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

Council resolved to:

1.            to note that there is currently no significant unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles; and therefore

2.            to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

3.            that a further “Unmet Demand survey” be commissioned in 2021, subject to any changes to relevant legislation.

The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted a report recommending amendment to the emission standards for Hackney Carriage Vehicles licensed by this Authority to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 8 July 2019.

The Committee resolved to accept the recommendations in the report. The minutes of this meeting are availablehere.

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

Recommendation: the General Purposes Licensing  Committee recommends that Council :

approve, as set out in the report, the amendment to the approved emission standards for Hackney Carriage Vehicles licensed by this Authority.

Council considered a report of the Head of Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 8 July 2019 asking for consideration of the recommendations in the “Unmet Demand Survey” report (2018) and agree the Policy on Hackney Carriage Quantity Control.

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

Council resolved to approve, as set out in the report, the amendment to the approved emission standards for Hackney Carriage Vehicles licensed by this Authority.

The Monitoring Officer has submitted a report asking for authorisation to extend the terms of office of the council’s independent persons for a further three months to 31 October 2019.

Councillor Aziz, the Chair of the Standards Committee, will present the report.

Recommendation: Council is recommended to authorise the Monitoring Officer to extend the terms of office of the Council’s Independent Persons for a further three months to 31 October 2019.

Council considered a report of the Monitoring Officer asking for authorisation to extend the terms of office of the council’s independent persons for a further three months to 31 October 2019.

Councillor Aziz, the Chair of the Standards Committee, presented the report and moved the recommendations, which were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to authorise the Monitoring Officer to extend the terms of office of the Council’s Independent Persons for a further three months to 31 October 2019.

The Monitoring Officer has submitted a report recommending changes to paragraph 24.14  (Members’ Informal Briefings ) of Part 24 (The Planning Code of Conduct) of the Council’s Constitution .

Councillor Chapman, the Cabinet Member, will present the report.

Recommendations: that Council resolves to:

1.    approve the proposed amendments to Part 24 of the Constitution as set out in the appendix to the report; and

2.    delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to amend the Constitution in line with the changes approved by Council.

Council considered a report of the Head of Law and Governance recommending changes to paragraph 24.14 (Members’ Informal Briefings) of Part 24 (The Planning Code of Conduct) of the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Brown, the Leader of the Council, presented the report and moved the recommendations, which were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

1.            approve the proposed amendments to Part 24 of the Constitution as set out in the appendix to the report; and

2.            delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to amend the Constitution in line with the changes approved by Council.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report setting out meeting dates of the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group.

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

Recommendations: that Council resolves to note the meeting dates of the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group

Council considered a report of the Head of Law and Governance setting out meeting dates of the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group.

Councillor Brown, the Leader of the Council, presented the report and a change to the date of agreement of the terms of reference, and answered questions. She clarified her decision that all of the Council’s companies and joint ventures would report to a Shareholder and Joint Venture Group, comprising all members of Cabinet, which would meet quarterly on dates set out in the report..

Councillor Brown moved the recommendation, which was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to note the meeting dates of the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group and that the terms of reference would now be presented at the meeting on 25 September 2019.

This item has a time limit of 15 minutes.

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

Council had before it the minutes of Cabinet meetings of 29 May 2019; 12 June 2019; and 10 July 2019.

There were no questions on these minutes.

Minute 27 (Seacourt Park and Ride Extension)

Councillor Tanner asked when the work on this project would start and if it was affected by the delays to the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme project.

Councillor Hollingsworth replied that it was anticipated that the project would start and finish very close to the dates set out in the report accompanying that decision. The delay of the OFAS was not predicted to delay this project.   

Minute 42 (Q4 Integrated Performance Report)

Councillor Roz Smith asked who would carry out monitoring and research into the outcomes of the Citizens’ Assembly and about plans to evaluate the recommendations of the Assembly.

Councillor Brown replied that these were not finalised but were part of the ongoing preparation for the Assembly which was overseen by a cross-party group.

Questions on notice from councillors received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.11(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 have been received by the Head of Law and Governance by no later than 1.00pm on 10 July 2019.

All questions submitted by the deadline are published as a supplement with the agenda.

This will be replaced by the full briefing note giving the questions and written responses where available.

38 written questions were asked of the Cabinet members and Leader, and these and written responses were published before the meeting.

These along with summaries of the 17 supplementary questions and responses asked and given at the meeting are set out in the printed pack of these minutes.

The Heads of Financial Services and Business Improvement submitted a report to update Members on Finance, Risk and Performance as at the end of the financial yearto Cabinet on 10 July 2019.

The minutes of this meeting are available at Item 16 of this agenda.

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

Recommendations: Cabinet recommends that Council:

1.    agree the inclusion of an additional £1.53m budget within the Housing Revenue Account in 2019-20 for completion of the Tower Block refurbishment scheme;

2.    agree the inclusion of £200k in 2019-20 in respect of costs to establish a citizens’ assembly together with associated staffing costs for reporting and research.

With the agreement of Council the Lord Mayor took this item just before the break.

Councillor Bely-Summers arrived for the start of this item.

Council considered a report of the Head of Financial Services submitted to the Cabinet on 10 July 2019 update Members on Finance, Risk and Performance as at the end of the financial year.

Councillor Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management presented the report.

Councillor Brown answered questions about the proposals for the Citizens’ Assembly.

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

Council resolved to:

1.    agree the inclusion of an additional £1.53m budget within the Housing Revenue Account in 2019-20 for completion of the Tower Block refurbishment scheme; and

2.    agree the inclusion of £200k in 2019-20 in respect of costs to establish a citizens’ assembly together with associated staffing costs for reporting and research.

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Board member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.12, 11.13 and 11.14 and not related 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 Tuesday 16 July 2019.

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 up to three minutes for each question.

Councillor Haines left before the start of this item.

There were five addresses and three questions to Council.

1.    Racky Wane gave an address asking for support to campaign for climate change to be added to the school curriculum.

2.    Nuha Abdo of the Syrian Sisters Community Group gave an address about the experiences of Syrian refugees in the city and asking for support for English language teaching.

3.    Nabeela Talib and Adam Khan gave an address about their experiences as a foster family and an asylum seeker in support of the City of Sanctuary motion (36b)

4.    Geoffrey Sandford of the Oxford Men's Group asked a question about the Council’s complaints process.

5.    Artwell gave an address asking that the Council maintain the long-established rights of free speech and extend that unreservedly to groups with bookings at the Town Hall

6.    Artwell asked a question about statements made in the press and asking for an apology for these.

7.    Judith Harley gave an address about the responsibilities of councillors who were appointed to outside organisations, in particular appointments as Charity Trustees.

8.    Judith Harley asked a question about the possibility of the Council making a compulsory purchase of William Morris Sports ground in Cowley.

Cabinet members responded to each speaker.

The full text of these speeches read as submitted; responses from the Cabinet members in writing before the meeting; and summaries of any verbal responses given at the meeting are set out in the printed pack of these minutes.

There were three further submitted addresses or questions: these and written responses are included in the briefing note accompanying the agenda.

·         Question from Sue Brough – Action to help people likely to experience hate crime

·         Question from Sarah Lazenby – Use of Roundup weedkiller

·         Address by Alistair Morris, Marston Community Gardening - Lack of information/difficulty maintaining local group.

1.    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.

2.    The reports submitted to this meeting are:

a)    On behalf of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Customer Focused Services – Oxford Safer Communities Partnership Update

The programme of reporting at future meetings is proposed to be:

1 October 2019  Oxford Environment Partnership

3.    As set out in procedure rule 11.15, Members who are Council representatives on external bodies or Chairs of Council Committees who consider that a significant decision or event has taken place may give notice to the Head of Law and Governance by 1.00 pm on Thursday 18 July that they will present a written or oral report on the event or the significant decision and how it may influence future events. Written reports will be circulated with the briefing note.

Council had before it the report of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Customer Focused Services giving an update on the work of the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership.

Councillor Chapman introduced the report and answered questions.

Council noted the report

Council had before it the report of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Customer Focused Services on the work of the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership.

Councillor Chapman introduced the report and answered questions.

Council noted the report.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee will update Council on the work of the Committee and the standing panels.

Documents attached:

·         Scrutiny work plan published 11 July 2019

·         Scrutiny recommendation tracker 2018/19 – as at May 2019

·         Scrutiny recommendation tracker 2019/20– as at July 2019

Council is invited to comment on and note the work plan.

Council had before it the Scrutiny Committee work plan for 2019/20 and the recommendation tracker as at July 2019.

Councillor Gant introduced the report and highlighted the forthcoming work of the committee and that the review groups would be established in September once the new Scrutiny Officer was in post.

He thanked the previous Scrutiny Officer Stefan Robinson who had served the committee and review groups with distinction.

Council noted the report.

This item has a time limit of 60 minutes.

Motions received by the Head of Law and Governance in accordance with Council Procedure Rules by the deadline of 1.00pm on Wednesday 10 July 2019 are listed below.

Cross party motions will be taken first, then motions will be taken in turn from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green groups and non-group councillors 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 20 July so that they may be circulated 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:

a)    Emergency motion on Sudan: end the killings and human rights violations (proposed by Councillor Aziz, seconded by Councillors from the Liberal Democrat and Green Groups)

b)    A City of Sanctuary (proposed by Councillor Djafari-Marbini, seconded by Councillors from the Liberal Democrat and Green Groups)

c)    Making Oxford an Anti-racist City (proposed by Councillor Aziz)

d)    Natural Capital Census (proposed by Councillor Goddard, seconded by Councillor Landell Mills)

e)    Car Free Day (proposed by Councillor Wolff, seconded by Councillor Simmons)

f)     Not penalising school age children for climate change strike action (proposed by Councillor Henwood)

g)    Multilateral nuclear disarmament (proposed by Councillor Tanner)

h)   Tourism Management (proposed by Councillor Wade, seconded by Councillor Harris)

i)     Climate Emergency priorities in new builds (proposed by Councillor Wolff, seconded by Councillor Simmons)

Council had before it nine motions on notice submitted in accordance with Council procedure rules and reached decisions as set out below.

Council resolved to adopt the following motions as set out in these minutes:

a)    Emergency motion on Sudan: end the killings and human rights violations

b)    A City of Sanctuary

c)    Making Oxford an Anti-racist City

d)    Natural Capital Census

The following motions were not taken as the time allocated for debate had elapsed:

e)    Car Free Day

f)     Not penalising school age children for climate change strike action

g)    Multilateral nuclear disarmament

h)   Tourism Management

i)     Climate Emergency priorities in new builds

Proposed by Councillor Aziz, seconded by Councillors from the Liberal Democrat and Green Groups

Cross party motion

This council supports the calls of Oxford’s Sudanese community to hold the Transitional Military Council to account over the killings and abuses of protestors. 

Since the fall of Omar al Bashir on 11th April 2019, Sudan’s transition to democratic, civilian authority rule has been violently quashed and met by human rights violations carried out by the military authorities comprising of the Transitional Military Council (TMC). Rights violations include using rape and sexual abuse as a political weapon, enforced disappearances and imprisonment of protestors, the use of live ammunition and torture against unarmed protestors and attacks on hospitals and health facilities to further target the injured.

Since December 2018 a mass peaceful protest uniting citizens across class and regional lines over the cost of living has developed into a representative protest movement calling for peaceful democratic change supported by Sudan’s independent trade unions, professional associations and opposition political parties.

Doctors, teachers, lawyers, journalists, students and workers are among people who have taken strike action and joined the democracy movement. Many of these individuals are related to or are friends of Oxford residents of Sudanese heritage or Sudanese people who are residents of Oxford.

This council acknowledges the brave and principled work of Oxford’s Sudanese community and wider diaspora to push for accountability over the many decades of human rights violations and crimes against the Sudanese people by the regime.

This council believes the people of Sudan have the right to protest and organise without fear of violence and abuse. 

This council condemns the British government for being complicit in the violence through its cooperation with the Saudi campaign in Yemen (where Sudanese militias are deployed) and through funding Sudanese militias indirectly through EU border policy (the Khartoum process/Rome Declaration 2014).

This council acknowledges and thanks Anneliese Dodds MP and Layla Moran MP for demanding the UK government applies pressure on the Sudanese authorities to end the killings and abuses and ensure there is a democratic transition of power.

In support of the local Sudanese community, this Council asks the Leader of the Council to write to the relevant U.K. Government Ministers in the Home Office and Foreign Office, and to the city’s MPs, asking

1.         that the UK government to condemn the use of violence, rape and sexual violence against protesters, cease all forms of security cooperation with the TMC, and look into imposing sanctions on individuals connected to the regime and figures in the TMC;

2.         that the Home Office provide sanctuary to Sudanese people seeking safety from the regime and its allies;

3.         the city’s MPs to also write appropriate letters to the Home Office and Foreign Office representing the demands set out in this motion.

Councillor Turner left the meeting for the debate and decision on this motion.

Councillor Aziz, seconded by Councillor Harris, and supported by Councillor Simmons, proposed the submitted cross-party motion as set out in the agenda and briefing note.

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

This council supports the calls of Oxford’s Sudanese community to hold the Transitional Military Council to account over the killings and abuses of protestors. 

Since the fall of Omar al Bashir on 11th April 2019, Sudan’s transition to democratic, civilian authority rule has been violently quashed and met by human rights violations carried out by the military authorities comprising of the Transitional Military Council (TMC). Rights violations include using rape and sexual abuse as a political weapon, enforced disappearances and imprisonment of protestors, the use of live ammunition and torture against unarmed protestors and attacks on hospitals and health facilities to further target the injured.

Since December 2018 a mass peaceful protest uniting citizens across class and regional lines over the cost of living has developed into a representative protest movement calling for peaceful democratic change supported by Sudan’s independent trade unions, professional associations and opposition political parties.

Doctors, teachers, lawyers, journalists, students and workers are among people who have taken strike action and joined the democracy movement. Many of these individuals are related to or are friends of Oxford residents of Sudanese heritage or Sudanese people who are residents of Oxford.

This council acknowledges the brave and principled work of Oxford’s Sudanese community and wider diaspora to push for accountability over the many decades of human rights violations and crimes against the Sudanese people by the regime.

This council believes the people of Sudan have the right to protest and organise without fear of violence and abuse. 

This council condemns the British government for being complicit in the violence through its cooperation with the Saudi campaign in Yemen (where Sudanese militias are deployed) and through funding Sudanese militias indirectly through EU border policy (the Khartoum process/Rome Declaration 2014).

This council acknowledges and thanks Anneliese Dodds MP and Layla Moran MP for demanding the UK government applies pressure on the Sudanese authorities to end the killings and abuses and ensure there is a democratic transition of power.

In support of the local Sudanese community, this Council asks the Leader of the Council to write to the relevant U.K. Government Ministers in the Home Office and Foreign Office, and to the city’s MPs, asking:

1.         that the UK government to condemn the use of violence, rape and sexual violence against protesters, cease all forms of security cooperation with the TMC, and look into imposing sanctions on individuals connected to the regime and figures in the TMC;

2.         that the Home Office provide sanctuary to Sudanese people seeking safety from the regime and its allies; and

3.         the city’s MPs to also write appropriate letters to the Home Office and Foreign Office representing the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36a

Proposed by Councillor Djafari-Marbini, seconded by Councillors from the Liberal Democrat and Green Groups

Cross partymotion

This Council reaffirms its commitment to being a City of Sanctuary. We uphold the principles of dignity and respect for all, welcome the paper “Oxford’s Commitment to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants” and ask the Leader of the Council to sign it on the Council’s behalf.

This is an age of growing xenophobia with the globalisation of the far right from Trump to Orban. Here, Hostile Environment policies have blurred the distinction between service provision and immigration enforcement with the most vulnerable having no recourse to public funds (NRPF), and being left destitute.

This Council also commits to:

1.      Flying the “City of Sanctuary” flag on World Refugee Day.

2.      Encouraging our residents to exercise their existing rights in conjunction with organisations such as Asylum Welcome, Refugee Resource, Sanctuary Hosting and our advice centres, ensuring routine access to interpreters and immigration advice.

3.      Working with existing community networks, such as the Syrian Sisters and African Families in the UK to place lived experiences at the centre of service provision.

4.      Encouraging councillors to sign up to a “place of safety” pledge. Both our Oxford MPs have signed the “MPs not border guards” pledge. We are proud to have no embedded UK Visa and Immigration staff in our frontline services. The “place of safety pledge” will communicate our commitment to not being part of immigration enforcement, ensuring all are able to seek confidential advice and representation without fear.

5.      Encourage the Council’s partners to not be part of the ‘Hostile Environment’ by for example providing data to the Home Office to be used for detention and deportation.

6.      Working towards all residents being able to access voluntary and statutory services to meet their basic healthcare, housing, and income needs. The Council has successfully secured funding to further support vulnerable groups by investigating rogue landlords; and helping European Economic Area migrant rough sleepers access accommodation and support services.

7.       Improving access to employment. We have funded four work-based English as a Second Language courses helping migrants to access employment opportunities. We will continue this via implementation of the equalities action plan. This committed the Council to improving understanding of the career paths available, and focused advice for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates. Coordinated action with higher education colleges can ensure all our residents benefit equally from the available opportunities.

And asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Home Secretary asking the government to:

1.         Implement the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into detention, end the shameful practice of “indefinite detention” and work towards the closure of all detention centres.

2.         Honour its commitment to the “Dubs amendment”; Britain will provide sanctuary to 10,000 child refugees over the next ten years (3-5 per local authority).

3.         End NRPF policies and reverse attacks on access to the NHS.

4.         Extend the equal right to vote to all UK residents, regardless of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 36b

Councillor Turner re-joined the meeting at the start of the debate on this motion.

Councillor Djafari-Marbini, seconded by Councillor Wolff, and supported by Councillor Garden, proposed the submitted cross-party motion as set out in the agenda and briefing note.

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

This Council reaffirms its commitment to being a City of Sanctuary. We uphold the principles of dignity and respect for all, welcome the paper “Oxford’s Commitment to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants” and ask the Leader of the Council to sign it on the Council’s behalf.

This is an age of growing xenophobia with the globalisation of the far right from Trump to Orban. Here, Hostile Environment policies have blurred the distinction between service provision and immigration enforcement with the most vulnerable having no recourse to public funds (NRPF), and being left destitute.

This Council also commits to:

1.      Flying the “City of Sanctuary” flag on World Refugee Day.

2.      Encouraging our residents to exercise their existing rights in conjunction with organisations such as Asylum Welcome, Refugee Resource, Sanctuary Hosting and our advice centres, ensuring routine access to interpreters and immigration advice.

3.      Working with existing community networks, such as the Syrian Sisters and African Families in the UK to place lived experiences at the centre of service provision.

4.      Encouraging councillors to sign up to a “place of safety” pledge. Both our Oxford MPs have signed the “MPs not border guards” pledge. We are proud to have no embedded UK Visa and Immigration staff in our frontline services. The “place of safety pledge” will communicate our commitment to not being part of immigration enforcement, ensuring all are able to seek confidential advice and representation without fear.

5.      Encourage the Council’s partners to not be part of the ‘Hostile Environment’ by for example providing data to the Home Office to be used for detention and deportation.

6.      Working towards all residents being able to access voluntary and statutory services to meet their basic healthcare, housing, and income needs. The Council has successfully secured funding to further support vulnerable groups by investigating rogue landlords; and helping European Economic Area migrant rough sleepers access accommodation and support services.

7.       Improving access to employment. We have funded four work-based English as a Second Language courses helping migrants to access employment opportunities. We will continue this via implementation of the equalities action plan. This committed the Council to improving understanding of the career paths available, and focused advice for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates. Coordinated action with higher education colleges can ensure all our residents benefit equally from the available opportunities.

And asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Home Secretary asking the government to:

1.         Implement the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into detention, end the shameful practice of “indefinite detention” and work towards the closure of all detention centres.

2.         Honour its commitment to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36b

Proposed by Councillor Aziz

Labourmember motion

This council notes the following.

·         The increase in racism and hate crime as well as increased incidents by far-right/Nazi groups in Britain.

·         The visit of the UN special rapporteur on racism to England earlier this year who highlighted the:

·         The increase in hate crimes and incidents across the UK after the referendum to leave the EU.

·         The growth in volume and acceptability of xenophobic discourses on migration, and on foreign nationals including refugees in social and print media.

·         The gross human rights violations and indignities that African-Caribbean British citizens referred to as the ‘Windrush generation’ have had to endure as a result of the so-called ‘hostile environment’ policy.

·         The criminalisation of young people from ethnic minorities, especially young black men and British Muslim men. Black men are over-represented in police stop and searches and are over-represented in the prison system.

·         Structural racism is still an everyday reality for people from Black, Asian and other minority and refugee communities. 

·         Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia is on the rise and is being mainstreamed through our political and public discourse.

·         The increase in incidents in Oxford. In 2018, there were 188 racist or racially aggravated crimes reported to the police, an increase of 40% compared to 2017.

This council believes that:

·         Operation Prevent, the government’s counter-terrorism strategy, should be suspended while officials conduct a comprehensive audit of its impact on racial equality;

·         urgent action is required to make Oxford a truly anti-racist city and develop a long term strategy to put into action anti racism work.

This Council therefore

1.    pledges to make Oxford an Anti-racist city;

2.    will work with and listen to people experiencing racism;

3.    and will work with local authorities, trade unions and community groups to achieve this; and

4.    asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Home Office seeking the suspension of the Prevent programme.

Councillor Aziz, seconded by Councillor Rowley, proposed the submitted motion as set out in the agenda and briefing note.

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

This council notes the following.

·         The increase in racism and hate crime as well as increased incidents by far-right/Nazi groups in Britain.

·         The visit of the UN special rapporteur on racism to England earlier this year who highlighted the:

·         The increase in hate crimes and incidents across the UK after the referendum to leave the EU.

·         The growth in volume and acceptability of xenophobic discourses on migration, and on foreign nationals including refugees in social and print media.

·         The gross human rights violations and indignities that African-Caribbean British citizens referred to as the ‘Windrush generation’ have had to endure as a result of the so-called ‘hostile environment’ policy.

·         The criminalisation of young people from ethnic minorities, especially young black men and British Muslim men. Black men are over-represented in police stop and searches and are over-represented in the prison system.

·         Structural racism is still an everyday reality for people from Black, Asian and other minority and refugee communities. 

·         Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia is on the rise and is being mainstreamed through our political and public discourse.

·         The increase in incidents in Oxford. In 2018, there were 188 racist or racially aggravated crimes reported to the police, an increase of 40% compared to 2017.

This council believes that:

·         Operation Prevent, the government’s counter-terrorism strategy, should be suspended while officials conduct a comprehensive audit of its impact on racial equality;

·         urgent action is required to make Oxford a truly anti-racist city and develop a long term strategy to put into action anti racism work.

This Council therefore

1.    pledges to make Oxford an Anti-racist city;

2.    will work with and listen to people experiencing racism;

3.    and will work with local authorities, trade unions and community groups to achieve this; and

4.    asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Home Office seeking the suspension of the Prevent programme.

Proposed by Councillor Goddard, seconded by Councillor Landell Mills

Liberal Democrat member motion

Long-term thinking is key to safeguarding our environment. The creation and introduction of the government’s 25-year environmental plan in 2018 was a welcome step.

Key to the success of the plan is the collection of reliable, consistent data across a range of indicators, from air quality to water quality to urban vegetation, in order to produce a baseline against which progress can be measured. Although vast amounts of data are being collected and analysed, the challenge is to make sure that this is done in a joined-up way using the same methodology and spatial and temporal resolution, at a single point in time, in order to allow meaningful comparison and analysis of variations over time.

In its Sixth Annual Report, the government’s Natural Capital Committee recommends that a comprehensive review of progress against the baseline assets and associated 25-Year Plan goals should be undertaken on a 5-yearly basis to determine direction of change in England’s environment. An Environmental Census will provide the framework and data necessary to ensure that this happens. It will also bring together and harmonise existing datasets to (i) ensure geographical referencing of all records using standard OS grid (ii) ensure date stamping of all records (iii) facilitate open-access. The NCC proposes that the first Environmental Census is undertaken in 2020 to follow the UK’s ‘Year of Green Actions’.

Crucially, mass data collection of this kind cannot be undertaken only by scientists and politicians. The Census will involve the use of novel and emerging technologies (e.g. GIS and Landsat imagery, smart phone apps) and will encourage as wide as participation as possible in collecting data, including citizen scientists, individual landowners and school children.

We believe that Oxford should lead on this vital initiative. Our city can draw a huge resource of commitment and expertise from all its citizens, particularly young people. This Council is uniquely placed to coordinate activity among the many stakeholders in our city who will want to take part. We should set the standard by undertaking now to be part of the Census in 2020. In addition, we should go further by offering to undertake a pilot study.

Council therefore asks the Chief Executive:

1.    To maintain contacts with HMG and the NCC and proactively make clear Oxford City Council’s willingness to act as the lead in the proposed Census in our region;

2.    To offer additionally to conduct a pilot in advance of the main Census;

3.    To open discussions with neighbouring authorities about how best to coordinate action at a regional level.

References:

25 Year Environment Plan, 2018:

NCC Sixth Annual Report, January 2019:

Government response, March 2019 [see in particular recommendation 7]:

Councillor Tidball left the meeting at this point.

Councillor Gant, having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, left the meeting for the debate and decision on this motion.

With Council’s agreement the Lord Mayor extended the time for debating motions to the end of this debate and vote.

Councillor Goddard, seconded by Councillor Landell Mills, proposed the submitted motion as set out in the agenda and briefing note.

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

Long-term thinking is key to safeguarding our environment. The creation and introduction of the government’s 25-year environmental plan in 2018 was a welcome step.

Key to the success of the plan is the collection of reliable, consistent data across a range of indicators, from air quality to water quality to urban vegetation, in order to produce a baseline against which progress can be measured. Although vast amounts of data are being collected and analysed, the challenge is to make sure that this is done in a joined-up way using the same methodology and spatial and temporal resolution, at a single point in time, in order to allow meaningful comparison and analysis of variations over time.

In its Sixth Annual Report, the government’s Natural Capital Committee recommends that a comprehensive review of progress against the baseline assets and associated 25-Year Plan goals should be undertaken on a 5-yearly basis to determine direction of change in England’s environment. An Environmental Census will provide the framework and data necessary to ensure that this happens. It will also bring together and harmonise existing datasets to (i) ensure geographical referencing of all records using standard OS grid (ii) ensure date stamping of all records (iii) facilitate open-access. The NCC proposes that the first Environmental Census is undertaken in 2020 to follow the UK’s ‘Year of Green Actions’.

Crucially, mass data collection of this kind cannot be undertaken only by scientists and politicians. The Census will involve the use of novel and emerging technologies (e.g. GIS and Landsat imagery, smart phone apps) and will encourage as wide as participation as possible in collecting data, including citizen scientists, individual landowners and school children.

We believe that Oxford should lead on this vital initiative. Our city can draw a huge resource of commitment and expertise from all its citizens, particularly young people. This Council is uniquely placed to coordinate activity among the many stakeholders in our city who will want to take part. We should set the standard by undertaking now to be part of the Census in 2020. In addition, we should go further by offering to undertake a pilot study.

Council therefore asks the Chief Executive:

1.    To maintain contacts with HMG and the NCC and proactively make clear Oxford City Council’s willingness to act as the lead in the proposed Census in our region;

2.    To offer additionally to conduct a pilot in advance of the main Census;

3.    To open discussions with neighbouring authorities about how best  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36d

Proposed by Councillor Wolff, seconded by Councillor Simmons

Green member motion

World Car Free Day is on 22 September.  Council notes the recent decisions by local Government in London, Edinburgh, Norwich and others to declare ‘car free’ days covering one or more streets in urban areas and around schools.

Council notes (as set out by the organisation London Car Free Days) that car free days provide many benefits:

1.    improved air quality

2.    enhanced enjoyment of historic settings and improved visitor experience.

3.    increased footfall and dwell times for local commerce.

4.    raised ambition for further pedestrian-priority city streets and secondary centres.

5.    encouragement for people to discover the pleasures of walking and cycling.

6.    an opportunity for local authorities and residents organisations to experiment with and monitor the impact of street closures as pilots for wider or more regular schemes.

Council therefore offers its support for the creation of a Car Free Day in Oxford and asks the Cabinet Member responsible to liaise with the County Council and relevant community organisations with the goal of establishing regular Car Free Days in Oxford.

This motion was not taken as the time allowed for debate had finished.

Proposed by Councillor Henwood

Non-group member motion

Motion

Students or young people of compulsory school age who strike from school relating to climate change should not be penalised for not attending school, or their parents or guardians face fines for non-authorised attendance.

Secondly, absence from school with parental or guardian consent should be marked in school registers as ‘authorised non-school activity’.

Background

Schools are legally required to maintain an attendance register, and they must tell the local authority about pupils who are regularly absent or have missed at least 10 school days without the school’s authority. Some people refer to this system as the 10 yellow card rule.

Schools and local authorities have the legal right to take action for non-attendance. Any student registered with a school can miss school in very restricted circumstances: medical grounds, religious reasons, and transport issues if the LEA have a legally defined circumstance where they have to provide transport.

Reasons for authorised absence from school may include with pre-authorisation – family holidays, funerals, interviews. Currently many schools record student strike action as ‘unauthorised’. If permission is not granted and absence recorded as unauthorised, the parents can be prosecuted.

If a child of compulsory school age who is on the admissions register is found in a public place during school hours, the parents can be prosecuted. On conviction, a fine of up to £1,000 can be imposed on the parents.

The local authority can prosecute a parent for their child’s non-attendance at school, and this does not have to be preceded by a fixed penalty notice.

If a prosecution is successful, the court can order a Parenting Order, supervised by either a responsible person at the school or the local authority. A Parenting Order requires parents to attend parenting classes to support them in improving the child’s behaviour, and also requires them to comply with other conditions. Breaching such an order can lead to a fine.

An alternative is issuance of fixed penalty notices by the local authority, police officers or head teachers to the parents/guardians of children who have irregular school attendance. The penalty is a £60 for each instance, rising to £120 if paid after 21 days but before 28 days. As many schools record strike action as unauthorised attendance, this process could be applied to the parents or guardians of school children seeking strike action for climate change.

Many students in Oxford indeed across the globe are going on strike to draw attention to the climate emergency. We have a collective responsibility to change both as individuals and as members of groups and communities. The actions of our students should be celebrated and indeed lessons from young people learnt urgently.

Council resolves to ask the Leader to

1.      write to our two city MP’s, requesting this motion be presented to parliament,

2.      write to OFSTED and the local education authority to facilitate changes in recording attendance of young people in compulsory education.

3.      write to the portfolio holder for education and the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 36f

This motion was not taken as the time allowed for debate had finished.

Proposed by Councillor Tanner

Labour member motion

Oxford City Council has worked with other Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) for over three decades to promote multilateral nuclear disarmament.

Oxford City Council is particularly concerned about the huge cost to the taxpayer of nuclear weapons, the risk posed by the regular transport of nuclear weapons on Oxfordshire’s roads and the continued threat of nuclear war.

The Council welcomes the International Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).  Around two thirds (122) of United Nations members states have agreed the TPNW. 

Council regrets that the governments of existing nuclear weapon states, including the United Kingdom, refuse to support the treaty.

Oxford City Council calls on the U.K. Government to lead a global effort prevent nuclear war by:

•      Renouncing the options of using nuclear weapons first;

•      Cancelling the replacement of Trident nuclear weapons with enhanced weapons;

•      Actively pursuing verifiable agreements among nuclear-armed countries to reduce, and then eliminate, their nuclear arsenals.

Oxford City Council asks the Chief Executive to write to the U.K. Government and Oxford’s MPs to inform them of this resolution and urge them to take appropriate action.

This motion was not taken as the time allowed for debate had finished.

Proposed by Councillor Wade, seconded by Councillor Harris

Liberal Democrat member motion

This Council has cut its £173K annual contribution (part grant/ part use of property) to Experience Oxfordshire (EO) by £20K from April 2019; by £25K from April 2020; and, from April 2021, EO will receive no grant. It may also lose its City owned base in Broad Street in 2021, which houses the Visitor Information Centre and EO’s offices. Oxford had nearly nine million tourists last year, half a million of whom used the Centre. 15,000 Oxfordshire residents work in the tourist trade.

In February EO won Destination Marketing Company of the Year award, in face of competition from cities with multi-million-pound budgets, and has consistently been praised for punching above its weight despite limited budgets. At the same time as the City Council grant is being slashed to zero, EO will be working flat out to ensure that Oxford is chosen as part of one of the five ‘tourist zones’ in the new Govt Tourism Sector Deal of 28 June. There could be a boost from Government funding, a tourist data hub, and thousands of new apprenticeships.

The City expects EO to take on this new challenge, as well as its existing workload.

Experience Oxfordshire has transformed into a much more commercial business model to help deliver on the promotional aspects, whilst still working to not for profit principles and has attracted significant private sector support. However, EO will need continued Local Authority support to continue to provide destination management and marketing services.

This Council recognised the importance of tourism to Oxford’s economy by establishing a Tourist Management Review Group. Its recommendations were responded to by the Cabinet Member on 29 May, and the proposals below reference these responses.

Council therefore asks the Cabinet to work with officers to explore funding to:

1.            Support EO’s bid to make Oxford one of the UK’s 5 ‘tourist zones.

2.            Develop a shared vision for tourism in Oxford with EO, the Universities and businesses, working to EO’s ambition statement priorities (Recc.1 Response)

3.            Discuss commissioning services from EO as a possible way of providing continued funding to EO and ensure that the Council continues to provide business support in this area. (Recc.3 Response).

4.            Provide an appropriate officer leading on tourism for the Council to work closely with EO to avoid an ‘unsustainable workload’ on the officers (Recc.5 Response)

5.            Discuss with EO and Oxfordshire CC what information they have and need to research on tourist coaches e.g. number and movements (Recc.10 Response)

6.            Partner with EO in identifying the digital provision of apps and tourism products (Recc.12 Response)

7.            Partner with EO and Oxfordshire CC to make the case for the Discover England Fund to continue beyond 2019 (Recc.13. Response)

8.            Explore, primarily through the Events Team, closer working with EO and Oxfordshire CC on developing an events strategy (Recc.14 Response)

9.            Support Experience Oxfordshire through a continued finance arrangement for at least an additional 5-year period to enable  ...  view the full agenda text for item 36h

This motion was not taken as the time allowed for debate had finished.

Proposed by Councillor Wolff, seconded by Councillor Simmons

Green member motion

Council :

1.  notes the officer’s report entitled Carbon-Related Issues (Climate Change and Fuel Poverty) which states that the Council is able to require all new homes to be zero carbon.  It reads :

It is Oxford City Council's view that the recently revised NPPF supports the ability of individual Councils to . . . [set] local targets that are in excess of national requirements. In the Oxford context . . . it is essential that such stretching targets are set and are supported by local policy.

2.  notes the Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Plan commissioned by the Council where it reads :

For a truly neutral impact on climate change, the housing would need to be built to standards that exceed the current Building Regulations, and would need to generate a significant amount of renewable energy  (Oxford Local Plan 2036 : Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment)

3.  notes with approval that in Policy RE1 of the draft Local Plan, we are ahead of the field in seizing the opportunity granted by government to require that new homes are, as a minimum, to be built significantly above the government minimum standard, but

4.  notes that we will not require them to be carbon neutral until 2030;

5.  notes that zero carbon homes are possible, feasible and typically cost (according to one recent study (https://eciu.net/assets/ECIU_Zero_Carbon_Homes_-compressed.pdf ) only 1-2% more to build, a cost which is paid back by lower energy bills within a few years;

6.  notes that under policy RE1, houses built from the date of the Local Plan adoption will, without expensive retrofitting which subsequent governments may require, continue to be carbon emitters to the end of the century and beyond;

7.  believes that the draft Local Plan to which we are now committed is inconsistent with the climate emergency declared by us on January 28th which recognised the need for early action.

Council therefore:

1.  asks those members and officers that are representing the Council in the developing of the Oxfordshire Plan (and our own five-year plan review) to give the highest priority to a drive for the earliest possible adoption of zero carbon building standards;

2.  asks those members and officers that are representing the Council in the Growth Board to adopt the same priority;

3.  asks the City Executive Board, as sole shareholder in our Housing Company, to give the highest priority to the construction of zero carbon social housing from now onwards;

4.  asks the City Executive Board, as sole shareholder in Oxford Direct Services, and recognising the national skill shortages in the building trades, to prioritise up-skilling of our workforce in zero carbon quality building and renewable energy systems.

This motion was not taken as the time allowed for debate had finished.