There were no declarations of interest.

Relevant Dispensations: The Standards Committee on 1 September 2018 agreed a set of general dispensations for all councillors, including but not restricted to:

·         setting the Council Tax or a precept under the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 (or any subsequent legislation).

The Lord Mayor reminded Council about his charity function on 15 March 2020 and that he would shortly be visiting the city’s twin towns of Leiden, Bonn and Wroclaw.

The Leader of the Council announced the civic office holders for 2020-21 (subject to the results of the elections on 7 May 2020) had been agreed:

·      Lord Mayor                  Councillor Lygo

·      Deputy Lord Mayor    Councillor Goddard

·      Sheriff                          Councillor Wolff

The Head of Financial Services has submitted a report to the meeting of 13 February 2020 which sets out the necessary calculations to enable Council to set the 2020/21 Council Tax for Oxford City.

The Head of Financial Services has received confirmation from Oxfordshire County Council that their precept figure for 2020/21 is £70,102,622.52 giving a Band D Council Tax of £1,527.44 (para 17 of the report) and from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley that their precept figure for 2020/21 is £9,926,278.74 giving a Band D Council Tax of £216.28 (para 18 of the report). At its meeting on 13 February Oxford City Council set its budget as set out in the reports and minutes of that meeting, resulting in a precept and Council Tax requirement of £14,407,726 excluding Parish precepts.

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

Recommendations: Council is asked to approve for 2020/21:

1.         The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £14,679,191 including Parish precepts and £14,407,726 excluding Parish precepts.

2.         The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £313.92 a 1.99% increase on the 2019/2020 figure of £307.80. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £319.84, a 2.01% 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 9 and 10 of the report).

4.         The amount of £623,305 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 13 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                                      £358.22

                        Old Marston                                  £347.97

                        Risinghurst and Sandhills       £336.47

                        Blackbird Leys                            £319.31

                        Unparished Area                         £316.50

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £300.34.

The Council is also asked to note:

6.         Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 17 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 18 of the report;

8.         The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £2,063.56 including Parish Precepts.

A recorded vote must be taken when voting to agree the Council Tax and associated resolutions.

Councillor Haines left the meeting at the start of this item.

Council considered the report from the Head of Financial Services submitted the meeting of 13 February 2020 which set out the necessary calculations to enable the setting of the 2020/21 Council Tax for Oxford City.

Subsequent to the original publication of the report it was confirmed that:

·         Oxfordshire County Council  had set a precept figure for 2020/21 of £70,102,622.52 giving a Band D Council Tax of £1,527.44;

·         The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley had set a precept figure for 2020/21 of £9,926,278.74 giving a Band D Council Tax of £216.28;

·         At its meeting on 13 February Oxford City Council set its budget as set out in the reports and minutes of that meeting, resulting in a precept and Council Tax requirement of £14,407,726 excluding Parish precepts, giving a Band D Council Tax as set out in the report.

Councillor Brown, the Leader of the Council, proposed and Councillor Hollingsworth seconded the recommendations set out in the agenda.

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

For the resolution set out below:

Councillors Arshad, Azad, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Cook, Corais, Curran, Djafari-Marbini, Donnelly, Fry, Gant, Garden, Gotch, Harris, Hayes, Henwood, Hollingsworth, Howlett, Humberstone, Iley-Williamson, Kennedy, Landell Mills, Lygo, Munkonge, Pressel, Rowley, Rush, Simm, Simmons,  Linda Smith, Roz Smith, Tanner, Tarver, Taylor, Tidball, Upton, Wade, Wolff (39).

Against the resolution: None (0)

Abstentions: None (0)

Council resolved in accordance with the named vote to approve for 2020/21:

1.         The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £14,679,191 including Parish precepts and £14,407,726 excluding Parish precepts.

2.         The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £313.92 a 1.99% increase on the 2019/2020 figure of £307.80. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £319.84, a 2.01% increase (as set out in 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 (as set out in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the report).

4.         The amount of £623,305 to be treated as Special Expenses (as set out in paragraph 13 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                                      £358.22

                        Old Marston                                  £347.97

                        Risinghurst and Sandhills       £336.47

                        Blackbird Leys                            £319.31

                        Unparished Area                         £316.50

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £300.34.

and noted:

6.         Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 17 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 18 of the report;

8.         The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £2,063.56 including Parish Precepts.