Cllr Aziz proposed, seconded by Cllr Railton, that Cllr Lubna Arshad be elected Lord Mayor to the start of the Annual Council meeting in May 2024.

There were no other nominations.

Council were resolved to elect Cllr Lubna Arshad as Lord Mayor of Oxford for the Council year 2023/24.

Cllr Diggins joined the meeting.

Cllr Chapman proposed, seconded by Cllr Upton, that Cllr James Fry be appointed Deputy Lord Mayor to the start of the Annual Council meeting in May 2024.

There were no other nominations.

Council were resolved to appoint Cllr James Fry as Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford for the Council year 2023/24.

Cllr Hollingsworth proposed, seconded by Cllr Kerr, that Cllr Mark Lygo be appointed Sheriff to the start of the Annual Council meeting in May 2024.

There were no other nominations.

Council were resolved to appoint Cllr Mark Lygo as Sheriff of Oxford for the Council year 2023/24.

To make any declarations of disposable pecuniary interests relating to items on this agenda (see guidance note attached to agenda frontsheet).

There were no declarations of interest.

Announcements by:

1.    The Lord Mayor

2.    The Chief Executive

The Lord Mayor announced her chosen charities for the 2023-24 Civic Year were Asylum Welcome, Humanity First UK and Oxford Community Action.

There were no announcements from the Chief Executive.

Council will receive and note a report from the Leader on:

1.    the appointment of the deputy Leader of the Council;

2.    the appointment of up to 8 additional members of the Cabinet;

3.    the responsibilities of the Leader, Deputy Leader, and other Cabinet Members;

4.    the Council’s representative and their substitute on the Future Oxfordshire Partnership (both members of this Council’s Cabinet);

5.    the Council’s representative (and their substitutes) on the Future Oxfordshire Partnership’s four advisory sub-groups (drawn from members of this Council’s Cabinet);

·       Housing

·       Infrastructure

·       Environment

·       Planning (in development)

6.    the appointment of Members of the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group which has responsibility for acting as shareholder of the Council’s companies and for safeguarding and furthering the Council’s interests and investments in its companies and joint ventures.

7.    the Executive Scheme of Delegation as set out in Section 4 of the Council’s Constitution dated 17 May 2023 (and agreed by Council on 20 March 2023); and

8.    any other matters.

The Constitution is available on the Council’s website.

The Leader of the Council congratulated the Lord Mayor on her new role.

She moved her report.

Appointments of Deputy Leader, Cabinet portfolio holders and other executive appointments were detailed in her report circulated to all Councillors and given below:

Deputy Leader and Cabinet appointments and responsibilities

Future Oxfordshire Partnership appointments

Shareholder and Joint Venture Group appointments

Cllr Altaf-Khan joined the meeting.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report requesting Council appoint committees and the members serving on those for the Council year 2023-24 in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (Section 15) and other relevant legislation.

Appendix C will be circulated in the Briefing Note published before the meeting, and any outstanding nominations to committee seats may be announced, or agreed, as appropriate at the meeting.

Recommendations: Council is recommended to:

1.    Approve the structure of the Council committees, as defined within the Council’s Constitution and set out in Appendix A: Committee structure 2023/24;

2.    Approve the methods, calculations and conventions used in determining political representation on committees as outlined in the report and shown in Appendix B: Political proportionalities on Council committees 2023-24;

3.    Appoint to committee seats in accordance with the requirements of political proportionality and the nominations made by political groups, as shown in Appendix C: Committee nominations 2023-24;

4.    Agree that all members of Council will form the pool of members able to observe on appeals and some grievances panels in accordance with the Council’s policies;

5.    Appoint three non-executive members to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership Scrutiny Panel (see Appendix C: Committee nominations 2023-24);

6.    Appoint one non-executive member to the Joint Oxfordshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (see Appendix C: Committee nominations 2023-24).

Council had before it a report from the Head of Law and Governance asking Council to appoint committees and the members serving on those for the Council year 2023-24 in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (Section 15) and other relevant legislation.

On being proposed by Cllr Brown, seconded by Cllr Munkonge and put to the vote, Council approved the recommendations and nominations to committee places.

Council were resolved to:

1.     Approve the structure of the Council committees, as defined within the Council’s Constitution and set out in Appendix A: Committee structure 2023/24;

2.     Approve the methods, calculations and conventions used in determining political representation on committees as outlined in the report and shown in Appendix B: Political proportionalities on Council committees 2023-24;

3.     Appoint to committee seats in accordance with the requirements of political proportionality and the nominations made by political groups, as shown in Appendix C: Committee nominations 2023-24;

4.     Agree that all members of Council will form the pool of members able to observe on appeals and some grievances panels in accordance with the Council’s policies;

5.     Appoint three non-executive members to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership Scrutiny Panel (see Appendix C: Committee nominations 2023-24);

6.     Appoint one non-executive member to the Joint Oxfordshire Health Oxford City Council, Town Hall, St Aldate’s Oxford OX1 1BX Overview and Scrutiny Committee (see Appendix C: Committee nominations 2023-24).

Cllrs Thomas and Sandelson joined the meeting.

Appendix 3 to this item includes exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If Council wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendix 3 to the report, it will be necessary for the Council to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting (as set out at agenda item 9).

The Executive Director (Communities and People) submitted a report to Cabinet on 19 April 2023 seeking project approval and delegations to enable the Council to proceed with entering into the national Local Authority Housing Fund, and make available the required budget provision.

The draft Cabinet minutes are available here.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, will present the report and propose Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendation: Cabinet recommends that Council resolves to:

1.    Approve the allocation of £2,330,320 capital budget from the Housing Revenue Account, for the Council’s investment to purchase the properties as part of Local Authority Housing Fund.

Council had before it a report from the Executive Director (Communities and People) which had been submitted to Cabinet on 19 April 2023 seeking project approval and delegations to enable the Council to proceed with entering into the national Local Authority Housing Fund, and make available the required budget provision.

Cllr L Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report and proposed the recommendations, which was seconded by Cllr Brown.

In response to a question from Cllr Malik, Cllr L Smith advised that homes were allocated to five Ukrainian families and one larger Afghani family. She would write to Cllr Malik to confirm this information. She acknowledged Cllr Malik's point on the hierarchy of asylum seekers in the UK and stated that there were limitations as to how homes were allocated due to certain factors of the government grant that determine who the initial tenants were. She pointed out that once the initial tenants leave these homes, they would be available for the Council to use and house those who need it.

On being put to the vote, Council were resolved to approve the allocation of £2,330,320 capital budget from the Housing Revenue Account, for the Council’s investment to purchase the properties as part of Local Authority Housing Fund.

Cllrs Dunne and Waite joined the meeting.

Appendices 1-6 to this item include exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If Council wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendices 1-6 to the report, it will be necessary for the Council to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting (as set out at agenda item 9).

The Executive Director (Communities and People) submitted a report to the Cabinet Member for Housing on 10 March 2023 seeking approval for the submission of a bid for the contract to deliver the South and Vale Home Improvement Agency and approve the provision of assistance to South and Vale to deal with a backlog of applications for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing will present the report and propose the recommendations.

Recommendation: That the Council resolves to:

1.    Amend the budget to take into account the provision of HIA service to deliver the contract.

Council had before it a report from the Executive Director (Communities and People) which was submitted to the Cabinet Member for Housing on 10 March 2023 seeking approval for the submission of a bid for the contract to deliver the South and Vale Home Improvement Agency and approve the provision of assistance to South and Vale to deal with a backlog of applications for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).

Cllr L Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report and proposed the recommendations, which was seconded by Cllr Brown.

In addition to the report, Cllr L Smith advised that bid had been successful and congratulated the HIA team for winning the contract which was a testament to the quality of service the team provided and a great example of the Oxford Model. She added that the HIA team was up for nominations at the Municipal Journal Awards and wished them the best of luck.

Cllr Brown also congratulated all those involved in the bid and wished them good luck in the award ceremony.

On being put to the vote, Council were resolved to amend the budget to take into account the provision of HIA service to deliver the contract.

Appendix 1 to this item includes exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If Council wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendix 1 to the report, it will be necessary for the Council to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting (as set out at agenda item 9).

The Interim Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report to Council seeking approval to designate the Council’s Monitoring Officer and Head of Law and Governance.

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of the Council will present the report and propose the recommendations.

Recommendations: That Council resolves to:

1.    Designate the newly appointed Head of Law & Governance as the Council’s Monitoring Officer with effect from their start date

Council had before it a report from the Interim Head of Law Governance seeking approval to designate the Council's Monitoring Officer and Head of Law and Governance.

Cllr Brown, Leader of the Council introduced the report and proposed the recommendations, which was seconded by Cllr Munkonge.

On being put to the vote, Council were resolved to designate the newly appointed Head of Law & Governance as the Council's Monitoring Officer with effect from their start date.