None.

None.

Councillor Wade, spoke in relation to item 8 on the Agenda, the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan. She  paid tribute to the work of many individuals, the working groups and Steering Committee  over the previous 6 or more years as the Neighbourhood Plan had been developed. She paid particular tribute to the contributions which had been made in their time by Councillors Jean Fooks and Angie Goff and, more recently, by the officers Tom Morris and Keerpa Patel. The Plan had been developed by the community for the community and reflected local policies and aspirations. In anticipation of Cabinet’s agreement to the report’s recommendations, she  looked forward to its  adoption after a referendum.

None.

None.

Councillor Gant, speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Scrutiny Committee,   spoke briefly to the three reports (Air Quality Status Report; Integrated  Performance Report for Q1; and   Modernising Leisure Concessions) which had been published as a supplement to the agenda, thanking the Board Members for their positive responses to the first two. In relation to the third, Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure & Housing, explained that there was partial agreement to the two Scrutiny Committee recommendations. In broad terms, those who might be affected in the age category 60-65 would be protected by agreeing that they should remain at the same rate with a ‘legacy’ membership. Employment and Support Allowance remained as an eligible criteria and there was an opportunity to consult on the concessions within the fees and charges as part of the budget setting process for 2020/2021. A detailed response to the recommendations would be forwarded to the Committee.

The Head of Planning Services has submitted a report to consider the Examiner’s Report, approve modifications to the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan and agree that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan is submitted to a referendum.

Recommendations: That  Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Approve the Modifications to Policies in the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan as recommended by the Examiner’s Report (July 2019);

2.    Approve the factual modifications that have been made for the purpose of correcting errors and approve the factual modifications relating to textual changes in the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan; and

3.    Agree that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan (as modified in the form at Appendix 4) is submitted to a referendum.

The Head of Planning Services had submitted a report to consider the Examiner’s Report, approve modifications to the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan and agree that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan is submitted to a referendum.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning & Sustainable Transport, introduced the report by echoing the thanks and tributes paid by Councillor Wade with particular reference to the contributions of  Councillors Fooks and Goff.  The Plan, having now been modified as recommended by the Examiner’s Report, was ready to be submitted to a referendum as was required.

The Chair added her thanks to all those who had contributed to this important piece of work over several years.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Approve the Modifications to Policies in the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan as recommended by the Examiner’s Report (July 2019);

2.    Approve the factual modifications that have been made for the purpose of correcting errors and approve the factual modifications relating to textual changes in the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan; and

3.    Agree that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan (as modified in the form at Appendix 4 of the report) is submitted to a referendum.

The Heads of Financial Services and Business Improvement have submitted a report to update Members on Finance, Risk and Performance as at 30 June 2019.

Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to:

Note the projected financial outturn, the current position on risk and performance as at the 30 June 2019.

The Heads of Financial Services and Business Improvement had submitted a report to update Members on Finance, Risk and Performance as at 30 June 2019.

Councillor Ed Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Asset Management, introduced the report. The observations made by Scrutiny Committee had been helpful and he welcomed them. It was important to refresh the indicators used for performance monitoring from time to time to reflect changes in council activity and or ensure their value or relevance. There had been some unexpected costs such as those relating to necessary work on the Town Hall and for which reserves had, properly, been called upon. The overall adverse variance was not significant in the context of the total budget. A report on capital expenditure would be included in the Q2 report.

Cabinet resolved to:

Note the projected financial outturn, the current position on risk and performance as at the 30 June 2019.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report to present recommendations to improve how leisure concessions are used.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.         Approve use of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and or the housing element of Universal Credit as the primary criteria for concessions;

2.         Approve implementation of  the changes shown in Appendix 2 in parallel with promotion of alternative memberships and discounted prices;

3.         Agree that the age that someone is able to qualify for an older person concession should be increased from 60 to 65, and then until it reaches 66 in October 2020 and 67 between 2026 and 2028;

4.         Instruct officers to conduct an annual review of concessionary categories alongside the annual fees and charges process;

5.         Instruct officers to look to implement improvements to the leisure concessions offer from 1st April 2020; and

6.         Instruct officers to review the target groups and decide any changes for when the leisure contract is retendered in 2023.

The Head of Community Services had submitted a report to present recommendations to improve how leisure concessions are used.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure & Housing, introduced the report. The system for determining entitlement to leisure concessions was complex, this, combined with the introduction of Universal Credit,   had meant it was timely to review the arrangements. This had been a significant piece of work which would ensure that concessions were appropriately targeted. The input of Scrutiny Committee had been helpful in fine-tuning the proposals.

Hagan Lewisman, Active Communities Manager, said that the revised scheme had been preceded by wide consultation and was recognised by Sport England as a model of good practice. 

The Cabinet welcomed the proposals and were pleased, among other things, to note the potential benefit for service and ex-service personnel. The new arrangements were a clear improvement but would still require good communication to ensure that they were widely understood, not least because those who were most likely to need the benefit of concessions were likely, also, to be hard to reach.

It would be desirable to have some aspiration about increased   levels of take up as a result of the new arrangements and this would be raised with Fusion Lifestyle.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.         Approve use of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and or the housing element of Universal Credit as the primary criteria for concessions;

2.         Approve implementation of  the changes shown in Appendix 2 of the report in parallel with promotion of alternative memberships and discounted prices;

3.         Agree that the age that someone is able to qualify for an older person concession should be increased from 60 to 65, and then until it reaches 66 in October 2020 and 67 between 2026 and 2028;

4.         Instruct officers to conduct an annual review of concessionary categories alongside the annual fees and charges process;

5.         Instruct officers to look to implement improvements to the leisure concessions offer from 1st April 2020; and

6.         Instruct officers to review the target groups and decide any changes for when the leisure contract is retendered in 2023.

The Executive Director- Development has submitted a report to seek approval for the  letting of 24-26 George Street.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Approve the letting of 24-26 George Street on the terms set out in the NOT FOR PUBLICATION  appendix; and

2.    Delegate authority to the  Executive Director - Development ,  to vary those terms on condition that the revised terms continue to represent the best consideration reasonably obtainable.

The Executive Director- Development had submitted a report to seek approval for the letting of 24-26 George Street.

Councillor Ed Turner, Cabinet Member for Asset Management, introduced the report. He congratulated officers on having been successful in arranging for this property to be let to good advantage in such a short space of time given the current state of the market.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Approve the letting of 24-26 George Street on the terms set out in the confidential appendix; and

2.    Delegate authority to the  Executive Director - Development ,  to vary those terms on condition that the revised terms continue to represent the best consideration reasonably obtainable.

Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on 03 October 2019 as a true and accurate record. These minutes will be published as a supplement.

The Board resolved to APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on 03 October as a true and accurate record.

Meetings are scheduled for the following dates:

·         13 November

·         11 December

·         22 January

·         12 February

·         11 March

All meetings start at 6pm.

Meetings are scheduled for the following dates:

·         13 November

·         11 December

·         22 January

·         12 February

·         11 March

The Chair moveda resolution, in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, that the press and public should leave the room in relation to the following item on the grounds that it was  likely to involve disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 3  of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. The decision to treat the next item as exempt had not been notified prior to the meeting but agreement to the exemption being sought was given by the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, as required by Section 15.4 b of the Constitution, prior to the resolution being moved.

The Executive Director Customer & Communities and the Regeneration & Major Projects Service Manager have submitted a report to seek Cabinet approval to assign the lease that the Council currently has in place with Fusion Lifestyle for the operation and management of Oxford Sports Park to Oxford United Football Club.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.Approve the proposal that Oxford United Football Club manage and operate the Oxford sports park;

2. Approve the assignment of the lease to the Oxford sports park from Fusion Lifestyle to Oxford United FC;

3.Grant delegated authority to the Executive Director Customer and Communities in consultation with the Head of Finance to agree the terms of a new management agreement with Oxford United FC, in line with the existing Development agreement and lease for the Sports Ground, including: a community use agreement; business plan;  and governance arrangements for running the Sports park; and

4. Note that the agreement will deliver a saving of £50k for the 19/20 and 20/21 financial years and £25k per year thereafter.

The Executive Director Customer & Communities and the Regeneration & Major Projects Service Manager had submitted a report to seek Cabinet approval to assign the lease that the Council currently has in place with Fusion Lifestyle for the operation and management of Oxford Sports Park to Oxford United Football Club (OUFC).

Taking account of the points made in discussion, Cabinet resolved to: 

1.Instruct officers to enter into further negotiations with Oxford United Football Club and Fusion Lifestyle  and, subject to the outcome of  those negotiations being regarded as satisfactory by the Executive Director Customer & Communities,  having consulted the Cabinet Members for Leisure & Housing and Finance & Asset Management;

2. Grant delegated authority to the Executive Director Customer and Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Leisure & Housing and Finance & Asset Management and the Head of Financial Services to:

i.        Agree the terms of a new management agreement with Oxford United Football Club,  in line with the existing Development agreement and lease for the Sports Ground, including: a community use agreement; business plan;  and governance arrangements for running the Sports park;

ii.        Approve the proposal that Oxford United Football Club manage and operate the Oxford sports park; and

iii.        Approve the assignment of the lease to the Oxford sports park from Fusion Lifestyle to OUFC

This appendix was not discussed in confidential session.