Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 7 October 2024.

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

Any proposed changes will be circulated with the briefing note.

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

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Cabinet member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution relating to matters for decision in Part 1 of this agenda.

Up to five minutes is available for each public address and up to three minutes for each question. Questions must be less than 200 words.

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, 19 November 2024.

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.

Appendix 3 contains exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. To discuss this item, 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 14).

The Executive Director (Communities and People) has submitted a report to make available the required budget provision and the necessary project approval and delegations to enable the Council to proceed with entering into the national Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3.

Council is recommended to:

Approve an allocation of £1,910,000 capital budget from the Housing Revenue Account, for the Council’s investment to purchase the properties as part of Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3, with up to £1,061,000 being funded from HRA borrowing, and the rest covered by grant of up to £849,000

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report which notes the decision taken by the Executive Director (Development) under the provisions in Part 17.9 of the Constitution.

Recommendation: That Council resolves to:

1.       Note the decision taken as set out in the report.

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 four months to 31 March 2025.

Councillor Lizzie Diggins, 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 four months to 31 March 2025.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report which updates Council on key decisions taken in cases of special urgency since July 2023.

Recommendation: That Council resolves to:

1.     Note the urgent key decision taken in cases of special urgency as set out in the report

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report asking Council to appoint the Honorary Recorder of Oxford.

Recommendation: That Council resolves to:

1.    Appoint Her Honour Judge Maria Lamb to the post of Honorary Recorder of Oxford for as long as she holds the position of resident Judge at the Crown Court.

2.    Thank His Honour Judge Pringle for his services as Honorary Recorder.

The Head of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) has submitted a report which seeks Council’s agreement to amend the Constitution to reflect changes to the Contract Rules.

Recommendation: Council is recommended to:

1.    To approve the amendments to

a.    The Contract Rules as attached at Appendix One

b.    Part 4.4 (Publication of Officer Decisions) as set out at paragraph 10;

c.     Part 15.4 (Key Decisions) as set out at paragraph 16;

d.    Part 4.5 (Decisions that must be agreed by Cabinet) as set out at paragraph 17;

e.    The Financial Rules as set out at paragraph 18.

2.    To delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to make any other consequential amendments to the Constitution to reflect the above changes to the extent that they have not been identified in the above, provided such changes are purely required as a direct consequence.

This item has a time limit of 15 minutes.

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

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 Cabinet 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 Wednesday, 13^th November 2024.

These, and written responses where available, will be published in the briefing note.

This item will be taken at or shortly after 7.00pm

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Cabinet member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution and not relating to matters for decision in Part 1 of this agenda.

Up to five minutes is available for each public address and up to three minutes for each question. Questions must be less than 200 words.

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, 19^th November 2024.

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.

The petition organiser may address Council upon the petition for up to 5 minutes at the start of this item.

Council is asked to consider a petition meeting the criteria for debate under the Council’s petitions scheme.

The full text of the petition is contained in the accompanying report.

If a Member wishes to put a substantive motion/recommendation on a petition they must submit this by 10am on the working day before the full Council meeting (Friday 22 November 2024). These are then published in the Council briefing note. Any amendments to these must be submitted by 11am on the day of the meeting (Monday 25 November 2024).

If no substantive motion is agreed, Council is asked to note the petition.

As set out in the Constitution at procedure rule 11.16, 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 Wednesday, 20 November 2024  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.

Any report submitted on behalf of the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee will be circulated with the briefing note.

This item has a time limit of 60 minutes.

Motions received by the Head of Law and Governance in accordance with the rules in Section 11 of the Constitution by the deadline of 1.00pm on Wednesday, 13^th November 2024 are listed below.

Cross party motions are taken first. Motions will then be taken in turn from the Green Group, Independent Oxford Alliance, Oxford Community Independent Group, Oxford Independent Group, Real Independent Group, Labour Group, Liberal Democrat Group 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, 22^nd November 2024 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)    Making Oxford a Truly Walkable City (proposed by Cllr. Max Morris, Seconded by Cllr. Emily Kerr)

b)    Zero Emission Zone (proposed by Cllr. David Henwood, Seconded by Cllr. Ian Yeatman)

c)    Promoting Free Shuttle Buses for Oxford (proposed by Cllr. Edward Mundy, Seconded by Cllr. Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini)

d)    Impacts of Traffic filter on small businesses in Oxford (Proposed by Cllr. Saj Malik, Seconded by Cllr. Mohammed Azad)

e)    Keep Oxfordshire’s Street Lights On (Proposed by Cllr. Lubna Arshad, Seconded by Cllr Jemima Hunt)

f)      A City Centre Play Park for Children (Proposed by Cllr. Katherine Miles, Seconded by Cllr. Emily Kerr)

g)    Drug Consumption Rooms (Proposed by Cllr. Chris Jarvis, Seconded by Cllr. Max Morris)

h)    Decent and Genuinely Affordable Housing for All (Proposed by Cllr. Linda Smith, Seconded by Cllr. Ed Turner)

Green Group Motion

Council notes

1. Oxford was recently named as the UK’s most walkable city, due to the small distances between key tourist attractions.^[1]
2. The 2021 Census showed that 22% of Oxford residents walk to work, making walking the modal choice for more commuting residents than cycling at 17% or bus at 15%.^[2]
3. Studies show walking significantly improves both physical and mental health outcomes, and promotes longer and higher quality lives.^[3]
4. Research suggests lower income households - over-represented by ‘female heads of house, children, young and older people, black and minority ethnic (BME) and disabled people’ - rely on walking more often due to not owning a car.^[4]
5. There are inexpensive walking-related initiatives across Oxfordshire which have been successful, such as Oxford’s health walks and Bicester Blue Lines.^[5]
6. Whilst some things which improve the pedestrian experience are County responsibilities there are others which the City Council has sole or joint responsibility for, such as new benches, water fountains, public toilets, and wayfinding.
7. The City Council could require residential dropped kerbs to be “Dutch style” entry kerbs, which keeps pavements flat and easier for wheelchair users.
8. Mapping work in London has provided councils with excellent dynamic local maps, allowing residents and visitors to walk more easily. ^[6]
9. Pavement Parking is frequently named as one of the key issues facing pedestrians and wheelchair users. Government commissioned a report into this in 2020, and despite written questions and a debate, the results have not been published. ^[7]
10. Lambeth has pioneered an innovative “Kerbside Strategy” which prioritises walking, street trees, benches, and local businesses and will reallocate 25% of kerbside space to people.^[8] 

Council believes

1. Despite Oxford being a relatively small city with strong walking potential, the experience of walking or wheeling around the city needs urgent improvement.
2. We could build on Oxford’s small size and strong reputation for walking to have a cohesive strategy to improve the pedestrian experience for everyone - and this would be relatively inexpensive to do with enormous health and wellness benefits.

Council resolves:

1. Noting that there could be financial and resourcing implications,  meaning that implementation would be subject to a cabinet report setting out those implications, To request the Cabinet Member for Healthy Oxford:
   1. discuss with officers the designing of a plan for improving walking in Oxford, based on local knowledge and existing research.
   2. Works with the Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon and the Cabinet Member for Culture and officers to create a walkable map of Oxford for tourists and locals alike.
   3. Writes to the new Transport Minister on behalf of Oxford City Council, urging rapid release of the 2020 pavement parking consultation
   4. Proposes the idea of a “Kerbside Strategy for Oxford” to the County Council.
2. To request the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management reviews opportunities to invest in public infrastructure to improve the city’s walkability to enable bids in the budget process.
3. To request the Cabinet Member for Planning reviews mandating Dutch entry kerbs for residential  ...  view the full agenda text for item 19a

Independent Oxford Alliance Group Motion

In February 2024, Oxfordshire County Council committed to spending £5.2m^[1] developing plans to expand Oxford’s existing Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ). Although previously agreed in principle as part of the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan^[2], Oxfordshire County Council has not yet committed to proceeding with the ZEZ expansion.^[3]

Each year, Oxford City Council produces an Air Quality Annual Status Report (AQASR)^[4]. The report includes a detailed account of NO2 pollution levels, across numerous monitoring stations in Oxford and surrounding areas in the preceding year. The report also includes a commentary and analysis of themes relating to NO2 pollution in Oxford, such as the impact of the current ZEZ and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods on NO2 pollution levels.

Given the current development work taking place by Oxfordshire County Council in relation to the planned ZEZ expansion, it could be useful to draw on the insights collected as part of the AQASR publication process to produce an in-depth analysis of NO2 pollution levels in the planned ZEZ expansion zone.

Oxford City Council’s policy on NO2 pollution is that the local annual mean NO2 target for Oxford should be 30 µg/m³ by 2025^[5], which reflects “step two” of the WHO’s updated interim target for NO2.

Oxford City Council notes that Oxford is currently in the process of taking delivery of numerous new electric buses, which have the potential to significantly reduce pollution in and around Oxford city centre^[6].

The Council:

·       Believes it would be useful for Oxford City Council to publish a (non-statutory) supplement to its already-published 2023 AQASR. This supplement would help provide the public with the council’s baseline analysis of NO2 pollution levels in the planned ZEZ expansion zone, reusing existing data.

·       Further believes that subsequent AQASRs should also include an in-depth analysis of NO2 pollution levels in the planned ZEZ expansion zone.

·       Collectively, these analyses would assist Oxford City Council in deciding whether – in the council’s view – the ZEZ expansion remains objectively justified as a policy that the City Council should continue to endorse, subject to a report from Cabinet with implications for finances and resources.

The Council therefore request that Cabinet ask those officers responsible for producing the Oxford City Council’s AQASR to:

• Publish a supplement to 2023 AQASR (within three months of the date of this motion), which includes a detailed data table setting out the verified average NO2 pollution levels between 2019 and 2023, for each pollution monitoring station within the proposed ZEZ expansion zone.

• To provide equivalent data in the 2024 AQASR, and in future years.
• To ensure this data is accompanied by a detailed analysis of recent NO2 pollution trends within the planned ZEZ expansion zone, where reasonably possible, including an analysis of whether NO2 pollution within the proposed ZEZ expansion zone have yet fallen to Oxford City Council’s 30µg/m³ by 2025 target.

Council also asks Cabinet to consider not taking any decision about revenue and cost sharing arrangements  ...  view the full agenda text for item 19b

Oxford Community Independent Group Motion

Under our Local Plan we strive for an economy that works for all, this includes new jobs and employment sites, including at our hospitals^[i]. But, where services do not meet new demands, we can worsen local inequalities and accessibility. Traffic congestion holds up all road users, including those on buses, and is an increased risk to vulnerable road users and pedestrians. Visitors to hospital often find journeys impacted by congestion^[ii], potentially missing appointments. Employees at our hospitals often do shift work, which can involve start and finish times very late and/or very early, when public buses are less frequent. Current hospital shuttles between John Radcliffe and Churchill have limited hours (Monday to Friday only) and are strictly for hospital staff only^[iii]. The cost of living in Oxford has bitten particularly hard in recent years. With housing costs so high^[iv] many of our workers are commuting from local towns^[v], where direct bus routes to hospitals may be rare or non-existent.

A way around this is to promote a new provision of shuttle buses. These should be starting at our Park and Ride (P&R) sites, for example Thornhill, and make direct journeys to John Radcliffe Hospital. A separate shuttle should be serving the hospitals along Old Road: Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Churchill Hospital and Warneford Hospital. These shuttles should be cashless, with no upfront costs to the traveller, providing a clear incentive to any visitor or employee at the sites to take the bus rather than drive the final couple of miles from the ring road. Due to minimal stopping at bus stops along the route the shuttles will have fast journey times and will provide very little competition with the key bus routes into the city. Oxford City Council will need to work with the transport authority at Oxfordshire County, local bus companies and local employment sites to get this approved and funded, but the benefits for all could be considerable. With success, the provision of shuttle buses could be extended to run from other P&R sites, including those run by Oxfordshire County Council.

This Council resolves to:

-          Ask the cabinet member for transport liaison, Cllr Upton, to write to the County Council cabinet member for transport, Cllr Gant:

o    referencing our motion and expressing the need for new transport services to provide for hospital sites.

o   Emphasising the important benefit of keeping the services free at the point of use. This is of most profound benefit to those on lowest incomes and gives the best incentive to use the service.

-          Ask the cabinet member for Transport, Cllr Upton, to liaise with the key relevant stake holders, including local bus company operators, the teams running our P&R sites, the County Council and the key sites (hospitals), for support and funding.

Real Independent Group Motion

The Council notes that Oxfordshire County Council refuses to commit to a thorough economic impact assessment of the likely effects of the traffic filters on Oxford’s small business community, instead focusing solely on the dry data of just two metrics: Mastercard spend and footfall.  

The City Council believes that these metrics fail to offer an accurate assessment of the economic impact on small businesses which would be better evaluated by reference to turnover, staff numbers and comprehensive face to face business forums. 

This Council therefore resolves as follows:  

• The request that the Leader of the Council bring forward for consideration by Cabinet proposals to commission and publish its own independent survey of Oxford’s businesses with regard to the economic impact of the traffic filters with particular reference to businesses' turnover and staff numbers impact, mainly established via Oxford City Council-organised surveys and face-to-face business forums across the city, which will help the council properly understand the impact." 

• That the Cabinet Member for Leader of the Council further commits to the Council working closely with existing Oxford small business groups in order to maximise the response of the survey.

Labour Group Motion

Council notes:

?      Well-lit streets are a key component to our community’s safety, security, and well-being.

?      According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, an approximate 40% of all vehicle collisions occur at night time. Residents in nearby Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, where street lights have been off for some years in the early hours, have reported feeling less safe at night due to the change.

?      The Liberal Democrat and Green Party-led Oxfordshire County Council want to turn out street lights across the county at 11pm, with some exceptions as detailed here.  If implemented, this decision would be carried out with just a week’s notice being given to the general public, and with no opportunity for them to make their views heard.

?      The petition against the County Council’s proposals here has garnered over 300 signatures since Monday 11 November - and rising.

?      Although the County Council conducted an Equality Impact Assessment, they have failed to address how this policy will impact women specifically, nor have they consulted Oxford City Council’s Safer Streets lead.

Council believes:

?      Every resident in Oxfordshire has the right to feel safe in their community.

?      Darkened streets create an environment that fosters antisocial behaviour and crime, putting our most vulnerable residents at increased risk.^[1]

?      The County Council’s proposals would have a detrimental and disproportionate impact on women and girls, as well as all those who work unsocial hours including those in the NHS, hospitality, and retail, carers, cyclists, and pedestrians.^[2]

?      These proposals also disregard public safety concerns raised in the Violence Against Women and Girls agenda, ignoring both actual and perceived risks.^[3]

?      Many will feel scared to leave their homes when the lights are switched off, and we cannot support a curfew on our streets and lanes across Oxfordshire..^[4]

?      We should stand in unity with our local communities, Thames Valley Police, Anneliese Dodds MP, Sean Woodcock MP, and the whole of the Labour Party across Oxfordshire, who have spoken out against these proposals.

Council resolves:

?      To formally and publicly state its opposition to  turning street lights off at 11pm in Oxfordshire.

?      To request the Leader of the Council write to the County Council asking that they  abandon this  dangerous, and divisive proposal for the sake of financial expediency.

Liberal Democrats Group Motion

There are no children's public play areas within a kilometre's walk of Oxford City Centre, this is despite 87 play areas and recreation grounds in the wider city.¹ There is an urgent need to address this lack of public space catering for children in the city centre where 14% of the population² is estimated to be aged between 0–14 years old and many more children visit from the wider county and beyond as tourists.  

Providing a welcoming city centre space for children will be a step for Oxford to become a child friendly and inclusive city in order to promote both child rights and child wellbeing. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the principle that governments respect, protect and fulfil the right to play of all children through legislation, planning and budgets. Moreover, child’s play is essential for child development and resilience building. Indeed, in mainland Europe, play equipment for all ages of children is an integral part of any public square in city centres. Play space for children also brings commercial benefits for the city, as people with children will see the city centre as a welcoming destination to spend time and money, boosting our local economy. 

If public realm improvements are proposed as part of the Central Oxford Movement and Place Framework, there is a golden opportunity to transform the city centre into a welcoming accessible space for children. The lack of child friendly public space can specifically be addressed by the incorporation of an inclusive, accessible play area for children such as in St Giles, and incorporating temporary play features in Broad Street or elsewhere; and gathering feedback on proposals with children of all ages. Doing so will make the city centre a more inclusive public place for children and their caregivers. 

A recent call for a playspace in the city centre has gathered support from local residents in the form of a petition. Responding to this is an opportunity for the City Council to commit to ensure that the public spaces in the Oxford city centre address the needs of children and are inclusive and child friendly.   

Therefore this Council commits to: 

1. Coordinate with the County Council to seek inclusion of an accessible children’s play area in options for the public realm improvements in the city centre as part of the Central Oxfordshire Movement and Place Framework;  

2. Request that the County Council undertake meaningful engagement with children in its design; and 

3. Request a report to Cabinet on the option of integrating or creating supplementary design guidance on planning for children and child’s play provision to ensure that the city’s urban planning policies are child-friendly and ensure space is allocated for children’s play.

Green Group Motion

Council notes

1. The number of people dying from drug poisoning has increased significantly across almost all regions of England and Wales between 1993 and 2023.^[1]
2. Oxford saw 16 drug related deaths in 2022, more than double than in the previous year.^[2]
3. Drug consumption rooms aim to prevent drug overdose deaths and connect people who use drugs with addiction treatment and other services.
4. In October 2024, the UK’s first consumption room for drugs was opened in Glasgow,  where people can take their own drugs under the supervision of trained health professionals.^[3]
5. The Glasgow facility is similar to those found in dozens of other cities across Europe, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Luxembourg, Oslo and Paris.^[4]
6. In January 2022, in response to an address from a member of the public, the then cabinet member for Safer, Healthy Oxford said: ‘Evidence such as that from The Society for the Study of Addiction shows that the benefits of drug consumption rooms outweigh the disbenefits’, and that ‘more work needs to be done in changing the views of the Home Office before agreeing to submit a request for permission to hold a trial’.^[5]

Council believes

1. Drug addiction and the associated risks should be treated as health, rather than criminal issues.
2. The long term solution to many social and health problems caused by drug use will be solved through ending the criminalisation of recreational drugs.
3. In the meantime, safe drug consumption rooms are a public health approach which can minimise harm caused by drug use and addiction.
4. The election of a new government in Westminster - and therefore the appointment of a new home secretary - opens fresh opportunities for more evidence based and appropriate policy initiatives on issues like drug use and addiction.

Council resolves

1. To request that the leader of the council write to the County Council and request that they support the principle of safe drug consumption rooms as a public health measure for drug addiction and use.
2. To request the leader of the council and the cabinet member for safer Oxford write to the home secretary requesting that she allow local authorities - including Oxford - to establish trials of drug consumption rooms.

Labour Group Motion

The last fourteen years of Conservative Government, with chronic underinvestment in affordable and social housing and retreat in the face of opposition to housebuilding have left this country in the grip of a housing crisis.[1]

Across the UK the shortage of housing[2] and uncontrolled increases in private sector rents[3] have led to ballooning costs for temporary accommodation. Those costs are so large that they are not just a threat to other council services, which will have to be cut to meet the bill, but they are putting the very existence of some local authorities in doubt.

In Oxford, despite the best efforts of our officers, costs for temporary accommodation have risen five-fold to over £4m, out of a total Council budget of £28.6m.

The watering down of Local Plan housing targets by Rishi Sunak, under pressure from wealthy NIMBY interest groups, means councils (including in Oxfordshire) have been able to dodge their responsibility both to those in need now and to future generations by failing to plan for the homes that are so desperately needed.

Pressures on the budgets of housing associations and cuts to housing budgets in the name of ‘austerity’ mean that developers are finding it[4] increasingly difficult to find buyers for the affordable homes they are supposed to build, meaning the developments simply aren’t starting.

This Council therefore asks that the Leader of the Council writes to the Government to convey that:

·       This Council believes that decent and affordable housing for all, where you want to live, is a right and not a privilege.

·       This Council therefore applauds the new Government for its immediate reversal of cuts to housing numbers in Local Plans, and welcomes the return of strategic level planning to ensure that those Plans are delivered, particularly in Oxfordshire

·       This Council welcomes the Government’s approval of the long-overdue reservoir near Abingdon, something necessary to support the provision of new homes.

·       This Council further welcomes the Government’s commitment to the ending of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions,  which are a primary cause of the current levels of homelessness.

·       This Council calls on the Government to implement as soon as possible powers to control and regulate the short-term let sector to prevent the shift of landlords from the private rented sector to the short term let sector

·       This Council calls on the Government to continue to take action to ensure that investment in power, water and sewerage that has already been paid for by customers is delivered with immediate effect

·       This Council calls on the Government to review the funding and borrowing rules as they apply to social housing, to ensure that this city, and this country, sees the expansion of social housing construction as soon as possible.

If Council wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any aspects of the preceding agenda items it will be necessary for Council to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 specifying the grounds on which their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act if and so long as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(The Access to Information Procedure Rules – Section 15 of the Council’s Constitution – sets out the conditions under which the public can be excluded from meetings of the Council)

Additional information, councillors’ questions, public addresses and amendments to motions are published in a supplementary briefing note. The agenda and briefing note should be read together.

The Briefing Note is published as a supplement to the agenda. It is available on the Friday before the meeting and can be accessed along with the agenda on the council’s website.