(a)          Members who are Council representatives on external bodies or Chairs of Council Committees who consider that a significant decision or event has taken place, will give notice to the Head of Law and Governance by 1.00 pm on Thursday 30^th January 2014 to present a written or oral report on the event or the significant decision and how it may influence future events.

(b)          Each ordinary meeting of Council shall receive a written report concerning the work of one of the partnerships on which the Council is represented.

            Oxford Safer Communities Partnership

The Head of Environmental Development has submitted a report on behalf of Councillor Pat Kennedy, Board Member, Education, Crime and Community Safety, which informs Members of the work of the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership.

            Council is asked to comment on and note the report.

(a)          The Oxford Safer Communities Partnership

The Head of Environmental Development submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) on behalf of the Board Member for Education, Crime and Community Safety, Councillor Pat Kennedy.  The report informed Council of the work of the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership.

Councillor Pat Kennedy introduced the report.

Councillors Graham Jones thanked Councillor Kennedy for her involvement in saving the Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGS) in the City.  Councillor Craig Simmons asked though what was happening with the NAGS in other parts of the City and also the Student Warden Scheme.

In response Councillor Kennedy said that the Student Warden Scheme had been expanded to include the University of Oxford with eight Wardens.  She added that people had welcomed the initiative and had commented how things had improved.  She acknowledged that more could be done, and wished to thank Oxford Brookes University for their work in establishing the scheme.  With regard to the NAGS she said that there had been difficulty in appointing an Officer in Thames Valley Police to be responsible for the NAGS, but this had now been resolved with a new appointment.

Councillor Sam Hollick commented that there were a large number of priorities, but was there a root cause that was preventing the reduction of inequality.  In response Councillor Kennedy said that it was not the role for the Safer Communities Board to cover inequality in the broader sense.

Councillor John Goddard asked if the funding was adequate and secure and what influence had the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) have on this.  In response Councillor Kennedy said that the PCC had reduced the grant by 11% as part of the generally reduction in funding.  He had visited the City and was keen to work in partnership.  She added that the PCC had set a budget with an increase of 1.99% and that if this was to be reduced by central Government to 1.5% as reported, then the shortfall would be taken from reserves.

In response to further questions concerning Community Response Teams and CCTV, Councillor Kennedy said that the Community Response Teams worked closely with the Police especially on mental health issues.  Regarding CCTV, each scheme was funded differently, however discussions continued on how they were funded.

(b)          Statement from Councillor Oscar Van Nooijen – Chair – West Area Planning Committee

Councillor Van Nooijen said that the West Area Planning Committee had requested that he update Council on the current position if the Roger Dudman Way issue.  He said that since the last time he had reported, the independent review had taken place and reported back.  He thanked Councillors John Goddard and Elise Benjamin for their work and support on the cross party group that had been set up for the review purpose.  Many recommendations had been made and all had been endorsed by the West Area Planning Committee and a report on their implementation would follow.

Councillor Elise Benjamin said that good progress had been made and that the review report was thorough.  However there were still a number of outstanding issues which had been raised by the representative from the Save Port Meadow Group.

Councillor John Goddard said that there was still more work, discussion and action to be taken, especially on the visual impact of the building, as well as the environmental impact assessment.  He asked what more could be done to speed up the resolution of these issues.

In response Councillor Van Nooijen said that a report to the West Area Planning Committee would outline what the University of Oxford was considering with regard to the buildings.  He added that he had been assured everything possible we being done to resolve the issues as soon as possible.

(c)          Statement from Councillor John Tanner – Oxford City Council representative on the Oxfordshire Waste and Environment Partnership

Councillor Tanner said that the City council collected the waste in the City but did not dispose of it.  The Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) had managed to deal with this collection/disposal divide.  However this was now under threat in 2015 due to the decision of the County Council to withdraw its funding.  He felt that there was still a great deal more that could be achieved from the Partnership, and it would be a huge blow if the Partnership was to end.  He felt it was a shorted sighted approach by the County Council and that it was always better to work together than not and the public expected this to happen.

Councillor Tanner said that it was right that everyone in the Partnership contributed, but some were just considering the cost rather than the policy.  He further added that he would not want to see the District Council’s not talking to each other as had been the case int eh past.

Councillor David Williams stated that the City Council Green Group supported Councillor Tanner.  He said that it was vital that the District and County Councils worked together.  The OWP had been a real success and needed maintaining.

Councillor Bob Price said that there would still be a continuation of the Partnership as a set of meetings funded by the District Councils without the County Council.