Council Procedure Rule 11.16 refers.

 

Motions received by the Head of Law and Governance by the deadline of 1.00pm on Wednesday 22^nd January 2014 are attached to this agenda.

Council had before it eight Motions on Notice and reached decisions as follows:

 

(1)       City Council Champion of Mental Health Issues – (Proposed by Councillor Ed Turner)

 

            Labour Group Member - Motion on Notice

 

This Council supports the work of MIND and the Mental Health Foundation and asks the City Executive Board to consider appointing a member of council to be a champion of mental health issues in much the same way as we have an older people's champion.

 

Council acknowledges it is not directly responsible for healthcare provision but believes it nonetheless has an important role to play.  Council requests the City Executive Board to play a full role in the Health and Well Being Board and other partnership forums to maximise support for mental health work, and also to ensure its work providing and funding advice services is accessible to people with mental health problems.

Council believes councillors can support the wellbeing of people in their areas through both casework and their strategic role within the council.  Council welcomes the practical steps set out by Mind and the Mental Health Foundation, whose new report, Building Resilient Communities, that can be taken to promote wellbeing, build resilience and help to prevent mental health problems – including steps that can be taken by Councillors.

 

Councillor Ruth Wilkinson seconded by Councillor Jean Fooks moved the following amendment:

 

To add at the end of the Motion the following:

 

Furthermore, Council wishes to meet best employer practice regarding mental health, and to encourage a commitment from all front line contractors and existing and prospective employers to follow its lead. Council requests that the Chief Executive signs MIND’s Charter for Employers who are Positive About Mental Health on behalf of Oxford City Council. It also requests that the Chief Executive writes to his counterparts at the County Council, Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford to invite their organisations to follow the City Council's lead as a Mindful Employer to sign up to the Charter too.

 

The mover of the substantive Motion (Councillor Ed Turner) accepted the amendment and following a debate, Council voted and the Motion as amended by Councillor Ruth Wilkinson was adopted as follows:

 

This Council supports the work of MIND and the Mental Health Foundation and asks the City Executive Board to consider appointing a member of Council to be a

Champion of Mental Health Issues in much the same way as we have an Older People's Champion.

 

Council acknowledges it is not directly responsible for healthcare provision but believes it nonetheless has an important role to play.  Council requests the City Executive Board to play a full role in the Health and Well Being Board and other partnership forums to maximise support for mental health work, and also to ensure its work providing and funding advice services is accessible to people with mental health problems.

 

Council believes councillors can support the wellbeing of people in their areas through both casework and their strategic role within the council.  Council welcomes the practical steps set out by Mind and the Mental Health Foundation, whose new report, Building Resilient Communities, that can be taken to promote wellbeing, build resilience and help to prevent mental health problems – including steps that can be taken by Councillors.

 

Furthermore, Council wishes to meet best employer practice regarding mental health, and to encourage a commitment from all front line contractors and existing and prospective employers to follow its lead. Council requests that the Chief Executive signs MIND’s Charter for Employers who are Positive About Mental Health on behalf of Oxford City Council. It also requests that the Chief Executive writes to his counterparts at the County Council, Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford to invite their organisations to follow the City Council's lead as a Mindful Employer to sign up to the Charter too.

 

(2)       Saving Community Pubs – (Proposed by Councillor Tony Brett, seconded by Councillor Mary Clarkson)

 

            Liberal Democrat Group Member - Motion on Notice

 

Oxford City Council notes the possibility of submitting the following proposal to the government under the Sustainable Communities Act:

 

‘That the Secretary of State help protect community pubs in England by ensuring that planning permission and community consultation are required before community pubs are allowed to be converted to betting shops, supermarkets and pay-day loan stores or other uses, or are allowed to be demolished.”

 

This Council notes that if this power was acquired it would allow the council to determine if pubs should be demolished or converted into other uses and could save many valued community pubs.

 

This Council resolves to ask City Executive Board to consider and submit the proposal to the government under the Sustainable Communities Act and to work together with Local Works and the Campaign for Real Ale to gain support for the proposal from other councils in the region and across the country.

 

            Following a debate, Council voted and the Motion was adopted.

 

(3)       Protecting Immigrants’ Access to Housing – (Proposed by Councillor Dick Wolff, seconded by Councillor Sam Hollick

 

Green Group Member - Motion on Notice

 

Noting the Immigration Bill currently proceeding through Parliamentary Scrutiny, Oxford City Council:

 

·         is proud of our international heritage and welcomes all people who live in our city

 

·         notes that the Bill proposes making it compulsory for landlords and letting agents to check the immigration status of tenants,

 

·         believes that many people living lawfully in the UK do not possess passports or other documents required to prove that entitlement,

 

·         believes that many thousands of people living without Home Office permission in the UK (and therefore unable to produce such documents) have nonetheless applied for permission to remain, but their cases are either lost or held up in Home Office legal systems, in some cases for many years,

 

·         notes that legal aid for such people has been terminated, making it impossible for them to pursue their applications or appeals,

 

·         believes that each case concerning an undocumented migrant is different, and an unknown number have lived and worked in the UK, raising families born here and living as part of our communities,

 

and therefore:

 

·         condemns the attempt by the Home Office to force landlords and letting agencies into policing an unjust immigration policy,

 

·         believes that the impact of the policy will be to drive already-vulnerable people ‘underground’ or into destitution, overloading our support services for the homeless and vulnerable, breaking up families and creating significant knock-on effects for a variety of local services,

 

·         resolves not to include the additional landlords’ responsibilities as created under this Bill in its own conditions for licensing and accreditation of the rented sector,

 

·         instructs the leader to write to the relevant minister and the city's two MPs expressing the council's opposition to these new requirements on landlords.

 

Councillor Ed Turner seconded by Councillor Mark Mills moved the following amendment

 

To add a seventh bullet point in the first part of the Motion as follows:

 

·         Believes that the requirement upon landlords to check the immigration status of prospective tenants may place citizens of a black and minority ethnic background at a disadvantage in finding accommodation

 

And amend the final bullet at the end of the Motion to include the following:

 

"And endorses the decision not to include the additional landlords’ responsibilities as created under this Bill in its own conditions for licensing and accreditation of the rented sector".

 

The mover of the substantive Motion (Councillor Dick Wolff) accepted the amendment and following a debate, Council voted and the Motion as amended by Councillor Ed Turner was adopted as follows:

 

Noting the Immigration Bill currently proceeding through Parliamentary Scrutiny, Oxford City Council:

 

·         is proud of our international heritage and welcomes all people who live in our city

 

·         notes that the Bill proposes making it compulsory for landlord and letting agents to check the immigration status of tenants,

 

·         believes that many people living lawfully in the UK do not possess passports or other documents required to prove that entitlement,

 

·         believes that many thousands of people living without Home Office permission in the UK (and therefore unable to produce such documents) have nonetheless applied for permission to remain, but their cases are either lost or held up in Home Office legal systems, in some cases for many years,

 

·         notes that legal aid for such people has been terminated, making it impossible for them to pursue their applications or appeals,

 

·         believes that each case concerning an undocumented migrant is different, and an unknown number have lived and worked in the UK, raising families born here and living as part of our communities,

 

·         Believes that the requirement upon landlords to check the immigration status of prospective tenants may place citizens of a black and minority ethnic background at a disadvantage in finding accommodation

 

and therefore:

 

·         condemns the attempt by the Home Office to force landlords and letting agencies into policing an unjust immigration policy,

 

·         believes that the impact of the policy will be to drive already-vulnerable people ‘underground’ or into destitution, overloading our support services for the homeless and vulnerable, breaking up families and creating significant knock-on effects for a variety of local services,

 

·         resolves not to include the additional landlords’ responsibilities as created under this Bill in its own conditions for licensing and accreditation of the rented sector,

 

·         instructs the leader to write to the relevant minister and the city's two MPs expressing the council's opposition to these new requirements on landlords and endorses the decision not to include the additional landlords’ responsibilities as created under this Bill in its own conditions for licensing and accreditation of the rented sector

 

 (4)      Inadequate flooding prevention funding – (Proposed by Councillor John Tanner)

 

            Labour Group Member - Motion on Notice

 

This Council is appalled by the inadequate measures taken by the Coalition Government to help tackle Oxford's increasing flooding problems.

 

We call on Her Majesty’s Government to allocate funding immediately for the Conveyance Channel so that floods bypass Oxford.  We call on the Environment Agency and the County Council to work with the City Council to significantly improve protection for homes and to guarantee that main roads and the railway remain open even when there is flooding.

 

We congratulate the staff of the Environment Agency, the emergency services, and the County and City Councils, for their hard work in helping Oxford residents during the floods.  We also congratulate Oxford residents for their positive outlook, co-operation and determination to keep going, during the latest floods.

 

Councillor Jean Fooks seconded by Councillor Graham Jones moved the following amendment:

 

(1)          Replace the first paragraph with the following words:

 

“This Council regrets the lack of investment in flood defences by successive governments. As climate change is leading to more frequent storm events, it is imperative that more is done to reduce the risk they pose to Oxford and its citizens.”

 

(2)          Replace the second paragraph with the following words:

 

“We call on Her Majesty’s Government to allocate funding immediately for the work to improve the flow of the River Thames at Sandford Lock. We ask that immediate attention be given to investigating what other measures will be most effective in reducing the flooding risk to Oxford citizens and properties, especially whether major tree planting schemes upstream would reduce the flood risk as well as having great environmental advantages”

 

We call on the Environment Agency to work with the City and County Councils to minimise the risk of flooding to homes and to develop schemes whereby the risk of closure of main roads and railway lines is reduced as far as practically possible.’

 

(3)          Retain the current third paragraph which becomes the fourth paragraph.

 

The mover of the substantive Motion (Councillor John Tanner) did not accept the amendment by Councillor Jean Fooks and following a debate, Council voted and the amendment was not adopted.

 

Following a further debate, Council resolved under procedure Rule 11.19(d) to have a named vote.  The result of the named vote was as follows:

 

For the Motion – Councillors Sinclair, Brett, Abbasi, Baxter, Benjamin, Brown, Canning, Clack, Clarkson, Cook, Coulter, Curran, Darke, Fry, Haines, Hollick, Humberstone, Kennedy, Shah Khan, Lloyd-Shogbesan, Lygo, Pressel, Price, Rowley, Rundle, Sanders, Seamons, Simmons, Tanner, Turner, Upton, Van Nooijen, Williams and Wolff.

 

Against the Motion – None.

 

Abstentions – Councillors Campbell, Fooks, Goddard, Gotch, McCready, Mills, and Wilkinson

 

Following the named vote the substantive Motion was adopted as follows:

 

This Council is appalled by the inadequate measures taken by the Coalition Government to help tackle Oxford's increasing flooding problems.

 

We call on Her Majesty’s Government to allocate funding immediately for the Conveyance Channel so that floods bypass Oxford.  We call on the Environment Agency and the County Council to work with the City Council to significantly improve protection for homes and to guarantee that main roads and the railway remain open even when there is flooding.

 

We congratulate the staff of the Environment Agency, the emergency services, and the County and City Councils, for their hard work in helping Oxford residents during the floods.  We also congratulate Oxford residents for their positive outlook, co-operation and determination to keep going, during the latest floods.

 

 (5)      Control of residential lettings boards in the City – (Proposed by Councillor Ruth Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor Jim Campbell)

 

          Liberal Democrat Group Member - Motion on Notice

 

Council acknowledges that “To Let” and “Let by” signs are erected on some properties for months despite the properties being occupied.  This creates visual clutter, community objection and planning enforcement complaints, highlights student-targeted areas, and police advice in other parts of the country has pointed to a strong correlation between crime levels and the properties displaying “To Let” boards.

 

Council notes that other authorities have tackled this issue by means of either a voluntary code or a mandatory code, and that mandatory codes have been introduced in Leeds, and also in Newcastle following a review of a previously agreed voluntary code.  Council further notes the well-documented success of a mandatory code on the erection of residential lettings boards in Inner NW Leeds which led to a reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour, and improved the appearance of two predominantly student areas in the City.

 

Council also notes that the majority of agencies involved in letting residential properties do ensure that boards are taken down when reminded.

 

Council asks the City Executive Board:

 

(a)          To require officers to introduce a code on the erection of residential lettings boards in Oxford

 

(b)          To carry out a formal consultation process on whether this code should be voluntary or mandatory

 

(c)        To work with landlords, estate agencies which operate lettings, lettings agencies, boards agents, Oxford City Council officers and the Universities on the content of the code, taking into account the relevant regulations and ensuring that there is an agreed and clear definition of the start date of a tenancy which triggers the board erection process.

 

Councillor Ruth Wilkinson’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed for Motions on Notice by the Constitution had lapsed.

 

(6)       Flood Insurance and Mitigation – (Proposed by Councillor Craig Simmons, seconded by Councillor David Williams)

 

Green Group Member - Motion on Notice

 

This Council notes that flooding incidents in Oxford are likely to increase as climate change worsens with serious effects on those whose homes and businesses are badly damaged and lives disrupted.

 

This Council also notes that the agreement between the UK Government and the insurance industry, the so-called ‘Statement of Principles’, which required members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to make insurance available for  properties in areas at significant flood risk, expired last year. The outline of a new scheme, called ‘Flood Re’, has been agreed with the industry but this will not come into effect until at least 2015. Its terms, conditions and costs remain unclear.

 

In the interim, flood insurance is being provided on a voluntary basis with the risk that premiums and excesses will rise and new households where flooding is a risk will find getting a policy more and more difficult.

 

This Council therefore asks the relevant officer to write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expressing its concern on behalf of those at risk of flooding in the City and asks for details of any interim measures that will guarantee cover until the new arrangement are in place.

 

This Council also agrees to revisit its own policy on climate change adaptation working with other agencies to ensure that the City, its people and economy, are better prepared for more extreme weather events. 

 

Councillor Craig Simmons Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed for Motions on Notice by the Constitution had lapsed.

 

(7)       Roger Dudman Way – (Proposed by Councillor Elise Benjamin, seconded by Councillor Dick Wolff)

 

Green Group Member - Motion on Notice

 

Oxford City Council accepts the findings of the Independent Report into the flaws, errors and limitations in the planning processes around the approval given to the damaging and highly controversial Roger Dudman Way Oxford University graduate buildings, and resolves to work together with all bodies to ensure that the impacts on Port Meadow and William Lucy Way are reversed, and the views of the Grade 1 listed St Barnabas Tower and other views restored, for the benefit of current and future generations of residents, visitors and students in Oxford City and elsewhere. 

 

Councillor Elise Benjamin’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed for Motions on Notice by the Constitution had lapsed.

 

(8)       Improving Access to the Register of Gifts and Hospitality – (Proposed by Councillor David Williams seconded by Councillor Elise Benjamin)

 

Green Group Member - Motion on Notice

 

This Council believes that both Councillors and officers must act, and be seen to act, in an impartial and objective way if public faith in Council processes, are to be maintained and enhanced.

 

There is already a requirement under the Employee Code of Conduct for each Service Area to maintain a Register of Gifts and Hospitality, but members of the public are unable to easily access this information.

 

Council therefore resolves that, in the interest of openness and transparency:

 

(1)  All Service Area Registers of Gifts and Hospitality should be made readily available to Councillors and members of the public via a link on the Council website; and

 

(2)  Reports on planning applications, and other quasi-judicial documents, should include reference to any related disclosures.

 

Councillor David William’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed for Motions on Notice by the Constitution had lapsed.