Councillor Brown, having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, left the meeting for the debate and decision on this motion. Councillors Bely-Summers, Cook, and Lygo left the meeting at this point.

With Council’s agreement the Lord Mayor extended the time for debating motions to the end of this debate and vote.

Councillor Haines proposed his submitted motion, accepting the amendment proposed by Councillor Hollingsworth as set out in the briefing note. This was seconded by Councillor Harris.

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion as amended was agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

Motion:

Council resolves to continue to work with the management of Oxford University Hospitals Trust as a matter of urgency to help them to undertake a review of the approach to sustainable transport at all the Trust’s sites including the John Radcliffe hospital, including a review of the Trust’s approach to the allocation of car parking capacity so as to allow for an increased proportion of parking at the sites for the disabled, patients and visitors, and for the operational needs of critical medical staff as part of a comprehensive masterplan for all the Trust’s sites in Headington including the John Radcliffe hospital, to promote a sustainable approach to transport to those sites as part of the Local Transport Strategy 5.

Reason:

It is grossly unfair on people who are sick and the friends and family of those wanting to urgently visit people in hospital to allow the current situation to continue. A comprehensive shift to more sustainable transport approaches would:

·         Reduce the congestion on local roads, freeing up the road network to other traffic including buses and ambulances;

·         Reduce the pollution inhaled by cyclists, pedestrians and local residents from vehicles queuing with engines running;

·         Reduce lost time and missed appointments which cost the health service a fortune;

·         Make it easier for staff to access the hospital, helping to reduce staff shortages;

I hope this motion can be carried to allow us to resolve this long standing issue for now and in to the future, and to alleviate some of the problems that the public so clearly and desperately need resolving.