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ITEM CC1 OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MINUTES of the meeting of the County Council held at County Hall on Tuesday 20 June 2006 commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 5.00 pm.
The Council considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting and decided as set out below. Except insofar as otherwise specified, the reasons for the decisions are contained in the agenda and reports, copies of which are attached to the signed Minutes.
54/06. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING(Agenda Item 1) RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 4 April 2006 be approved and signed as a correct record. On Minute 36/06, Councillor Gatehouse said that Councillor Seale had volunteered to provide her with a written response to her question about performance asked at the meeting in April. She asked why, when Councillor Seale had written to the Oxford Mail on 15 April on this issue, she had not received his response until 20 June 2006. Councillor Seale replied that he had forgotten to send her a written response. He asked that, in future, he be given more notice if he had agreed to provide a written response but had not done so. On Minute 39/06 (Question 3), Council was informed that Councillor Robertson had advised that he had checked the level of expenditure on the Wootton to Abingdon cycle scheme since the scheme had first been proposed and the figures given at the meeting in April had represented the full total of expenditure on the scheme. On Minute 39/06 (Question 12), Council was informed that Councillor Shouler had advised that, as both of the items in Councillor Armitage’s original question were clearly not service reductions, they had been incorrectly coded in Annexes 2 and 4 to the budget report by Cabinet to the County Council meeting on 14 February. The switch from revenue to capital of staff costs for the Prudential borrowing programme did not fit easily into the 5 types of reprioritisation and could be either 5 (other) or 1 (efficiency savings cash releasing as the effect of the switch would be for the schools to pay these costs through their devolved formula capital repayments). The democratic initiatives budget would more properly have been described as 1 (efficiency savings cash releasing as the same service is being delivered for lesser cost). On Minute 46/06, in response to Councillor Fooks’s question, Councillor Mitchell replied that he had found the Secretary of State for Education’s reply unhelpful. 55/06. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE(Agenda Item 2) Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Bonner, Bradshaw, Godden, Jelf and Wise. 56/06. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST(Agenda Item 3)
57/06. OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS(Agenda Item 4) Councillor Legge welcomed the two newly elected members, Councillors Mrs Bonner and Mathew, to the Council.
She also reported that:
(Before reconvening for the afternoon session, the Oxfordshire Registration Service attended in the Council Chamber to show the award to members of the Council. Council congratulated the Service on its award.)
Councillors Mrs Fulljames, Roaf, Brighouse and L Sanders paid tribute to Mrs Todd and Councillors Patrick, Harris, Mathew and Simmons paid tribute to Mr Wyatt. Council stood in a minute’s silence in their memory. RESOLVED: to receive the report from the County Returning Officer on the outcome of the by-elections held on 4 May 2006 as follows: (a) Banbury Grimsbury & Castle Division Voting was as follows: ANJUM Choudry Khalid
Mohammed 340 Carole Ann Bonner was accordingly elected county councillor for the Banbury Grimsbury & Castle Division. (b) Eynsham Division Voting was as follows: BEVIS Xanthe Frances
Henrietta 254 Charles Christopher Bruce Mathew was accordingly elected county councillor for the Eynsham Division. 58/06. POLITICAL BALANCE ON COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS(Agenda Item 5) The Council considered a report (CC5) and revised Annex 4 to the report, copy attached to the signed copy of the minutes. Councillor L Sanders moved and Councillor Simmons seconded that recommendation (a)(ii) and (iii) be amended to read as follows: "(ii)
adoption of the "
The motion was lost by 42 votes to 27. RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Robertson and carried nem con) to:
59/06. QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC(Agenda Item 7) City Councillor Pressel addressed the following question to Councillor Robertson, Cabinet Member for Transport: "Please could the County Council suspend and/or change the loading and unloading regulations outside 19 and 20 Broad Street, Oxford, to enable the adjoining cafe to put chairs and tables on the highway at certain times?" Councillor Robertson, Cabinet Member for Transport, replied: "The Council will look into the matter and will respond to Councillor Pressel in writing in due course." 60/06. REPORT OF THE CABINET(Agenda Item 8) The Council had before it the report of the Cabinet (CC8). The report contained four recommendations to Council.
in the second line add the word shown underlined "us to deliver the lowest Council Tax increase of any shire County Council in the South East of England"; in the last line, amend the word "increase" to read "increases";
b. RESOLVED: on item 5 (Revenue Budget 2006/07) (on a motion by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Robertson and carried nem con), to approve the changes to the agreed budget for 2006/07, the amended detailed budget for 2006/07, and the amended Medium Term Financial Plan 2006/07 – 2010/11;
c. RESOLVED: on item 6 (Capital Programme 2006/07 – 2010/11) (on a motion by Councillor Shouler and seconded by Councillor Mitchell and carried nem con), to approve the additions to the Capital Programme specified in Annex 4 to the report;
d. RESOLVED: on item 13 (Youth Justice Plan 2006/07) (on a motion by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Robertson and carried nem con), to approve the Youth Justice Plan for submission to the Youth Justice Board. (Councillor Brighouse left the Chamber for item 9 (South East Plan).)
61/06. QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL(Agenda Item 9) 13 questions with notice were asked. Details of the questions and answers and the supplementary questions and answers, where asked and given, are set out in Annex 2 (download as .doc file) to the minutes. 62/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR LIZ BRIGHOUSE(Agenda Item 10) Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Joslin seconded the following motion: "This Council believes that the scrutiny process is not producing significant improvements in the way that the Council discharges its functions and leaves many councillors and citizens feeling frustrated and disengaged. In particular, it believes that the scrutiny process is not effective in holding Cabinet members and officers to account for their actions and that scrutiny reviews often are unfocused, do not reflect the strategic needs of the County and have very little impact on policy development. The Council therefore agrees to put in train a review of the scrutiny process with a view to promoting more effective engagement of councillors and citizens in democratic decision-making." Councillor Bryden moved and Councillor Patrick seconded an amendment to the motion as follows: "This
Council believes that the scrutiny process is not producing significant
improvements in the way that the Council discharges its functions and
leaves many councillors and citizens feeling frustrated and disengaged.
In particular, it believes that the scrutiny process is not effective
in holding Cabinet members and officers to account for their actions
and that scrutiny reviews often are unfocused, do not reflect the strategic
needs of the County and have very little impact on policy development.
The Council therefore agrees to After debate, the amendment was lost by 36 votes to 22. After debate, the motion was lost by 42 votes to 12. 63/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR BOB JOHNSTON(Agenda Item 11) Councillor Johnston moved and Councillor Robertson seconded (and with the leave of the Council) the following motion amended as shown by strikethrough and in italic: "Council
notes with concern that most of the more common RESOLVED: (nem con) as follows: "Council notes with concern that most of the more common routing systems, routinely used by HGVs and others, ignore weight and other restrictions within Oxfordshire. Council therefore calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Department for Transport, via the LGA, to see if anything can be done to alleviate the situation." 64/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR JEAN FOOKS(Agenda Item 12) Councillor Fooks moved and Councillor R Smith seconded (and with the leave of the Council) the following motion amended as shown by strikethrough and in italic: "Council is very concerned at the recent spate of arson attacks on school premises in Oxfordshire. The damage to premises is disruptive and costly, the damage to children’s school work and text books seriously demoralising and the effect on the teaching and learning environment of teachers and children extremely damaging.
Council
recognises that an early warning of fire is essential Council therefore asks the Cabinet to:
RESOLVED: (nem con) as follows: "Council is very concerned at the recent spate of arson attacks on school premises in Oxfordshire. The damage to premises is disruptive and costly, the damage to children’s school work and text books seriously demoralising and the effect on the teaching and learning environment of teachers and children extremely damaging. Council recognises that an early warning of fire is essential in ensuring that any damage to the structure of the school is kept to a minimum, and that the provision of a fire alarm system with automatic fire detection linked to the Fire and Rescue Service is the best way to achieve this. With the increasing threat of arson to our schools, we should investigate and progress all cost effective solutions to protect them and the provision of sprinklers in schools would ensure that any fires started would be kept under control until the arrival of the Fire and Rescue Service. Council therefore asks the Cabinet to: (a) encourage all schools in Oxfordshire to fit automatic fire alarms linked to the Fire and Rescue Service and in new schemes to do so in accordance with the agreed risk assessment process; (b) recommend that all new schools, and extensions or major refurbishments to existing schools, be fitted with sprinklers when the agreed risk assessment process demonstrates its efficacy." 65/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR ZOÉ PATRICK(Agenda Item 13) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Patrick and seconded by Councillor Bones and carried nem con) as follows: "Due to the impending cuts, for example of £33 million being imposed on our local Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, this effect will have serious consequences for this Council in being able to provide adequate funding for social and community care. Large numbers of older and vulnerable people will be required to be cared for in their own homes creating a significant cost, not only to the families and carers of those people, but also in the demand made upon social and health care workers. All of this will have serious budgetary considerations. Whilst recognising that some areas may suffer more in areas of multiple deprivation, this County also suffers from these areas within Oxford City and Banbury, which have not been taken into account. This Council calls upon the government to review the formula for which it allocates spending on health for Oxfordshire, which leaves this county at the bottom of the list for the amount spent per head of the population in the country." 66/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR BARBARA GATEHOUSE(Agenda Item 14) Councillor Gatehouse moved and Councillor Brighouse seconded the following motion: "This Council notes that:
The Council therefore asks the Cabinet to recognise the internal pressures facing the older people service and instruct officers to bring about, in accordance with paragraph 22 of the Cabinet’s report to the Council meeting on 14 February 2006 on Service and Financial Planning (CC7), a release of funds from the Social and Community Services Emergency Fund to help meet these pressures." After debate, the motion was lost by 40 votes to 26. 67/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR CRAIG SIMMONS(Agenda Item 15) Councillor Simmons moved and Councillor Dhall seconded the following motion: "This Council notes that:
This Council believes that: (a) the example of the Church of England, Oxford University and other large institutions in divesting from the arms trade is laudable; (b) the County Council should direct its investments in a fashion that will promote the social good, and should not invest in the arms trade. This Council resolves:
(1) At 31st December 2005, Oxfordshire Pension Fund held stock in BAE Systems (£1.2million); EADS (£2.25million); Lockheed Martin (£325,000); Northrop Grumman (£494,000) (Source: www.caat.org.uk)" After debate, the motion was lost by 45 votes to 8. At this point, the Chairman left the meeting and the Vice-Chairman (Councillor Mrs Fulljames) took the chair.
68/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR JEAN FOOKS(Agenda Item 16) The Chairman ruled that agenda items 16 and 17 should be debated together but voted on separately. Councillor Fooks moved and Councillor Armitage seconded the following motion: "This Council notes that:
Council therefore resolves to support Oxford City Council in its aim of encouraging people not to drive into the City on that day where alternative means of transport exist. The Council reiterates its commitment to promoting the use of public transport, cycling and walking as sustainable modes of transport." After debate, the motion was lost by 40 votes to 19. 69/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR SUSHILA DHALL(Agenda Item 17) Councillor Dhall moved and Councillor Simmons seconded the following motion: "Given that:
this Council resolves to support Car-Free Day in Oxford City wholeheartedly this year and in years to come in order to: (a) encourage people to think about transport choices available to them other than the private car; (b) give
people a sense of the true potential of public space other than
as through routes for traffic; After debate, the motion was lost by 40 votes to 8.70/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR SUSHILA DHALL(Agenda Item 18) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Simmons and seconded by Councillor L Sanders and carried by 47 votes to 0) as follows: "Where until the end of May this year central Oxford had a 150-year-old historic working boatyard (Castlemill Boatyard) at its heart, now, thanks to the hasty actions of British Waterways, there is a derelict piece of land, surrounded by an 8-foot high fence topped with razor wire and lit by floodlights. Given that the: (a) tourist
season proper is about to begin; Council resolves to write to British Waterways asking it to improve the appearance of this site forthwith, for the benefit of residents, visitors and local businesses."71/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR LARRY SANDERS(Agenda Item 19) Councillor L Sanders moved and Councillor Dr Skolar seconded (and with the leave of the Council) the motion amended as shown by strikethrough and in italic: "This
Council
(a) the Health Secretary, the Chief Executives of the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority and the Oxfordshire NHS Trusts, making these views known; (b) the
County’s MPs and the County’s District Councils seeking (c) the
appropriate RESOLVED: (nem con) as follows: "This Council recognises:
The Council urges the Secretary of State for Health and the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority and its successor to halt the cuts being made by Oxfordshire’s PCTs until the new Oxfordshire PCT is in place and a full review can take place with appropriate consultation and asks the Chief Executive to write to: (a)
the Health Secretary, the Chief Executives of the Thames Valley
Strategic Health Authority and the Oxfordshire NHS Trusts, making
these views known; (c) the appropriate media outlets, making these views known."72/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR DEBORAH GLASS WOODIN(Agenda Item 20) Councillor Glass Woodin moved and Councillor L Sanders seconded the following motion: "This Council opposes the approach taken to address safety issues at Magdalen Bridge on May Morning. These ‘spontaneous’ celebrations in the City Centre are a time-honoured tradition and one of the few occasions that ignore the traditional ‘town and gown’ divide. It is unfortunate that Councillors representing the areas affected have been consistently excluded from discussions concerning the safety issues, about which we also have genuine concerns. However, to respond to these issues by closing the Bridge, therefore cutting off access to the event to the entire Eastern side of the City, is an extreme over-reaction. It has already resulted in an increase in crowd size on the High Street, with the response being to consider closing the High Street as far as Carfax in the future. Council is therefore asked to: (a) request
that County Councillors concerned be invited to attend future
meetings to look at alternative ways of addressing the safety
issues; After debate, the motion was lost by a majority.73/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR TERRY JOSLIN(Agenda Item 21) Councillor Joslin moved and Councillor Harris seconded the following motion: "This Council notes that: (a) a
letter was sent in March this year to members of the Didcot ITS
Committee indicating that the Cow Lane Subway project, on which
preparatory work had been undertaken as part of LTP1, had been
withdrawn;
The Council therefore asks the Cabinet to ensure that at the earliest opportunity the scheme is restored within LTP2 and funding identified." Councillor Service moved and Councillor Robertson seconded an amendment to the motion as shown by strikethrough and in italic: "This Council notes that: (a) a
letter was sent in March this year to members of the Didcot ITS
Committee The
Council After debate, the amendment was carried by 40 votes to 13. RESOLVED: (by 41 votes to 1) as follows: "This Council notes that: (a) a
letter was sent in March this year to members of the Didcot ITS
Committee to advise them that as a result of a reduction in Government
funding, combined with a lack of developer contribution, there
were insufficient funds to take forward the Cow Lane Subway Project
in LTP2; (d) the project had been allocated a Project number and design work had commenced but the indicative funding the Council expected in the draft LTP2, submitted to Government in July 2005, was subsequently reduced from £55m to £43m (-£12m) and consequently many schemes that were originally planned had to be delayed or cancelled. The Council asks the Cabinet to confirm that the Cow Lane Project remains a positive aspiration of this Council subject to the necessary funding being identified."
in the Chair Date
of signing 2006
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