Agenda, decisions and minutes

Before inviting the Solicitor of the Council  to seek nominations for the office of Chairman of the Council, Councillor Tim Hallchurch (the retiring Chairman) addressed the meeting, reflecting on his year in office.  He thanked his wife and his personal assistants (Sara Lenihan and Lubnor Khalid) for all their help ans suppoer during the year.  He then presented his wife with a consort badge and some flowers and presented Lubnor Khalid with flowers as a token of his appreciation.

Councillors Hudspeth, Brighouse, Patrick and Williams paid tribute to Councillor Hallchurch.

Councillor Patrick proposed and Councillor Hudspeth seconded that Councillor Anne Purse be elected Chairman of the Council for the 2014/15 Council Year. 

There being no further nominations and no dissent, Councillor Anne Purse was declared elected as Chairman for the 2014/15 Council Year. Councillor Purse then read and signed the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that Councillor Anne Purse be elected Chairman of the Council for the 2014/15 Council Year.

The Chairman called for nominations for the office of Vice-Chairman.  Councillor Brighouse proposed and Councillor Hudspeth seconded that Councillor Val Smith be elected Vice-Chairman for the 2014/15 Council Year.  There being no further nominations and no dissent, Councillor Val Smith was declared elected.  Councillor Smith read and signed the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that Councillor Val Smith was elected as Vice-Chairman for the 2014/15 Council Year.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 April 2014 be approved and signed.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Steve Harrod.

The Chairman reported as follows:

Members were asked to note that an Armed forces Day was to be held on the 23 June 2014.  Further details would be sent to all members of the Council closer to the time.

Members were informed that Rachel Dunn, Senior Democracy Officer would be in the Common Hall Café from 11.45 am – 1.00 pm for those members wishing to complete their CRB checks.

Members were reminded that there would be a briefing on the City Deal and Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan from 1.00 pm to 2.00pm in the Council Chamber.

The Chairman invited all Members to join her for a champagne reception at the Council Site and 2.00 pm.

 (a)      Cabinet Membership and Delegation of Cabinet Functions

            Report by the Leader of the Council (CC8(a)).

            Council is RECOMMENDED to note the delegations made by the Leader of the Council with regard to the functions of the Cabinet. 

(b)       Committees and Review of Political Balance

            Report by the Head of Law & Culture (CC8(b)).

            Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          to confirm the political balance on committees shown in Annex 3         to the report;

(b)          to appoint to committees the councillors and co-opted members shown in Annex 2, subject to any changes reported at the meeting.

Councillor Hudspeth moved and Councillor Rose seconded the recommendations set out below and in particular that Councillor Williams remain on the Teacher’s Joint Committee.

The Leader of the Council notified Council of his intention that Councillor Louise Chapman would be called Cabinet Member for Fire Service & Corporate Plan.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried nem con.

RESOLVED: (nem con)

(a)          to note the delegations made by the Leader of the Council with regard to the functions of the Cabinet.

In relation to Committees and Review of Political Balance:

(a)       to confirm the political balance on committees shown in Annex 3to the report;

(b)       to appoint to committees the councillors and co-opted members shown in Annex 2, subject to any changes reported at the meeting and in particular to seek nominations to the place on the Teacher’s Joint Committee referred to at paragraph 5 of the report.

Report by the Director for Environment & Economy (CC9).

The Local Transport Plan 3 (2011-2030) was adopted by the County Council in 2011 as a 20-year strategy for Oxfordshire’s transport system.  Having an adopted Local Transport Plan and keeping it under review, is a statutory requirement on the County Council, as set out in the 2000 Transport Act as amended by the 2008 Local Transport Act.  It provides the framework for the County Council’s transport input into the Local Development Plan process and supports our ability to secure key infrastructure projects.   It underpins our capital delivery programme, and the way in which we deliver our services.  Owing to the long-term nature of the Plan it was agreed as part of the approval process that it would be regularly reviewed in order to keep it up to date and relevant.

Five of the area strategies within the LTP3's implementation plan have been updated: these are for Banbury, Bicester, Carterton, Science Vale and Witney, covering the parts of the County likely to experience significant growth to 2030. The area strategy for Oxford is also currently undergoing review. The updates have been necessary to bring the proposed transport improvements in each area into line with Local Plans, thereby supporting our approach to securing funding for key infrastructure required to support planned growth. The proposed changes are in line with the overarching objectives and policies of LTP3. 

Council is RECOMMENDED to adopt the updated Area Strategies for Banbury, Bicester, Carterton, Science Vale and Witney, as attached in Annexes 1-5, to replace the current strategies for these areas in Local Transport Plan 3.

The Council had before them a report (CC9) which gave an update on five of the area strategies within the LTP3's implementation plan which had been updated: these were for Banbury, Bicester, Carterton, Science Vale and Witney, covering the parts of the County likely to experience significant growth to 2030. The area strategy for Oxford was also currently undergoing review. The updates had been necessary to bring the proposed transport improvements in each area into line with Local Plans, thereby supporting the Council’s approach to securing funding for key infrastructure required to support planned growth. The proposed changes were in line with the overarching objectives and policies of LTP3. 

Councillor Nimmo Smith moved and Councillor Hudspeth seconded the recommendations as set out in the report and on the face of the Agenda.

Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried by 49 votes to 0, with 12 abstentions.

RESOLVED: (by 49 votes 0, with 12 abstentions) to adopt the updated Area Strategies for Banbury, Bicester, Carterton, Science Vale and Witney, as attached in Annexes 1-5, to replace the current strategies for these areas in Local Transport Plan 3.

Structured to reflect the activity of the Council’s three scrutiny committees; Performance Scrutiny, Education Scrutiny and Health Overview & Scrutiny. The report highlights the work carried out by each Committee to scrutinise service activity and performance as well as Cabinet decisions  taken over the past year.

The Audit and Governance Committee has reviewed this report and commented that focus on the achievements and outcomes of the work of each committee was a welcome improvement.  The report has also been reviewed by the Scrutiny Chairman's Co-ordinating Group.

Council is RECOMMENDED to receive the report.

The Council had before them the Scrutiny Annual Report (CC10), which provided an overview of the work of the Council’s three scrutiny committees; Performance Scrutiny, Education Scrutiny and Health Overview & Scrutiny scrutinising service activity and performance as well as Cabinet decisions taken over the past year.

The Audit and Governance Committee had reviewed the report and commented that focus on the achievements and outcomes of the work of each committee was a welcome improvement.  The report had also been reviewed by the Scrutiny Chairman's Co-ordinating Group.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Brighouse, seconded by Councillor Grey and carried nem con) to receive the report.

Report by the Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer (CC11).

At its Annual Meeting, Council is required to agree the officer scheme of delegation within the Council's Constitution.  The Officer Scheme of Delegation forms Part 7.3 of the Constitution and gives delegated authority to the Chief Executive, directors and to other chief officers whose titles and/or areas of responsibility are set out in Part 2, Article 11 of the Constitution.

This report highlights some amendments to the Scheme of Delegation and to Article 11 following changes to certain post titles, the introduction of new regulations and give greater clarity to certain delegations and to the procedure that will apply when a director is required to act in the absence of the Chief Executive.

Council is RECOMMENDED to note the amendments to Article 11 and to Part 7.3 of the Constitution, as identified in paragraphs 3 to 7 above, and to approve the Officer Scheme of Delegation (Part 7.3) as amended.

The Council had before them a report by the Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer (CC11) which set out the proposed changes to the Council’s Officer Scheme of Delegation set out in the Constitution.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Purse, seconded by Councillor Val Smith and carried nem con)

The Council had before them a report (CC12) which sought agreement to a number of virements which require Council approval under the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Purse, seconded by Councillor Val Smith and carried nem com) to approve these virements in 2014/15.