Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2016 (CC1) and to receive information arising from them.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 December 2016 were approved and signed.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Langridge, Reynolds and Rose.

The Chairman reported as follows:

Council paid tribute to Chief Fire Officer Dave Etheridge OBE, who had announced his retirement after a distinguished 32 year career in the County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service.  He is also President of The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA).  Dave Etheridge OBE would retire from his role on 31 March 2017, to coincide with his final day as the President of CFOA.  Council sent best wishes for his future.

Council paid tribute to honour the memory of Former Alderman David Buckle, County Councillor who had sadly passed away over the weekend of 21st-22nd January 2017. The title of Honorary Alderman had been conferred upon the then former Councillor Buckle in May 2013, in recognition of his having made a significant contribution to the Oxfordshire County Council.  Alderman Buckle had also a member of the Labour Group, representing the Wood Farm division from May 1989.  He served as Chairman of the Council from July 1996 until 12th May 1998, continuing to serve as a member of Council until June 2001, when he stood down.

To make any changes to the membership of the Cabinet, scrutiny and other committees on the nomination of political groups.

Members are asked to note that Councillor Hudspeth had given notice of the following changes to portfolio responsibilities in accordance with Council Procedure Rules Part 4.2 Para 1.2.4, to take effect from Tuesday 10 January 2017:

The following addition to the portfolio responsibility of Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care:

Champion for Mental Health.

This progresses the Council resolution in November to sign up to the Local Authorities’ Mental Health Challenge which requires a lead member for mental health to be in place.

Members noted that Councillor Hudspeth had given notice of the following change to portfolio responsibilities in accordance with Council Procedure Rules Part 4.2 Para 1.2.4, to take effect from Tuesday 10 January 2017:

The following addition to the portfolio responsibility of Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care:

Champion for Mental Health.

This progressed the Council resolution in November to sign up to the Local Authorities’ Mental Health Challenge which requires a lead member for mental health to be in place.

The Council received the following Public Address:

Rachael Scott-Hunter spoke against the proposals to stop financially supporting day support centres. She referred to her experience as a parent caring for a severely disabled adult daughter and the importance to her of Kidlington Day Centre which she had attended for the past 26 years and was a totally safe space and respected her physical and mental needs. Changes would bring about anxiety, stress and challenging behaviours.  Her daughter would be separated from friends and would be sent to an inappropriate hub with elderly patients. She believed the proposals were against basic human rights. She urged Council to put themselves into her daughter’s shoes.

Ted Cooper resident of Witney expressed the disquiet of users of his local centre in Witney. He expressed his dismay that no one from the Council had visited the centre and that users had not been directly consulted.   There were particular concerns around transport. He believed that some elderly people would not be able to manage the online registration process and that booking a seat a week in advance was not practicable and that the time allowed at the centre due to transport limited integration within the centre. He urged the Council to consider making some small changes, particularly around transport, to make the proposals workable.

Maggie Swain, Chair of the October Club Management Committee emphasised the value of the Wantage & Grove Independent Day Centre which provided support in a small local group particularly for those with Alzheimer’s/dementia who would struggle with transport and responded better in a smaller less busy environment. The safe and stimulating environment was available to people 5 days a week for 6 hours and enabled people to remain at home longer and provided essential respite for careers.  She believed that closing clubs such as this one would be at high cost to the Council and the NHS.  She urged the Council to consider the detrimental effect of losing the support of volunteers and voluntary groups for the future.

Report by the Chief Human Resources Officer (CC7)

The Remuneration Committee are required to report annually to Council on the Pay Policy Statement. The Committee considered this report on 24 January 2017 and now submit it for approval to Council on 14 February 2016.

The Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)      receive the report of the Remuneration Committee;

(b)      approve the revised Pay Policy Statement at Annex 2 to this report.

The Council had before them the report of the Remuneration Committee (CC7) which updated the Council’s Pay Policy Statement and set out future proposals of the Remuneration Committee in relation to this area.

RESOLVED: (on a Motion by Councillor Hudspeth, seconded by Councillor Webber and carried nem con) to:

(a)       receive the report of the Remuneration Committee;

(b)       approve the revised Pay Policy Statement at Annex 2 to this report.

Report by Head of Human Resources (CC8).

This report asks the County Council to approve the recommendation to appoint Peter Clark as Chief Executive.

The Council had before them a report which following a senior management review and consultation with the Cabinet recommended the appointment of Peter Clerk to the post of Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Hudspeth, seconded by Councillor Heathcoat and carried nem con) to approve the appointment of Peter Clark to the post of Chief Executive with effect from 14 February 2017.

Report by Director of Finance (CC9).

This report is the culmination of the service & resource planning process for 2017/18 to 2020/21. It sets out the Cabinet’s proposed budget for 2017/18, medium term financial plan and capital programme, together with a number of statements/policies that the Council is required to approve for the 2017/18 financial year.

The report is divided into four main sections which are outlined below:

Section 1 – Leader of the Council’s overview

Section 2 – Council Vision

Section 3 – Director of Finance’s statutory report

Section 4 – Budget Strategy and Capital Programme

The Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)            have regard to the report of the Director of Finance (at Section 3) in approving recommendations b to e below;

(b)           (in respect of revenue) approve:

(1)            the council tax and precept calculations for 2017/18 set out in section 4.3 and in particular:

(i)              a precept of £328,022,682;

(ii)            a council tax for band D equivalent properties of £1,345.59;

(2)            a budget for 2017/18 as set out in section 4.4;

(3)            a medium term plan for 2017/18 to 2020/21 as set out in section 4.1 (which incorporates changes to the existing medium term financial plan as set out in section 4.2);

(4)            the use of Dedicated Schools Grant (provisional allocation) for 2017/18 as set out in section 4.7;

(5)            virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget for 2017/18 as set out in section 4.8;

(6)            that any variation as a result of the final Local Government Finance settlement is dealt with through a transfer to/from balances.

(c)            (in respect of treasury management) approve:

(1)            the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2017/18 as set out in section 4.5;

(2)            the continued delegation of authority to withdraw or advance additional funds to/from external fund managers to the Treasury Management Strategy Team;

(3)            that any further changes required to the 2017/18 strategy be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance;

(4)            the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of section 4.5

(5)            the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Appendix B of section 4.5;

(6)            the Specified Investment and Non Specified Investment Instruments as set out in Appendix C and D of section 4.5;

(7)            the Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out at Appendix E of section 4.5;

(d)            (in respect of balances and reserves) approve:

(1)            the Chief Finance Officer’s recommended level of balances for 2017/18 as set out in section 4.6.1;

(2)            the planned level of reserves for 2017/18 to 2020/21 as set out in section 4.6.2;

(e)            (in respect of capital) approve:

(1)            a Capital Programme for 2016/17 to 2020/21 as set out in section 4.9 including the Highways Structural Maintenance Programme 2017/18 and 2018/19 in section 4.9.1;

(2)            the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Policy as set out in section 4.9.4

The Council had before it a report (CC9) which outlined the service & resource planning process for 2107/18 to 2020/21, including the Leader of the Council’s overview (section 1) the Council Vision (section 2) the Director of Finance’s statutory report (section 3) and the Budget Strategy and Capital Programme (Section 4)

Under Section 25 of the Local government Act 2003, the Director of Finance was required to report on the robustness of the estimates made in determining the council tax requirement and on the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves.  The assessment was set out in section 3 of the report.  Council was required to have due regard to this report when making their decisions on the budget.

The Council also had before it budget proposals in the form of:  Amendments by the Labour Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget (CC9 Labour), Amendments by the Liberal Democrat Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget (CC9 Lib Dem) and Amendments by the Green Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget (CC9 Green) (Additional Papers). and the schedule of Business, which contained an Erratum Pack and corrected Green Group Amendment.  All papers could be found on the Council’s Website.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Hudspeth moved an Alteration to the Cabinet Budget Proposals (CPR 17.5.1) as set out in the Schedule of Business.  The Motion was put to the vote and was carried nem con.

Councillor Hudspeth then moved and Councillor Stratford seconded the Cabinet’s recommendations on Service & Resource Planning 2017/18 – 2020/21. In moving the motion, Councillor Hudspeth paid tribute to Lorna Baxter and Katie Jurczyszyn for all their work in preparing the budget.

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Hards seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers (CC9 Labour). Councillor Brighouse thanked the Director of Finance and her team for their help and support.

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 41 votes to 17.

Councillor Webber moved and Councillor Fawcett seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers (CC9 Lib Dem). In moving his motion, Councillor Webber paid tribute to Lorna Baxter and her team for their help and support.

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 44 votes to 12, with 3 abstentions.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Williams moved and Councillor Coates seconded an amended version of his amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Erratum to the Schedule of Business. Councillor Williams paid tribute to the Finance Team.

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 56 votes to 2, with 1 abstention.

Members of the Cabinet then gave an overview of the areas of the Budget falling under their responsibility.

Following a lengthy debate, the substantive motion was put to the vote and was carried by 31 votes to 29.