Decisions

WITHDRAWN on the basis that Councillor Suzanne Bartington had agreed to amend her motion to take on points from his motion.

The time being 4.15, this motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.5.8.

The time being 4.15, this motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.5.8.

RESOLVED: (55 votes to 0, 4 abstentions)

On a motion by Councillor Hudspeth, seconded by Councillor Brighouse and carried by 55 votes to 0, with 4 abstentions to note the report and refer the item to the relevant scrutiny committees for consideration.

The Council received the report of the Cabinet.

In relation to paragraph 7 of the report (Update Financial & Resource Contribution towards the Free Swan School Project in Oxford) (Question from Councillor Howson to Councillor Harrod) Councillor Lindsay-Gale gave an assurance that if there were any additional transport costs due to the location of the Swan School being over the 3-mile limit, that these would be taken account of as part of the Agenda setting process.

In relation to paragraph 12 of the report (Financial Monitoring and Medium Term Financial Plan Delivery Report – August 2018) (Question from Councillor Phillips to Councillor Bartholomew) Councillor Bartholomew undertook to provide Councillor Phillips with a written answer outlining what percentage of the revenue stream was used for the servicing of debts.

To note the independent report and have due regard for it.  To seek approval of the report for recommendation to Full Council, for the Council to meet its statutory duty to publish an annual report.

Council paid tribute to the Strategic Director for People for his work, particularly in relation to public health.

The recommendations were agreed nem con.

To review Treasury Management activity in 2017/18 in accordance with the CIPFA code of practice.

The recommendations were agreed nem con.

The Chairman reminded members that her Charity Dinner would be held on 23 November 2108 and that tickets were available from her personal assistant, Sara Lenihan.

There were none.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Maurice Billington and Councillor Pete Handley.

The Minutes of the Meeting held 11 September 2018 were approved and signed as an accurate record.

In relation to Minute 9/18 the Cabinet Member for Environment undertook to provide Councillor Howson with an answer to his substantive question as soon as possible.

In relation to Minute 13/18 Councillor Field Johnson indicated that he was dissatisfied with the response that he had received from the Environment Agency on his Motion and urged the Leader of the Council to refute the letter.

19 questions with Notice were asked.  Details of the questions and answers and supplementary questions and answers will be set out in the annex to the minutes.

In relation to question 1 (Question from Councillor Leffman to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance undertook to provide Councillor Leffman with a written answer detailing how many outstanding applications there were; how many staff were dealing with the issue and how many staff would be needed to deal with it in the future?

In relation to question 2 (Question from Councillor Leffman to Councillor Lindsay-Gale) Councillor Lindsay-Gale undertook to investigate the cost implications of continuing to send letters regarding library reservations to those that could not access technology and let Councillor Leffman know the outcome.

In relation to question 10 (Question from Councillor Howson to Councillor Lindsay-Gale) Councillor Lindsay-Gale undertook to get the issue of lowering Oxfordshire’s Absent Rates to below the National average on the Head Teacher Association’s Agenda.

In relation to question 19 (Question from Councillor Pressel to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance agreed to look again to see if there was anything she could do to support car clubs.

Order of Business

RESOLVED: nem con to move Agenda Item 18 to Agenda Item 15.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Bartington moved her motion, amended at the suggestion of Councillor Paul Buckley as follows:

“This Council recognizes our ambition to achieve economic growth whilst improving the health and wellbeing of communities in Oxfordshire.  Active travel provides an effective mechanism to achieve such goals, with potential to co-deliver multiple social, environmental and economic benefits. This council has recognised recognises in LTP4 the importance of investment in sustainable transport and shares the Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy ambition to double cycling by 2025. Accepting Cognizant of Andrew Gilligan’s recent recommendations to the National Infrastructure Commission into and within Oxford, it now wishes to accelerate progress towards this goal. This Council therefore calls upon the Cabinet Member for Environment to:

1. Apply Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) to agree a prioritised and costed Strategic Active Travel Network (SATN), building on work of the Oxfordshire Cycle Network.
2. Actively seek capital and revenue funding for SATN delivery through local and national sources. 
3. Assess what co-benefits could be gained by allocating a fraction of local transport funds to active travel infrastructure (e.g. 5 or 10%) following best practice examples.
4. influence the Planning authorities use of planning powers more proactively and effectively to achieve beneficial active travel outcomes.
5. Establish a framework to oversee quality control of all active travel infrastructure projects in accordance with the Oxfordshire Cycling Design Standards, from inception through planning to implementation, ensuring all proposals are audited for safety and encouragement of active travel.
6. Use innovative data sources and technologies to identify active travel patterns and latent demand, and to monitor and increase effectiveness of interventions.”

The Motion as amended was carried unanimously (49 votes to 0).

The time being 4.15, this motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.5.8.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Reeves moved an alteration to his motion at the suggestion of Councillor Price as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:

“This Council believes that residents in Oxfordshire should have the greatest possible choice of transport available to them.

This Council notes Oxford City Council's refusal to grant licenses to new entrants in the private-hire market including peer-to-peer ridesharing apps. As these services need a critical mass to be successful, the decision by the City Council is having a detrimental effect on the other areas of the County, including all the district areas, and thus contributing to rural isolation by depriving people of services and choice.

This Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to:

(a)      The Leaders of Oxford City Council and all district councils with a view to ensuring that residents consumers enjoy haveadiverse range of accessible transport options, which could include the licensing of private hire vehicles for new entrants into the market, to meet their varied needs and support greater choice of private-hire services by extending licenses for new entrants to that market and by assisting this Council’s efforts in extending the provision of bus services in the light of new legislation that has already enabled successful innovative services in the County.

(b)      The County's commercial and community bus operators with a view to widening the availability of bus services in the County, including hop-on-hop-off services, and to relevant partners as above, including also parishes and prospective community groups, so as to encourage the provision of new services. This has already shown to be a great success with the initiatives such as the Pick Me Up Service and this should be extended to other areas of the County.”

The motion as amended was carried by 53 to 0, with 3 abstentions.

RESOLVED: (53 to 0, with 3 abstentions)

“This Council believes that residents in Oxfordshire should have the greatest possible choice of transport available to them.

This Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to:

(a)  The Leaders of Oxford City Council and all district councils with a view to ensuring that residents havea diverse range of accessible transport options, which could include the licensing of private hire vehicles for new entrants into the market, to meet their varied needs and support this Council’s efforts in extending the provision of bus services in the light of new legislation that has already enabled successful innovative services in the County.

(b)      The County's commercial and community bus operators with a view to widening the availability of bus services in the County, including hop-on-hop-off services, and to relevant partners as above, including also parishes and prospective community groups, so as to encourage the provision of new services. This has already shown to be a great success with the initiatives such as the Pick Me Up Service and this should be extended to other areas of the County.”

The Motion was lost by 30 votes to 27.

The time being 4.15, this motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.5.8.

There were none.

Council received the following public address:

Mr Scott Urban, Director of Oxfordshire Liveable Streets in support of Agenda Item 18 (Motion by Councillor Suzanne Bartington);

Mr Robin Tucker, Chair of Oxfordshire Cycling Network in support of Agenda Item 18 (Motion by Councillor Suzanne Bartington);

Mr Simon Hunt, Chair of Cyclox in support of Agenda Item 18 (Motion by Councillor Suzanne Bartington);

Mr Adrian Townsend, in relation to Agenda Item 12 (Growth Board);

Mr Mohammad, Royal Cars in relation to Agenda Item13 (Motion from Councillor Eddie Reeves);

Mr Singh, 001 Taxis in relation to Agenda Item13 (Motion from Councillor Eddie Reeves).

Council noted the appointments set out on the Agenda and in the Schedule of Business, subject to the following change reported at the Meeting:

Joint Consultative Committee for Uniformed Members of the Fire Service

Councillor Jenny Hannaby in place of Councillor Zoe Patrick.

Agreed.

Noted.

Group Leaders to agree a nomination once they have received information on meetings and role of Trustee.

None.

Agreed and signed.

None.

Cllr Kevin Bulmer (Cllr Liam Walker substituting).

Noted

Approved

Approved

Councillor Ian Corkin (Item 7)

Wicklesham Quarry – Update

Officers advised members of concerns regarding inadequacy of gradient levels which had been achieved on the site as part of recently completed restoration work. Committee instructed officers to write to Grundons in the strongest terms asking them to adjust and correct those levels in order to comply with previously agreed restoration plans as soon as possible. If no positive response was received then officers were advised that the committee would support them in considering the expediency of enforcement action being taken requiring the site to be restored within a potential timeframe of 3 – 6 months.

Approved and signed

Matters arising

Minute 34/18 – Wicklesham Quarry - update regarding correspondence referred to Monitoring Officer – no further action required

Minute 37/18(b) – Castle Barn Quarry, Sarsden – Chairman reported that the Cabinet Member for Environment had referred his letter re future road maintenance to the Council’s Road Maintenance Team.

Councillor Judith Heathcote – Item 3 (Minute 34/18 Wicklesham Quarry) and Item 5 Chairman’s Update (also Wicklesham Quarry) – Local Member

Councillor Dan Sames (Councillor Judith Heathcote)

Councillor Alan Thompson (Councillor Ted Fenton)

Councillor Richard Webber Councillor Liz Leffman)