Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/353

Contact: Ian Dyson, Director of Financial and Commercial Services (Ian.Dyson@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer (CA9).

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the Councils for Fair tax Declaration

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report proposing a response to a motion to request Cabinet to consider approving the “Council’s for Fair Tax Declaration that was passed at the meeting of the County Council on 5 November 2024

The “Councils for Fair Tax Declaration” was created by The Fair Tax Foundation Limited that operated as a not-for profit social enterprise. It was developed in collaboration with UK cities, towns and districts who believe they could and should stand up for responsible tax conduct. There were currently 63 Councils across the UK which had made the declaration.

The declaration would commit the council to pursuing exemplary tax conduct in its own affairs, require greater transparency from suppliers and support the call for more meaningful powers to tackle tax avoidance amongst suppliers when buying goods and services.

Under the same motion the Leader of the Council was requested to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer supporting calls for urgent reform of UK procurement law to enable local authorities to better penalise poor tax conduct and reward good tax conduct through their procurement policies. A response was received from the Cabinet Office on 7 January 2025 confirming that The Procurement Act which was due to go live on 24 February 2025 would introduce new mandatory grounds for the exclusion of bidders who are found guilty of tax evasion or involvement in abusive tax avoidance schemes whether in the UK or overseas.

The Council’s existing policies and procedures underpinned the values of good tax conduct, and this would be supported further by the Procurement Act. Approving the Councils for Fair Tax Declaration did not bring any additional responsibility or requirements on the council.

Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the report. He

emphasised that the declaration required the Council to take even more care to ensure it only dealt with entities that were responsible and paid their taxes.

During discussion members expressed support for the declaration, highlighting the importance of responsible tax practices and the need for the government to act on this issue.

Councillor Leffman moved, and Councillor Sudbury seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to approve the Councils for Fair Tax Declaration