Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed Councillor Andrew Gant to his first meeting as a Cabinet Member.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2022 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2022 were approved and signed.

See attached Annex.

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection. 

To facilitate ‘hybrid’ meetings we are asking that requests to speak are submitted by no later than 9am four working days before the meeting i.e., 9am on Wednesday 18 May 2022.  Requests to speak should be sent to colm.ocaomhanaigh@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

The Chair agreed to the following requests to speak:

6: Climate Change Update

Cllr John Howson

8: Local Area SEND Strategy

Cllr John Howson

9: Libraries and Heritage Strategy

District Cllr Julian Cooper

Cllr Andy Graham

Cabinet Member: Climate Change Delivery & Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/018

Contact: Sarah Gilbert, Climate Action Team Leader Tel: 07867 467797

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA6).

In response to the council’s declaration of a climate emergency, a Climate Action Framework was developed to mobilise a cross-organizational Climate Action Programme.  This report updates Cabinet on the delivery of the 21/22 Climate Action Programme delivery plan and sets out the 22/23 delivery plan.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  Note the annual update on the delivery of the Climate Action Programme (Appendix 1)

b)                  Approve the Climate Action Programme delivery plan for 2022/23 (Appendix 2)

c)                  Approve the council’s Carbon Management Plan 2022-25 (Appendix 3) and the interim emissions reduction target for 2024/25.

Cabinet considered a report updating on the delivery of the 2021/22 Climate Action Programme delivery plan and setting out the 2022/23 delivery plan.

Before discussing the report, the Chair had agreed to the following request to speak:

Councillor John Howson asked that the report be circulated to all councillors as climate change was of concern to everyone.  He was disappointed that only four maintained primary schools had been helped with energy efficiency.  Most primary schools were not yet set up for renewable energy sources although they could play an important part as a community hub.  He was pleased to see that £400,000 was to be spent in 2022/23 on the school support programme although there was nothing in the report on how to help academies or private schools.

Cabinet Members noted that the report demonstrated that the team had the knowledge, skills and commitment to make major progress.  Determined progress had been made on Scope 1 (direct emissions from fuel use on council estate and fleet) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity) and they were not hesitating on going for the full Scope 3 (indirect emissions from staff travel and electricity distribution).

An officer will shortly be appointed to work on decarbonising the Council’s supply chain which was much larger that the Council’s own carbon footprint.   The carbon accounting framework and toolkit referred to on Agenda Page 27 would be of benefit to other organisations in understanding exactly what they were signing up to.

Officers will be asked if there was scope in the school conditions survey to examine energy supply and consumption of the buildings to inform the Council in considering the suggestions Councillor Howson made.

RESOLVED to:

a)              Note the annual update on the delivery of the Climate Action Programme (Appendix 1)

b)              Approve the Climate Action Programme delivery plan for 2022/23 (Appendix 2)

c)              Approve the council’s Carbon Management Plan 2022-25 (Appendix 3) and the interim emissions reduction target for 2024/25.

Cabinet Members: Climate Change Delivery & Environment and Public Health & Equality

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/129

Contact: Lauren Rushen, Policy Officer Tel: 07990 367851

Report by Corporate Director Customer, Organisational Development & Resources (CA7).

An Oxfordshire wide food strategy has been developed in partnership with the district and city councils and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). The strategy supports a broad range of Council priorities and strategies in particular healthy weight strategies, addressing food poverty and tackling inequalities and the Council’s Climate Action Framework.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  Endorse the Oxfordshire Food Strategy – Part One attached at annexe 1 including the principles and overarching framework

b)                  Agree that £250,000 grant funding be awarded to District and City council partners to support the delivery of the strategy as set out in paragraph 22 of the report

c)                  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Customers and Organisational Development to agree the terms of reference for the grant funding in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Equalities

d)                  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Customers and Organisational Development to make minor design and typographical changes to the document pending adoption by District and City partners

Cabinet had before it an Oxfordshire-wide food strategy, developed in partnership with the district and city councils and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), supporting a broad range of Council priorities and strategies in particular healthy weight strategies, addressing food poverty, tackling inequalities and the Council’s Climate Action Framework.

The Cabinet Members for Public Health & Equalities and Climate Change Delivery & Environment spoke to the report.  The strategy addressed the issues of food poverty, climate action, inequalities and the cost of living.  The consultation process included farmers, producers, residents, local councillors and officers.

All the partners were required to develop an action plan and for us that will be a cross-council piece of work including input from the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  It was a whole-system approach which was why there was a recommendation to allocate £250,000 to our district and city partners to support their own action plans.  This could be passed on to local community and voluntary groups working in their own local areas.

Most food from Oxfordshire was well-grown, well-reared and good for the planet.  The Climate Change Committee had identified the importance of local food production in mitigating against risks of climate change.  A survey had shown that only 1% of food consumed in Oxford was grown in Oxfordshire so there was a lot of work to be done.  The National Farms Union strategy fitted in very well with this Council strategy.

Members acknowledged the work of many local organisations and volunteers in distributing food locally that was sourced locally.  These organisations have responded very positively to this Council initiative.

RESOLVED to

a)              Endorse the Oxfordshire Food Strategy – Part One attached at annexe 1 including the principles and overarching framework

b)              Agree that £250,000 grant funding be awarded to District and City council partners to support the delivery of the strategy as set out in paragraph 22 of the report

c)              Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Customers and Organisational Development to agree the terms of reference for the grant funding in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Equalities

d)              Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Customers and Organisational Development to make minor design and typographical changes to the document pending adoption by District and City partners

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader (including Children, Education and Young People’s Services)

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/046

Contact: Kate Bradley, Head of SEND, 07584 262422

Report by Corporate Director for Children’s Service (CA8).

A Local Area SEND Strategy was co-drafted over a period of 4 months by a governance group of representatives from Local Authority Education, Social Care (Children’s and Adult), Health, Education Setting and Parent/Carers.  Public consultation ran from 10 January to 10 March 2022.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve publication of the Local Area SEND Strategy.

Cabinet considered the Local Area SEND Strategy which was co-drafted by a governance group of representatives from Local Authority Education, Social Care (Children’s and Adult), Health, Education Setting and Parent/Carers.

Before discussing the report the Chair agreed to a request to speak.

Councillor John Howson stated that he looked forward to seeing the implementation plans and reminded Cabinet to place Members at the heart of decisions.  The national Schools Bill was disappointing with no provision for SEND pupils because a national strategy has yet to be formalised.  The government was not doing enough to help local authorities to provide for children with SEND coming into the county.

A recent report noted that the government had laudably raised parental expectations but had not provided the funding to meet those expectations sustainably.  He believed that it was wrong that Ofsted reports did not include measures of SEND inclusion.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Young People’s Services agreed that central government had not grasped this issue.  There was a White Paper on schools and a Green Paper on SEND but she did not believe that they were working in the same direction.

In the development of this strategy there were fifteen engagement sessions that included children, parents, sector partners and the community and voluntary sectors.  Going forward it was agreed that the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee will be consulted on the implementation plan and the intention is to keep up the high level of public engagement.

The Chair emphasised that the recommendation was to approve the document with the list of amendments made following consultation.

RESOLVED to approve publication of the Local Area SEND Strategy.

Cabinet Member: Community Services & Safety

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/234

Contact: Mark Haynes, Director for Customer & Cultural Services Tel: 07586 479051

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA9).

A draft Libraries and Heritage Strategy: 2022 - 2027 was approved by Cabinet on 21^st December 2021 subject to public consultation.  This report details the consultation approach and sets out the key themes arising from the consultation. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)              Note the outcome of the public consultation on the Libraries and Heritage Strategy

b)              Delegate the responsibility for the adoption and implementation of the strategy to the Portfolio Holder for Community Services and Safety and the Corporate Director for Customers, Organisational Development and Resources and the project team. 

c)              Agree that an annual review of the actions to deliver the strategy is reported to Cabinet and the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee

A draft Libraries and Heritage Strategy: 2022 - 2027 was approved by Cabinet on 21st December 2021 subject to public consultation. Cabinet considered a report detailing the consultation approach and setting out the key themes arising from the consultation.

Before discussing the report, the Chair agreed to requests to speak.

District Councillor Julian Cooper and Councillor Andy Graham, both representing Woodstock, asked that the provision of a permanent library for Woodstock be prioritised as the library was unable to provide as good a service in its temporary cramped location.

The Cabinet Member for Community Services & Safety agreed that providing a permanent building for Woodstock was a priority.  She wished to acknowledge that her predecessor, Councillor Neil Fawcett, had steered this strategy through the engagement process.  There had been an extraordinary level of agreement on the strategy.

Libraries should be accessible, interesting places at the hub of the community.  Some needed improvement.  She intended to ensure that all libraries will have the new services being planned.

RESOLVED:

a)              Note the outcome of the public consultation on the Libraries and Heritage Strategy

b)              Delegate the responsibility for the adoption and implementation of the strategy to the Portfolio Holder for Community Services and Safety and the Corporate Director for Customer, Organisational Development and Resources and the project team. 

c)              Agree that an annual review of the actions to deliver the strategy is reported to Cabinet and the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/219

Contact: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh, Committee Officer Tel: 07393 001096

Report by Director of Law & Governance (CA10).

ANNEX TO FOLLOW

To consider member appointments to a variety of bodies which in different ways support the discharge of the Council’s Executive functions.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the appointments to the bodies set out in the Annex to this report.

Cabinet considered Member appointments to a variety of bodies which in different ways support the discharge of the Council’s Executive functions.

The Chair noted that there were two amendments to the list in the Annex which were required to reflect the recent changes in the Cabinet portfolios.

RESOLVED: to agree the appointments to the bodies set out in the Annex to this report with two amendments:

Under Joint Committees – Future Oxfordshire Partnership

Oxfordshire Plan 2050 Group – substitute to be Cllr Andrew Gant

Environment Advisory Group – substitute to be Cllr Andrew Gant

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh, Committee Officer Tel: 07393 001096

The Cabinet Procedure Rules provide that the business of each meeting at the Cabinet is to include “updating of the Forward Plan and proposals for business to be conducted at the following meeting”.   Items from the Forward Plan for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet appear in the Schedule at CA11.  This includes any updated information relating to the business for those meetings that has already been identified for inclusion in the next Forward Plan update.

The Schedule is for noting, but Cabinet Members may also wish to take this opportunity to identify any further changes they would wish to be incorporated in the next Forward Plan update.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

The Cabinet considered a list of items (CA11) for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet together with changes and additions set out in the schedule of addenda.

RESOLVED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

In the event that any Member or Officer wishes to discuss the information set out in the Annexes to Agenda Item 13, the Cabinet will be invited to resolve to exclude the public for the consideration of the Annexes by passing a resolution in relation in the following terms:

"that the public be excluded during the consideration of the Annexes since it is likely that if they were present during that discussion there would be a disclosure of "exempt" information as described in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 and specified below the item in the Agenda".

NOTE: The report does not contain exempt information and is available to the public.

THE ANNEXES TO THE ITEM NAMED HAVE NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ BY MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THEM.

RESOLVED that the public be excluded for the duration of item 13 since it was likely that if they were present during that item there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and specified in relation to the respective items in the Agenda since it was considered that, in all the circumstances of each case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information

Cabinet Member: Community Services & Safety

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/047

Contact: Jody Kerman, Head of Trading Standards, 07909 905514

Report by Corporate Director - Commercial Development, Assets and Investment (CA13).

The information in this case is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed categories:

1. Information relating to any individual

7. Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime

and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The annexes containing exempt information under the above paragraph are attached.

Entering in to an s101 Agreement with London Borough of Bromley, authorising Bromley to undertake a prosecution in relation to an Oxfordshire resident.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)                Pursuant to section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 and section 9EA of the Local Government Act 2000, approve the delegation of specific powers from the county council to the London Borough of Bromley in relation to the investigation and prosecution of companies and individuals associated with the investigation known as Operation Argus

(b)               Authorise the Head of Legal and/or the Director of Law and Governance to enter the necessary agreements to implement this delegation

PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The information contained in the report was exempt in that it fell within the following prescribed categories:

1. Information relating to any individual

7. Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

RESOLVED to

(a)                    Pursuant to section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 and section 9EA of the Local Government Act 2000, approve the delegation of specific powers from the county council to the London Borough of Bromley in relation to the investigation and prosecution of companies and individuals associated with the investigation known as Operation Argus

(b)                   Authorise the Head of Legal and/or the Director of Law and Governance to enter the necessary agreements to implement this delegation