Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2011 2011 (CC1) and to receive information arising from them.

RESOLVED:  that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2011 be approved and signed subject to the following amendment to Annex 1 of the Minutes – supplementary answer to question 6:

“We had our own investigation into the supply and demand figures required and we came out with the figure of 1.26 million which we feel is a good average if you take into account the fact that the reduction in demand is due to the economic downturn”

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Altaf-Khan, Chapman, Mrs Fulljames, Jelf, Lindsay-Gale, Skolar, Strangwood and N.Turner.

RESOLVED:  to approve, for the purposes of Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, the absence of Councillor Peter Jones from any meeting of the Authority from the date of this meeting for six months on the grounds of his serious ill health.”

Members are reminded that they must declare their interests orally at the meeting and specify (a) the nature of the interest and (b) which items on the agenda are the relevant items. This applies also to items where members have interests by virtue of their membership of a district council in Oxfordshire.

RESOLVED:  that all members declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8, noting the specific exemption under the Code for all members from declaring this as a prejudicial interest, in order for the Council to make a decision with regards to the Budget.

The Chairman reported as follows:

(i)                              The Chairman reported that, following consultation with the Group Leaders, it had been agreed that the BBC would be filming debate on the Budget.

(ii)                            The Chairman sought agreement for the Order of Business to be changed as indicated in the Schedule of Business.

(iii)                           A minute’s silence was held in memory of Councillor Roger Belson who had sadly passed away over the Christmas period.  The Chairman reported that a memorial service was to held on Wednesday 21 March 2012 at 3.00 pm at The Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London.  Those members who were interested in attending were to contact Jenny Larkcom regarding transport.

(iv)                          Councillors Mallon, Purse and Brighouse then shared memories and experiences with Council and paid tribute to Councillor Belson.

(v)                            The Chairman reported that he had written and congratulated those on the New Years Honours list which had a connection with Oxfordshire list attached as Annex 1 to the decisions).

(vi)                          The Council congratulated Tim Stimpson, Facilities Manager for the County Council on receiving the MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to Oxfordshire.

(a)               to appoint Councillor Patrick Greene to the vacancy on the Growth & Infrastructure Scrutiny Committee;

(b)               to appoint Councillor Stewart Lilly to the vacancy on the Planning & Regulation Committee;

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

RESOLVED: to

(a)               appoint Councillor Patrick Greene to the vacancy on the Growth & Infrastructure Scrutiny Committee;

(b)               appoint Councillor Stewart Lilly to the vacancy on the Planning & Regulation Committee.

The following address was received:

Agenda Item 8 – Service & Resource Planning 2012/13 – 2016/17

Ms Sushila Dhall addressed the Council outlining the implications of focusing future funding  for Mental Health around rehabilitation and recovery rather than support as this would mean hardship for Metal Health patients who were unlikely to get better.

Report by the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CC8(a)) and Report of the Cabinet by the Leader of the Council (CC8(b)).  The recommendations set out below (and in the report) are made subject to the Commentary on the Budget Proposals by the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, as the Council’s Section 151 Officer, to be circulated separately.  Annex 6 (Dedicated Schools Grant Provisional Allocation 2012/13) will be circulated separately, following the outcome of the School’s Forum Meeting on 1 February 2012.

The Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green Groups propose to submit amendments to the budget proposals (CC8 Liberal Democrat), (CC8 Labour) and (CC8 Green) respectively and these will be circulated separately.

(a)   (in respect of revenue) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         a budget for 2012/13 as set out in Annex 1;

(2)         a medium term plan for 2012/13 to 2016/17 as set out in Annex 2 (which incorporates changes to the Business Strategies set out in Annex 3);

(3)         a council tax requirement for 2012/13 of £284.525m;

(4)         the Council Tax and Precept calculations for 2012/13 set out in Annex 4 to the report and in particular:

(i)           a precept of £284.525m; and

(ii)         a Council Tax for Band D equivalent properties of £1,161.71;

(5)         the planned level of balances and reserves for 2012/13 to 2015/16 as set out in Annex 5;

(6)         the use of Dedicated Schools Grant for 2012/13 as set out in Annex 6;

(7)         virement arrangements for 2012/13 as set out in Annex 7;

(b)                          (in respect of treasury management) to RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as at Annex 8 including the Prudential Indicators;

(2)         that in relation to the 2012/13 strategy any further changes required be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer following consultation with the Leader of Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance.

(c)   RECOMMEND Council to approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in paragraphs 10 to 14 of Annex 9.

(d)  (in respect of Capital) to approve:

(1)         the Capital Strategy at Annex 10 and Corporate Asset Management Plan and Transport Asset Management Plan at Annexes 11a and 11b;

(2)         the Capital Programme for 2011/12 to 2016/17 as set out in the capital programme at Annex 12;

(3)         the prudential indicators for capital set out in Annex 13.

The Council had before them the Report of the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CC8), a supplementary Report of the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer, the Report of the Cabinet (CC8(b)) together with the Commentary on the Cabinet’s Budget Proposals by the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer as the Council’s Section 151 Officer.  The Council also had before it budget proposals in the form of:  Amendments by the Liberal Democrat Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget, Amendments by the Labour Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget and Amendments by the Green Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget together with Commentary by the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer as the Council’s Section 151 Officer.

Councillor Mitchell moved and Councillor Couchman seconded the Cabinet’s recommendations on Service and Resource Planning 2012/13 to 2016/17 (CC8(b)).  In moving and seconding the motion, Councillor Mitchell and Councillor Couchman paid tribute to Sue Scane and her staff for all their work in preparing the Budget.

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

Councillor Patrick moved and Councillor Armitage seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the additional papers (CC8 Liberal Democrat Amendments).  Councillor Patrick paid tribute to the finance staff responsible for preparing the budget.

Following debate, the amendment was lost by 49 votes to 9 with 2 Abstentions.

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Stevens seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in (CC8 Labour Group Amendments) and in the Addenda at Annex 1 to the Schedule of Business.  Councillor Patrick paid tribute to members of the finance team.

Following debate, the amendment was lost by 50 votes to 10 with 1 Abstentions.

Councillor L Sanders moved and Councillor Sherwood seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in (CC8 Green Group Amendments).

Following debate, the amendment was lost by 57 votes to 2 with 2 Abstentions.

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and carried by 41 votes to 19.

The Council's Medium Term Corporate Plan 2012/2013-2016/17 (CC9) sets out the challenges facing the County Council , the rationale for our objectives, and identifies the priority and activities on which we will focus.

The approach set out in last year’s directorate business strategies and the overarching Corporate Plan continue to provide the foundations for our strategy. The next twelve months will therefore be the second year of delivering the four year plan we set out last year.

The Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee reviewed the draft Plan and submitted comments to the Cabinet, who approved the draft on 17 January 2012.

A summary of the key elements of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) will be included once the Council has approved the budget, and the MTFP will form an annex to the plan.

The Cabinet RECOMMENDS Council to approve the Corporate Plan subject to the inclusion of a summary of the Medium Term Financial Plan and any changes in the text approved by the Chief Executive after consultation with the Leader of the Council.

The time being 4.10 pm the meeting was closed and  the Chairman directed that the item would be considered at the next Council Meeting on the 20th March.

Council is RECOMMENDED to receive the report and note the recommendations.

The time being 4.10 pm the meeting was closed and  the Chairman directed that the item would be considered at the next Council Meeting on the 20th March.

New Year Honours list

The Chairman has written and congratulated the following people on receiving New Year Honours in 2012:

Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, of the Theology Faculty and St Cross College, was knighted (KB) for services to scholarship.

David Flint, chief executive of Oxford Instruments, was appointed CBE for services to business and science.

Professor Lionel Tarassenko was appointed CBE for services to engineering.

Keith Budgen, the former regional director of HM Courts and Tribunals Service for the south east region was appointed CBE

Professor Diana Woodhouse, the former pro vice-chancellor of research at Oxford Brookes University, was appointed OBE for services to legal scholarship and higher education.

Malcolm Cochrane, from Shipton-under-Wychwood, was appointed MBE for his services to the community.

James Hewitt was appointed MBE for services to financial inclusion in Oxfordshire and to the local community.

Trevor Alan Cowlett for services to music in Oxford was appointed MBE.

John Huddleston, from AEA Technology, was appointed MBE for services to the environment.

Professor Robert Lloyd Walker was appointed MBE for services to social policy research.