Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2018 (CC1) and to receive information arising from them.

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.

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

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.

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

Education Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Ted Fenton in place of Councillor Suzanne Bartington

RESOLVED: Council noted the following appointments:

Education Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Ted Fenton in place of Councillor Suzanne Bartington

Audit & Governance Committee

Councillor Jeannette Matelot in place of Councillor Ian Corkin

Joint Consultative Committee for Uniformed Members of the Fire Service

Councillor Jenny Hannaby in place of Councillor Zoe Patrick.

County Returning Officer Report

Council received the following report from the County Returning Officer on the outcome of the by-elections for Iffley Fields & St Mary’s held on 18 October 2018:

Voting was as follows:

Damian Haywood was accordingly elected County Councillor for the Iffley Fields & St Mary’s Division.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Damion Hayward onto the Council.

Council received the following public address:

Mr Scott Urban, Director of Oxfordshire Liveable Streets spoke in support of Agenda Item 18 (Motion by Councillor Suzanne Bartington) He urged the Council to build totally segregated infrastructure for cycles and human-friendly junctions for pedestrians.

Currently, the UK in general had implemented the merging and urging lanes, while the Netherlands had taken the approach ‘build it and they will come'. The differences were remarkable. Oxfordshire Liveable Streets was created to help the county council, continue in the journey toward the latter approach. They planned to give the support needed in the districts for the hard steps that are required to create space for active travel. He invited councillors, to join him on a visit to Waltham Forest in London, where they could see first-hand how the highway authority there had implemented a remarkable scheme to replicate what happens in the Netherlands. We will be writing to cabinet members shortly with some suggested dates.

Mr Robin Tucker, Chair of Oxfordshire Cycling Network in support of Agenda Item 18 (Motion by Councillor Suzanne Bartington) on the basis that is was very important to include health planning in all future infrastructure and planning projects as activity greatly reduced sickness in people. He expressed the importance of onward leadership and support and indicated that Oxfordshire Cycling Network would like to support officers in developing future proposals.

Mr Simon Hunt, Chair of Cyclox spoke in support of Agenda Item 18 (Motion by Councillor Suzanne Bartington) on the basis that If people choose cycling to make their everyday trips, it benefited everyone in Oxfordshire who lives, works or visits here, not just those on their bikes, it reduces traffic congestion and its economic effects. Andrew Gilligan’s Report, which he profoundly hoped Council would endorse later today as proposed by Cllr Buckley, was aptly titled “Running out of Road”. Jams result when a section of road or a junction has to carry more than its maximum capacity. If the traffic volume could be kept to 90% instead of 110% of capacity, then the jams disappear. Relatively few people in cars or vans would need to switch to using bikes instead. The pollutions - carbon dioxide; nitrogen oxides; particulates - caused by motor vehicles were at unacceptably, often illegally, high levels. Two years ago, Council endorsed Local Transport Plan 4, LTP4, and also the Oxfordshire Cycling Design Standards. These key documents set out good high-level principles. Since then, some new-build for cycling has been very good, but too many projects still ended up with low-standards. He urged the Council to ensure better quality control in future projects to reduce traffic jams, pollution and poor-quality projects.

Mr Adrian Townsend, spoke in relation to Agenda Item 12 (Growth Board).  He urged the council to take back it duties and responsibilities of the Growth Board as he believed the Growth Board was now outdated and environmentally disastrous.  He queried the high number of new houses needed in Oxfordshire to 2021, believing that only 23,000  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22/18

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.

Report of the Cabinet Meetings held on 18 September 2018 and 16 October 2018 (CC9).

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 Lindsay-Gale) 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.

Report by Director of Finance (CC10).

The report sets out the Treasury Management activity undertaken in the financial year 2017/18 in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice.  The report includes Debt and Investment activity, Prudential Indicator Outturn, Investment Strategy, and interest receivable and payable for the financial year.

Council is RECOMMENDED to note the Council’s Treasury Management Activity in 2017/18.

The Council had before them a report by the Director of Finance (CC10) which set out the Treasury Management activity undertaken in the financial year 2017/18 in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice. The report included Debt and Investment activity, Prudential Indicator Outturn, Investment Strategy, and interest receivable and payable for the financial year.

Councillor Bartholomew moved and Councillor Carter seconded the recommendations set out in the report and on the face of the agenda. 

Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried nem con.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to note the Council’s Treasury Management Activity in 2017/18.

Report by Strategic Director for People and Director of Public Health (CC11).

The annual report summarises key issues associated with the Public Health of the County. It is an independent report about the health and wellbeing of Oxfordshire residents in the broadest terms.

It uses science and fact to describe the health of Oxfordshire and to make recommendations for the future. 

The report covers the following areas:

Chapter 1: The Demographic Challenge

Chapter 2: Creating Healthy Communities

Chapter 3: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage

Chapter 4: Lifestyles and Preventing Disease Before it Starts

Chapter 5: Promoting Mental Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health

Chapter 6: Fighting Killer Diseases

The report has also been considered at the Oxfordshire Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 13 September 2018.

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

The Council had before them the 11^th Annual Report by the Director of Public Health which summarised key issues associated with the Public Health of the County. It included details of progress over the past year as well as information on future work.  It was an independent report about the health and wellbeing of Oxfordshire residents in the broadest terms.

The report had also been considered at the Oxfordshire Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee in September and the Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet in November 2018.

Councillor Stratford moved and Councillor Hudspeth seconded that Council receive the report.  

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

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Stratford, seconded by Councillor Hudspeth and carried nem con) to receive the report.

Report by Policy and Performance Service Manager (CC12).

The report provides an update on Oxfordshire-wide partnerships that the County Council is engaged with and their activities over the past year. Each partnership report includes the following information:

·                Current focus for the Partnership;

·                Personnel including Chairman and supporting staff of the Partnership;

·                Governance arrangements;

·                Key achievements over the past year;

·                Aims of the partnership for the forthcoming year;

·                Key challenges for the Partnership and how these will be addressed

The report includes updates from partnerships that are particularly important to the overall outcomes for Oxfordshire and this is reported annually to Council in a light touch format.

The Annual Partnerships report has been reviewed by the Oxfordshire Partnership at their meeting on 15 October 2018.

Council is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

The Council had before it a report which provided an update on Oxfordshire-wide partnerships that the County Council is engaged with and their activities over the past year.

Each partnership report includes the following information: Current focus for the Partnership; Personnel including Chairman and supporting staff of the Partnership; Governance arrangements; Key achievements over the past year; Aims of the partnership for the forthcoming year; Key challenges for the Partnership and how these will be addressed.

The Annual Partnerships report had been reviewed by the Oxfordshire Partnership at their meeting on 15 October 2018.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Hudspeth moved and Councillor Brighouse seconded that the Council note the report and refer the item to the relevant scrutiny committees for consideration.

The motion was put to vote and was carried by 55 votes to 0, with 4 abstentions.

RESOLVED: (55 votes to 0, 4 abstentions) to note the report and refer the item to the relevant scrutiny committees for consideration.

“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 consumers enjoy a 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.”

With the consent of Council, Councillor Reeves moved and Councillor Price seconded 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 have a 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 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.”

Following debate, the motion as amended was put to the vote and 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 have a 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28/18

“This Council notes that many council budgets are at breaking point. Austerity has caused huge damage to communities up and down the UK, with devastating effects on key public services that protect the most defenceless in society – children at risk, disabled adults and vulnerable older people- and the services we all rely on like roads, libraries, children’s centres, waste management:

·                Central Government cuts mean councils have lost 60p out of every £1 that the last Labour Government was spending on local government in 2010

·                Councils now face a further funding gap of £7.8 billion by 2025 just to keep services “standing still” and meeting additional demand. Even Lord Gary Porter, the Conservative Chair of the LGA, has said “Councils can no longer be expected to run our vital services on a shoestring”.

This Council resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the funding pressures faced by Oxfordshire and calling on the Government to truly end austerity in local government.”

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Turnbull seconded the following motion:

“This Council notes that many council budgets are at breaking point. Austerity has caused huge damage to communities up and down the UK, with devastating effects on key public services that protect the most defenceless in society – children at risk, disabled adults and vulnerable older people- and the services we all rely on like roads, libraries, children’s centres, waste management:

·                Central Government cuts mean councils have lost 60p out of every £1 that the last Labour Government was spending on local government in 2010

·                Councils now face a further funding gap of £7.8 billion by 2025 just to keep services “standing still” and meeting additional demand. Even Lord Gary Porter, the Conservative Chair of the LGA, has said “Councils can no longer be expected to run our vital services on a shoestring”.

This Council resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the funding pressures faced by Oxfordshire and calling on the Government to truly end austerity in local government.”

During debate, Councillor Laura Price moved and Councillor Lynda Atkins seconded ‘that the question be now put’.  The motion was put to the vote (those having spoken not voting) and was carried by 27 votes 15, with 1 abstention.

Following summing up, the substantive motion was put to the vote and was lost by 30 votes to 27.

RESOLVED: accordingly.

"This Council accepts the recommendations of the Andrew Gilligan report into how to increase cycling in and around Oxford, commits to implementing them and calls on Cabinet to implement and bid for funding.” 

With the Consent of Council, Councillor Paul Buckley sought to withdraw his motion on the basis that Councillor Suzanne Bartington had agreed to amend her motion to take on points from his motion.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to withdraw the motion.

With the consent of Council, The Chairman moved and Councillor Hudspeth seconded that the order of business be changed to allow Agenda Item 18 (Motion by Councillor Suzanne Bartington) to be moved in place of Agenda Item 15 (Withdrawn Motion by Councillor Paul Buckley).

The motion was put to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: (nem con) to move Agenda Item 18 in place of Agenda Item 15.

“This Council recognises 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 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. Cognizant of Andrew Gilligan’s recent recommendations to the National Infrastructure Commission, 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.”

With the consent of Council, Councillor Bartington and Councillor Buckley seconded 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.”

Following debate, the Motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried unanimously (49 votes to 0).

RESOLVED: (49 votes to 0)

“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 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 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:

 i.          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.

ii.          Actively seek capital and revenue funding for SATN delivery through local and national sources.

iii.          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.

iv.          influence the Planning authorities use of planning powers more proactively and effectively to achieve beneficial active travel outcomes.

v.          Establish a framework to oversee quality control of all active travel infrastructure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31/18

"The greatest strength of local government is its ability to embrace openness and transparency, working with and for the people we represent to strive for the very best services and the most effective use of public money.

To ensure that Council is committed to this fundamental principle we propose the Monitoring Officer conduct a review of:

1. Any meetings including Members relating to Council functions and informing decision-making which are held in private

2. Timings of meetings

The review will be reported back to Audit & Governance Committee to form an action plan ensuring the maximum amount of business is held in public and that meetings are scheduled at times which enable the widest possible access to elected Councillors."

The time being 4.15, these motions were considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.5.8.