Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 225 KBVenue: Council Chamber - County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services E-mail: CommitteesDemocraticServices@Oxfordshire.gov.uk
Link: video link https://oxon.cc/FC20052026
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors
Barlow, Coles, Graham, Greenaway, Gregory, Higgins, Jones, Ley, Lugova, Markham
and Saul. |
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Declarations of Interest - see guidance note 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. Minutes: There were no declarations of
interest. |
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Official Communications Minutes: There were no announcements. |
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Public Address Members of the public who
wish to speak on an item on the agenda at this meeting, or present a petition,
can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection. Requests to speak must be
submitted no later than 9am three working days before the meeting. There is no opportunity to
take petitions at this meeting, due to the notice period given for this
extraordinary meeting. Requests should be submitted
to committeesdemocraticservices@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 on the day
of the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet. Minutes: There were no public
addresses. |
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Election of the Leader of the Council The Monitoring Officer has called an Extraordinary meeting of the Council under Council Procedure Rule 3.1 (iii). The meeting is called to elect the Leader of the Council, following the resignation of Councillor Liz Leffman as Leader on the afternoon of 12 May 2026. Additional documents: Minutes: Council had before it a report from the Monitoring Officer outlining the reasons for calling the Extraordinary meeting of Council following the resignation of Councillor Leffman as Leader of the Council. The Chair moved the recommendation and it was seconded by the Vice-Chair for: “Council to elect a Leader of the Council following the
resignation of Councillor Liz Leffman as Leader on the afternoon of 12 May 2026.” Members questioned why Councillor Leffman resigned immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Council, necessitating a further meeting of Council being called a week later. Members asked for Council to receive a report into the matter. The request was noted by the Chair. The Chair invited nominations for the office of Leader of the Council. Councillor Bearder was nominated by Councillor Leffman and seconded by Councillor Fawcett. Councillor Walker was nominated by Councillor Mallon and seconded by Councillor Snowdon. Councillor Brighouse was nominated by Councillor Pressel and seconded by Councillor Phillips. The Chair called on Members to vote electronically for each nominee in turn in the order nominated by voting “Yes” for one nominee only. Councillor Bearder received 30 votes, Councillor Walker received 12 votes and Councillor Brighouse received 10 votes. Councillor Bearder, having received a majority of the 52 votes cast, was declared elected as the Leader of the Council. The Chair noted that Councillors Walker and Brighouse will continue as Leaders of the Opposition. Councillor Bearder thanked Council and announced his Cabinet Members and portfolios:
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