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ITEM CC1

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES of the meeting of the County Council held at County Hall on Tuesday 9 September 2003 commencing at 10.30 am and finishing at 5.45 pm

Present:

Councillor DAVID TURNER – in the chair

Councillors:

The Council considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with the following additional documents:

and decided as set out below. Except insofar as otherwise specified, the reasons for the decisions are contained in the agenda, reports and additional documents, copies of which are attached to the signed Minutes.

58/03. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

(Agenda Item 1)

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 17/24 June 2003 be approved and signed as a correct record.

59/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

(Agenda Item 2)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Roger Belson, Andrew Brown, John Dennis, John Farrow, Neil Fawcett, Margaret Ferriman, Mrs Anda Fitzgerald-O’Connor, Ray Jelf, G.A. Reynolds and Carol Viney.

60/03. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

(Agenda Item 3)

The following interests were declared:-

Councillor	Agenda Item	Nature of Interest
Harper	9 – Health Overview and Scrutiny in Oxfordshire	Personal – non-executive Director of Cherwell and Vale Primary Care Trust
Hook	13 & 14 – GM Crops	Personal – Acquainted with a farmer involved

61/03. OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS

(Agenda Item 4)

Former County Councillor Ken Carter

The Chair advised the Council of the death on 14 July 2003 of former County Councillor Ken Carter. Councillor Brighouse paid tribute to Mr Carter and the Council observed a minute’s silence in his memory.

Head of Community Safety

The Chair advised the Council that Mike Simm, Head of Community Safety, was in hospital after being taken ill very suddenly. The Council expressed their best wishes for his speedy recovery.

Heritage Open Day

The Chair reported that, as part of Heritage Week, Oxford Town Hall would be open to visitors on the afternoon of Sunday 14 September. Entrance would be free, with donations to Bristol Cancer Clinic.

62/03. APPOINTMENTS

(Agenda Item 5)

RESOLVED: to appoint District Councillor Michael Howes of 7 Market Street, Chipping Norton as a District Council representative on the Pension Fund Committee in place of District Councillor Mary Neale.

63/03. MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES

(Agenda Item 8)

Following publication of the Local Authorities (Members Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, the Independent Remuneration Panel had carried out a further review of the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme.

The Council considered the Panel’s recommendations and RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Patrick, seconded by Councillor Robins, amended at the suggestion of Councillor Brighouse and carried by 48 votes to 0 (Councillors Greene, Harris, Hook, Law, Sandra Mold and Standingford requesting that their abstentions be recorded)

1. subject to (b) below and subject to the deletion of the Panel’s recommendations (h) and (i), to accept the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel;
2. to defer a decision in relation to payment of allowances for attendance at political group meetings pending the Council’s consideration of a report from the Monitoring Officer dealing with the legality of making such payments;
3. to authorise the Assistant Chief Executive & Monitoring Officer to take all necessary action to give effect to the Council’s decisions including the making of a replacement Scheme of Members’ Allowances; and
4. to ask officers, following consultation with the Councillor Reference Group, to draw up more detailed proposals for how the Panel’s recommendations as to "role descriptions" for councillors and a system of annual reports by individual councillors might be implemented, for report to a future meeting of the Council.
   
   

62/03. HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY IN OXFORDSHIRE

(Agenda Item 9)

The Oxfordshire Leaders’ Group on 1 September 2003 had considered a report (CC9) from the Officer Working Group set up to take forward the development of joint arrangements between the County & District Councils for the overview and scrutiny of health in Oxfordshire and had endorsed and commended to the constituent councils the proposal to set up a Joint County & District Council Oxfordshire-wide Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee with 3 Joint Sub-Committees. This proposal had already been endorsed by the County Council’s current Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Legge, seconded by Councillor Mrs Ludlow and carried nem con)

1. to approve the formation of a Joint County-wide Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee and 3 sub-committees, covering the areas set out in paragraph 6 of report CC9 and having the composition set out in Annex 2;
2. subject to deletion of the final sentence of paragraph 7 of the report, to approve the operational arrangements for the Joint Committee and sub-committees together with the terms of reference set out in Annex 3 (amended as appropriate in relation to the areas to be served by the respective sub-committees);
3. to appoint as the County Council’s representatives on the Joint Committee the current members of this Council’s Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (ie Councillors Belson, Ferriman, Gatehouse, Law, Legge, Ludlow and Patrick)’; and
4. to ask the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary consequential changes to the Council’s Constitution.
   
   

63/03. MEETING DATES 2004/05

(Agenda Item 10)

The Council was asked to approve the calendar of meetings for 2004/2005 (CC10).

RESOLVED (on a motion by Councillor Mitchell, seconded by Councillor Margaret Godden and carried nem con) to:

1. agree the amendment of the Council Procedure Rules to enable the February (budget) meeting of the Council to take place on the second Tuesday of that month; and an ordinary meeting of the Council to take place on the first Tuesday in April in an election year;
2. agree the amendment of the Executive Procedure Rules to provide for the Executive generally to meet "twice a month" rather than "at fortnightly intervals";
3. approve the proposed dates of meetings for 2004/2005 set out in Annex 1 to report CC10;
4. agree the minor adjustments to the timetable for the latter part of 2003/04 described in the report.
   
   

64/03. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE

(Agenda Item 11)

The Council considered the report of the Executive (CC11) and Executive Members responded to questions in relation to the following items included in the report:-

Item		Questions from Councillors
1 -	Financial Forecast 2004/05 – 2008/09	Hodgson
3 -	Capital Strategy	Hodgson
4 -	Geographical Equity for Older Peoples Day Services – Scrutiny Review	Ted Cooper
6 -	Premium Bus Routes Network	Power Johnston
7 -	Local Transport Plan – Annual Progress Report 2003	Power Simmons
8 -	Highway Consultations on Planning Applications – Scrutiny Review	Joslin Julian Cooper
10 -	Six Term School Year	Witcher

RESOLVED: (nem con) in relation to item 3 (Capital Strategy), to approve the draft Capital Strategy (attached at Annex 1 to the Executive’s Report), subject to presentational and minor textual changes to the document to be agreed with the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council.

65/03. QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

1. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR OLIVE MCINTOSH-STEDMAN TO COUNCILLOR DAVID ROBERTSON, EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT

Questions are asked of me regarding Kassam Stadium match day parking controls. Are you able to enlighten me as to progress on this matter, so that I can answer to the Littlemore electorate?

ANSWER

The scheme was advertised on 21 August 2003 in the Oxford Mail. It came into force on 29 August 2003. Control Plus will issue warning notices for the first two home games.

There are notices that have to be attached to the permanent signs informing residents of the date of the next fixture at the ground. Officers are sourcing a manufacturer for these at present.

Explanatory letters and invitations to apply for permits and visitors’ permits have been delivered by hand to every household in the affected area. Issue of permits has been underway since 26 August 2003.

The areas covered are:

Greater Leys, Blackbird Leys, Minchery Farm/Littlemore

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION

As I speak there are complaints about unsatisfactory parking. It has been said that there is delay in sorting this out. Can the Executive Member assure me that he will sort this out and how soon can he do this please?

SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER

I am not quite sure what Councillor McIntosh-Stedman means by complaints about unsatisfactory parking provision, when we have just introduced a whole area of parking provision for residents around the Kassam Stadium. The one thing that is unsatisfactory is the amount of parking that is available for those people who wish to enjoy whatever functions are being held at the Kassam Stadium. There is a major problem in that I am not sure whether within the planning system Mr Kassam has actually conformed to the amount of parking that is required. Certainly the residents should be happy with what has been implemented. The people who visit the stadium are very unhappy because for big events (and being top of the Third Division Oxford United are going to get more successful) more people are going there, so there is going to be more parking required. I have many complaints about cars parking on the verge on the opposite side of double yellow lines and getting parking tickets but anybody in this Chamber will know that the verge is part of the highway and if you do park on the opposite side of the double yellow lines you will get a ticket. However, it does not answer the problem for visitors and that is something we need to address. I will certainly look at it.

2. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR LIZ BRIGHOUSE TO COUNCILLOR MARGARET GODDEN, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

Excluding staff in schools, how many County Council posts filled and unfilled (listed by job title) at salaries of over £60,000 per annum were there in April 2003, April 2002 and April 2001 and what was the cost in April 2003, April 2002 and April 2001 to the Council tax payer of these posts?

ANSWER

There are a whole series of questions including this one addressed to me from Councillor Brighouse. I think that members will understand that these questions are asking for detailed information which could not be produced in a 48 hour period. When we have got a really state of the art MIS system I am sure we will be able to do much better than this, but things being what they are I will let Councillor Brighouse have the answers as soon as may be and will send copies to all Councillors. If she would like to then ask me supplementaries in writing, I will be happy to circulate written responses around Council. I hope that is a reasonable way of dealing with this. I am sorry we cannot produce the information but it really is not possible to produce such detailed information so quickly.

3. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR LIZ BRIGHOUSE TO COUNCILLOR MARGARET GODDEN, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

Excluding staff in schools, how many County Council posts filled and unfilled at salaries under £20,000 FTE. were there in April 2003, April 2002 and April 2001?

ANSWER

See answer given above.

4. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR LIZ BRIGHOUSE TO COUNCILLOR MARGARET GODDEN, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

How many new posts at salaries of over £60,000 are planned before the end of this financial year and how will they be funded?

ANSWER

See answer given above.

5. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR LIZ BRIGHOUSE TO COUNCILLOR MARGARET GODDEN, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

Excluding staff in schools, how many post holders (listed by job title) earning £60,000 plus per annum were granted early retirement in 2001, 2002 and 2003?

ANSWER

See answer given above.

6. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR LIZ BRIGHOUSE TO COUNCILLOR MARGARET GODDEN, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

How many of the post holders referred to in my previous question (listed by job title) were given added years, were regraded within the year prior to retirement or were made redundant and what was the cost to the Council and over how many years?

ANSWER

See answer given above.

7. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR BRIAN HODGSON TO COUNCILLOR ANNE PURSE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

66/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR CRAIG SIMMONS

(Agenda Item 13)

Councillor Simmons withdrew the motion standing in his name at Item 13 in the agenda.

67/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR ANNE PURSE

(Agenda Item 14)

Councillor Purse withdrew the motion standing in her name at Item 14 in the agenda.

68/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR BRIAN HODGSON

1. to hold a local road safety "summit" to discuss a whole range of ideas and proposals to cut down road deaths and injuries;
2. to decide which of these ideas and proposals to adopt locally, and which to press the national government to adopt;
3. that the ideas to discuss could include:

• more home zones;
• reducing the drink-drive limit;
• more emphasis in anti drink-drive advertising on the dangers of morning-after-heavy-drinking driving;
• the learn-to-drive system to include more experience and training in difficult situations and motorway and night driving;
• new cars, which have become safer for occupants, to be designed with much more emphasis on pedestrian safety;
• 20 mph limits near schools and/or in built-up-area danger spots;
• compulsory wearing of cycle helmets;
• more (digital) speed cameras.

69/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR BRIAN HODGSON

(Agenda Item 16)

Councillor Hodgson moved and Councillor Evans seconded the motion standing in his name at Item 16 in the agenda in the following amended form:-

"This Council’s Trading Standards Service has reported receiving nearly 9,000 new enquiries about debt-related problems during 2002/03, and that the average of those households’ total debt had increased by 17% compared with those making contact during the previous year. This Council therefore urges the government to consider the proposal of "Debt on our Doorstep", the national network for fair finance, to cap interest charges. Research in this country shows that interest rates over 180% APR are routinely being charged by doorstep lenders. This Council urges the government to consider all the issues raised by "Debt on our Doorstep", which is urging the government to help new organisations, such as credit unions, to enter this market and offer more competitive products."

Councillor Margaret Godden then moved and Councillor Moley seconded the amendment of the motion to read as follows:-

"This Council’s Trading Standards Service has reported receiving nearly 9,000 new enquiries about debt-related problems during 2002/03, and that the average of those households’ total debt had increased by 17% compared with those making contact during the previous year. Research in this country shows that interest rates over 180% APR are routinely being charged by doorstep lenders. This Council urges the government to consider all proposals to deal with this problem, including the capping of interest charges, and to introduce such legislation as is necessary."

Councillor Hodgson indicated that this amendment would be acceptable to him if reference were made also to the encouragement of credit unions. Councillor Margaret Godden and her seconder having agreed to this addition, with the leave of his seconder and of the Council, Councillor Hodgson amended his motion accordingly.

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion as amended was carried by 46 votes to 6.

RESOLVED: that

"This Council’s Trading Standards Service has reported receiving nearly 9,000 new enquiries about debt-related problems during 2002/03, and that the average of those households’ total debt had increased by 17% compared with those making contact during the previous year. Research in this country shows that interest rates over 180% APR are routinely being charged by doorstep lenders. This Council urges the government to consider all proposals to deal with this problem, including the capping of interest charges and the encouragement of credit unions, and to introduce such legislation as is necessary."

70/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR CHRISTINE WITCHER

(Agenda Items 17 and 18)

In relation to the motions standing in her name at Items 17 and 18 in the agenda Councillor Witcher moved and Councillor Patrick seconded the following amended motion: -

"This Council recognizes the importance of producing open and transparent consultations and values the need for good communications between the Executive, Scrutiny Committees and relevant service departments. The Council also supports the work of scrutiny reviews and asks that the Executive continues to strengthen communication and consultation procedures to ensure effective, transparent governance and ensures that all service departments are made aware of the importance of independent ‘scrutiny’ and that they utilize the Scrutiny reports and their findings to further enhance the work of their services."

At the suggestion of Councillor Crabbe, with the leave of the Council and of her seconder, Councillor Witcher further amended her motion by putting the words "independent scrutiny" rather than merely the word "scrutiny" in quotation marks.

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion as amended was carried nem con.

RESOLVED: accordingly.

71/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR POWER

(Agenda Item 19)

Councillor Power moved and Councillor Standingford seconded the following motion standing in his name at Item 19 in the agenda:-

"This Council congratulates Warden Housing Association for agreeing to provide much needed elderly day care facilities on the Oseney Court site."

Councillor Seale then moved and Councillor Janet Godden seconded the amendment of the motion to read as follows:-

"This Council notes the proposal for day care facilities at the Oseney Court site, and that the Council is not able to contribute to the capital or revenue funding since the City is already well provided with day services compared with the rest of the County and the Social & Health Care budget has other more pressing needs to be met."

On being put to the vote the amendment was carried by 32 votes to 18.

The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and was carried by 32 votes to 17.

RESOLVED: accordingly.

72/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR POWER

(Agenda Item 20)

Councillor Power moved and Councillor McIntosh-Stedman seconded the following motion standing in his name at Item 20 in the agenda:-

"This Council asks the Executive to take action to combat rising levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in central Oxford."

Councillor Fooks then moved and Councillor Kyffin seconded the amendment of the motion to read as follows:-

"This Council notes the success of the Oxford Transport Strategy in reducing overall emissions in the city centre, but notes that there are some local areas where pollution has increased. The Council therefore asks the Executive to request a report from the Director for Environment & Economy on the Action Plan proposed to reduce Nitrogen Dioxide emissions to meet Air Quality objectives by 2005 in central Oxford."

On being put to the vote the amendment was carried by 28 votes to 17.

The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and was carried by 31 votes to 1.

RESOLVED: accordingly.

73/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR POWER

(Agenda Item 21)

Councillor Power moved and Councillor Gatehouse seconded the following motion standing in his name at Item 21 in the agenda:-

"This Council agrees that the work in Cornmarket Street should be finished as soon as possible."

On being put to the vote the motion was carried nem con.

RESOLVED: accordingly.

74/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR MRS DEE BULLEY

(Agenda Item 22)

Councillor Mrs Bulley moved and Councillor Mrs Ludlow seconded the following motion standing in her name at Item 22 in the agenda:-

"The Council notes the case being made by Carterton Town Council and West Oxfordshire District Council for a Fire Station in Carterton, as well as the long term anxieties of Carterton residents at the absence of a Fire Station in the town, and asks the Executive to ensure that the case for a Carterton Fire Station and possible funding options are included in the programme of work that will be necessary following the implementation of the Fire White Paper post 1 April 2004."

On being put to the vote the motion was carried by 35 votes to 5.

RESOLVED: accordingly.

75/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR DICKIE DAWES

(Agenda Item 23)

Councillor Dawes moved and Councillor Robertson seconded the following motion standing in his name at Item 23 in the agenda:-

"This Council welcomes the fundamental change in Government policy with their recent decision to provide additional substantial investment to expand Britain's road system to help reduce traffic congestion, and expresses the hope that a proportion of this investment will be used to relieve congestion, and expedite safe traffic flow, in Oxfordshire."

On being put to the vote the motion was carried by 29 votes to 11.

RESOLVED: accordingly.

76/03. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH R. MITCHELL

in the Chair

Date of signing 2003

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