ITEM CC1OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILMINUTES of the meeting of the County Council held at County Hall on Tuesday 21 June 2005 commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 4.50 pm Present: Councillor MRS CATHERINE FULLJAMES – in the chair Councillors:
The Council considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with a supplementary note providing some of the outstanding BVPI outturn and target information relating to the report of the Cabinet (CC8, Item 15 (Oxfordshire Plan/Best Value Performance Plan and Programme)) tabled at the meeting and decided as set out below. Except insofar as otherwise specified, the reasons for the decisions are contained in the agenda, reports and additional document, copies of which are attached to the signed Minutes.
44/05. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
(Agenda Item 1) RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 17 May 2005 be approved and signed as a correct record.
45/05. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
(Agenda Item 2) Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Billington, Bradshaw, Mrs Hastings, Johnston and R Smith.
46/05. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
(Agenda Item 3) The following interests were declared:
47/05. APPOINTMENTS
(Agenda Item 5) RESOLVED: to appoint
48/05. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS
(Agenda Item 6) (a) Safety barrier on the Eastern Bypass The Rt Hon Andrew Smith MP, accompanied by Mrs Joy Bull, her son Adrian, who had been very seriously injured in another accident on the Eastern By-pass 4½ years ago, and her son’s fiancée Lynette, petitioned Council to install a central reservation crash barrier and street lighting on the Eastern By-Pass, Oxford between the Green Road Roundabout and Horspath Driftway, Oxford. The petition, up to 21 June, included more than 2,500 signatures which had been collected in less than two weeks. Four people had died in the accident on the Eastern By-pass on 28 May 2005 and five other people had been injured. The petitioners demanded that action be taken sooner rather than later to install safety barriers and lighting on the Eastern By-pass. They recognised that the investigation into the causes of the accident had not yet been completed but they suggested that other measures might be required, for example speed cameras. There was overwhelming support in the community that safety barriers should be installed. They hoped that the Council would take action as soon as humanly possible so that never again could a vehicle cross the central reservation and turn a bad accident into a catastrophe. RESOLVED: to receive the petition. (b) Sewage waste from Abingdon and Wantage being dumped in Witney Mrs Nicholson presented a petition on behalf of over a thousand residents against the proposed building of a sewage/sludge treatment plant adjacent to the existing sewage works in Witney and about sewage waste from Abingdon and Wantage being dumped in Witney. Due to the rapid growth of Witney, the existing works were now bordered by housing on three sides. There was also a bad odour problem. In warm weather, residents of at least two large estates could not open their windows or use their gardens. They considered that the new plant proposed by Thames Water, which would use the cheapest process available, would not solve their problems but would add to them by creating noise as well. They were horrified by Thames Water’s proposal to cut costs even more by using the plant at Witney to treat sewage from Abingdon and Wantage. This would be brought in every day by tankers along the narrow and picturesque road through Standlake. The lorries would stink, the unloading process would stink and would be open to the air. They were aware of a similar plant in Farnham where the whole place stank. They considered that transporting sewage by road was both retrograde and environmentally unfriendly. They recognised that the Witney plant had to be used to deal with local waste but treating sewage from Abingdon and Wantage as well would add to their problems. They asked the Council to do all that it could to prevent Thames Water turning Witney into the cesspit of the County. They added that the petition had been signed by David Cameron, the local MP, and had been endorsed by West Oxfordshire District Council. RESOLVED: to receive the petition. (c) Land Value Tax Mr Hodgson addressed the Council about Land Value Tax. He considered that, in view of the work which had already been undertaken on the Oxfordshire Land Value Tax study, a local pilot would provide an opportunity to test the tax. He said that American cities, which had adopted a similar tax, had found that commercially, socially and politically they were more advanced compared with other cities. International research undertaken by a Conservative MP, Douglas Carswell, had found that there was a high correlation between the extent to which councils were self-financing and the level of turn-out at elections. The Oxfordshire study had shown how it would be possible to replace the Council Tax and the Business Rate with Land Value Tax to provide a good self-financing system. He said that Land Value Tax was not a left wing tax: for example, Milton Friedman described it as the least bad tax and considered that land should be taxed as much as possible and improvement as little as possible. Mr Hodgson also reported that the journalist, Sam Brittan, had said that the present Governor of the Bank of England was in support of the Tax. Mr Hodgson added that Sam Brittan was in favour of Land Value Tax and had suggested the Tax could replace Section 106 Agreements and was opposed to Local Income Tax. He urged the Council not to adopt the Motion at Agenda Item 15. RESOLVED: to note the address.
49/05. REPORT OF THE CABINET
(Agenda Item 8) The Council had before it the report of the Cabinet (CC8) and a supplementary note providing some of the outstanding BVPI outturn and target information relating to Item 15 (Oxfordshire Plan/Best Value Performance Plan and Programme). The report contained seven recommendations to Council. Cabinet members responded to questions in relation to the following items included in the report.
Members highlighted errors in item 15 (Oxfordshire Plan/Best Value Performance Plan and Programme). On Part 2, item 18 (Local Transport Plan 2006-11), Councillor Robertson moved and Councillor Chapman seconded the motion standing in his name. Councillor Harris moved and Councillor Joslin seconded an amendment to the motion to add, in the last line after the words "31 July 2005", the following words "and subject to the Plan containing, for immediate action, £20,000 design costs in respect of the Didcot Cow Lane pedestrian and cycle subway". After debate, this amendment was put to the vote. Seven members by standing in their places required a named vote in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15(a). Voting was as follows: Councillors voting for the amendment (33) Altaf-Khan, Armitage, Michael Badcock, Bones, Brighouse, Bryden, Carter, Cartledge, Dhall, Dhesi, Fooks, Gatehouse, Glass-Woodin, Godden, Greene, Harris, Joslin, Lamont, Legge, McIntosh-Stedman, Moley, Patrick, Purse, Roaf, J Sanders, L Sanders, Service, Sherwood, Simmons, V Smith, D Turner, Wise and Wyatt. Councillors voting against the amendment (35) Marilyn Badcock, Belson, Bolster, Brown, Chapman, Couchman, Crabbe, Farrow, Fitzgerald-O’Connor, Fulljames, Haffenden, Hallchurch, Harvey, Hayward, Heathcoat, Hibbert-Biles, Higham, Howell, Hudspeth, Jelf, Mallon, Mitchell, Nimmo-Smith, Robertson, Rose, Seale, Shouler, Skolar, Stone, Stratford, Tilley, N Turner, Viney, Waine and Wilmshurst. The amendment was declared lost. On Part 2, item 19 (Future of Children’s Services and Related Organisational Change), Councillor Chapman agreed to check whether the title "Director of Adult Social Services" was in the relevant Regulations. RESOLVED:
50/05. MEETING DATES 2006/07
(Agenda Item 9) The Council had before them a report (CC9) on the schedule of meeting dates proposed for the 2006/07 Council year. RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Mrs Fulljames and duly seconded) to approve the proposed dates of meetings for 2006/07 as set out in the schedule (CC9), subject to amending the start time for meetings of Council to read "10.00 am" in column 3 and to noting that the heading of the item on the agenda should read "2006/07".
51/05. STANDARDS COMMITTEE REPORT ON 2001-2005
(Agenda Item 10) The Council had before them a report (CC10) on the work over the last four years of the Standards Committee. RESOLVED:
52/05. QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
(Agenda Item 11) 1. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR JANET GODDEN TO COUNCILLOR KEITH MITCHELL, LEADER OF THE COUNCIL A letter dated 18 April 2005, sent to many Oxfordshire residents between that date and 5 May, contained the following paragraph: "You may be shocked to hear that [the] chaotic asylum system has cost Oxfordshire County Council £38,098,466 since 1997 - money that could have been spent on essential local services. No wonder a typical hardworking family in a Band D property in Oxfordshire now pays £593.83 more on their council tax than they did in 1997." Officer information shows that after the deduction of Home Office grant the cost of the asylum system to Oxfordshire County Council over the years in question was £1,711,000 with a negligible effect, therefore, on council tax increases. How do you think this unfortunate error might best be corrected? ANSWER I am not entirely clear what was the context of this letter nor to whom it was sent. I certainly did not receive this letter; neither do I know what letter heading it was printed on nor who signed it. I think I have to assume it was material issued during the recent national and County Council election campaigns? If this assumption is correct, I would be confident that as many copies as ever existed have long been consigned to the waste paper bins of history. I would also suspect that, in terms of any potential inaccuracy it may have contained, examples of similar inaccuracies could be found in the literature of all of the main parties. I therefore do not believe that any useful purpose would be served by continuing to reflect on what is now essentially history and, in today’s media terms, ancient history. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION The letter from Mr Michael Howard was sent to many constituents in the West Oxford and Abingdon constituency in an attempt to persuade the recipients that the increase in Council Tax was due to the cost of the asylum seeker system. So my question is a rhetorical one really Chairman, are you thinking what I am thinking? SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER No answer 2. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR VAL SMITH TO COUNCILLOR JIM COUCHMAN, CABINET MEMBER FOR POLICY CO-ORDINATION Will the Cabinet be taking steps to ensure that all elected members will be notified of any planned events and notable incidents which are within the responsibility of the County Council and which take place in our Divisions, noting that members of the previous Council reported difficulties in obtaining such notifications, despite a motion to this effect from the late Councillor Sylvia Tompkins having been carried overwhelmingly (52 votes to 1) by Council in January 2003? ANSWER There are detailed provisions in the Constitution which require officers to keep local members informed about issues and events affecting the areas which they represent. These provisions are set out in Section 9 of the Protocol on Members’ Rights and Responsibilities. In my view these give a sound basis for briefing members on developments which may affect them as county councillors. But I entirely agree that to be effective, all officers need to be aware of and observe them. I am asking the Chief Executive to remind all officers of the provisions and to emphasize the need to apply them. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Would you ask the Chief Executive to ensure that members are informed, in particular, about transport and school initiatives which affect the areas they represent? SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER I shall ask the Chief Executive to ensure that all relevant officers are reminded of the provisions in the protocol and to provide members with information on issues affecting their areas. 3. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR VAL SMITH TO COUNCILLOR LOUISE CHAPMAN, CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES Is the Cabinet member aware that the recent Ofsted report on the Youth Service highlighted concerns about the level of funding for Blackbird Leys and recommended that consideration be given to ways in which good quality work could be secured through increased funding and, if so, how does the Cabinet Member intend to give the necessary consideration to this important matter?
ANSWER The Ofsted inspection report on the Youth Service (October 2004) concludes: 'Expectations of the service held by officers, elected members and youth workers are unrealistic in the context of the service's current and expected level of resources'. However, no particular area of the County is picked out by name in the report. Over the coming year we will review the role and overall level of funding for the Youth Service in the light of Ofsted's comments, national developments (for example the forthcoming Youth Green Paper) and our own very clear manifesto commitment in support of better provision for young people across the County. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION May I thank the Cabinet Member who has already agreed to meet with me to discuss the Ofsted report and the Youth Services for Blackbird Leys? SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER No answer 4. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR VAL SMITH TO COUNCILLOR DAVID ROBERTSON, CABINET MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT What action does the Cabinet Member for Transport intend to take to stop the illegal and extremely dangerous use of Mini Moto motorbikes in parks, on roads and on pavements within our communities, but especially within Oxford? ANSWER This is not the responsibility of the County Council. I would be happy to write to the police to draw this matter to their attention but I would need details about the areas where this is a particular problem. I could also draw this to the attention of the City Council who may have powers to take action against the use of these vehicles in parks etc, but again more information on where there are problems would need to be provided. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Can Trading Standards consider providing advice to retailers of these bikes to ensure that they know that it is illegal to drive them on the road and also that it is illegal to drive them without a helmet and without insurance? SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER That question is within the responsibility of another Cabinet Member. However, I understand that where Northamptonshire Police have found people breaking the law, they have taken the machine and crushed it. 5. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR OLIVE MCINTOSH STEDMAN TO COUNCILLOR DAVID ROBERTSON, CABINET MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT Will the Cabinet Member, whilst considering the Local Transport Plan (better air quality p.35 and better travel behaviour p.50), seek to consider (along with partners involved in environmental issues) the repair of reported collapsing towpaths/embankments along the river Thames, from Iffley to the City Centre? ANSWER Responsibility for the repair of collapsing towpaths/embankments along the Thames is either the City Council as agents to the Environment Agency, or riparian owners. The term "Riparian Owner" describes anyone who owns a property alongside a watercourse. Under common law they possess rights and responsibilities appertaining to the stretch of watercourse which falls within the boundaries of their property. Where a watercourse is situated across a boundary between adjoining properties, it is normally presumed that a riparian owner owns the land up to the centre-line of the watercourse, unless records exist to prove otherwise. A riparian owner is responsible for: -
A riparian owner is entitled to: -
It is therefore not a matter for the County Council Local Transport Plan. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Do you agree that the County Council should seek to be involved in the repair of the towpath? SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER The County Council plays its part in partnerships but it will not take on responsibility for incurring costs for works which are not its responsibility. 6. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR JEAN FOOKS TO COUNCILLOR JIM COUCHMAN, CABINET MEMBER FOR POLICY CO-ORDINATION Can you tell Council who was consulted on the proposal to allow Councillors to use the Macclesfield House parking spaces on Full Council days? Is it not true that these spaces are normally only available to staff having an operational need to have a car available? ANSWER This is a long established arrangement and the Corporate Facilities Manager informed the relevant Directorates that Macclesfield House Car Park would again be needed on full Council days from May this year. Yes it is true that parking at Macclesfield House is normally only available for staff who are essential users. On Council days, they are able to use the County Council’s Grandpont car park. Any operational needs are therefore unaffected. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION When were the arrangements established and why are these employees at Macclesfield House being inconvenienced? Why can the Councillors not use a public car park for which they would be reimbursed? SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER In the past, parking was available at both the front and the rear of County Hall. However, as a result of the Castle project, parking at the rear is no longer available. This means that there are in total some 25 places in the front of the building, at least 3 of which are for disabled drivers. This leaves an inadequate amount of car parking for members. It was therefore considered that members should again be permitted to park at Macclesfield House. I will be discussing this issue further with the Facilities Manager to see whether a better arrangement is possible. 7. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR JEAN FOOKS TO COUNCILLOR MICHAEL WAINE, CABINET MEMBER FOR SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT Now that the government has announced that schools will be expected to be open from 8am to 6pm, what will the implications be for school transport in rural areas? ANSWER The implications of the "Extended Schools" agenda for school transport, especially in rural areas, will need to be addressed and thoroughly analysed to ensure entitlement and fairness across all school partnerships. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Has an attempt been made to cost the additional transport and will the County Council ensure that extra transport costs do not fall on parents of children attending schools open for extended hours. SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER The
rural school transport cost for the County could be doubled. Entitlement
across the authority will need to be explored fully.
What are your responsibilities in the management of change within the County Council, and how do you intend to work with your colleagues in issues of change management affecting the Directorates? What are your priorities and targets for the next two years? ANSWER The responsibilities and success measures of each member of the Cabinet are set out in individual job description letters agreed between them and the Leader of the Council. There is within the Council a plethora of individual change initiatives. Many of these were developed to deal with specific issues or to address specific reporting requirements. These initiatives need to be prioritised and developed into a coherent change programme which recognises the strategic direction set by the new administration and which also reflects the successes which led to our ranking as a ‘good’ Council and our intention to be seen as ‘excellent’. The new Conservative administration, which was elected on 5 May, has a clear vision for the Council summarised in its 7 key words - low taxes, real choice and value for money. Achieving excellent customer service and a positive ‘can-do’ attitude across the Council within a clear framework of accountability are key to this. These are, therefore, amongst my and the administration’s top change priorities. In taking the lead in pulling together and managing the change programme which will deliver on this, my portfolio contains specific responsibility for HR, ICT and communications which are the recognised levers for implementing successful change programmes. As the change programme is intended to affect the Council as a whole, I am well aware of the need for support from both political and officer colleagues. I, therefore, welcome (in addition to support from political colleagues) the professional and constructive co-operation which I have been shown by CCMT and other officers and their support in developing the appropriate mechanisms for cascading change through the organisation. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Do you agree that the recent event on excellence in customer services was an excellent event and that a greater focus on customer services requires greater co-operation among the Councils and other organisations which provide those services and to that end would you ask the Leader of the Council to include reports on joint working with the District Councils in the reports of the Cabinet to the County Council. SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER I am sure that you would like to join with me in congratulating the officers for organising the event. The event was well attended by employees. However attendance by councillors was poor. One of the key messages from the event was the need to improve customer service internally first, before seeking to improve it externally. Internal customers include councillors and the latter are the front line troops of this Authority. I will pass your other point onto the Leader in due course. 9. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR ANNE PURSE TO COUNCILLOR DAVID ROBERTSON, CABINET MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT With reference to your proposed introduction of free parking at County-run Park and Rides, and considering the previous high rate of crime at Thornhill, please can the Executive Member for Transport re-assure those of us using Thornhill that there will not be detrimental changes to the current surveillance at this Park and Ride, either in terms of fewer hours or in a lower form of surveillance. ANSWER Yes SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION The surveillance costs used to be paid for by the parking charges. What services will cease in order to meet the cost of surveillance at Thornhill and Water Eaton Park & Rides. SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER The charges levied at these Park & Ride sites are part of the parking account. This account is in surplus. When the charges are removed, the funds in the parking account will reduce. Work on the Water Eaton and Thornhill sites and subsidies of the Park & Ride services are currently funded from the parking account. The Council will seek agreement from the bus companies to reduce their fares and to cease the subsidy of these bus services. The surveillance costs will be met from the parking account.
10. QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR ALAN ARMITAGE TO COUNCILLOR DAVID ROBERTSON, CABINET MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT How many additional car parking spaces will the pilot scheme for free evening and Sunday parking in Oxford create? What is the anticipated net cost (including lost revenue) per day? What would be the net cost of extending the pilot across the rest of Oxford? ANSWER The number of parking places will remain the same as of today ie: there will be neither a reduction nor an increase. The full extent of the pilot is yet to be determined and therefore I am unable to provide cost details at this stage. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Free on-street parking in the evenings and on Sundays will reduce the funds in the parking account. Would the parking account not be better spent on park and ride or extending provision of residents’ parking in Oxford for residents who are going to have to suffer cars cruising around trying to find a parking space. SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER This administration has its priorities and one of its priorities is to offer real choice.
53/05. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR ANNE PURSE
(Agenda Item 12) Councillor Purse moved and Councillor Armitage seconded the motion standing in her name at item 12 in the agenda in the following amended form:- "This Council welcomes the introduction of free local bus travel for people aged 60 and over after 9.30 am on weekdays and all day at weekends, as announced by Gordon Brown in his March 2005 budget, because this has the potential to help Oxfordshire County Council to meet the objectives of the Local Transport Plan especially in respect of congestion. Therefore this Council calls upon the Government to fully fund free local bus travel for the over 60s as referred to in the first paragraph so that none of the cost will fall on Council Tax. This Council also calls on the Cabinet to write to the Department of Transport to urge that the additional funding is allocated in such a way so as not to penalise Councils, such as Oxford City, that have historically provided heavily discounted concessionary fare schemes and to carefully consider how such funding might contribute to existing travel token schemes such as that operated by South Oxfordshire District Council." After debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried nem con. RESOLVED: accordingly.
54/05. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR SUSHILA DHALL
(Agenda Item 13) Councillor Dhall moved and Councillor Simmons seconded the motion standing in her name at item 13 in the agenda in the following amended form:- "Council believes that the Conservative Party’s manifesto proposals to make on-street car parking free in Oxford City during evenings and weekends represent a retrograde step in the light of the facts that:
After debate, the motion was put to the vote and was lost by 28 votes to 34.
55/05. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR LARRY SANDERS
(Agenda Item 14) Councillor L Sanders moved and Councillor Dhall seconded the motion standing in his name at item 14 in the agenda as follows: "This Council informs the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust that their proposals to close four Day Hospitals for Older People are not considered acceptable unless or until funded provision is in place to fully meet the needs of current and future users and carers in each of the four towns affected." Councillor Dr Skolar moved and Councillor Seale seconded the following amendments to the motion shown in bold: "This
Council informs the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust that After debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was carried by 52 votes to 4. The substantive motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was carried by 50 votes to 1. RESOLVED: "This Council informs the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust that the changes envisaged by the Trust constitute a major change in service delivery and that the proper place for further consideration is the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee and therefore this Council will refer this item to the above Committee for further consultation and review to be undertaken." (Councillor Godden left the Chamber for this item.) 56/05. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH MITCHELL AND OTHERS (LISTED ON THE AGENDA) (Agenda Item 15) Councillor Keith Mitchell moved and Councillor Shouler seconded the motion standing in his name at item 15 in the agenda as follows:- "In the light of the change in control following the elections on 5 May 2005, Council resolves:
After debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried 39 votes to 27. RESOLVED: accordingly. 57/05 MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR DERMOT ROAF (Agenda Item 16) Councillor Roaf moved and Councillor Robertson seconded the motion standing in his name at item 16 in the agenda in the following amended form: "Council acknowledges the need for the regeneration of the area referred to as Oxford West End. Council welcomes, therefore, the preparation by David Lock Associates for the client group comprising Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and South East England Development Agency of an Area Development Framework (ADF) for the West End which combines a design concept, a set of development principles and Supporting Papers intended to provide guidance on the preparation and implementation of the Area Action Plan (AAP). Council notes with approval the emphasis in the development principles for the West End to be accessible and permeable, to ensure easy access to and through the area, including for pedestrians and cyclists; and for there to be a new bus facility adjacent to the redeveloped Westgate Centre. Council further notes that the successful implementation of the regeneration of the West End and the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre is dependent upon the resolution of a number of transport issues. Council notes that the Supporting Paper for transport highlights issues to be addressed but fails to identify solutions. Council regards the following as essential elements of acceptable solutions:
(v) improvements to access to the City from the surrounding county areas by public transport. Accordingly, Council calls on the developers and the bus companies, working with the Highway Authority and the Local Planning Authority, to develop clearly practical solutions to the transport issues identified in the transport Supporting Paper as part of any planning application for the Westgate Centre as well as for the eventual Area Action Plan for the West End. Additionally, Council supports the principle of investigation with land-owners and British Waterways the feasibility of re-instating the canal basin on the site of the Worcester Street car park. Council supports the principles in the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016 that developments in the West End shall: optimise energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources; make appropriate provision of community infrastructure facilities for education, health and recreation for new residents where new and affordable housing is provided; and strengthen and diversify the cultural life of the city centre." Councillor Dhall moved and Councillor Simmons seconded the following amendment to the motion shown in bold: (iv) at all stages of the regeneration project, priority to be given to providing safer and easier access to pedestrians and in particular improve access for those with mobility impairments and cyclists; With the agreement of his seconder, Councillor Roaf accepted the amendment. Councillor Dhall moved and Councillor Simmons seconded the following amendment to the motion shown in bold: To add the following sub-paragraphs to the list: "(vi) improve cycle facilities by providing a bike ‘hub’ which includes improved bike parking;
After debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 6 votes to 47. Councillor V Smith moved and Councillor Gatehouse seconded the following amendment to the motion shown in bold and strikethrough: "(v) improvements
to access to the City With the agreement of his seconder, Councillor Roaf accepted the amendment. Councillor V Smith moved and Councillor Gatehouse seconded the following amendment to the motion shown by strikethrough:
After debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 5 votes to 50. The substantive motion, as amended was put to the vote and was carried nem con.
RESOLVED: as follows: "Council acknowledges the need for the regeneration of the area referred to as Oxford West End. Council welcomes, therefore, the preparation by David Lock Associates for the client group comprising Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and South East England Development Agency of an Area Development Framework (ADF) for the West End which combines a design concept, a set of development principles and Supporting Papers intended to provide guidance on the preparation and implementation of the Area Action Plan (AAP). Council notes with approval the emphasis in the development principles for the West End to be accessible and permeable, to ensure easy access to and through the area, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists; and for there to be a new bus facility adjacent to the redeveloped Westgate Centre. Council further notes that the successful implementation of the regeneration of the West End and the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre is dependent upon the resolution of a number of transport issues. Council regrets that the Supporting Paper for transport highlights issues to be addressed but fails to identify solutions. Council regards the following as essential elements of acceptable solutions:
Accordingly, Council calls on the developers and the bus companies, working with the Highway Authority and the Local Planning Authority, to specify clearly practical solutions to the transport issues identified in the transport Supporting Paper as part of any planning application for the Westgate Centre as well as for the eventual Area Action Plan for the West End. Additionally, Council supports the principle of investigation with land-owners and British Waterways the feasibility of re-instating the canal basin on the site of the Worcester Street car park. Council supports the principles in the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016 that developments in the West End shall: optimise energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources; make appropriate provision of community infrastructure facilities for education, health and recreation for new residents where new and affordable housing is provided; and strengthen and diversify the cultural life of the city centre." (Councillor Wise left the Chamber for this item.) 58/05 MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR OLIVE MCINTOSH-STEDMAN (Agenda Item 17) Councillor Jelf reported that Fire Fighter Graeme Laidler had been injured when attending an incident recently. He asked, and Council agreed, to send best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr Laidler. Councillor McIntosh-Stedman moved and Councillor Joslin seconded the motion standing in her name at item 17 in the agenda as follows:- "In order to prevent people from sustaining serious injuries and fatalities when attempting to jump into the river Cherwell, this Council considers that it would probably be wise to close Magdalen Bridge on May Day, this special day of celebration. Council therefore invites the Cabinet to ask the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee to review the subject, with a view to arriving at a solution to the problem of needless injury, with the positive co-operation of all parties concerned." After debate, the motion was put to the vote and was lost by 22 votes to 41. 59/05 MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR VAL SMITH (Agenda Item 18) Councillor V Smith moved and Councillor Joslin seconded the motion standing in her name at item 18 in the agenda as follows:- "This Council notes that, on a motion from former Councillor Andrew Brown, the Council in January 2004 called for work to be done to make the Council’s services and staff more accessible to members of the public. This Council requests the Cabinet to ensure the speedy production of an up-to-date internal phone book, indexed by job description rather than by job title." After debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried nem con. RESOLVED: accordingly. 60/05 MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR BARBARA GATEHOUSE (Agenda Item 19) Councillor Gatehouse moved and Councillor Brighouse seconded the motion standing in her name at item 19 in the agenda as follows:- "This Council is shocked and horrified at the tragic loss of young lives and horrific injuries incurred in the recent accident on Oxford’s Eastern Bypass. This Council sends the heartfelt condolences of all members to the families and friends of all victims of the accident and resolves to request the Cabinet to arrange for the installation of a central barrier on the stretch of road concerned, without delay." Councillor Robertson moved and Councillor Chapman seconded the following amendments to the motion shown in bold: "This
Council The Council asks the Cabinet, in the light of the recent accident, to carry out a full assessment, against national safety standards, of the justification for a safety fence along this stretch of the A4142 and other dual carriageway sites in the County where similar conditions exist." After debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was carried by 41 votes to 23. The substantive motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was carried nem con. RESOLVED: as follows: "This Council shares the sense of shock at the accident which has so cruelly cut short several young lives and sends the heartfelt condolences of all members to the families and friends of all victims of the accident. The Council asks the Cabinet, in the light of the recent accident, to carry out a full assessment, against national safety standards, of the justification for a safety fence along this stretch of the A4142 and other dual carriageway sites in the County where similar conditions exist." 61/05 MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR ANNE PURSE (Agenda Item 20) Councillor Purse moved and Councillor Belson seconded the motion standing in her name at item 20 in the agenda as follows:- "This Council acknowledges the essential part played by education in the work to reduce re-use and recycle waste. The work of the Wild Waste Show has played a significant role in educating both children and their parents in Oxfordshire, yet its funding for future years is not secure. Council therefore agrees: (a) to record its appreciation for the work of the Wild Waste Show which contributes to this authority and others meeting their waste targets; (b) to ask the Cabinet to consider, together with partners including the Northmoor Trust and District/City Councils, ways in which future funding of the Wild Waste Show can be put on a more secure footing." Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Joslin seconded the following amendments shown in bold: "This Council acknowledges the essential part played by education in the work to reduce re-use and recycle waste. The work of the Wild Waste Show has played a significant role in educating both children and their parents in Oxfordshire, yet its funding for future years is not secure. Council therefore agrees:
"to ask the Environment Scrutiny Committee to consider how projects of this nature can be funded through, for example, delegated school budgets and to report to the Cabinet on the outcome of its investigations." After debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 9 votes to 49. Councillor Simmons moved and Councillor Glass-Woodin seconded the following amendments shown in bold: "This Council acknowledges the essential part played by education in the work to conserve energy, reduce re-use and recycle waste. The work of the Wild Waste Show and Blue Planet Day has played a significant role in educating both children and their parents in Oxfordshire, yet its funding for future years is not secure. Council therefore agrees: (a) to record its appreciation for the work of the Wild Waste Show and Blue Planet Day which contributes to this authority and others meeting their waste targets and helps conserve energy; (b) to ask the Cabinet to consider, together with partners including the Northmoor Trust and District/City Councils, ways in which future funding of the Wild Waste Show and Blue Planet Day can be put on a more secure footing." The amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 12 votes to 49. RESOLVED: (nem con) as follows: "This Council acknowledges the essential part played by education in the work to reduce re-use and recycle waste. The work of the Wild Waste Show has played a significant role in educating both children and their parents in Oxfordshire, yet its funding for future years is not secure. Council therefore agrees: (a) to record its appreciation for the work of the Wild Waste Show which contributes to this authority and others meeting their waste targets; (b) to ask the Cabinet to consider, together with partners including the Northmoor Trust and District/City Councils, ways in which future funding of the Wild Waste Show can be put on a more secure footing." in the Chair Date
of signing 2005
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