ITEM CC1OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILMINUTES of the meeting of the County Council held at County Hall on Tuesday 4 April 2006 commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 17.55 pm Present: Councillor MRS CATHERINE FULLJAMES in the chair for agenda item 1 Councillor LESLEY LEGGE – in the chair for agenda item 2 onwards Councillors:
Mr R Elmore, Chairman of the Standards Committee, attended for Agenda Item 12. The Council considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with a statement by Mr M Hocken 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.
28/06. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN FOR THE 2006/07 COUNCIL YEAR
(Agenda Item 1) Before inviting nominations for the office of Chairman of the Council, Councillor Mrs Fulljames (the retiring Chairman) addressed the meeting, reflecting on her year of office. She thanked Councillors Legge and D Turner and Di Chambers, the Chairman’s Assistant, and Tim Stimpson, Head Hallkeeper, for their assistance throughout her year of office. Councillors Mitchell and Patrick paid tribute to her. Councillor Mrs Fulljames then invited nominations for the office of Chairman of the Council. Councillor Patrick proposed and Councillor Wise seconded Councillor Legge. There being no other nominations, Councillor Legge was declared elected and she made the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Councillor Legge then took the chair.
29/06. ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR THE 2006/07 COUNCIL YEAR
(Agenda Item 2) The Chairman invited nominations for the office of Vice-Chairman of the Council. Councillor Brighouse proposed and Councillor Mitchell seconded Councillor Mrs Fulljames. There being no other nominations, Councillor Mrs Fulljames was declared elected and she made the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
30/06. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
(Agenda Item 3) RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 14 February 2006 be approved and signed as a correct record.
31/06. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
(Agenda Item 4) Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cartledge, Farrow, Mrs Hastings, Hibbert-Biles, Purse, Roaf and D Turner.
31/06. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
(Agenda Item 5)
32/06. OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS
(Agenda Item 6) The Chairman reported that Mrs Rosemarie Higham (Banbury Grimsbury & Castle Division) and Harry Wyatt (Eynsham Division) had resigned their membership of the Council on 20 March 2006. The by-elections would be held on 4 May 2006. She also reported that the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and the Leader of the Opposition was now Councillor Patrick and the Deputy Leader of the Group was Councillor R Smith. Councillor Mallon paid tribute to Mrs Higham. Councillors Patrick and Mrs Fulljames paid tribute to Mr Wyatt. The Chairman said that she would send, on behalf of the Council, best wishes for their health.
33/06. APPOINTMENTS
(Agenda Item 7) (a) Leader and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Councillor Brighouse proposed and Councillor Dhesi seconded Councillor Gatehouse for Cabinet Member for Social & Community Services. RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Mrs Fulljames and seconded by Councillor Hudspeth and carried by 39 votes to 20 with 5 abstentions) to:
Councillors Belson, Chapman, Couchman, Howell, Jelf, Mitchell, Robertson, Seale, Shouler and Waine In the light of the vote, the motion by Councillor Brighouse fell. (b) Committees
and Review of Political Balance
35/06. PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS
(Agenda Item 8) (a) Moorview Hospital, Witney
Councillor Dr Skolar, Chairman, Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, presented a petition, signed by 8000 residents, valuing the services provided by Moorview Hospital, Witney and opposing any closure of beds or other services for older people in West Oxfordshire which had been presented to the Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 30 March 2006. RESOLVED: to pass the petition to the relevant NHS health authority. (b) Air Quality A copy of a statement by Mr M Hocken on Air Quality was circulated at the meeting and a copy of the statement is appended to the signed copy of the minutes.
36/06. REPORT OF THE CABINET
(Agenda Item 10) The Council had before it the report of the Cabinet (CC10). The report contained four recommendations to Council.
(a) On Item 1 (Medium Term Corporate Plan 2006-2010), Councillor Patrick proposed and Councillor Godden seconded that the Council approve the Medium Term Corporate Plan for 2006-2010 subject to the following changes: that the Council approve the Medium Term Corporate Plan for 2006-2010 subject to the following changes: Vision for Oxfordshire (page 19 and Foreword) Delete "We have acknowledged…as our own" and replace with: Our vision for Oxfordshire is: We want Oxfordshire to be a county which offers opportunities for all who work, live and visit here without creating damage to our natural environment. Strategic Priorities (page 21 and Foreword, and pages 23, 27 and 30) Delete bullet point 1 and replace with:
Delete bullet point 4 and replace with:
Delete bullet point 6 and replace with:
After debate, the amendment was lost by 46 votes to 16. RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Robertson and carried by 38 votes to 5) to approve the Medium Term Corporate Plan for 2006-2010.
(b) RESOLVED:
on Item 4 (Financial Monitoring) (on a motion by Councillor Shouler
and seconded by Councillor Mitchell and carried nem con) to approve
the modifications to the approved Treasury Management Strategy specified
in Annex 1 to the report of the Cabinet. After
debate, the amendment was lost by 38 votes to 25.
Improving traffic management and reducing congestion
Encouraging the use of public transport
In addition to the measures identified specifically by the AQAP for improving air quality in central Oxford, many of the other proposed schemes in the County Council’s LTP programme that are located in or near Oxford are likely to have a positive impact on air quality in the city centre and elsewhere in the city. These measures are included in the Air Quality Action Plan, but because their precise impact is difficult to quantify they have been identified separately. Encouraging the use of public transport, cycling and walking - locations outside AQMA, but with some general impact (schemes within 2006-11 LTP2 period)
The City Council is currently monitoring other locations across Oxford. Should any other locations exceed the national required levels, the County Council will work in partnership with City Council to address the identified problems as and when required.
"This has been approved by DEFRA and the District Council will be publishing an Air Quality Management Area Order by July 2006".
Maintenance Programme – breakdown of Capital Expenditure
(a) on page 288 - Baseline should read "544* - average number of road casualties killed or seriously injured between 1994 and 1998 (*subject to confirmation following discussions on adjustments to base data with DfT)";
(b) on page 290 - Baseline should read "54* - average number of children killed or seriously injured between 1994 and 1998 (*subject to confirmation following discussions on adjustments to base data with DfT)";
(c) on page 292 - Baseline should read "1994/98 average figure for slight injury numbers was 2726* per year (*subject to confirmation following discussions on adjustments to base data with DfT). (Councillor Crabbe left the Chamber for this item.)
37/06. SCRUTINY ANNUAL REPORT
(Agenda Item 11) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Mrs Heathcoat and seconded by Councillor Hallchurch and carried nem con) to receive the report.
38/06. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE
(Agenda Item 12) Members of Council asked questions of Mr Elmore, Chairman of the Standards Committee. RESOLVED: (on a motion by the Chairman) to receive the report and to thank Mr Elmore for attending the meeting to answer questions on the work of the Committee.
39/06. QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
(Agenda Item 13) 16 questions with notice were asked. Details of the questions and answers and the supplementary questions and answers, where asked and given, are set out in Annex 2 to the minutes.
40/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR JEAN FOOKS
(Agenda Item 14) The following motion was submitted to the Council at its meeting on 10 January 2006: "This Council notes the launch of the Government’s Education White Paper on 25 October 2005. This Council supports the Government’s wish to improve schools for every child but has serious doubts that the proposals in the White Paper would achieve this. It believes that:
This Council therefore calls for:
This Council reaffirms its commitment to providing good local schools for every child and asks the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to set out the concerns and proposals in this Motion." Councillor Fooks moved and Councillor Bryden seconded (and with the leave of the Council) the motion standing in her name at item 14 in the agenda in the following amended form: "This Council notes the introduction of the Education and Inspection Bill and supports the Government’s wish to improve schools for every child, but believes that this is best achieved by working to raise standards, not by tinkering with structures. It believes that:
This Council therefore calls for:
This Council reaffirms its commitment to providing good local schools for every child and asks the Chief Executive to inform the Secretary of State of the views expressed in this Motion." After debate, the motion was lost by 46 votes to 13.
41/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR JEAN FOOKS
(Agenda Item 15) The following motion was submitted to the Council at its meeting on 10 January 2006: "This Council has particular concerns that proposals concerning school admissions in the Government’s White Paper ‘Higher Standards, Better Schools for all’ would work against the provision of good local schools for every child. This Council believes that Admissions policies should not encourage schools to ‘poach’ pupils from each other. This Council is concerned that implementing the White Paper would lead to:
This Council therefore wants Oxfordshire to continue to lead and co-ordinate local admissions to ensure fair access for all, including hard-to-place children, and asks the Leader to write to the Secretary of State requesting that this be protected in any new legislation." Councillor Fooks moved and Councillor Bryden seconded (and with the leave of the Council) the motion standing in her name at item 15 in the agenda in the following amended form: "This
Council has particular concerns that proposals concerning school admissions
in the
Education and Inspection Bill would work against the provision of good local schools for every child. This Council believes that Children’s Services Authorities, like Oxfordshire, are best placed to work with schools to ensure fair admissions across all schools in the area. This Council believes that:
This Council therefore wants Oxfordshire to continue to lead and co-ordinate local admissions to ensure fair access for all, including hard-to-place children, and asks the Leader to write to the Secretary of State requesting that this be protected in the future." After debate, the motion was lost by 45 votes to 15.
42/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR VAL SMITH
(Agenda Item 16) Councillor V Smith withdrew the motion standing in her name at item 16 in the agenda.
43/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR SUSHILA DHALL
(Agenda Item 17) Councillor Dhall moved and Councillor L Sanders seconded the following motion standing in her name at item 17 in the agenda: "Understanding that Oxfordshire is proud to be a Council which believes in actual transport choice for all transport modes, and facing the facts that: (a) Oxfordshire has missed out on almost £1million of potential Local Transport Plan funding, due, in part, to the failure of the Council to meet cycling targets set in the last Local Transport Plan; (b) cycling is declining in Oxfordshire; (c) air pollution in Oxford exceeds statutory limits in a significant number of densely peopled streets and we have a duty to show how we will take steps to reduce it; (d) it is suspected that there are other areas where this is the case throughout Oxfordshire;
Council resolves to urge the Cabinet to investigate the promotion of cycling as a serious mode of transport with the potential to: (a) painlessly reduce car-dependency in Oxfordshire; (b) promote health and fitness; (c) help us achieve our air pollution reduction requirements before we are penalised for not doing so.
Council also resolves to urge the Cabinet to ensure that we use the large sums of money saved by cutting cycle routes from the Local Transport Plan to create cycle-friendly road conditions in the same and many other places in ways that require much less money (cycle lanes on roads, slower traffic speeds etc.)." After debate, the motion was lost by 37 votes to 11 with 10 abstentions.
44/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR BOB JOHNSTON
(Agenda Item 18) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Johnston and seconded by Councillor Godden and carried by 59 votes to 1) to agree as follows: "This Council notes with alarm the lack of progress by the Government on the implementation of the apparently stalled new regulations of packaging. In the light of the impending changes to waste collection and waste disposal within the County, this Council asks the Leader of the Council to call upon the Government to set a new deadline for implementing these regulations, and for the regulations to have as their objective to reduce by at least 50% the amount of packaging used by the retail trade. This Council notes that such a reduction would greatly ease the County in meeting its much reduced capacity to use landfill, and further notes that the excessive packaging currently used by the retail trade threatens to place a huge burden on the authority in the amount of waste needing to be diverted from landfill to avoid high penalties."
45/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR LARRY SANDERS
(Agenda Item 19) Councillor L Sanders moved and Councillor Dhall seconded the following motion standing in his name at item 19 in the agenda: "In the event of this Council receiving additional income, this Council requests the Cabinet to provide to the Directorate of Social & Community Services for services for older people the first £1.5 million of any additional income which is not ringfenced for another purpose.
This money is necessary because significant sums included in the annual budget for these services are illusory. These include: - over £1.3 million for residential care for costs arising from inflation, which have not been budgeted for. The private providers will not provide services for which they have not been paid; - over £150,000 in inflationary costs not provided for home care services; - £792,000 in increased "fair charges" for home care, little of which will actually be collected, because the estimates are based on incorrect figures; - £500,000 in savings for services provided by new mechanical systems which are not yet in place. If this sum is not provided unbudgeted overspends will appear in the accounts for older people’s services. This will then lead to unplanned and devastating cuts in vital services for very disabled people." After debate, the motion was lost by 38 votes to 22.
46/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR JEAN FOOKS
(Agenda Item 20) Councillor Fooks moved and Councillor Patrick seconded the following motion standing in her name at item 20 in the agenda amended as shown by italic and strikethrough: "This
Council agrees with the Government view that school meals should be
nutritious and available to all children at a price their parents can
afford. It notes that for some designated schools this
Council therefore asks the Leader to write to the Government expressing our extreme disappointment that there is no offer of capital funding to enable schools to cook fresh produce on the premises and to serve it in suitable accommodation. It further asks the Cabinet to investigate how the County Council might help schools with inadequate facilities to upgrade both kitchens and dining space to meet the target of providing nutritious, locally sourced and freshly prepared meals for Oxfordshire’s school children, in accordance with the Conservative manifesto commitment." Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor V Smith seconded an amendment to the motion as follows: "This
Council agrees with the Government view that school meals should be
nutritious and available to all children at a price their parents can
afford and asks the Leader of the Council to write to the government
congratulating it on its response to the work of Jamie Oliver in London
schools and the money put into schools to meet the Jamie Oliver challenge.
After debate, the amendment was lost by 46 votes to 8. RESOLVED: (carried nem con) as follows: "This Council agrees with the Government view that school meals should be nutritious and available to all children at a price their parents can afford. It notes that for some designated schools this could be problematic due to lack of facilities like proper well-equipped kitchens and dining halls.
Council therefore asks the Leader to write to the Government expressing our extreme disappointment that there is no offer of capital funding to enable schools to cook fresh produce on the premises and to serve it in suitable accommodation. It further asks the Cabinet to investigate how the County Council might help schools with inadequate facilities to upgrade both kitchens and dining space to meet the target of providing nutritious, locally sourced and freshly prepared meals for Oxfordshire’s school children, in accordance with the Conservative manifesto commitment."
47/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR MELINDA TILLEY
(Agenda Item 21) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Tilley and seconded by Councillor N Turner and carried nem con) to agree as follows: "This Council recognises the constant increase in the complexity of official documents and urges the Customer Service Board and the County Council Management Team to eliminate the use of unexplained acronyms and jargon expressions in all of the Council’s documents, whether published electronically or printed hard copy and to ensure that all documents are written in plain English."
48/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR IAIN BROWN
(Agenda Item 22) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Brown and seconded by Councillor Mitchell and carried by 43 votes to 0 with 9 abstentions) to agree as follows: "This Council applauds the achievements of the BMW Group Plant Oxford where the MINI is produced. The BMW Group has moved up to the third largest manufacturing plant in the UK since starting production of the car in April 2001. Production for the MINI reached over 200,000 cars in one calendar year in 2005 - the highest output at the plant since 1988 and good news for those working at the plant and for their contribution to improving economic development in Oxfordshire. Over three quarters of all cars built at the plant are exported to over 70 countries. The success is based on a commitment to large-scale investment and a highly skilled, motivated and flexible workforce of 4,500 people. The Council congratulates the BMW Group and wishes it all the best for the future to continue its good work as a large and successful employer in Oxfordshire."
49/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR PATRICK GREENE
(Agenda Item 23) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Greene and seconded by Councillor Harvey and carried nem con) to agree as follows: "This Council is disappointed to see that many of our pavements are being defaced by discarded chewing gum. This Council in line with our own de-cluttering policy, our greener, cleaner Oxfordshire campaign and our own responsibilities for safeguarding the environment, supports District Councils in engaging in the national campaign which aims to make manufacturers contribute to cleaning up the mess caused by their products."
50/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR IAN HUDSPETH
(Agenda Item 24) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Hudspeth and seconded by Councillor Viney and carried nem con) to agree as follows: "The County Council is concerned that the decision by the Government not to extend the Post Office account card after 2010 will impact on both rural and urban stores with Post Offices in Oxfordshire. This will reduce their viability and choice for residents, particularly the elderly and the vulnerable which will include many people who are dependent on County Council care services. This County Council therefore asks the Leader to write to the Government to reconsider the decision and to continue the Post Office account card beyond 2010."
51/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR OLIVE MCINTOSH-STEDMAN
(Agenda Item 25) Councillor McIntosh-Stedman moved and Councillor Brighouse seconded the following motion standing in her name at item 25 in the agenda: "This Council:
(a) notes the continuing need to tackle anti-social behaviour in Oxfordshire;
(b) recognises that the Government has already given police and councils various powers to tackle problems such as drug dens, graffiti and teen gangs in areas like Oxfordshire;
(c)
notes that the Government’s recent Respect Action Plan contains a
number of proposals concerning provision for young people, education
of excluded pupils, support for parents and families etc. that relate
to the activities of this Council; Councillor Fooks moved and Councillor Patrick seconded the following amendment to the motion: "This Council: (a) notes
the continuing need to tackle anti-social behaviour in Oxfordshire; (d) urges the Cabinet to implement the proposals in the Respect Action Plan that relate to upper-tier local authorities (c) regrets that the Government appears to be more intent on punishment than support for vulnerable young people and appears not to realise that respect can only be earned, not imposed; (d) urges the Cabinet to prioritise support and opportunities for children and young people in Oxfordshire, based on the aims in the Children’s and Young People’s Plan." After debate, the amendment was lost by 11 votes to 10. After debate, the motion was lost by 40 votes to 9.
52/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR TERRY JOSLIN
(Agenda Item 26) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Joslin and seconded by Councillor Gatehouse and carried by 50 votes to 3) to agree as follows: "This Council: (a) notes that Oxfordshire is host to the principal laboratory of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, an organisation which gave rise to the nuclear industry in Europe, and that this Council has representatives on the Harwell-Chilton Campus Local Stakeholder Group whose role is to put forward local views; (b) notes that a consultation is currently under way which will contribute to an Energy White Paper to be published later this year in which all forms of carbon-free and secure energy supply, including nuclear, will be evaluated; (c) welcomes the debate on renewal of the UK nuclear energy programme and encourages the Council’s representatives on the Harwell-Chilton Campus Local Stakeholder Group to participate in that debate."
53/06. MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR TERRY JOSLIN
(Agenda Item 27) RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Joslin and seconded by Councillor Brighouse and carried nem con) to agree as follows: "This Council:
in the Chair Date
of signing 2006
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