Issue - meetings

The motion was carried with 37 votes in favour; 14 against and 0 abstentions.

The Chair stated that she had decided to accept a proposed urgent motion for the Council meeting. 

Under Council Procedure Rule 2.2. (xiii) Council will “consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances which shall be specified in the minutes, the Chair agrees should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.”

The motion proposed to respond to a decision by the Secretary of State on 4 September 2024 to approve the Thames Water Resources Management Plan.  This was announced after the agenda for this Council meeting had been published.  A period of 60 days has been given for feedback which will expire before the next Council meeting on 5 November 2024.

At the Council meeting on 9 July 2024, Council passed a motion of no confidence in Thames Water and reiterated its opposition to the planned design for SESRO (South East Strategic Reservoir Option) with 29 votes in favour; none against and 13 abstentions.  Council Motions in November 2021 and December 2023 opposing the SESRO plans were passed unanimously.

The Chair believed that these reasons amounted to special circumstances that justified taking this motion as a matter of urgency. 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Povolotsky and seconded by Councillor Gawrysiak.

Following debate, the motion was carried with 37 votes in favour; 14 against and 0 abstentions.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes that on Wednesday 4th September the Secretary of State approved the Thames Water Resources Management Plan (TWRMP) despite community and council opposition, technical data concerns and damning comments from the Environment Agency. 

This Council has passed many motions of concern including a vote of no confidence in Thames Water and we continue to express our concerns that the TWRMP is not fit for purpose and its schemes need independent scrutiny and review, including Waste Management, leaks and the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) proposal.

This Council notes that Thames Water has 60 days to take into account feedback and we ask the Leader of the Council and the relevant Cabinet Member to urgently ensure that this Council’s voice and that of our residents are heard and that our recommendations have been taken into account.

We reiterate our objection to the plan on the table and continue to call for a public inquiry into the plan, and ask the Leader to request an urgent audience with the Secretary of State to ensure Oxfordshire’s voice is heard.