Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2017 (CC1) and to receive information arising from them.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2017 were approved and signed.

The Chairman reported as follows:

The Chairman reported on the opening of the Westgate Library in central Oxford on Monday 18th December, together with a host of events that had took place in various parts of the library for that week. She invited all members on behalf of the Cabinet Member to attend the official opening event with the Minister for Libraries on Thursday 22nd February.

The Chairman further extended a warm welcome to all councillors who would like to have a tour of the Oxford History Centre which was based in Cowley, and had a large number of archives, for either researching family history or the division they represented.

Council paid tribute and observed a minute’s silence in memory of former county councillor Nellie Whorley (also known as Queenie Comfort) who had served on the County Council from  May 1985 to May 1993.

Report by the Director for Human Resources (CC7)

The Remuneration Committee are required to report annually to Council on the Pay Policy Statement. The Remuneration Committee considered this report on 23 January 2018 and now submit it for approval to Council on 13 February 2018.

The Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)      receive the report of the Remuneration Committee;

(b)      approve the revised Pay Policy Statement at Annex 2 to this report.

In 2012 a stand-alone Remuneration Committee was set up to report each year directly to full Council and to make recommendations regarding the Council’s Pay Policy Statement. The Council had before them the report of the Remuneration Committee (CC7) which updated the Council’s Pay Policy Statement and set out future proposals of the Remuneration Committee in relation to this area.

RESOLVED: (on a Motion by Councillor Hudspeth, seconded by Councillor Webber and carried nem con) to:

(a)      receive the report of the Remuneration Committee;

(b)      approve the revised Pay Policy Statement at Annex 2 to this report.

Report by Director of Finance (CC8).

This report is the culmination of the service & resource planning process for 2018/19 to 2021/22. It sets out the Cabinet’s proposed budget for 2018/19, medium term financial plan and capital programme, together with a number of statements/policies that the Council is required to approve for the 2018/19 financial year.

The report is divided into four main sections which are outlined below:

Section 1 – Leader of the Council’s overview

Section 2 – Corporate Plan

Section 3 – Statutory Report by the Director of Finance (Chief Finance Officer)

Section 4 – Budget Strategy and Capital Programme

The Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          have regard to the report of the Director of Finance (at Section 3) in approving recommendations b to e below;

(b)          (in respect of revenue) approve:

(1)          the council tax and precept calculations for 2018/19 set out in section 4.3 and in particular:

(i)           a precept of £352,041,895;

(ii)          a council tax for band D equivalent properties of £1,426.19;

(2)         a budget for 2018/19 as set out in section 4.4;

(3)         a medium term plan for 2018/19 to 2021/22 as set out in section 4.1 (which incorporates changes to the existing medium term financial plan as set out in section 4.2; and, subject to Cabinet approval on 12 February 2018, as Accountable Body for the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal, includes £4.5m capacity funding (noting a further £0.5m will be received in 2017/18);

(4)         the use of Dedicated Schools Grant (provisional allocation) for 2018/19 as set out in section 4.8; and

(5)         virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget for 2018/19 as set out in section 4.5;

(c)          (in respect of balances and reserves) approve:

(1)         the Chief Finance Officer’s recommended level of balances for 2018/19 as set out in section 4.7.1; and

(2)         the planned level of reserves for 2018/19 to 2021/22 as set out in section 4.7.2;

(d)          (in respect of treasury management) approve:

(1)          the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2018/19 as set out in section 4.9;

(2)          the continued delegation of authority to withdraw or advance additional funds to/from external fund managers to the Treasury Management Strategy Team;

(3)          that any further changes required to the 2018/19 strategy be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance;

(4)          the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of section 4.9;

(5)          the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Appendix B of section 4.9;

(6)         the Specified Investment and Non Specified Investment Instruments as set out in Appendix C and D of section 4.9; and

(7)         the Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out at Appendix E of section 4.9;

(e)          (in respect of capital) approve:

(1)         the Capital Strategy as set out in Section 4.10; and

(2)         a Capital Programme for 2018/19 to 2027/28 as set out in section 4.10.1 which:

(i)           subject to Cabinet approval  ...  view the full agenda text for item 188/18

The Council had before it a report (CC8) which outlined the service & resource planning process for 2018/19 to 2021/22, set out the Cabinet’s proposed budget for 2018/19, together with the medium term financial plan and capital programme and a number of statements/policies that the Council was required to approve for the 2018/19 financial year.

The report was divided into four sections; the Leader of the Council’s overview (section 1), the Corporate Plan (section 2) the Director of Finance’s statutory report (section 3) and the Budget Strategy and Capital Programme (Section 4).

The Council also had before it budget proposals in the form of:  Amendments by the Labour Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget (CC8 Labour) and Amendments by the Liberal Democrat Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget (CC8 Lib Dem) (Additional Papers Pack 2), together the schedule of Business.  All papers could be found on the Council’s Website.

The Chairman explained to the meeting that following consultation with the Group Leaders, it had been agreed that, subject to the consent of Council recommendation (a) (Corporate Plan) set out in the Schedule of Business should be taken separately from the Budget proposals.  Accordingly, the motion was put to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: (nem con) to take recommendation (a) separately.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Hudspeth moved and Councillor Brighouse seconded recommendation (a) as set out in the revised recommendations in the Schedule of Business.

During debate councillors expressed views that there was no explicit link between the Corporate Plan and the budget; that the corporate plan should be shorter and more focused, include performance measurement; be more strategic and have greater emphasis on future plans and how these would be achieved and demonstrate leadership.  It was also commented on that the plan missed out further education.

Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried by 46 votes to 4, with 11 abstentions.

RESOLVED: (by 46 votes to 4, with 11 abstentions)

(a)          to consider and comment on the Draft Corporate Plan 2018 – 2021 as set out in Section 2.0, such comments to be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 27 February, before it is formally adopted by Council in March;

Councillor Hudspeth then moved and Councillor Bartholomew seconded the Cabinet’s recommendations on Service & Resource Planning 2018/19 – 2021/22.  In moving the motion, Councillor Hudspeth paid tribute to Lorna Baxter and Katie Jurczyszyn for all their work in preparing the budget.

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Evans seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers Pack 2 (CC8 Labour). Councillor Brighouse thanked the Director of Finance and her team for their help and support.

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 35 votes to 15, with 13 abstentions.

Councillor Webber moved and Councillor Roz Smith seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers Pack 2 (CC8 Lib Dem). In moving his motion, Councillor Webber  ...  view the full minutes text for item 188/18