Agenda and minutes

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2010 (CC1) to receive for information any matters arising from them.

RESOLVED:  that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 12 January 2010 be approved and signed, subject to the following amendments:

(a)               Minute 1/10 (Minutes – Minute 94/09 Question 3 (Questions on Notice from Members of the Council)), Line 7, insert after the word “convened.”  the words “The Chairman ruled the question out of order.  However,”  and insert after the words “Councillor Rose” the words “had already”.

(b)               Minute 16/10 (Themed Debate – Educational Attainment) delete

RESOLVED:  (nem con)  to note the paper and to suggest ways in which greater involvement by all stakeholders can be encouraged and supported and insert “Following discussion of suggested ways in which greater involvement by all stakeholders can be encouraged and supported, Council noted the paper.”

On Minute 11/10 (Questions with Notice from Members of the Council), Council noted:

(a)               the written answers/supplementary information to Questions 9, 10, 11 and 12 set out in Annex 1 to the Minutes;

(b)       the following further information provided by the Leader of the Council to Question 13, Answer to Supplementary Question – Line 5, replace “I will loot from” with “I will say” and Penultimate line, replace “30%” with “35%”.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Atkins, Mrs Fulljames, Malik, Pressel, Shouler and Dr Skolar.

Members are reminded that they must declare their interests orally at the meeting and specify (a) the nature of the interest and (b) which items on the agenda are the relevant items. This applies also to items where members have interests by virtue of their membership of a district council in Oxfordshire.

The following declaration of interest was made:

RESOLVED:  to approve, for the purposes of Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, the absence of Councillor Shouler from any meeting of the Authority from the date of this meeting on the grounds of continuing ill-health.

To make any changes to the membership of the Cabinet, scrutiny and other committees on the nomination of political groups.

RESOLVED:  to appoint Councillor Seale to the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Harbour.

Mr Michael Haines petitioned Council about ‘Saving our Subway at Headington Shopping Centre’.

The petition was referred to the Transport Decisions Committee.

Mr Mark Fysh, UNISON, addressed Council about Item 9 (Service and Resource Planning 2010/11 to 2014/15).

Ms Samantha Bowring (Abingdon Town Councillor) addressed Council about Item 9 (Service and Resource Planning 2010/11 to 2014/15) Annex 3 CS3 (£21,000 saving by changes to fire service cover in Abingdon and Didcot) expressing the concern of many people in Abingdon that this would mean a reduction in emergency cover.

The addresses were taken with Item 9.

The Council's Medium Term Corporate Plan 2010/2011-2014/15 will set out the challenges facing the County Council , the rationale for our objectives, and identifies the priority  and activities on which we will focus. The Strategy and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee reviewed the draft Plan and submitted comments to the Cabinet, who approved the draft on 19 January 2010.

The Plan is in two parts:

·         A broad strategy document now presented to the Council for approval

·         A delivery plan which sets out the detail of priorities and targets. This part of the Plan is still being developed and will be completed in the next few weeks. However, the Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee has seen a draft and commented on it. The intention is that the final version will be shared with Group Leaders before it is signed off.

A summary of the key elements of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) will also be included in the final version of the Plan.

A separate Annual Report will be produced in the summer, which will provide a review of the previous year, highlighting achievements and challenges faced and commenting on our performance.

The Cabinet RECOMMENDS Council to approve the Corporate Plan 2010/11-2014/15subject to the inclusion of the delivery plan, a summary of the Medium Term Financial Plan and any changes in the text approved by the Chief Executive after consultation with the Leader of the Council.

Council considered the Council's Medium Term Corporate Plan 2010/2011-2014/15 (CC8).  It was advised that the Plan would set out the challenges facing the County Council, the rationale for the Council’s objectives, and would identify the priority and activities on which the Council would focus. It was also advised that the Strategy and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee had reviewed the draft Plan and had submitted comments to the Cabinet, who had approved the draft on 19 January 2010.

Council was advised that the Plan was in two parts:

·        A broad strategy document presented to the Council for approval

·        A delivery plan which would set out the detail of priorities and targets. This part of the Plan was still being developed and would be completed in the next few weeks. However, the Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee had seen a draft and commented on it. The intention was that the final version would be shared with Group Leaders before it was signed off.

Council was further advised that a summary of the key elements of the Medium Term Financial Plan would also be included in the final version of the Plan and a separate Annual Report would be produced in the summer, which would provide a review of the previous year, highlighting achievements and challenges faced and commenting on the Council’s performance.

RESOLVED:  (on a motion by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Robertson and carried by 48 votes to 9) to approve the Corporate Plan 2010/11-2014/15subject to the inclusion of the delivery plan, a summary of the Medium Term Financial Plan and any changes in the text approved by the Chief Executive after consultation with the Leader of the Council.

Report of the Cabinet (CC9) and Supplementary Report by the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer (CC9 Supplementary).  The recommendations set out below (and in the report) are made subject to the Commentary on the Budget Proposals by the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, as the Council’s Section 151 Officer, to be circulated separately.

The Liberal Democrat and Green Groups propose to submit amendments to the budget proposals (CC9 Liberal Democrat) and (CC9 Green) respectively and these will be circulated separately.

Council considered the Report of the Cabinet (CC9), the Supplementary Report by the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer (CC9 Supplementary) and the Commentary on the Cabinet’s Budget Proposals by the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer as the Council’s Section 151 Officer (CC9 Commentary).  The Council also had before it budget proposals in the form of:-  Amendments by the Liberal Democrat Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget (CC9 Liberal Democrat Group Amendments), Amendments by the Green Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget (CC9 Green Group Amendments) and Commentary by the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer as the Council’s Section 151 Officer (CC9 Commentary on Amendments). 

Councillor Mitchell moved and Councillor Robertson seconded the Cabinet’s recommendations on Service and Resource Planning 2010/11 to 2014/15 (CC9) as amended by the correction in Annex 5, Table 2, South Oxfordshire – Assumed Precept Due where “£64,070,678” should read “£64,070,978”.  

Councillor Patrick moved and Councillor Fooks seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in CC9 Liberal Democrat Group Amendments.

After debate, the amendment was lost by 47 votes to 9.

Councillor L Sanders moved and Councillor Sherwood seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in CC9 Green Group Amendments.

After debate, the amendment was lost by 48 votes to 3.

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and carried by 44 votes to 17.

RESOLVED: 

(a)    (in respect of revenue) to approve:

(1)               a budget for 2010/11 as set out in Annex 4 and a medium term plan to 2014/15 as set out in Annex 1;

(2)               a budget requirement for 2010/11 of £389.870m;

(3)               the Council Tax and Precept calculations for 2010/11 set out in Annex 5 to the report as amended by the correction in Table 2 of South Oxfordshire – Assumed Precept Due where “£64,070,678” should read “£64,070,978” and in particular:

(i)                   a precept of £281.192m; and

(ii)                 a Council Tax for Band D equivalent properties of £1,161.71;

(4)               the use of the LABGI reserve funding as set out in Annex 2b;

(5)               the disposition of Dedicated Schools Grant as set out in Annex 6 to the report;

(6)               virement arrangements for 2010/11 as set out in Annex 7 to the report;

(b)         (in respect of treasury management) to approve:

(1)               the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as at Annex 8 including the Prudential Indicators;

(2)               that in relation to the 2010/11 strategy any further changes required be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer following consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and leaders of the Opposition and Labour group;

(c)         to approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in paragraphs 10 to 14 of Annex 9;

(d)         (in respect of Capital) to approve:

(1)               the Capital Strategy at Annex 10 and Corporate Asset Management Plan at Annex 11;

(2)               the Capital Programme for 2009/10 to 2014/15 as set out in the capital programme at Annex 12;

(3)               the prudential indicators  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26/10