Agenda, decisions and minutes

Before inviting nominations for the office of Chair of the Council, Councillor Les Sibley (the retiring Chairman) took the opportunity to reflect on his year in office as Chairman of the Council, and in particular his civic duties promoting Oxfordshire County Council and meeting a broad spectrum of staff.  He thanked the Vice-Chairman (Councillor Howson), his Personal Assistant (Sara Lenihan) and Tim Stimpson for their support throughout the year. He then presented his wife and Consort with some flowers as a token of his appreciation for their help and support during the Year.

Councillors Leffman, Brighouse, Reeves and Sudbury and paid tribute to the outgoing Chairman thanking him for his fairness, hard work and effort over the year.

The Monitoring Officer, Anita Bradley then invited nominations for the office of Chair of the Council for the 2021/22 Council Year.

Councillor Leffman moved and Councillor Brighouse seconded that Councillor John Howson be elected as Chair of the Council for the 2021/22 Council Year.

There being no other nominations and no dissent, Councillor Howson was duly declared elected by a show of hands (nem con).  Upon election, Councillor Howson read out and signed the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

RESOLVED:  (nem con) that Councillor John Howson be elected as Chair of the Council for the 2021/22 Council Year.

The Chair called for nominations for the office of Vice-Chair. 

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Leffman seconded that Councillor Susanna Pressel be elected as Vice-Chair of the Council for the 2021/22 Council Year.  There being no other nominations and no dissent, Councillor Susanna Pressel was duly declared elected by a show of hands (nem con) Vice-Chair of the Council for the 2021/22 Council Year.  She read out and signed the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

RESOLVED:  (nem con) that Councillor Susanna Pressel be elected Vice-Chair of the Council of the 2021/22 Council Year.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 23 March 2021 and 7 April 2021 (CC5) and to receive information arising from them.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 March 2021 and 7 April 2021 were approved and signed as an accurate record.

Report by the Director of Law & Governance (CC6)

The Government have confirmed that The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 have not been extended to apply to meetings from 7 May onwards. These regulations have allowed the virtual meetings held in the past 12 months.

This report sets out for information proposed temporary changes to the Constitution necessary for the effective running of physical  meetings during the restrictions brought about by the corona virus pandemic.

Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)       Note the amendments to the Constitution that the Monitoring Officer has made to ensure the safe return to physical meeting whilst covid restrictions remain;

(b)       Agree that the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Chairman of the Council be authorised to make changes to the meetings process and, as necessary, the Constitution in the light of practical experience of meetings during covid restrictions and in the light of changing circumstances; and

(c)       That the position be reviewed before the Council meeting on 14 September 2021.

The Government had confirmed that The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 had not been extended to apply to meetings from 7 May onwards. The regulations had allowed the virtual meetings held in the past 12 months.

Council had before it a report, which set out for information proposed temporary changes to the Constitution necessary for the effective running of physical  meetings during the restrictions brought about by the corona virus pandemic.

During debate, Members expressed concern regarding the proposed September Review Date.  In response, the Monitoring Officer undertook to bring a report back to the July Meeting of Council.

RESOLVED:(on a Motion by Councillor John Howson, seconded by Councillor Susanna Pressel and carried nem con) to:

(a)       note the amendments to the Constitution that the Monitoring Officer has made to ensure the safe return to physical meeting whilst covid restrictions remain;

(b)       agree that the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Chairman of the Council be authorised to make changes to the meetings process and, as necessary, the Constitution in the light of practical experience of meetings during covid restrictions and in the light of changing circumstances; and

(c)        that the position be reviewed before the Council meeting on 14 September 2021.

Report by the Monitoring Officer (CC7)

At its Annual Meeting, Council is required to agree the officer scheme of delegation within the Council's Constitution.  The Scheme of Officer Delegation is contained in Part 7.1 of the Council’s Constitution.  The Scheme itself gives delegated authority to the Head of Paid Service, directors and other chief officers whose titles and/or areas of responsibility are set out in Part 2, Article 13 of the Constitution. 

Councilis RECOMMENDEDto approvetheOfficerSchemeof Delegation

(Part 7.1of theConstitution) as in theAnnex 2 to thisreport.

At its Annual Meeting, Council was required to agree the officer scheme of delegation within the Council's Constitution.  The Scheme of Officer Delegation was contained in Part 7.1 of the Council’s Constitution.  The Scheme itself gave delegated authority to the Head of Paid Service, directors and other chief officers whose titles and/or areas of responsibility are set out in Part 2, Article 13 of the Constitution.  The Council had before them a report by the Monitoring Officer (CC7) which set out the proposed changes to the Council’s Officer Scheme of Delegation set out in the Constitution.

The Monitoring Officer reported that new urgency provision had been included for the Head of Paid Service and the emergency powers to the Head of Paid Service and that the Head of Paid Service, in so acting, would be guided by budget and the policy framework, would consult the other Statutory Officers before acting and would report, in writing, as soon as practicable to the body which would otherwise have been required to give the necessary authority to act.

RESOLVED:  (on a Motion by Councillor John Howson, seconded by Councillor Susanna Pressel and carried nem con) to approve the Officer Scheme of Delegation (Part 7.1 of the Constitution) as in Annex 2 to the report.

Members are asked to:

(a)       elect the Leader of the Council;

(b)       note the names, addresses and electoral divisions of the people appointed to the Cabinet by the Leader of the Council for the coming year and their respective portfolios;

(c)        note the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

At the conclusion of the Council’s proceedings all members are asked to remain in their seats in the Council chamber while committees meet for the purpose of electing Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Council had before it the following appointments for Consideration:

(1)       The Office of Leader of the Council

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Pressel seconded Councillor Liz Leffman for the Office of Leader of the Council.

Councillor Arash Fatemian made a statement paying tribute to the past Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Hudspeth.

The Motion was put to the vote and was carried nem con.

RESOLVED: (nem con)to elect Councillor Liz Leffman as Leader of the Council.

(2)       to note the following appointments to the Cabinet by the Leader of the Council for the coming year and their respective portfolios as follows;

Leader – Cllr Liz Leffman

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Young People’s Services – Liz Brighouse

Cabinet Member for:

Corporate Services – Glynis Phillips

Community Services and Safety – Neil Fawcett

Climate Change Delivery and Environment – Pete Sudbury

Travel and Development Strategy – Duncan Enright

Highway Management – Tim Bearder

Finance – Calum Miller

Adult Social Care – Jenny Hannaby

Public Health & Equality – Damian Haywood

(3)       The Office of Leader of the Opposition

RESOLVED: to note Councillor Eddie Reeves to the position as the Leader of the Opposition.

Report by the Director of Law & Governance (CC9)

The report reviews the political balance on committees and appoints members to them. (ANNEXES TO FOLLOW).

Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)       to confirm the political balance on committees shown in Annex 2 to the report;

(b)       to appoint to committees the councillors and co-opted members shown in Annex 3, subject to any changes reported at the meeting.

The Council had before it a report (CC10) which summarised the rules for the political balance on Scrutiny and other committees, together with Annex 2 confirming the political balance on the committees and Annex 3, showing the membership of all committees.

To enable the groups to report on Political Balance and Membership of the Committees (Annex 3 (including Annex 2)), the Meeting was adjourned from 11.18 am to 12.21 pm.  Following the adjournment, the Council confirmed the political balance of the Council and appointed to the formal Meetings of the Council (Annex 3), as set out in Annex 1 to the Minutes.

RESOLVED: (nem con)

(a)       to confirm the political balance on committees shown in Annex 2 to the report;

(b)       to appoint to committees the councillors and co-opted members shown in Annex 3, subject to any changes reported at the meeting.

Liberal Democrat Green Alliance: 24; Conservative Independent Alliance: 23; Labour and Co-Operative Party Group 15;  plus 1 Independent

Other Appointments - Proportionality is not mandatory but is usually applied where representation is 3 and over. The balance below sets out the arithmatic calculation.

These appointments delegated to MO in consultation with Group Leaders