Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2023 (CC1) and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 16 May 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Councillors Ash, Fatemian, Mallon, Murphy, Povolotsky, Reeves, Sudbury and Waine.

A dispensation had been granted to Councillor Mohamed Fadlalla to allow him to participate fully in item 14 Motion proposed by Councillor Imade Edosomwan.  Councillor Fadlalla had a Non-Registerable Interest as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct, paragraph 7.3.  The dispensation had been granted by the Monitoring Officer using the delegation provided to the Monitoring Officer by Council on 17 May 2022.

The Chair summarised the events he had attended since the last meeting of Council which were listed in the Schedule of Business.

The following appointments were noted:

Councillor Gregory replaced Councillor Hannaby as Cabinet Member for Community Services & Safety.

Councillor Reeves replaced Councillor Murphy on the Oxfordshire County Council & Employees Joint Consultative Committee.

Members of the public who wish to speak on an item on the agenda at this meeting, or present a petition, can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection. Requests must be submitted no later than 9am one working day before the meeting i.e., 9am on Monday 10 July 2023. Requests to speak should be sent to committeesdemocraticservices@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am on the day of the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

The following speakers were heard.  The texts of their speeches are published on the website alongside the minutes.

Petitions

Steve Wright: Fire Brigade Union campaign

Simon Howell: Parking in Shrivenham

James Schumann: Do not dismantle LTNs

Public Address

Item 14 Motion from Cllr Edosomwan

Evelyne Godfrey;

City Cllr Lubna Arshad;

Nazar Eltahir

Item 15 Motion from Cllr Johnston

Charlie Maynard

There were six questions submitted by members of the public.  The questions and responses were published in the Schedule of Business.

On question 1, Mr Tucker asked in a supplementary question if it was correct to summarise that the issue of the traffic filter scheme was the first time that the Council pro-actively provided traffic forecasts.  Councillor Enright responded that he believed that it was the case.  In recent years the science of traffic forecasting had improved and it was this administration’s intention to provide as much useful data as possible when making such major decisions.

There were no other supplementary questions asked.

28 questions with Notice were asked. Details of the questions and answers were set out in the Schedule of Business.

On Question 10, Councillor Field-Johnson asked if it was possible to give some timelines when trials would be phased in and when we would see limits imposed.  Councillor Enright responded that it had been hoped to have an all-Member briefing by the end of July before the school holidays but it now looked like it would be September.

On Question 13, Councillor Howson asked if it was a requirement to have the Horton Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee or was it a Council decision.  Councillor Leffman responded that it was up to the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee to decide if the Committee was still needed.  At the moment there was no requirement for it to meet.

Report by the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is under a constitutional duty to prepare an annual report. That report is set out in Annex 1 and documents the breadth and depth of the Committee’s work over the 2022/23 municipal year.

Council is RECOMMENDED to: Receive the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Annual Report set out in Annex 1. 

Council had before it the annual report of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Regulation 28(1) of the Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) Regulations 2013 the Council had a duty to “review and scrutinise any matter relating to the planning, provision and operation of the health services in its area”.

As part of this overarching duty, it had a duty, enshrined in the Council’s Constitution, to report on its activity over the preceding year in the form of an annual report.

Councillor Jane Hanna presented the report and responded to a number of points raised by Members.

Following debate, the motion was proposed by Councillor Hanna and seconded by Councillor Haywood.

RESOLVED (unanimously) to receive the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Annual Report.

Report of the Cabinet meetings of 23 May 2023 and 20 June 2023.

Councillor Leffman, responding on behalf of Councillor Sudbury to a question from Councillor David Rouane, agreed to make the point to Councillor Sudbury, that councils should avoid the danger of tying up useful groups, such as the Local Nature Partnership, in too many rules.

Councillor Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel & Development Strategy, responding to Councillor Middleton, agreed to circulate more information on the timings for the remaining phases of Loop Farm roadworks.

Report by the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

The Constitution makes provision for the taking of an urgent decision. Part 8.1 Section 17.3 requires that “In any event the Leader of the Council will submit quarterly reports to the Council on any executive decisions taken in the circumstances set out in Rule 16 (special urgency) in the preceding three months. The report will include the number of decisions so taken and a summary of the matters in respect of which those decisions were taken.

Council is RECOMMENDED to note the use of Special Urgency for Key Decisions on 9 June, 29 June and 30 June 2023.

Council considered a report listing the Special Urgency Decisions taken in the last three months and a summary of the matters in respect of which those decisions were taken.

Councillor Liz Leffman summarised the report and proposed the motion.  Councillor Liz Brighouse seconded the motion and thanked the Chair for his part in facilitating the urgent decisions.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) to note the use of Special Urgency for Key Decisions on 9 June, 29 June and 30 June 2023.

Report of the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

The Council is RECOMMENDED to introduce an allowance of £3,156 per annum for new Independent Members of the Audit and Governance Committee in line with the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Council was asked to consider a report proposing that up to two new Independent Members be appointed to the Audit and Governance Committee.

The motion was moved by Councillor Bloomfield and seconded by Councillor Rooke.

Councillor Roz Smith, Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee, stated that Council’s agreement was required before advertisements could be placed for the two independent positions.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) to introduce an allowance of £3,156 per annum for new Independent Members of the Audit and Governance Committee in line with the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Publishing the voting and attendance records of elected representatives is critical for democratic accountability. It allows residents to make informed decisions during elections and hold elected representatives to account. This council therefore requests the Director of Law and Governance to publish on the Council’s website:

1. A summary of the attendance records of members at Full Council (as is done by district councils, including South Oxfordshire District Council).
2. A record of the individual votes of members made at Full Council as required under the Constitution Part 3.1, section 17.2.

The information should be displayed prominently on the appropriate section of the website and be easily accessible.

Votes taken by show of hands at the Chair's discretion will not require individual votes to be published. 

The Director of Law and Governance is not requested to retrospectively publish voting or attendance records, but to do so going forwards at the earliest opportunity.

Councillor Freddie van Mierlo moved and Councillor Ian Middleton seconded the following motion:

Publishing the voting and attendance records of elected representatives is critical for democratic accountability. It allows residents to make informed decisions during elections and hold elected representatives to account. This council therefore requests the Director of Law and Governance to publish on the Council’s website:

1.    A summary of the attendance records of members at Full Council (as is done by district councils, including South Oxfordshire District Council).

2.    A record of the individual votes of members made at Full Council as required under the Constitution Part 3.1, section 17.2.

The information should be displayed prominently on the appropriate section of the website and be easily accessible.

Votes taken by show of hands at the Chair's discretion will not require individual votes to be published. 

The Director of Law and Governance is not requested to retrospectively publish voting or attendance records, but to do so going forwards at the earliest opportunity.

Following debate the motion was put to a vote.  Councillor Ian Corkin called for a recorded vote and was supported by more than the required six other Members.

Councillors voting for the motion (31):

Baines, Brighouse, Cherry, Coles, Edosomwan, Elphinstone, Enright, Fadlalla, Fawcett, Gant, Graham, Gregory, Hanna, Haywood, Hicks, Johnston, Leffman, Levy, Ley, Middleton, van Mierlo, O’Connor, Phillips, Pressel, Roberts, Rooke, Rouane, Saul, Smith, Thomas, Webber

Councillors voting against the motion (3):

Banfield, Corkin, Gawrysiak

Councillor abstaining (13):

Bartholomew, Bloomfield, Bulmer, Champken-Woods, Constance, Fenton, Field-Johnson, Ford, Ilott, Reynolds, Sibley, Simpson, Snowdon

RESOLVED (31 to 3):

Publishing the voting and attendance records of elected representatives is critical for democratic accountability. It allows residents to make informed decisions during elections and hold elected representatives to account. This council therefore requests the Director of Law and Governance to publish on the Council’s website:

1.    A summary of the attendance records of members at Full Council (as is done by district councils, including South Oxfordshire District Council).

2.    A record of the individual votes of members made at Full Council as required under the Constitution Part 3.1, section 17.2.

The information should be displayed prominently on the appropriate section of the website and be easily accessible.

Votes taken by show of hands at the Chair's discretion will not require individual votes to be published. 

The Director of Law and Governance is not requested to retrospectively publish voting or attendance records, but to do so going forwards at the earliest opportunity.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in the loss of countless lives, displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and a severe humanitarian crisis.

Oxfordshire has a proud history of providing support for those fleeing war. A great example is the Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Oxfordshire has continued to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine.

We are dismayed at the government’s chaotic and inadequate response. They have failed to evacuate British citizens, offer sanctuary to family and dependants, or waive existing barriers to settlement and support in the UK.

This motion condemns the war in Sudan and calls on the government to redouble their efforts to work urgently with regional partners to secure a permanent ceasefire and to engage in negotiations to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis.

Oxfordshire County Council resolves to request Cabinet to continue to support refugees locally, including by:

·       working with the Oxfordshire Sudanese community to identify and support new arrivals.

·       collaborating with organisations in the public/voluntary sectors so they can provide appropriate support, especially for those with physical and psychological trauma.

·       briefing frontline council staff so they understand needs and pathways to relevant services.

We further resolve to request the Leader to write to the Home Secretary to:

·       expand safe, legal routes for extended family of British citizens and Sudanese asylum seekers.

·       waive existing barriers to support including the habitual residence test.

·       establish a formal programme mirroring the Ukrainian settlement scheme for Sudanese nationals seeking sanctuary.

Councillor Imade Edosomwan moved and Councillor Trish Elphinstone seconded the following motion which included amendments from the proposer, accepted by Council, indicated in bold and strikethrough:

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in the loss of countless lives, displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and a severe humanitarian crisis.

Oxfordshire has a proud history of providing support for those fleeing war. A great example is the Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. how Oxfordshire has continued to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine.

We are dismayed at the government’s chaotic and inadequate response. They have failed to evacuate British citizens, offer sanctuary to family and dependants, or waive existing barriers to settlement and support in the UK.

This motion condemns the war in Sudan and calls on the government to redouble their efforts to work urgently with regional partners to secure a permanent ceasefire and to engage in negotiations to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis.

Oxfordshire County Council resolves to request Cabinet to continue to support refugees locally, including by:

·      working with the Oxfordshire Sudanese community to identify and support new arrivals.

·      collaborating with organisations in the public/voluntary sectors so they can provide appropriate support, especially for those with physical and psychological trauma.

·      briefing frontline council staff so they understand needs and pathways to relevant services.

We further resolve to request the Leader to write to the Home Secretary and Oxfordshire members of parliament to:

·         expand safe, legal routes for extended family of British citizens and Sudanese asylum seekers.

·         waive existing barriers to support including the habitual residence test.

·         establish a formal programme mirroring the Ukrainian settlement scheme for Sudanese nationals seeking sanctuary.

Following debate the motion as amended was carried by 31 votes to 0 with 11 abstentions.

RESOLVED: (31 to 0)

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in the loss of countless lives, displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and a severe humanitarian crisis.

Oxfordshire has a proud history of providing support for those fleeing war. A great example is the Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. how Oxfordshire has continued to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine.

We are dismayed at the government’s chaotic and inadequate response. They have failed to evacuate British citizens, offer sanctuary to family and dependants, or waive existing barriers to settlement and support in the UK.

This motion condemns the war in Sudan and calls on the government to redouble their efforts to work urgently with regional partners to secure a permanent ceasefire and to engage in negotiations to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis.

Oxfordshire County Council resolves to request Cabinet to continue to support refugees locally, including by:

·      working with the Oxfordshire Sudanese community to identify and support new arrivals.

·      collaborating with organisations in the public/voluntary sectors so they can provide appropriate support, especially for those with physical and psychological trauma.

·      briefing frontline council staff so they understand needs and pathways to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54/23

This council welcomes the feasibility study for a railway line in the west of Oxfordshire linking Carterton to Cowley. With the possibility of around 10,000 additional employment opportunities being created on the north and west side of the city, (4,500 Oxford North; 1,000 Botley Road; 4,000 Osney Mead; up to 1,000 at Oxpens) there has never been a more important need for a mass transit system connecting the city with the expanding towns along the A40 corridor.
 
This Council urges the Cabinet to request the Corporate Director Environment & Place to build upon the results of the recently published feasibility study by entering into discussions with central government and other possible funders to identify sources of funding that would take the project forward, either in phases or as a complete route.

Councillor Bob Johnston moved and Councillor Dan Levy seconded the following motion:

This Council welcomes the feasibility study for a railway line in the west of Oxfordshire linking Carterton to Cowley. With the possibility of around 10,000 additional employment opportunities being created on the north and west side of the city, (4,500 Oxford North; 1,000 Botley Road; 4,000 Osney Mead; up to 1,000 at Oxpens) there has never been a more important need for a mass transit system connecting the city with the expanding towns along the A40 corridor.
 
This Council urges the Cabinet to request the Corporate Director Environment & Place to build upon the results of the recently published feasibility study by entering into discussions with central government and other possible funders to identify sources of funding that would take the project forward, either in phases or as a complete route.

Following some debate on the motion, Councillor David Bartholomew moved and Councillor Donna Ford seconded that the motion now be put.  The Chair put this to a vote which was carried by 21 votes to 15.

The motion was passed by 35 votes to 1 with 1 abstention.

RESOLVED: (35 to 1)

This Council welcomes the feasibility study for a railway line in the west of Oxfordshire linking Carterton to Cowley. With the possibility of around 10,000 additional employment opportunities being created on the north and west side of the city, (4,500 Oxford North; 1,000 Botley Road; 4,000 Osney Mead; up to 1,000 at Oxpens) there has never been a more important need for a mass transit system connecting the city with the expanding towns along the A40 corridor.
 
This Council urges the Cabinet to request the Corporate Director Environment & Place to build upon the results of the recently published feasibility study by entering into discussions with central government and other possible funders to identify sources of funding that would take the project forward, either in phases or as a complete route.