Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Right Reverend Gavin Collins, Bishop of Dorchester, opened the meeting with a prayer.

Before nominations were invited for the office of Chair of the Council, Councillor Felix Bloomfield (the retiring Chair) thanked all staff at County Hall, the Democratic Services and Facilities Management Teams and his Vice-Chair, Councillor Rooke, for their support over the year.  It was noted that over £8,000 had been raised for the Chair’s chosen charities over the year, and the retiring Chair thanked all for their support.

The Monitoring Officer invited nominations for the office of Chair of the Council for the 2024/25 Council Year.  Council Leffman moved, and Councillor Brighouse seconded that Councillor Alison Rooke be elected as Chair of the Council for the 2024/25 Council Year.  There being no other nominations and no dissent, Councillor Rooke was duly declared elected.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that Councillor Alison Rooke be elected as Chair for the 2024/25 Council Year.

(Councillor Alison Rooke in the Chair).

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

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Cherry seconded that Councillor Mark Lygo be elected as Vice-Chair of the Council for the 2024/25 Council Year.  There being no other nominations, Councillor Mark Lygo was duly declared elected Vice-Chair of the Council for the 2024/25 Council Year.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that Councillor Mark Lygo be elected Vice-Chair for the 2024/25 Council Year.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2024 (CC3) and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2024 were approved and signed as a correct record with the following amendment:

Minute 25/24, on Page 9 should be headed “Motions by Members of the Council”.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gawrysiak, Murphy and Povolotsky.

The Chair acknowledged the resignation of Councillor Richard Webber who had represented the Sutton Courtenay & Marcham division since 2013.  Councillor Liz Leffman thanked Councillor Webber for his service for both the County Council and for the Vale of the White Horse District Council and wished him well.

There were no declarations of interest relating to items for decision at this meeting.

The Chair announced that 15 firefighters who had served residents for a combined total of 300 years were presented with His Majesty The King’s long service and good conduct medals by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant in a special ceremony on Tuesday 30 April at Blenheim Palace.  It was noted that the Chair’s events were listed in Annex 1 to the Schedule of Business.

To make any changes to the membership of scrutiny and other committees on the nomination of political groups and to note any changes to the Cabinet made by the Leader of the Council.

There were none received.

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. 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.

Petition

Patricia Ciccone presented a petition signed by 489 people on school transport on behalf of Europa School parents.  The petition asked that Council reverse the Council’s policy of pushing families out of public-school transport and buses and into cars.  It was highlighted that Europa School was a state school that offered bilingual education, which made it very appealing to the local diverse parent community and called on the Cabinet Member responsible and Leader of the Council to start listening to residents in Oxfordshire and stop creating blockers to mass transport options and engaging youth in using buses.

The Chair advised that the petition would be referred to the relevant Chief Officer for response.

Report from Leader of the Council.

The report summarises the decisions from the Cabinet meeting on 23 April 2024.

Council received the report from Cabinet.

In response to a question from Councillor Brad Baines, the Deputy Leader of the Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment & Future Generations, agreed that in order to mainstream any future framework for future generations and tackle the determents of ill health and wellbeing, principles should be embedded in policy design, rather than adopted as an impact assessment for only some large projects as required by the relevant budget line.

In response to a question from Councillor Roz Smith, Councillor Pete Sudbury advised that the reason the Council chose to lead on climate change was to encourage others to do the same.

In response to a question from Councillor Charlie Hicks, Councillor Pete Sudbury advised that whilst not in his portfolio responsibility, further information would be provided on progress made on issuing climate bonds that had been agreed at the last Climate and Finance Conference.

In response to a question from Councillor Glynis Phillips, Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community & Corporate Services, advised that the objective of the proposed Managed Service Recruitment Contract was to provide a partnership that would incorporate actions towards reducing agency spend.

In response to a question from Councillor Susanna Pressel, Councillor Neil Fawcett advised that whilst not an item on the agenda, he would provide further information on the assessment of the current HR contract with Hampshire.

In response to a question from Councillor Duncan Enright, Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, agreed that the system for obtaining national government funding had many complexities and that it was beneficial to work with the local community in sourcing and financing projects of benefit to them.

In response to a question from Councillor Charlie Hicks, Councillor Dan Levy answered that opportunities for new financing models for future capital programmes would always be explored from national government funding, however there were no immediate plans at this time.

In response to a question from Councillor Brad Baines, Councillor Dan Levy advised that he would confirm the total amount of the capital programme allocated to the delivery of projects attached to S106 contributions and the proportion of these that had been delivered to timetable.

In response to a question from Councillor Duncan Enright, Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, agreed that it was just as important that the Council’s policies were understood by residents in order for them to be implemented to good effect, and he would undertake to ensure that greater understanding was provided to ensure that the Council lived up to its aspirations in delivering its Vision Zero Strategy.

In response to a question from Councillor Calum Miller, Councillor Andrew Gant agreed to explore the safe transport of freight vehicles in all wards, as it was key to understanding how other road users interacted with freight vehicles safely in delivering the Council’s Vision Zero Strategy.

In response to a question from Councillor Mark Cherry, Councillor Andrew Gant agreed that additional funding was needed for the county’s highway network  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45/24

Report by the Leader of the Council

Council is RECOMMENDED to 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.

Under the Council’s constitution, the Leader of the Council was required to inform the Annual Meeting of the Council of the delegations made in relation to the functions of the Cabinet.  Council received the report from the Leader of the Council. 

The Leader noted one change to the published report: ‘Responsibility for Gypsies and Travellers’ moved to Finance from Public Health, Inequalities & Community Safety.

On being moved by the Leader of the Council and seconded by Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader with responsibility for Climate Change, Environment & Future Generations, the recommendation was put to the vote of which there were five abstentions and 1 against.

RESOLVED to 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 as amended.

Report from the Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee.

The Annual Report sets out the role of the Audit & Governance Committee and summarises the work that has been undertaken both as a Committee and through the support of the Audit Working Group in 2023/24.

The Council is RECOMMENDED to note the contents of the Annual Report of the Audit & Governance Committee 2023/24.

Council had before it the Annual Report of the Audit & Governance Committee which summarised the work that had been undertaken both as a committee and through the support of the Audit Working Group in 2023/24.  Councillor Roz Smith, Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee, moved and Councillor Brad Baines, Deputy Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee, seconded that Council receive the report.

In response to a question from Councillor Susanna Pressel, Councill Roz Smith confirmed that the Council had its own internal fraud team which had shown exemplary work in providing detailed reports of all fraud investigations to the committee.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) to note the contents of the Annual Report of the Audit & Governance Committee 2023/24.

Report by the Director of Law & Governance & Monitoring Officer.

The Council is required by the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 to review the political balance on its committees on an annual basis.

Council is RECOMMENDED

a)                  To note how the rules relating to political proportionality have been applied to the appointment of Council committees.

b)                  To appoint members to the committees of the Council and other bodies listed at Annex 1. A fully populated list with nominations from the political groups for the vacant seats will be circulated ahead of the meeting.

The Council was required by the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 to review the political balance on its committees on an annual basis.  The Council had before it a report which set out how the rules operate and sought approval for adjustments which were necessary to achieve the balance across and within committees to comply with the rules.

Council noted the list of committee appointments in the revised Annex 1 attached to the Schedule of Business and two further appointments to vacancies proposed at the meeting:

·         Planning & Regulation Committee: Councillor Bob Johnston

·         Thames Valley Police & Crime Panel: Councillor Roz Smith

On being moved by Councillor Alison Rooke, seconded by Councillor Mark Lygo and being put to the vote:

RESOLVED (unanimously) to:

a)    note how the rules to political proportionality have been applied to the appointment of Council committees.

b)   appoint members to the committees of the Council and other bodies listed at Annex 1 as amended.

Report of the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

The Council is required annually to agree the scheme of delegation of Council responsibilities to Officers for inclusion in the Constitution. 

COUNCIL IS RECOMMENDED to approve the Scheme of Delegation to Officers as it relates to Council functions.

The Council is required annually to agree the scheme of delegation of Council responsibilities to Officers for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution.

In response to a question from Councillor Calum Miller, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that any changes to the Council’s Constitution as outlined in part 7.2, 6.4(t) would comply with the law and any changes made would be reported to the relevant Member body.

On being moved by Councillor Alison Rooke, seconded by Councillor Mark Lygo and put to the vote:

RESOLVED (unanimously) to approve the Scheme of Delegation to Officers as it relates to Council functions.

Report of the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

The calendar of meetings for each civic year is presented to Council for approval.  The 2024-25 calendar was approved by Council on 7 November 2023.  Since that decision, the Education & Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee was formed by a Council decision on 12 December 2023.  Dates need to be agreed for that Committee for 2024-25.

COUNCIL IS RECOMMENDED to

a)                  approve the schedule of meetings for the 2024-25 Council Year for the Education & Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee in Annex 1;

b)                  note the changed dates for Delegated Decisions by the Cabinet Member for Finance in Annex 1;

c)                  note the other dates as approved by Council on 7 November 2023 in Annex 1.  

Council had before it a schedule of committee dates for the 2024/25 Council Year which had been approved at its meeting on 6 November 2023.  Since that meeting, the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for Education & Young People had been formed with five dates proposed, and the dates for the Delegated Decisions by the Cabinet Member for Finance changed as highlighted in the Annex to the report. 

On being moved by Councillor Alison Rooke, seconded by Councillor Mark Lygo and put to the vote:

RESOLVED (unanimously) to:

a)    approve the schedule of meetings for the 2024-25 Council Year for the Education & Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee in Annex 1;

b)   note the changed dates for Delegated Decisions by the Cabinet Member for Finance in Annex 1;

c)    note the other dates as approved by Council on 7 November 2023 in Annex 1.