Decisions

The time being 4.40 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.

The time being 4.40 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.

The time being 4.40 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.

The time being 4.40 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.

The time being 4.40 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Heathcoat moved an alteration to her motion at the suggestion of Councillor Liz Brighouse as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below and withdrew her amendment as shown in Annex 1 to the Schedule of Business:

“This Council recognises the excellent work of all local government staff across Oxfordshire during the COVID-19 crisis. Councils have worked together in difficult times, showing that organisational barriers to joint working can be overcome.

All Councils have gone the extra mile in delivering services to our residents that prioritising the most vulnerable people. This has inevitably incurred additional costs – c. £90 million across all tiers.

All Councils acknowledge the additional Government funding to date, (but this is not enough) and we have a duty to respond to the national financial challenge ahead and to be open with residents. This Council is currently forecasting a deficit of c. £24 million for the financial year 2020/21 and a further deficit of c. £40 million for 2021/22. ?

All Councils across Oxfordshire are now considering how they can balance budgets. and protect frontline services. No Councillor nor party wants to see drastic cuts to vital Council services.

We, as a group of democratically elected leaders, should take the opportunity provided by The devolution white paper presents an opportunity to consider how to ensure that we provide the best possible public services for our residents can be best provided for Oxfordshire.

This Council calls on the Leader to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer highlighting the way Councils worked together in Oxfordshire and asking him to honour the Government promise to reimburse Councils for the additional expenditure incurred because of COVID 19 and to undertake an open and wide-ranging conversation with Oxfordshire County Councillors , local authority partners, residents and stakeholders to explore all options for a new future for Oxfordshire which is inclusive, protects public services, supports a vibrant local democracy and ensures a strong economy.

The Motion, as amended was Agreed Unanimously.

Motion agreed unanimously.

The time being 4.40 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.

The Motion was lost by 29 votes to 16, with 14 abstentions.

Recommendations Agreed (nem con).

Recommendations Agreed (nem con).

Recommendations Agreed (nem con)

Recommendations Agreed (nem con).

Council received the report of the Cabinet.

In relation to paragraph 2 of the report (Question from Councillor Hanna to Councillor Heathcoat) Councillor Heathcoat undertook to take on the points Councillor Hanna made in relation to ensuring that the COVID response and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 19(a) was addressed in the upcoming review of the constitution and to ensure that the Council was fit for the future in relation to COVID planning for Restart, Recovery and Renew.

In relation to paragraph 3 of the report (Question from Councillor Price to Councillor Heathcoat) Councillor Heathcoat undertook to ask HR to consider the request that a report be produced on the ethnic minority gap in the same way they report on the Gender Gap ahead of any legislation requiring it, cautioning that there would need to ensure that no individual could be identified in the report.

In relation to paragraph 4 of the report (Question from Councillor Pressel to Councillor Stratford) Councillor Stratford undertook to give consideration as to whether Children’s Centres could receive sustainability funding.

In relation to paragraph 10 of the report (Question from Councillor Roz Smith to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance undertook to provide Councillor Roz Smith with a written answer detailing how enforcement would be carried and by whom and whether there would be resource in place to monitor enforcement to ensure compliance.

In relation to paragraph 10 of the report (Question from Councillor Roz Smith to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance undertook to provide Councillor Roz Smith with a written answer detailing how enforcement would be carried and by whom and whether there would be resource in place to monitor enforcement to ensure compliance.

In relation to paragraph 12 of the report (Question from Councillor John Sanders to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance gave an assurance that the monitoring of the Connecting Oxford and Liveable Streets initiatives would be kept as separate as possible to determine the outcomes of each scheme.

In relation to paragraph 12 of the report (Question from Councillor Roz Smith to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance agreed with Councillor Roz Smith that the Headington CPZ was overdue for a review and asked that she take the issue up with Councillor Walker who was now responsible for that area.

In relation to paragraph 13 of the report (Question from Councillor Mark Lygo to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance confirmed that a programme had been set up with a plan to visit every school to see what could be done in relation to enforcing road closures outside schools at school times.

In relation to paragraph 14 of the report (Question from Councillor Bob Johnston to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance gave an assurance that everything possible would be done to avoid any legal challenge on the project.

In relation to paragraph 15 of the report (Question from Liz Leffman to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance confirmed that there were several bids in for funding and agreed with Councillor Leffman on the importance of connectivity for rural villages.

In relation to paragraph 19 of the report (Question from Deborah Mcilveen to Councillor Gray) Councillor Gray undertook, in relation to the youth opportunities fund – to investigate whether the funding could be reallocated in the event that any group should fail to it.

In relation to paragraph 19 of the report (Question from Richard Webber to Councillor Gray) Councillor Gray gave an assurance that further funding for services for young people was being looked at and that a CAG had been convened to look at the issue.

In relation to paragraph 19 of the report (Question from Jane Hanna to Councillor Gray) Councillor Gray undertook to provide a written answer to Councillor Hanna on the £200,000 fund that was allocated in the Budget specifically to access youth needs.

33 questions with Notice were asked.  Details of the questions and answers and supplementary questions and answers will be set out in the Annex to the minutes.

In relation to question 19 (Question from Gill Sanders to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance gave an assurance to consult with all concerned groups across the county that time allowed and that they were looking for projects right across the County.

In relation to question 26 (Question from Councillor Hannaby to Councillor Hudspeth) Councillor Heathcoat undertook to take back the question to Councillor Hudspeth as to whether he would support the recent Healthwatch report into an enquiry of Care Homes.

In relation to question 31 (Question from Councillor Hannaby to Councillor Hudspeth) Councillor Heathcoat undertook to take back the question to Councillor Hudspeth as to whether he would support the recent healthwatch report into an enquiry of Care Homes.

Question from Mr Chris Henderson to Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale;

Question from Mr Peter Barnett to Councillor Yvonne Constance.

Council received the following public address:

Mr Jamie Hartzell presented a Petition of some 2, 500 signatories, calling on the Council to commit now to doubling tree cover by 2045.

Dr Liz Sawyer addressed the Council on behalf of Liveable Streets Oxfordshire in support of Agenda Item 16, Motion by Councillor John Sanders on adopting Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

Mr Patrick Coulter addressed the Council on behalf of Headington Liveable Streets, Headington Action and Headington Neighbourhood Forum in support of the Motion by Councillor John Sanders supporting Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

Council noted the following appointment:

Counciilor Ted Fenton in place of Councillor Mike Fox-Davies on the Planning & Regulation Committee.

Council congratulated and paid tribute to staff and the community on their tremendous efforts and response during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Council Paid tribute and held a minute’s silence in Memory of former Honorary Alderman Patrick Greene.

Following requests from district council colleagues, the Director of Finance had notified Council of the need to move the Meeting.

RESOLVED: (nem con) to move the Budget Meeting of Council from the schedule date of 16 February 2021 to the 9 February 2021.

Councillor John Howson declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 16 (Motion by Councillor John Sanders) by virtue of being a non-car driver.

An apology for absence was received from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Hudspeth.  Council sent its best wish for a speedy recovery.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 May 2020 were approved and signed as an accurate record subject to adding a sentence to explain that the Meeting was held virtually.

Recommendations Agreed (nem con).

The time being after 3.30 pm, these Motions were considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.