Decisions

The Cabinet received he report of the Cabinet.

In relation to paragraph 2 of the report (HIF Marginal Viability (mv) Funding Agreements Bicester & Wantage) (Question from Councillor Hannaby to Councillor Hudspeth) Councillor Hudspeth undertook to look into when the final contracts would be signed so that work could commence and to put as much pressure on the process as possible.

In relation to paragraph 3 of the report (Local Government Association Peer Review Report) (Question from Councillor Price to Councillor Hudspeth) Councillor Hudspeth undertook to provide Councillor Price with a written answer regarding whether there was an action plan in relation to the Peer Review and in particular in relation to inclusive growth.

In relation to paragraph 7 of the report (The Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s board Annual Report/The Performance Audit & Quality Assurance Annual Report and The Case Review & Governance Annual Report - 2019) (Question from Councillor Hanna to Councillor Harrod) Councillor Hudspeth undertook to ask Councillor Harrod to provide a written answer detailing what could be done to raise the issue of       with local practitioners?

In relation to paragraph 9 of the report (Implementation of a Street Works Permit Scheme for Oxfordshire) (Question from Councillor Buckley to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance gave an assurance that conditions could be added to possible conditions attached to the future Street Works Permits, so that problems like Botley Road could be avoided in Future.  Councillor Constance cautioned though that it was no possible to foresee all problems that could arise.

In relation to paragraph 11 of the report (Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Site Allocations – Consultation Draft Plan) (Question from Councillor John Sanders to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance undertookto use every endeavour to ensure that the new timetable for delivery of Core Strategy part 2 would be delivered on its present schedule and that officers would receive as much support as they required.

In relation to paragraph 11 of the report (Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Site Allocations – Consultation Draft Plan) (Question from Councillor Johnston to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance gave an undertaking to employee additional consultants (if required) to ensure the Site Allocations Plan was adopted in November 2020.

In relation to paragraph 13 of the report (Capital Finance Monitoring Report) (Question from Councillor Roz Smith to Councillor Bartholomew) Councillor Bartholomew undertook to provide Councillor Roz Smith with a written answer detailing whether the urgent repairs to Windmill School were to be funded from the contingency budget or from the Capital School’s Maintenance Budget?

The amendment by Councillor Tim Bearder as set out in Annex 1 to the schedule of business was lost by 45 votes to 11.

The substantive Motion was agreed by 36 votes to 11, with 8 abstentions.

Recommendations agreed.

24 Questions with notice were asked.  Details of the questions and answers and the supplementary questions and answers (where asked) are set out in Annex 1 to the Minutes.

In relation to Question 1 of the report (Question from Councillor Leffman to Councillor Gray) Councillor Gray undertook to look into what was happening in Charlbury and provide Councillor Leffman with a written response.  Councillor Grey urged all members to contact the newly formed Community Transport and Concessionary Fares team for any help with providing community transport.

In relation to Question 2 of the report (Question from Councillor Cherry to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance indicated that she was hoping to bring forward the programme for replacing street lighting in the Ruscote area of Banbury.

In relation to Question 5 of the report (Question from Councillor Roberts to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance undertook to provide Councillor Roberts with a written answer as to whether, following the HIF bid for the A40 being announced as successful and given the seriousness of the accident, whether there had  been any progress on sourcing funds from Highways England that OCC were signposted to?

In relation to Question 7 of the report (Question from Councillor Bartington to Councillor Constance) Councillor Constance undertook to investigate the possibility of an arrangement with our partners, developers and contractors to provide like for like when removing trees.

In relation to Question 13 of the report (Question from Councillor Turnbull to Councillor Lindsay-Gale) Councillor Lindsay-Gale undertook to provide Councillor Turnbull with a written answer detailing whether any of the young people identified as waiting for a place were Looked After Children or qualified for Free School Meals or Pupil Premium, and if so, how many?

In relation to Question 14 of the report (Question from Councillor Turnbull to Councillor Lindsay-Gale) Councillor Lindsay-Gale undertook to provide Councillor Turnbull with a written answer detailing the outcomes of when Fair Access Panels met.

In relation to Question 23 of the report (Question from Councillor Phillips to Councillor Harrod) Councillor Hudspeth undertook to ask Councillor Harrod to provide a written answer detailing how many assessments are waiting to be undertaken under section 17 ZA Children’s Act 1989, together with the associated waiting times.

There were none.

Mr Mike Tyso, Chipping Norton Town Council, spoke in support of Agenda Item 15 (Motion by Councillor Hilary Hibbert-Biles);

Mr Church, spoke in support of Question 7 on Notice by Councillor Suzanne Bartington in relation to the benefits of tree planting;

Mr David Gilmour, CPRE Oxfordshire, spoke in support of Agenda Item 13 (Motion by Councillor John Sanders on the Expressway);

There were none.

The Chairman reported that it had been decided, in consultation with the Group Leaders to cancel the December Meeting of Council on 10 December 2019 due to the proximity of the Meeting to the General Election.  A provisional date of 14^th January had been agreed for a meeting of Council, if required following the General Election.  Members would be notified whether this Meeting would be taking place on 20 December.

Council congratulated the Chairman on his successful Charity Dinner which had raising in excess of £3,000 for local charities.

Council noted that the Chairman would be hosting an ‘Antiques Supper’ at the Swan in Tetsworth on 19 November 2019.  Tickets were available from the Chairman’s PA.

Councillor Alison Rooke declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 14 (Motion by Councillor Eddie Reeves) by virtue of her position as Trustee/Director of Vale House Alzheimer's Home.  

 Councillor Jenny Hannaby declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 14 (Motion by Councillor Eddie Reeves) by virtue of her position as Chairman of the Trustees for Wantage Community Nursing Home.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hannah Banfield, Councillor Steve Harrod, Councillor Dan Sames, Councillor Emily Smith and Councillor Alan Thompson.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 September 2019 were approved and signed as an accurate record of the Meeting.