Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business relating to matters on the agenda and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chairman. 

The Chairman provided housekeeping information.

She referred to a well attended past chairmen’s lunch.

Members of the public who wish to address Council on the agenda items for this meeting must register to do so in writing or by email to democratic.services@southandvale.gov.uk no later than 5.00pm on Wednesday 22 November 2017. 

The chairman advised that Dr Wyatt and Mr Pannett had registered to address Council on the Low Emission Strategy item.

The General Licensing Committee, at its meeting on 16 November 2017, will consider the report of the interim head of waste, parks, leisure and environmental health on the draft Low Emission Strategy for South Oxfordshire District Council.

The report of the interim head of waste, parks, leisure and environmental health, which the General Licensing Committee will consider, is attached.

The recommendations of the General Licensing Committee will be circulated to all councillors.

Council considered the recommendations of the General Licensing Committee, made at its meeting on 16 November 2017, on the draft Low Emission Strategy for South Oxfordshire District Council. The recommendations of the General Licensing Committee were circulated to all councillors following the meeting and were before councillors at this meeting.

Dr Wyatt and Mr Pannett addressed Council. Both raised concern that the recommendations of the General Licensing Committee did not reflect the committee’s discussion or final decision. In their view the committee discussed at length the need to undertake further modelling and analysis of the proposed transport measures and not the viability of trials. This point is clearly set out in the report of the interim head of waste, parks, leisure and environmental health considered by the General Licensing Committee.

David Dodds, Chairman of the General Licensing Committee, agreed with the views expressed by the speakers and moved the following motion, seconded by Paul Harrison:

1.    To approve the Low Emission Strategy that includes the modelling and analysis of the proposed transport measures identified in Wallingford and Watlington.

2.  To authorise the head of service with responsibility for environmental health to make any minor amendments to the strategy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for environmental health and the Chairman of the General Licensing Committee.

Members of the General Licensing Committee supported the wording of the motion which reflected the sentiment of the meeting held on 16 November. The adoption of the strategy would allow the council to explore the feasibility of the options. After exploring the feasibility, it would be possible to consider viable options and consult further with facts and evidence to support these.

Officers confirmed that before implementation the proposals will be fully evaluated and a report including the results would be presented to the General Licensing Committee for a final decision on any permanent implementation.

A number of councillors expressed concern at the lack of measures to address air quality issues in Henley and were hopeful that the further modelling would bring forward options.

RESOLVED: to

1.    approve the Low Emission Strategy that includes the modelling and analysis of the proposed transport measures identified in Wallingford and Watlington.

2.  authorise the head of service with responsibility for environmental health to make any minor amendments to the strategy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for environmental health and the Chairman of the General Licensing Committee.

To consider whether to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business under Part 1 of Schedule 12A Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 on the grounds that:

(i)        it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and

(ii)       the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

RESOLVED: to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following item of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 on the grounds that:

i.      it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and

ii.     the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

At its meeting on 14 November 2017, Cabinet considered the report of the interim head of corporate services on the proposed plan to demolish the current fire damaged building at Crowmarsh Gifford and then design, procure, build and fit out a new building sufficient to accommodate the council’s headquarters. 

The confidential report of the head of corporate services was circulated to all councillors with the Cabinet agenda. A hard copy of the report is available on request. Cabinet supported the proposed process for securing a new headquarters at Crowmarsh Gifford by 2020.

Cabinet’s recommendations were circulated to all councillors on 14 November 2017.

Council considered cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 14 November 2017, on the proposed plan to demolish the current fire damaged building at Crowmarsh Gifford and then design, procure, build and fit out a new building sufficient to accommodate the council’s headquarters.  The recommendations were circulated to councillors following the Cabinet meeting. Cabinet supported the proposal and recommended that Council make the necessary budget decisions.

Council agreed the necessary budget provision to progress the project and secure a new headquarters at Crowmarsh Gifford by 2020.

To consider the confidential report of head of legal and democratic services and interim head of corporate services – attached.

Council considered the confidential report of the head of legal and democratic services and interim head of corporate services on appointments to senior posts.

Council agreed the recommendations set out in the report. Council further agreed to waive the substitute provisions for the Joint Staff Committee insofar as they restrict the substitution of non-cabinet members of the committee to members of that political group.

The Leader of the council provided an update on an announcement in the Budget regarding the principle of a housing deal for Oxfordshire. In return for the Oxfordshire authorities accepting higher housing numbers they would receive £150million for infrastructure funding, £60million for affordable housing and £5million capacity funding for the development of a joint spatial plan. The Leader confirmed that Council would have the final vote on any deal.