To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 38.
Councillors have the ability to call in a planning application within 28 days of the start of the statutory consultation period. This is an exception to the general delegation to the Head of Planning who has authority to deal with planning applications.
Currently, there is no ability for a councillor to call in a
planning application that has been amended after the 28 day period comes to an
end.
It may well be the case that the majority of councillors are unaware that amended planning applications cannot be called in after the 28 day period has elapsed, yet there is no provision in the Constitution to resolve this.
Council resolves that:
The Constitution Review Group is asked to consider the delegations to the Head of Planning as part of its review of the Constitution and in particular whether the call in exception should be extended to allow for a councillor to call in an amended planning application notwithstanding the 28 day period has elapsed.
This Council Notes:
The Russia-Ukraine war has newly highlighted our dependence on dirty oil and gas from rogue states. A third of our people are expected to be plunged into poverty by October, as domestic fuel prices rise. We lack fuel-security.
In October 2021, Council noted the need to retrofit, wrote to Government, and provided a report on the retrofit landscape.
Since then, the situation has greatly worsened. The response to fuel scarcity by the Government has been to focus on increasing supply of oil and gas, rather than reducing demand. The climate crisis has worsened; and protection of our populace from the ravages of global heating has come further into focus.
We need excellent insulation, not only to keep us warm in winter, but to keep homes cool in the summer. In 2003, 70,000 Europeans died over a few days from the heat; such summers are set to become the norm.
Government has no plan for mass-retrofitting of homes with insulation, airtightness, mechanical ventilation, and renewable energy generation.
In South Oxfordshire, we aim to be zero carbon by 2030, but we have few means to make that happen. Almost a third of our greenhouse gas emissions are from homes. A Government mass-retrofit scheme could reduce this wastefulness of our precious fuel.
In October, there will be further fuel price-rises, and winter will be coming. To retrofit as many homes as possible by then, Government should go on a war-footing in response to the collateral damage to our people from the Russia-Ukraine war. But builders and materials are in short supply, even for newbuild. Government could enable the requisition of builders and materials for this task.
Inevitably, this would reduce resources for new housing development, and Local Authorities (LAs) might be unable to fulfil development targets. Rules that punish LAs such as the 5-year housing supply rule should be relaxed to enable resources to be directed toward retrofit.
A secure long-term strategy with certain investment would enable mass retrofit to boost the economy and GDP; providing good, local work. Our country is rightly proud of its world-leading managerial excellence. In mass-retrofitting we could have a new export, of systems-expertise for this complex task.
Council resolves:
1. To ask the Leader to write to relevant Government departments (once again) to request that a high level strategy be created for mass retrofitting of homes for the reasons given above, and specifically that:
• Local Authorities (LAs) be the delivery vehicles for mass-retrofit
• LAs are provided with constant and long-term funding to maintain retrofit units
• A structured strategy for mass-retrofit be mandated by Government
• Resources be diverted from newbuild for mass-retrofit as necessary
• LAs be relieved of regulations requiring them to keep up a high supply of new housing
2. To respond immediately to fuel-poverty; ask Cabinet to ensure that the council:
• has an advice-line on what to do if you cannot afford your fuel bills
• make this advice-line prominent - top position - on our website
• can provide good advice on retrofitting from a position of expertise in buildings fabric and renewables
Council Notes
At its referendum on 5 of May, 2022, Bristol City choose to ditch the Mayoral and Cabinet system in favour of a committee system to run the Council.
Democracy in England is best served by high representation at the local level. Currently in Europe, England has one of the lowest number of councillors per head of population. Constant reorganisations of local government by successive governments have weakened local democracy.
The Cabinet system introduced by Tony Blair’s Government concentrates power in the hands of the few. Council is effectively powerless to direct affairs, and can act only as advisors to Cabinet, which has the final say in matters.
The consequence of having only one Cabinet member directing a whole department is that those Cabinet members are then extremely reliant on officers. Who else can they fully bounce ideas off? Whilst officers are of course experts in their relevant areas, full political discourse can take place only through the committee system. Otherwise there is a danger of the council being officer-led rather than led by its elected leaders.
In the quite dangerous current state of the world, with war, pestilence, and extreme weather, it is imperative that we pull together in national unity. Where better to start than at council level, ensuring that all voices that the electorate have voted for, have equal standing?
Liberal Democrats and Greens are staunch upholders of democracy and both declare support for a committee-style of governance in councils. The administration has loosely considered moving onto a committee-basis, since May 2019 when I first proposed suggested it in Cabinet. But it is often argues that it is never the ‘right time’.
The right time surely must be whilst these parties are certainly still in the administration at South Oxfordshire; and therefore, before the elections of May 2023.
Council Resolves
to ask the Leader and Chief Executive to consider the governance arrangements at the Council with a view to moving to a committee system of governance.
Minutes:
Council considered the motions from councillors set out in the agenda in accordance
with Council Procedure Rule 38.
After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.
RESOLVED: that
Councillors have the ability to call in a planning application within 28 days of the start of the statutory consultation period. This is an exception to the general delegation to the Head of Planning who has authority to deal with planning applications.
Currently, there is no ability for a councillor to call in a
planning application that has been amended after the 28 day period
comes to an end.
It may well be the case that the majority of councillors are unaware that amended planning applications cannot be called in after the 28 day period has elapsed, yet there is no provision in the Constitution to resolve this.
Council resolves that:
The Constitution Review Group is asked to consider the delegations to the Head of Planning as part of its review of the Constitution and in particular whether the call-in exception should be extended to allow for a councillor to call in an amended planning application notwithstanding the 28 day period has elapsed.
This Council Notes:
The Russia-Ukraine war has newly
highlighted our dependence on dirty oil and gas from rogue states.
A third of our people are expected to be plunged into poverty by
October, as domestic fuel prices rise. We lack
fuel-security.
In October 2021, Council noted the need to retrofit, wrote to Government, and provided a report on the retrofit landscape. The Council is now employing staff to deliver the recommendations of that report.
Since then, the situation has
greatly worsened. The response to fuel scarcity by the Government
has been to focus on increasing supply of oil and gas, rather than
reducing demand. The climate crisis has worsened; and protection of
our populace from the ravages of global heating has come further
into focus.
We need excellent insulation, not
only to keep us warm in winter, but to keep homes cool in the
summer. In 2003, 70,000 Europeans died over a few days from the
heat; such summers are set to become the norm.
It is estimated that up to a third of the population could be plunged into poverty by October, as domestic fuel prices rise, and the country lacks fuel security. However, the Government has no plan for mass-retrofitting of homes with insulation, airtightness, mechanical ventilation, and renewable energy generation.
In South Oxfordshire,
we aim to be zero carbon by 2030, but, without Government
help, we have few means to make that happen. Almost a third of
our greenhouse gas emissions are from homes. A Government
mass-retrofit scheme could reduce this wastefulness of our precious fuel.
In October, there will be further
fuel price-rises, and winter will be coming. To retrofit as many
homes as possible by then, Government should go on a war-footing in
response to the collateral damage to our people from the
Russia-Ukraine war. But builders and materials are in short supply,
even for newbuild. Government could enable the requisition of
builders and materials for this task.
Inevitably, this would reduce
resources for new housing development, and Local Authorities (LAs)
might be unable to fulfil development targets. Rules that punish
LAs such as the 5-year housing supply rule should be relaxed to
enable resources to be directed toward retrofit.
A secure long-term strategy with certain investment would enable mass retrofit to boost the economy and GDP; providing good, local work. Our country is rightly proud of its world-leading managerial excellence. In mass-retrofitting we could have a new export, of systems-expertise for this complex task.
Council resolves:
1. To ask the Leader to write to the Chair of
the Environmental Audit Committee and to relevant Government
departments (once again) to request that a high
level strategy be created for mass retrofitting of homes for the reasons
given above, and specifically that:
• Local Authorities (LAs) be the delivery vehicles for mass-retrofit
•
LAs
beare provided
with constant and long-term funding to maintain retrofit
units
• A structured strategy for mass-retrofit be mandated by Government
•
Resources
be diverted from newbuild committed for
mass-retrofit as necessary
•
LAs be relieved of regulations requiring them to keep up a
high supply of new housing
• Government reject calls to expand fossil fuel extraction and focus instead on energy efficiency and the rapid rollout of renewables, and demand reduction strategies such as retrofit, consistent with the Government’s stated net zero goals
2. To respond immediately to fuel-poverty; ask Cabinet to ensure that the council:
•
Continues to providehas an advice-line
on what to do if you cannot afford your household fuel bills
• make this advice-line prominent - top position - on our website
•
can provide guidance and signposting good
advice on retrofitting from a position of expertise in buildings
fabric and renewables to residents,
especially those most at risk of fuel poverty.
After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.
RESOLVED:
To note that:
In October 2021, Council noted the need to retrofit, wrote to Government, and provided a report on the retrofit landscape. The Council is now employing staff to deliver the recommendations of that report.
It is estimated that up to a third of the population could be plunged into poverty by October, as domestic fuel prices rise, and the country lacks fuel security. However, the Government has no plan for mass-retrofitting of homes with insulation, airtightness, mechanical ventilation, and renewable energy generation.
In South Oxfordshire, we aim to be zero carbon by 2030, but, without Government help, we have few means to make that happen. Almost a third of our greenhouse gas emissions are from homes. A Government mass-retrofit scheme could reduce this wastefulness.
A secure long-term strategy with certain investment would enable mass retrofit to boost the economy and GDP; providing good, local work. Our country is rightly proud of its world-leading managerial excellence. In mass-retrofitting we could have a new export, of systems-expertise for this complex task.
Resolves:
1. To ask the Leader to write to the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee and to relevant Government departments to request that a high level strategy be created for mass retrofitting of homes for the reasons given above, and specifically that:
• Local Authorities (LAs) be the delivery vehicles for mass-retrofit
• LAs be provided with constant and long-term funding to maintain retrofit units
• A structured strategy for mass-retrofit be mandated by Government
• Resources be committed for mass-retrofit as necessary
• Government reject calls to expand fossil fuel extraction and focus instead on energy efficiency and the rapid rollout of renewables, and demand reduction strategies such as retrofit, consistent with the Government’s stated net zero goals
2. To respond immediately to fuel-poverty; ask Cabinet to ensure that the council:
• Continues to provide an advice-line on what to do if you cannot afford your household bills
• make this advice-line prominent - top position - on our website
• provide guidance and signposting on retrofitting to residents, especially those most at risk of fuel poverty.
Whilst a number of councillors spoke in support of a return to a committee system of governance, the majority did not consider that the time was right to consider its introduction, with other priorities for the council, including supporting Ukrainian families and staff resource implications with the commencement of preparations for the district and parish elections in May 2023.
On being put the motion was declared lost.