Agenda and minutes

To adopt and sign as correct records the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 21 September, 5 October and 14 November 2017. 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 21 September, 5 October and 14 November 2017 as correct records and agree that the Chairman signs them as such.

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

None

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

None

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

None

To consider the report of the head of development, regeneration and housing. 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of development, regeneration and housing.  This proposed the adoption of a joint housing delivery strategy with Vale of White Horse District Council, to cover the period 2018 to 2028.  The aim was for the council to take on the role of housing delivery enabler to assist in meeting housing targets. 

Following a study of housing need and housing market trends, the strategy had been developed to assist housing developments to meet that need with minimal delay and to be of good quality.  Cabinet believed the strategy would also help provide homes that were suitable for everyone, including enabling independent living, and provide homes that were affordable to those whose needs were not met by the market.  The action plan would enable the council to be more in control over future housing developments in the district. 

RESOLVED: to adopt the Joint Housing Delivery Strategy 2018–2028. 

To consider the head of finance’s report. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report regarding the setting of the council tax base for 2018/19.  Before the council tax could be set by Council, a calculation had to be made of the council tax base: an estimate of the taxable resources for the whole district and for each parish. 

Cabinet noted how the council tax base was calculated and noted the assumptions made as part of that calculation.  Cabinet was asked to recommend the council tax base to Council.  Once set by Council in December, the council tax base would be notified to Oxfordshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and each parish and town council to allow them to set their budgets for 2018/19. 

RECOMMENDED to Council:

(a)       That the report of the head of finance to Cabinet on 7 December 2017 for the calculation of the council’s tax base and the calculation of the tax base for each parish area for 2018/19 be approved;

(b)       That, in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by South Oxfordshire District Council as its council tax base for the year 2018/19 be 56,163.3; and

(c)       That, in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by South Oxfordshire District Council as the council tax base for the year 2018/19 for each parish be the amount shown against the name of that parish in Appendix 1 of the report of the head of finance to Cabinet on 7 December 2017. 

To consider whether to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following item 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 to 7 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 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 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. 

To adopt and sign as correct records the exempt minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 21 September and 14 November 2017. 

Cabinet adopted the exempt minutes from its meetings held on 21 September and 14 November 2017. 

To consider the report of the head of devolution and government and the head of legal and democratic services.            TO FOLLOW

Cabinet agreed changes to the Five Councils’ Partnership’s corporate services contracts. 

To consider the report of the acting chief executive.  TO FOLLOW

Cabinet agreed a new management structure.