Agenda and minutes

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the special Council meetings held on 15 May and 23 August 2018 and the Council meeting held on 19 July 2018 - attached. 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the special meetings of Council held on 15 May and 23 August 2018 and the Council meeting held on 19 July 2018 as correct records and agree that the chairman sign them as such.

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

None.

Felix Bloomfield made a statement that, as a local ward councillor, he would not take part in or vote on the Warborough and Shillingford Neighbourhood Development Plan item (agenda item 9 – see minute 32).

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. 

On behalf of the Council the chairman welcomed back Stefan Gawrysiak following surgery and wished Kevin Bulmer and Paul Harrison well after recent operations.

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

The chairman advised that two members of the public had registered to address Council. Mr Townsend on the Oxford Cambridge Expressway and Mrs Mantle on motion A of agenda item 13. Mrs Mantle would address Council at the relevant item.

Mr Townsend made a statement about the potential Oxford to Cambridge expressway and governance of the Oxfordshire Growth Board (the Board). In his view the Board lacked proper democratic accountability, had links with vested interest and emphasised growth without due attention to communities and the environment. He called for the withdrawal of the district council from the Board and the return of democratic decision making to local councillors who represent local people.

To receive any petitions from the public. 

None.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 October 2018, will consider the head of finance’s report on the outturn performance of the treasury management function for the financial year 2017/18.

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet will consider on 4 October 2018, is attached. The Joint Audit and Governance Committee considered the report at its meeting on 27 September 2018 and made no recommendations to Cabinet.

The recommendations of Cabinet will be circulated to all councillors.

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 4 October 2018, on the outturn performance of the treasury management function for the financial year 2017/18.

The Joint Audit and Governance Committee and Cabinet had considered the head of finance’s report and were satisfied that the treasury activities had been carried out in accordance with the treasury management strategy and policy.

Councillor Murphy, Leader of the council, provided an assurance that next year’s report will include the date of investment placements in the appendix accompanying the treasury report.

RESOLVED: to

1.    approve the treasury management outturn report for 2017/18 attached to the report of the head of finance to the Cabinet meeting on 4 October 2018;

2.    approve the actual 2017/18 prudential indicators within the head of finance’s report.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 9 October 2018, will consider the head of planning’s report on The Baldons Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The report and recommendations will be circulated to all councillors.  

Council considered the recommendations of Cabinet, made at its meeting on 9 October 2018, on making The Baldons Neighbourhood Development Plan part of the council’s development plan.

Councillors congratulated local residents who had been involved in the development of the plan.

RESOLVED to:

1.    make The Baldons Neighbourhood Development Plan so that it continues to be part of the council’s development plan; and

2.    authorise the head of planning, in agreement with the Qualifying Body, to correct any spelling, grammatical, typographical or factual errors, together with any improvements from a presentational perspective. 

Cabinet, at its meeting on 9 October 2018, will consider the head of planning’s report on the Warborough and Shillingford Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The report and recommendations will be circulated to all councillors.  

Councillor Bloomfield left the meeting during the consideration and voting on this item (minute 26 refers).

Council considered the recommendations of Cabinet, made at its meeting on 9 October 2018, on making the Warborough and Shillingford Neighbourhood Development Plan part of the council’s development plan.

Councillors congratulated local residents who had been involved in the development of the plan.

RESOLVED to:

1.    make the Warborough and Shillingford Neighbourhood Development Plan so that it continues to be part of the council’s development plan; and

2.    authorise the head of planning, in agreement with the Qualifying Body, to correct any spelling, grammatical, typographical or factual errors, together with any improvements from a presentational perspective. 

To consider the report of the returning officer on the setting of fees and charges for the 2019 district and parish elections (attached). 

Margaret Reed, the council’s returning officer, left the room during the debate and vote on this item.

Council considered the report of the returning officer on the setting of fees and charges for the 2019 district and parish elections.

RESOLVED: to

1.    agree the scales of fees for district and parish council elections, parish polls and neighbourhood planning referendums as set out in the Appendix to the report of the returning officer to the Council meeting on 11 October 2018;

2.    agree to continue to charge parish and town councils for running elections on their behalf.

To receive any announcements from the leader.

Councillor Jane Murphy, Leader of the council, provided an update on a number of matters. The text of her address is attached to these minutes.

To receive questions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 33. 

Councillor Sue Cooper to councillor Caroline Newton, Cabinet member for housing and environment

Have there been, or are there any discussions with the other councils in Oxfordshire, or even better within the Local Government Association, on trying to unify the colour and type of containers to be used for collecting recyclables?

Councillor Sue Cooper to Councillor Caroline Newton, Cabinet member for housing and environment

Have there been, or are there any discussions with the other councils in Oxfordshire, or even better within the Local Government Association, on trying to unify the colour and type of containers to be used for collecting recyclables?

Answer

In response Councillor Newton confirmed that as part of the Oxfordshire Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy, councillors and officers are considering options for the alignment of waste and recycling services.  This has to be a long term action because of existing contract timescales and the differing collection services provided by each of the councils.

Supplementary question

In response to a supplementary question regarding the extension of colour coding beyond South and Vale, Councillor Newton responded that there are also significant financial implications for any authority changing the colour of their bin provided to every resident.

To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 38. 

(1)      Motion to be proposed by Councillor Ian White, seconded by Councillor Alan Thompson:

That Council agrees the principle that all new housing planning permissions of more than 75 Homes should be provided with an on-site publicly available defibrillator and asks officers to explore whether it is feasible to bring forward the necessary planning policies to achieve this.

(2)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Lynn Lloyd, seconded by Councillor Felix Bloomfield:

That Council asks officers to investigate opportunities to better promote the River Thames for tourism and leisure activities for all residents especially young people in the district.

(3)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Anna Badcock, seconder to be notified:

That Council recognises the important contribution made by our local health services and requests that the leader writes to the Clinical Commissioning Group to re-state our support for continued joint working with the district council.

(4)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Paul Harrison, seconder to be notified:

That Council asks officers to investigate opportunities for adopting new digital communication channels to provide residents with regular updates as part of the council’s long term technology strategy.  Officers are asked to consider the scope for joint working with a range of partners, such as parish councils and Oxfordshire County Council, to develop an integrated approach to provision of community information across the district.

(5)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Bill Service, seconder to be notified:

That Council recognises the important contribution made by our local police force and requests that the leader writes to the police and crime commissioner to re-state our support for continued joint working with the district council on community safety issues for our residents.

(6)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Toby Newman, seconder to be notified:

That Council agrees the principle that all major planning applications should consider options to facilitate cycle hire schemes where appropriate and asks officers to consider whether it is feasible to bring forward the formal planning policies that would be necessary to achieve this.

(7)      Motion to be proposed by Councillor Caroline Newton, seconder to be notified:

That Council asks the leader to write to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to urge the Government to intensify pressure on manufacturers to reduce the production of non-recyclable plastic.

A.   Motion proposed by Councillor Ian White, seconded by Councillor Alan Thompson:

“That Council agrees the principle that all new housing planning permissions of more than 75 Homes should be provided with an on-site publicly available defibrillator and asks officers to explore whether it is feasible to bring forward the necessary planning policies to achieve this”.

Mrs Mantle addressed Council in support of the motion. The provision of more accessible defibrillators in residential areas will increase the chances of survival.

Councillors expressed support for the motion. Housing and population growth necessitated an increase in the availability of defibrillators. This provision would make a positive impact on survival rates and assist the ambulance service and medical professionals. 

RESOLVED:

That Council agrees the principle that all new housing planning permissions of more than 75 Homes should be provided with an on-site publicly available defibrillator and asks officers to explore whether it is feasible to bring forward the necessary planning policies to achieve this.

B.   Motion proposed by Councillor Lynn Lloyd, seconded by Councillor Felix Bloomfield:

“That Council asks officers to investigate opportunities to better promote the River Thames for tourism and leisure activities for all residents especially young people in the district””.

Councillors highlighted the many activities and options available for tourism and leisure activities on the River Thames. A number raised concern regarding access from rural areas, slipways access, overgrown vegetation on the banks of the river and the need for more and improved moorings. 

RESOLVED:

That Council asks officers to investigate opportunities to better promote the River Thames for tourism and leisure activities for all residents especially young people in the district.

C.   Motion proposed by Councillor Anna Badcock, seconded by Councillor Nigel Champken-Woods:

“That Council recognises the important contribution made by our local health services and requests that the leader writes to the Clinical Commissioning Group to re-state our support for continued joint working with the district council”.

With the consent of Council, the mover and seconder of the original motion accepted amended wording to include reference to joint working with the county council.

Councillors noted that an improved working relationship between the sectors could assist with a better understanding of the needs of residents.

RESOLVED:

That Council recognises the important contribution made by our local health services and requests that the leader writes to the Clinical Commissioning Group to re-state our support for continued joint working with the district council and county council.

D.   Motion proposed by Councillor Ian Snowdon, with the agreement of Council in the absence of Councillor Paul Harrison, seconded by Councillor Toby Newman:

“That Council asks officers to investigate opportunities for adopting new digital communication channels to provide residents with regular updates as part of the council’s long term technology strategy.  Officers are asked to consider the scope for joint working with a range of partners, such as parish councils and Oxfordshire County Council, to develop an integrated approach to provision of community information across the district”.

RESOLVED:

That Council asks officers to investigate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.