Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of Council held on 22 July 2013.

The Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Sara Thornton and her supporting officers will be invited to address Council, following which Members will be able to ask questions.

The Chairman welcomed Sara Thornton, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police and Cherwell Local Area Commander Superintendent Colin Paine to the meeting.

Chief Constable Thornton addressed the meeting regarding policing in Thames Valley. A number of Members asked questions and answers were duly provided.

In the course of discussion it was agreed that written answers would be provided with regard to the contractual arrangements regarding the driver awareness scheme and whether there were any cases regarding female genital mutilation currently under investigation.

The Chairman thanked the Chief Constable and Superintendent Paine.

a)         Minutes of Executive, Lead Member Decisions and Executive Decisions not included in the Forward Plan

The Leader of the Council to formally propose that the minutes of the meetings of the Executive and Lead Member Decisions as set out in the Minute Book (circulated separately) be received and to report that since the last meeting no decisions have been taken by the Executive which were not included in the Executive Work Programme.

b)         Minutes of Committees

The Leader of the Council to formally propose that the minutes of committees as set out in the Minute Book (circulated separately) be received.

a)            Minutes of the Executive, Lead Member Decisions and Executive Decisions made under Special Urgency

Resolved

That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive and Lead Member decisions as set out in the Minute Book be received and that it be noted that since the last meeting of Council, no decisions had been taken that was subject to the special urgency provisions of the Constitution.

b)           Minutes of Committees

Resolved

That the minutes of Committees as set out in the Minute Book be received.

a) Written Questions

There were no written questions.

b) Questions to the Leader of the Council

Questions were asked and answers received on the following issues:

Graven Hill and application of Crichel Down: Councillor Sibley

School bus charges: Councillor Macnamara

Contracts with building companies who blacklist employees who raise health and safety concerns: Councillor Cherry

Removal of Dagnall Surgery at Horton Hospital: Councillor Dhesi

Scrutiny Review of Wind Turbine Policy: Councillor Macnamara

c) Questions to Committee Chairmen on the minutes

There were no questions to Committee Chairman on the minutes of meetings.

(Councillor Nicholas Turner left the meeting)

Report of Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy

Purpose of Report

To endorse the draft Submission Local Plan for the Cherwell District for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To endorse the draft Submission Local Plan for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

1.2         To note that the Infrastructure tables in the draft Local Pan are to be replaced in due course by a full Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) prior to Examination.

1.3         To delegate approval of minor text changes (including updating the thematic maps and final Monitoring Framework) to the draft Submission Local Plan text to the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning Councillor Gibbard and its transfer in its publication format for Submission.

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy submitted a report to endorse the draft Submission Local Plan for the Cherwell District for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which was presented and proposed by Councillor Gibbard.

Council discussed the Draft Local Plan Submission at length and it was made known by the Leader of the Council that no group whip was in place with regard to the adoption of the plan.

The recommendations as set out in the report were proposed, seconded and agreed unanimously.

Resolved

(1)       That the draft Submission Local Plan be endorsed for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

(2)       That it be noted that the Infrastructure tables in the draft Local Pan are to be replaced in due course by a full Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) prior to Examination.

(3)       That approval of the IDP, minor text changes (including updating the thematic maps and final Monitoring Framework) to the draft Submission Local Plan text be delegated to the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning and its transfer in its publication format for Submission.

(Councillor Nicholas Turner rejoined the meeting)

Following the Banbury Ruscote By-election, the Labour Group Leader to nominate appointments to the following Labour Group Vacancies on Committees:

·         Joint Appeals Panel

·         Council and Employee Joint Committee

·         Personnel Committee

·         Standards Committee (Substitute)

Following the Banbury Ruscote By-election, the Leader of the Labour Group notified Council of his group’s appointments to the Labour Group Vacancies on Committees following the resignation of Councillor Patrick Cartledge.

Resolved

That Councillor Mark Cherry be appointed to Labour Group vacancies on the following committees:

·         Joint Appeals Panel

·         Council and Employee Joint Committee

·         Personnel Committee

·         Standards Committee (Substitute)

Report of Director (Bicester)

Purpose of Report

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to add the potential acquisition and redevelopment of Graven Hill into the Policy Framework and make available the capital sums required as part of the budget.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To add the potential acquisition and redevelopment of Graven Hill into the Policy Framework and make available the capital sums required as part of the budget.

1.2         To request a business case be prepared outlining the full implications of the potential acquisition together with a detailed analysis of the capital sums required to be brought to the December Executive to enable the Executive to make an informed decision with regards to the potential acquisition and redevelopment of this site.

The Director (Bicester) submitted a report which sought Council approval to add the potential acquisition and redevelopment of Graven Hill into the Policy Framework and to make available the capital sums required as part of the budget.

Resolved

(1)       That the potential acquisition and redevelopment of Graven Hill be added into the Policy Framework and make available the capital sums required as part of the budget be made available.

(2)       That Officers be requested to prepare a business case outlining the full implications of the potential acquisition together with a detailed analysis of the capital sums required to be brought to the December Executive to enable the Executive to make an informed decision with regards to the potential acquisition and redevelopment of this site.

Report of Director of Development

Purpose of Report

For Council to agree the level of local contribution to be made towards the construction of East West Rail.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To agree the recommendation of Executive that this Council approves a local contribution of £4.353m towards the delivery of East West Rail.

The Director of Development submitted a report for Council to agree the level of local contribution to be made towards the construction of East West Rail. In the course of discussion the Leader of the Council agreed to provide Councillor Woodcock, Leader of the Labour Group with the cost/benefits of the scheme.

Resolved

(1)          That the recommendation of the Executive to approve a local contribution of £4.353m towards the delivery of East West Rail be agreed.

Report of Head of Law and Governance

Purpose of Report

To enable the Council to adopt a revised scheme of officer delegations that reflects the recent revision to various Head of Service responsibilities.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To adopt the revised scheme of officer delegations at Appendix 1 with immediate effect.

1.2         To delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to make any future amendments to the scheme that are consequential on the current allocation of service responsibilities being revised, new service responsibilities being introduced or post titles changing.

The Head of Law and Governance submitted a report to enable the Council to adopt a revised scheme of officer delegations that reflects the recent revision to various Head of Service responsibilities.

Resolved

(1)          That the revised scheme of officer delegations (annex to the minutes as set out in the minute book) be adopted with immediate effect.

(2)          That the Head of Law and Governance be delegated to make any future amendments to the scheme that are consequential on the current allocation of service responsibilities being revised, new service responsibilities being introduced or post titles changing.

Report of Head of Law and Governance

Purpose of Report

Council is asked to consider revisions to the calendar of meetings for municipal year 2013/14 for the period January to April 2014 and the municipal year 2014/15 for the period May to September 2014   

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To approve the revised calendar of meetings for the municipal years 2013/14 and 2014/15 for the period January to September 2014.

The Head of Law and Governance submitted a report requesting Council to consider revisions to the calendar of meetings for municipal year 2013/14 for the period January to April 2014 and the municipal year 2014/15 for the period May to September 2014.

In the course of discussion it was agreed that the date of the proposed reserve Council meeting in January should be forwarded to all members and the dates of the Parish liaison meetings also circulated.   

Resolved

(1)          That the revised calendar of meetings for the municipal years 2013/14 and 2014/15 for the period January to September 2014 be approved.

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of Report

To agree the council size a submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and to resolve an outstanding issue regarding the Community Governance Review.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To agree that Cherwell District Council retain election by thirds.

1.2         To agree that the proposed Council size be 48 Members.

1.3         To approved the Council Size submission.

1.4         To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to make any necessary amendments to the Council Size submission prior to submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in light of the resolutions of Council.

1.5         To delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Boundary Review Working Group, to respond to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England “minded to” council size if it is 48 members and if it is a different number delegate authority to the Chief Executive to call an extraordinary meeting of Council.

1.6         To note the update on the Community Governance Review and delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to finalise the Cherwell (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2013 once consultation with Bicester Town Council and Bicester District Councillors has concluded on 13 November 2013. 

The Chief Executive submitted a report which sought agreement of the council size submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and to resolution of an outstanding issue regarding the Community Governance Review.

In the course of debate Councillor Tim Emptage, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group requested that it be recorded that whilst his group would have preferred a lower council size they would support the proposed council size submission, however his group did not feel able to support the retention of election by thirds, due to the costs belived to be in the region of £200,000 to £250,000 that could be saved from moving to all out elections in the period 2017 to 2020 .

Resolved

(1)          That Cherwell District Council retain election by thirds.

(2)          That the proposed Council size be 48 Members.

(3)          That the Council Size submission be approved.

(4)          That the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to make any necessary amendments to the Council Size submission prior to submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in light of the resolutions of Council.

(5)          That the Chief Executive be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Boundary Review Working Group, to respond to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England “minded to” council size if it is 48 members and if it is a different number delegate authority to the Chief Executive to call an extraordinary meeting of Council.

(6)          That the update on the Community Governance Review be noted and the Head of Law and Governance be given delegated authority to finalise the Cherwell (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2013 once consultation with Bicester Town Council and Bicester District Councillors has concluded on 13 November 2013.