Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

Special Executive – 22 May 2017

The Chairman advised Council that the Leader had agreed to hold a special Executive on 22 May 2017 to consider the Local Plan Part 2 ‘Options’ Paper.

Recording at meetings

The Chairman advised that members of the public were permitted to film, broadcast and report on the meeting, subject to the efficient running of the meeting not being affected.

Chairman’s Charity Dinner

The Chairman reminded Councillors that she was holding her Charity Dinner on Saturday 8 April and explained that members should contact her PA, Liz Matthews, to reserve a place

Post

The Chairman reminded Members to collect any post from pigeon holes.

The Chairman advised Council that she had agreed to add one item of urgent business, which related to “Land in Banbury – Proposed Acquisition” and needed to be considered at this meeting to ensure that the project could progress without delay. As the item was exempt it would be taken as agenda item 8.

** Please note that this report will follow as the recruitment process is currently being finalised **

Report of Interim Head of Paid Service

Purpose of report

To seek Council’s approval of the recommendations of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed to the posts of Joint Chief Executive, Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer with effect from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

Recommendations

Council is recommended, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms at its meeting on 23 March 2017:

1.1       To agree the recommendation of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed Joint Chief Executive from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

1.2      To agree the recommendation of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed the Council’s Head of Paid Service for the purposes of Section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 with effect from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

1.3       To agree that, in accordance with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation, Yvonne Rees be appointed as Electoral Registration Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

1.4       To agree that, in accordance with Section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation Yvonne Rees be appointed as Returning Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils with authority to act in that capacity for elections to the Council and all parish and town councils within the area of both councils; from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

1.5       To agree that Yvonne Rees be also appointed or authorised to act in respect of all related electoral, polling or referendum duties, including in relation to County Council elections, elections to the European Parliament, and for national and regional polls or referendums and be authorised to exercise all delegated powers of the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer as set  ...  view the full agenda text for item 103.

Resolved

That, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms at its meeting on 23 March 2017:

(1)          The recommendation of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed Joint Chief Executive from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee be agreed.

(2)          The recommendation of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed the Council’s Head of Paid Service for the purposes of Section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 with effect from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee be agreed.

(3)          It be agreed that, in accordance with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation, Yvonne Rees be appointed as Electoral Registration Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

(4)          It be agreed that, in accordance with Section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation Yvonne Rees be appointed as Returning Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils with authority to act in that capacity for elections to the Council and all parish and town councils within the area of both councils; from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

(5)          It be agreed that Yvonne Rees be also appointed or authorised to act in respect of all related electoral, polling or referendum duties, including in relation to County Council elections, elections to the European Parliament, and for national and regional polls or referendums and be authorised to exercise all delegated powers of the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer as set out in the constitution; from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

(6)          It be agreed that, in relation to the duties of Returning Officer or any other electoral, referendum or polling duties arising from such appointment, the Returning Officer shall be entitled to be remunerated in accordance with the scale of fees approved from time to time by Council for local elections, or the relevant scale of fees prescribed by  ...  view the full decision text for item 103.

The Interim Head of Paid Service submitted a report to seek Council’s approval of the recommendations of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed to the posts of Joint Chief Executive, Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer with effect from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

Resolved

That, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms at its meeting on 23 March 2017:

(1)          The recommendation of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed Joint Chief Executive from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee be agreed.

(2)          The recommendation of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed the Council’s Head of Paid Service for the purposes of Section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 with effect from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee be agreed.

(3)          It be agreed that, in accordance with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation, Yvonne Rees be appointed as Electoral Registration Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

(4)          It be agreed that, in accordance with Section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation Yvonne Rees be appointed as Returning Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils with authority to act in that capacity for elections to the Council and all parish and town councils within the area of both councils; from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

(5)          It be agreed that Yvonne Rees be also appointed or authorised to act in respect of all related electoral, polling or referendum duties, including in relation to County Council elections, elections to the European Parliament, and for national and regional polls or referendums and be authorised to exercise all delegated powers of the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer as set out in the constitution; from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.

The following item contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Members are reminded that whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider it in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make decisions in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Resolved

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt report of Commercial Director

Resolved

(1)          That the additional supplementary capital cost of £145k be approved and commitment to running a business incubator in Unit 2, Franklins House, Bicester be agreed.

The Commercial Director submitted an exempt report to enable Members to consider the request to approve an additional supplementary capital cost of £145k to fit out Unit 2, Ground Floor, Franklins House, Bicester as a business incubator.

Resolved

(1)          That the additional supplementary capital cost of £145k be approved and commitment to running a business incubator in Unit 2, Franklins House, Bicester be agreed.

Resolved

(1)          That the acquisition of the premises shown on the plan (exempt annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) subject to contract and the inclusion of the costs (as set out in the exempt annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) in the Capital Programme be approved and also subject to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management confirming that the acquisition is financially prudent following receipt of the independent Red Book valuation report.

(2)          That the Commercial Director be given delegated authority to negotiate and finalise the terms for the acquisition in consultation with the Lead Member, the Chief Finance Officer and the Head of Law and Governance.

The Commercial Director submitted an exempt report which sought consideration of the acquisition of land in Banbury.

Resolved

(1)          That the acquisition of the premises shown on the plan (exempt annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) subject to contract and the inclusion of the costs (as set out in the exempt annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) in the Capital Programme be approved and also subject to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management confirming that the acquisition is financially prudent following receipt of the independent Red Book valuation report.

(2)          That the Commercial Director be given delegated authority to negotiate and finalise the terms for the acquisition in consultation with the Lead Member, the Chief Finance Officer and the Head of Law and Governance.