Agenda and decisions

To receive communications from the Chair and/or the Leader of the Council.

The Chair to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

Addresses may be presented by:

·       A Local Government elector for the area,

·       A person who is wholly or mainly resident in the area,

·       A Council Taxpayer or National Non-Domestic Ratepayer for the area

Addresses must be on an item on the Agenda before the meeting and not exceed 5 minutes. No person may address more than one meeting on any particular issue.

Requests to address the meeting (including the agenda item and reason for the address) should be submitted to democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk  The deadline for requests to address this meeting is noon on Friday 12 December.

The deadline to present a petition to this meeting has passed.

Full details of public participation at meetings is available in the Constitution.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of Council held on 20 October 2025 and the Special Council  held on 10 November 2025.

a)       Minutes of Executive, Portfolio Holder Decisions and Executive Decisions not included in the 28 day notice

The Leader of the Council to formally propose that the minutes of the meetings of the Executive and Portfolio Holder Decisions as set out in the Minute Book (circulated separately) be received and to report that since the last meeting of Council at which this was reported on 20 October 2025, no key or exempt decisions have been taken by the Executive which were not included in the 28 day notice.

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)       Written Questions

          Four written questions have been submitted with advance notice in accordance with the Constitution. These are attached to the agenda.  The deadline for written questions has now passed.  

A written response to the questions will be published on the working day before the meeting.

The Member who submitted the written question may ask a supplementary question provided it is relevant to the reply and does not introduce any new matter. The Member to whom the question was addressed may reply to such supplementary question or undertake to reply in writing.

b)       Questions to the Leader of the Council

The Chair to invite questions to the Leader of the Council (including any matters arising from the minutes).

Following a response to their question being provided Members will be entitled to a follow up or supplementary question.

c)       Questions to Committee Chairs on the Minutes

The Chair to invite questions to Chairs of Committees on any matter arising from the minutes of their Committee (if any).

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151)

Purpose of report

To enable Members to consider the proposed banded scheme for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) for 2026/27.

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1           To note the contents of the report, and any financial implications for the Council.

1.2           To approve:

·       The option of no change to the Council Tax Reduction Income Banded Scheme for Working Age Applicants for 2026/27

·       To amend Working Age Regulations in line with annual uprating and to amend the Council Tax Regulations for pensioners in line with uprating announced by Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities.

Resolved

(1)            That the contents of the report, and any financial implications for the Council be noted.

(2)            That the option of no change to the Council Tax Reduction Income Banded Scheme for Working Age Applicants for 2026/27 be approved and the Working Age Regulations be amended in line with annual uprating and Council Tax Regulations be amended for pensioners in line with uprating announced by Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities.

Report of Assistant Director Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

Council is asked to consider and agree the proposed calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2026/2027 (Appendix 1). 

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1     To approve the calendar of meetings for Cherwell District Council for the municipal year 2026/2027 (Appendix 1).

Report of Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

To appoint a second Independent Person to the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee.

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1           To endorse the appointment of Nelly Lukwo as an Independent Person, to be appointed for a four-year term expiring on the date of the December Council meeting in 2029 and to delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to make the appointment.

1.2           To note that the appointment may be renewable in 2029 for a further term of four years subject to the Independent Person wishing to continue in the role and Council agreeing the renewal of the appointment.

Resolved

(1)            That the appointment of Nelly Lukwo as an Independent Person, to be appointed for a four-year term expiring on the date of the December Council meeting in 2029, be endorsed and authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer to make the appointment.

(2)            That it be noted that the appointment may be renewable in 2029 for a further term of four years, subject to the Independent Person wishing to continue in the role and Council agreeing the renewal of the appointment.

Report of Assistant Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

To appoint statutory Independent Persons as part of the standards arrangements.

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1     To appoint Tom Edwards and Terry Williams as Independent Persons for a four-year term expiring on the date of the December Council meeting in 2029.

Resolved

(1)            That Tom Edwards and Terry Williams be appointed as Independent Persons for Standards for a four-year term expiring on the date of the December Council meeting in 2029.

Report of Assistant Director Property

Purpose of report

That the utilisation of Capital Programme funds of £1.65 Million to undertake landlords works to ensure a fit for purpose watertight roof to mitigate loss of rent and further claims from occupiers at Castle Quay Banbury be approved.

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1     To approve the utilisation of Capital Programme funds of £1.65m to undertake landlords works to ensure a fit for purpose watertight roof to mitigate loss of rent and further claims from occupiers at Castle Quay, Banbury.

Resolved

(1)            That the utilisation of Capital Programme funds of £1.65m to undertake landlords works to ensure a fit for purpose watertight roof to mitigate loss of rent and further claims from occupiers at Castle Quay, Banbury be approved.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To provide information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management strategy for 2024-25 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

To demonstrate that all treasury management activities undertaken during the reporting period complied with the CIPFA Code of Practice and the council’s approved Treasury Management Strategy.

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1           To note the contents of this Treasury Management mid-year review as  recommended by the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee on the 19 November 2025.

Resolved

(1)            That the Treasury Management mid-year review, as  recommended by the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee on the 19 November 2025, be noted.

To note amendment(s), if any, to Committee membership notified to the Monitoring Officer by Group Leaders.

The Chair advised that no amendments to Committee membership had been notified to the Monitoring Officer by Group Leaders.

The deadline to submit motions has passed.

The following motions have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Constitution (to be considered in the order submitted).

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.18, as the detail of motions 1 and 2 falls within the remit of Executive, there will be no Council debate on these motions. 

The proposer of the motion will propose the motion, the seconder will confirm, the Leader of the Council response and the motions will stand referred to Executive for consideration.

Motion 3 is for debate by Council. The deadline for amendments to this motion is noon on Thursday 11 December. No amendments will be permitted after this deadline. Any amendments submitted will be published as a supplement to the agenda on the afternoon of Friday 12 December. Amendments for motions will be dealt with in the order submitted. 

Resolved

(1)            That the following motion be adopted:

“Council notes

1.     That Oxfordshire County Council is currently considering proposals that merge Rewley Fire Station with Kidlington Fire Station into a single Fire Station.

2.     The proposals also include the loss of four full time Firefighters at Banbury Fire Station,  and the implementation of 12 hour day shifts for firefighters at Bicester Fire Station.

3.     Cherwell is a growing district which places greater demand on local emergency response capacity.

4.     The proposals could affect response times and lead to diminished fire cover for incidents across Cherwell and Oxfordshire. The FBU has said the implementation of 12 hour shifts is unsafe.

Council believes

1.     Closing and merging stations could increase average response times, when Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's response times are already significantly longer than the national average.

2.     The loss of four full time Firefighter positions in Banbury and implementation of 12 hour shifts at Bicester could have a detrimental impact on public safety in Cherwell.

3.     That decisions on fire service changes must prioritise public safety above financial or administrative considerations. 

Council therefore resolves to:

1.     Support residents and Firefighters in Oxfordshire by making clear our opposition to the reduction in Firefighter numbers, implementation of 12 hour shifts, and the merger of Kidlington and Rewley Fire Stations.”

(For information, an amendment to the motion was proposed, seconded and debated. On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost and the motion was subsequently adopted as submitted).  

For information, having been proposed, seconded and responded to by the Leader, the motions “Free Parking on Remembrance Sunday” and “Supporting our High Streets” were referred to Executive.