Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members declared interests in the following agenda items:

10. Dial-a-Ride.

Councillor Lawrie Stratford, Non Statutory Interest, as a member of Oxfordshire County Council.

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September, 2014.

The Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 September, 2014 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To consider a revised Scoping Document prepared by Councillors Bryn Williams, Dan Sames and Neil Prestidge regarding Youth Engagement.

Resolved

(1)          That, subject to Resolution (2) below, the draft scoping document in respect of Youth Engagement in democratic processes be approved, and an informal Task and Finish Panel comprising Councillors Bryn Williams, Dan Sames and Neil Prestidge, together with appropriate officers, undertake a Scrutiny Review.

(2)          That, in addition to the members identified in Resolution (1), additional members be sought from the other political groups represented on the Council.

The Committee considered a revised scoping document prepared by Councillors Bryn Williams, Dan Sames and Neil Prestidge proposing a scrutiny review with respect to youth engagement.

The Committee was supportive of a review taking place and suggested that, in order to ensure all political groups were represented, additional membership of the informal Task and Finish Panel be sought from other political groups represented on the Council.

Resolved

(1)          That, subject to Resolution (2) below, the draft scoping document in respect of Youth Engagement in democratic processes be approved, and an informal Task and Finish Panel comprising Councillors Bryn Williams, Dan Sames and Neil Prestidge, together with appropriate officers, undertake a Scrutiny Review.

(2)          That, in addition to the members identified in Resolution (1), additional members be sought from the other political groups represented on the Council.

To consider a Scoping Document prepared by Councillors Claire Bell and David Hughes regarding Recycling.

Resolved

(1)          That, subject to Resolution (2) below, the draft scoping document in respect of Recycling be approved, and an informal Task and Finish Panel comprising Councillors Claire Bell and David Hughes, together with appropriate officers, undertake a Scrutiny Review.

(2)          That, in addition to the members identified in Resolution (1), additional members be sought from the other political groups represented on the Council.

The Committee considered a scoping document prepared by Councillors Claire Bell and David Hughes proposing a scrutiny review with respect to Recycling.

The Committee noted advice that, initially, officer support would be provided by Ed Potter – Head of Environmental Services, and Elly Attwood – Service Development Manager. Supporting the review taking place, it was suggested that, in order to ensure all political groups were represented, additional membership of the informal Task and Finish Panel be sought from other political groups represented on the Council.

Resolved

(1)          That, subject to Resolution (2) below, the draft scoping document in respect of Recycling be approved, and an informal Task and Finish Panel comprising Councillors Claire Bell and David Hughes, together with appropriate officers, undertake a Scrutiny Review.

(2)          That, in addition to the members identified in Resolution (1), additional members be sought from the other political groups represented on the Council.

Report of Head of Law and Governance

Purpose of Report

This report presents the Overview and Scrutiny work programme 2014/15 for consideration.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2014/15 as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

1.2       To note any items of interest in the Executive Work Programme and consider whether to include them on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work programme 2014/15.

1.3       To consider if there are any other items Members would like to include on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

Resolved

(1)          That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2014/15 be noted.

(2)          That no items in the current version of the Executive Work Programme (November 2014 to February 2015) be included on the Work Programme for 2014/15.

(3)          That the current work programme item ‘Review of Local Plan (to include consideration of wind turbines and their locations, and the application of the fracturing (‘Fracking’) mining technique’ be separated into two items – ‘Review of Local Plan process’ and ‘ Review and development of policy regarding wind turbines and their locations, and the application of the fracturing (‘Fracking’) mining technique’.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Law and Governance, which presented the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2014/15.

Executive Work Programme

The Committee agreed that there were no additional items in the Executive Work Programme for November 2014 to February, 2015 that they wished to include on their Work Programme in 2014/15.

Committee Work Programme

The Committee gave consideration to its current Work Programme and either noted or agreed the following:

Review of Local Plan process – current work programme item to be separated into two items – ‘Review of Local Plan process’ and ‘Review and development of policy regarding wind turbines and their locations, and the application of the fracturing (‘Fracking’) mining technique’.

Website – draft scoping document in preparation and would be submitted to the Committee in November.

Air Quality – investigate possibility of raising subject with Oxfordshire County Council’s Bicester Localities Committee.

Oxfordshire Growth Board – scheduling and lead officer to be identified.

Resolved

(1)            That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2014/15 be noted.

(2)            That no items in the current version of the Executive Work Programme (November 2014 to February 2015) be included on the Work Programme for 2014/15.

(3)            That the current work programme item ‘Review of Local Plan (to include consideration of wind turbines and their locations, and the application of the fracturing (‘Fracking’) mining technique’ be separated into two items – ‘Review of Local Plan process’ and ‘ Review and development of policy regarding wind turbines and their locations, and the application of the fracturing (‘Fracking’) mining technique’.

The following report(s) contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) 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(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them 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 a decision in public, they are recommended to resolve as follows:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, Paragraph XXXXX 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 grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, 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.

To receive an Exempt briefing note from the Shared Interim Community Partnerships and Recreation Manager.

Resolved

(1)  That, whilst acknowledging the Council’s ‘Top-up’ funding in respect of the Oxfordshire County Council’s Dial-a-Ride scheme ensured a comprehensive service and represented value for money, the implications of the County Council’s Supported Transport Programme Review be reported to the November meeting and that, in the interim, Oxfordshire County Council be asked to keep the Council fully involved in and consulted on the review process.

(2)          That, pending the outcome of the review, officers investigate all options for future service provision.

(3)          That, as the outcome of the Review is not due to be published until the date of the next scheduled meeting of the Committee, Democratic Services investigate the possibility of holding a special meeting of the Committee during December for specific consideration of this item. 

(Having previously declared a non-statutory interest as a member of Oxfordshire County Council, Councillor Lawrie Stratford withdrew from the meeting and took no part in the discussions or voting on this item).

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Ken Atack, Lead Member for Financial Management, the Countryside and Communities Manager, and Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC) Transport Co-ordinator (Community Transport & Concessionary Fares) to the meeting.

The Countryside and Communities Manager presented a briefing note of the Shared Interim Community Partnerships and Recreation Manager, advising on potential changes to the Dial-a-Ride service which might, in-turn, impact upon voluntary and community transport in the district. Acknowledging that further key information would not be available until the next meeting, the Committee nevertheless noted the work done to-date by the Lead Member for Financial Management and the Countryside and Communities Manager. The Committee also noted advice from the Assistant Public Transport Officer that, if changes were to be made to existing arrangements, these would only be made in phases. Agreeing that the Council should be involved and consulted on the current review, the Committee identified the need to have information regarding users of the services and the numbers, particularly with higher need, who would be affected by any changes to current arrangements.   

The Committee noted that the publication of the OCC review would coincide with the date of the next meeting and agreed that consideration be given to holding a special meeting of the Committee during December for specific consideration of this item. 

Resolved

(1)          That, whilst acknowledging the Council’s ‘Top-up’ funding in respect of the Oxfordshire County Council’s Dial-a-Ride scheme ensured a comprehensive service and represented value for money, the implications of the County Council’s Supported Transport Programme Review be reported to the November meeting and that, in the interim, Oxfordshire County Council be asked to keep the Council fully involved in and consulted on the review process.

(2)          That, pending the outcome of the review, officers investigate all options for future service provision.

(3)          That, as the outcome of the Review is not due to be published until the date of the next scheduled meeting of the Committee, Democratic Services investigate the possibility of holding a special meeting of the Committee during December for specific consideration of this item.