Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest,

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2014.

The Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25 November, 2014 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Report of Head of Transformation.

(Report to follow – information not available at date of agenda publication).

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

(2)          That further information be reported to a future meeting of the Committee regarding the development of bullet point one (‘Deliver a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Bicester, Banbury Town and Kidlington Masterplans and SPDs for strategic sites to guide investment’), to strategic priority ‘Cherwell: A District of Opportunity’, key objective one.

(3)          That, regarding the reference to delivering 100 self-build housing projects (‘Cherwell: Thriving Communities’), clarification be provided in the document as to whether this meant individual properties, or developments of more than one property.

(4)          That clarification be sought as to whether self-build housing projects attracted S106 funding.

(5)          That, under strategic priority ‘Cherwell: Thriving Communities’, key objective one (‘Provide high quality and accessible leisure opportunities’) delete duplicated reference to Bicester Sports Village.

(6)          That, with respect to the Draft Pledges 2015/16, the wording be amended to reflect that some projects/undertakings were to be delivered over a period of years.   

The Acting Corporate Performance Manager presented the report of the Head of Transformation detailing the Priorities and Pledges for the 2015-16 Business Plan.

The Committee welcomed the report and raised a number of questions.

Regarding the development of bullet point one (‘Deliver a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Bicester, Banbury Town and Kidlington Masterplans and SPDs for strategic sites to guide investment’), to strategic priority ‘Cherwell: A District of Opportunity’, key objective one, it was requested that further information be provided in order to ensure Members had an opportunity to consider the matter in more detail.

It was also requested that, regarding the reference to delivering 100 self-build housing projects (‘Cherwell: Thriving Communities’), clarification be provided in the document as to whether this meant individual properties, or developments of more than one property. Clarification was also needed as to whether self-build housing projects attracted s106 funding.

Finally, a duplication was identified under strategic priority ‘Cherwell: Thriving Communities’, key objective one (‘Provide high quality and accessible leisure opportunities’) relating to Bicester Sports Village, and it was suggested that,  with respect to the Draft Pledges 2015/16, the wording be amended to reflect that some projects/undertakings were to be delivered over a period of years.   

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

(2)          That further information be reported to a future meeting of the Committee regarding the development of bullet point one (‘Deliver a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Bicester, Banbury Town and Kidlington Masterplans and SPDs for strategic sites to guide investment’), to strategic priority ‘Cherwell: A District of Opportunity’, key objective one.

(3)          That, regarding the reference to delivering 100 self-build housing projects (‘Cherwell: Thriving Communities’), clarification be provided in the document as to whether this meant individual properties, or developments of more than one property.

(4)          That clarification be sought as to whether self-build housing projects attracted S106 funding.

(5)          That, under strategic priority ‘Cherwell: Thriving Communities’, key objective one (‘Provide high quality and accessible leisure opportunities’) delete duplicated reference to Bicester Sports Village.

(6)          That, with respect to the Draft Pledges 2015/16, the wording be amended to reflect that some projects/undertakings were to be delivered over a period of years.   

To consider a Scoping Document prepared by Councillors Lawrie Stratford, Diana Edwards and David Hughes regarding the Councils website.

(Document to follow – information not available at date of agenda publication).

Resolved

(1)          That the draft scoping document in respect of Cherwell District Councils website be approved, and an informal Task and Finish Panel comprising Councillors Lawrie Stratford, Diana Edwards, David Hughes and Dan Sames, together with appropriate officers, undertake a Scrutiny Review and report back to the March meeting of the Committee.

The Committee considered a scoping document prepared by Councillor Lawrie Stratford proposing a scrutiny review with respect to the Council’s website.

The Committee welcomed the scoping document, and agreed that an informal Task and Finish Panel comprising Councillors Lawrie Stratford, Diana Edwards, David Hughes and Dan Sames, together with appropriate officers, undertake a Scrutiny Review and report back to the March meeting of the Committee.

Resolved

(1)          That the draft scoping document in respect of Cherwell District Councils website be approved, and an informal Task and Finish Panel comprising Councillors Lawrie Stratford, Diana Edwards, David Hughes and Dan Sames, together with appropriate officers, undertake a Scrutiny Review and report back to the March meeting of the Committee.

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 (February to May, 2015) be included on the Work Programme 2014/15.

(3)          That the item ‘Recycling’ (report of Task Panel), be rescheduled to the March meeting of the Committee.

(4)          That the items ‘Dial-a-Ride Scheme - Future’,  ‘Review of Local Plan Process’ and ‘Wind Turbines and their locations, and the application of the fracturing mining technique’, continue to be included on the Work Programme, but with no Committee date identified.

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

The Committee was reminded that a special, informal meeting of the Committee would take place on 4 February 2015 to review the Street Cleansing and Waste Collection Service Plans.

The Committee then considered the various topics currently included on the work programme and agreed a number of scheduling changes.

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 (February to May, 2015) be included on the Work Programme 2014/15.

(3)          That the item ‘Recycling’ (report of Task Panel), be rescheduled to the March meeting of the Committee.

(4)          That the items ‘Dial-a-Ride Scheme - Future’,  ‘Review of Local Plan Process’ and ‘Wind Turbines and their locations, and the application of the fracturing mining technique’, continue to be included on the Work Programme, but with no Committee date identified.