Decisions

Resolved

(1)          That the results of the election for the Bicester West ward held on 21 June 2018 be noted.

(2)          That the constitution of the Council: Conservative: 36 (75%); Labour: 9 (19%); and Independent: 3 (6%); the following political balance calculations and the allocation of seats on committees that are subject to the political balance requirements following the election be noted:

(3)          That the following appointments and amendments to Committees by the Independent Group in light of the revised allocation of seats on committees that are subject to the political balance requirements be noted:

            Appeals Panel: appoint Councillor John Broad

Personnel Committee: Councillor Alaric Rose

Planning Committee: Remove Councillor Alaric Rose as substitute; Add Councillor John Broad as substitute

Resolved

(1)          That the inclusion of up to £1 million within the capital programme as a provision to make a loan facility available to Silverstone Heritage Limited (SHL) be approved.

(2)          That approval be given to borrow in order to fund the loan, should that be necessary for cashflow purposes.

Resolved

(1)          That the final Cherwell Residential Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (Design Guide) (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be formally adopted.

(2)          That the Executive Director for Place and Growth be authorised to publish an Adoption Statement.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2017/18 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed to give South Northamptonshire Council notice to end the Section 113 agreement that underpins the basis of joint working between the two authorities.

(2)          That relevant officers be requested to prepare a detailed plan to separate the joint working arrangements with South Northamptonshire; ensuring steps are put in place to maintain effective operational activity in accordance with the Section 113 agreement.

(3)          That it be agreed to develop joint working arrangements with Oxfordshire County Council (subject to the incremental development of specific business cases) and to enter into a Section 113 agreement (as the basis by which the joint working partnership will be delivered) delegating completion of the agreement to the Assistant Director Law and Governance in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(4)          That the establishment of a Cherwell and Oxfordshire County Council joint Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, in accordance with the proposed Section 113 agreement with Oxfordshire County Council, be agreed.

(5)          That the establishment of two non-executive joint committees between Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils (a joint committee to deal with staffing matters and a joint appeals committee) be agreed and the Assistant Director Law and Governance (Cherwell), in consultation with the Director Law and Governance (Oxfordshire), be requested to develop terms of reference for adoption by the Councils in October (Cherwell) and November (Oxfordshire), enabling the implementation of staffing related matters as business cases are agreed for each element of joint working.

(6)          That the agreement of the Executive to establish an informal partnership working group between Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils whose role will be to oversee the development and delivery of the joint working programme and also tasked with a review of joint working arrangements after the first six months of operation be noted.  

Resolved

(1)          That consultation on the proposed boundary between Bicester Town Council and Ambrosden being moved to incorporate Graven Hill into Bicester (as set out on the annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(2)          That consultation on the boundary between Ambrosden and Chesterton being moved to include the orphan area into Chesterton (as set out on the annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(3)          That consultation on the proposed allocation of councillors for Bicester Town Council (BTC), that is BTC - Bicester South Ward be increased by one councillor and BTC -Bicester East Ward be decreased by one councillor, therefore retaining the same number of councillors, be approved.

Resolved

(1)          That responsibility for running the Cherwell Community Lottery be delegated to the Assistant Director – Communities.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director – Law & Governance to amend the Constitution and the Scheme of Delegation to reflect resolution (1) above.

Resolved

(1)          That the referendum result of 21 June 2018 where 91.6% of those who voted were in favour of the Adderbury Neighbourhood Plan which is above the required 50% be noted.

(2)          That agreement be given to formally ‘make’ the Adderbury Neighbourhood Plan (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) so that it continues to have effect as part of the statutory Development Plan for the District.

(3)          That the issuing and publication of a decision statement be approved.

Resolved

(1)          That the following motion be adopted:

This Council instructs Officers to investigate and prepare a report for the Executive (and JCC if appropriate) that would consider the introduction of a guaranteed interview scheme for veterans together with a review of the current advertising arrangements for external vacancies to promote better access for veterans.

This Council notes that where this has been introduced by other Councils such as Durham and Cumbria, veterans are defined as those who are about to leave the regular Armed Forces or who have done so in the last three years.

Those leaving the Armed Forces face many challenges and sometimes discrimination in the job market. This policy will demonstrate our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant that we as a council we're proud to be amongst the first to sign up to.

We acknowledge that veterans have many of the skills, experience and qualities that councils could use and utilise and as such, suitable employment within our council could aid the applicants, our organisation and the residents we serve.

(2)          That the following motion, as amended, be adopted:

Cherwell District Council believes that Modern Slavery is a scourge on our society and will do what it can to end it.

This council calls on the government to review with past victims of the support mechanisms in place through the National Referral Mechanism to ensure they are fit for purpose and sufficient in length.

And this authority undertakes to take the following steps:

·         Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

·         Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.

·         Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

·         Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.

·         Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

·         Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

·         Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

·         Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.

·         Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.

·         Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.

·         Update our overarching Safeguarding policy to reflect this change.

·         This Council condemns forced marriage as a type of modern slavery and will work with the Crime Partnerships within Oxfordshire and the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to tackle the crime of forced marriage within the Thames Valley

To obtain approval to establish a formal joint working committee to develop and manage a community woodland park on land South of Vendee Drive, Bicester

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed to agree to establish a partnership or joint committee with Bicester Town Council, Chesterton Parish Council, Oxfordshire County Council and local representation to develop and manage a community woodland park on land South of Vendee Drive, Bicester.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Executive Director, Place and Growth, in consultation with the Assistant Director: Law and Governance and the Lead Member for Clean and Green to establish the constitution and terms of reference for the partnership/committee.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to consider the Terms of Reference for the Graven Hill Community Governance Review (CGR) and to request the appointment of Members to a working group for the CGR.

Resolved

(1)          That the Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Law and Governance, in consultation with Group Leaders, to appoint two Members per Political Group to a Working Group to consider the Community Governance Review of the area known as Graven Hill.

(3)          That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Law and Governance, in consultation with the Working Group, to make any minor amendments to the Terms of Reference and the timetable for the review if required.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to inform the Council of a decision taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to the appointment of a Section 151 Officer.

Resolved

(1)          That the decision taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of the Council in relation to the appointment of Adele Taylor as interim Section 151 Officer with effect from 13 April 2018 and she be requested to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Deputy Section 151 Officer from the same date be noted.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Council to note the results of the 3 May 2018 district elections, the constitution of Political Groups, appoint the Leader of the Council, note the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Executive for the Municipal Year 2018/2019 and consider and agree the suggested constitution of Committees for the Municipal year 2018/2019.

Resolved

(1)          That the results of the District elections held on 3 May 2018 be noted:

(2)          That the constitution of Political Groups (36 Conservative, 9 Labour, Independent Group comprising 1 Independent and 1 Liberal Democrat councillors, and 1 vacancy) and and notification of Group Leaders: Councillor Barry Wood, Leader of the Conservative Group and Leader of the Council, Councillor Sean Woodcock, Leader of the Labour Group and Leader of the Opposition and Councillor Les Sibley, Leader of the Independent Group, be noted.

(3)          That Councillor Barry Wood be appointed Leader of the Council.

(4)          That the appointment of the Deputy Leader of the Council, the membership of the Executive and the Executive Portfolios for 2018/2019 be noted:

(5)          That the allocation of seats on committees subject to the political balance requirements be agreed:

(6)          That the allocation of seats on committees not subject to political balance requirements be agreed:

(7)          That it be agrees that the Constitution be amended to remove the requirement for named substitutes for Licensing Committee and Standards Committee and the Assistant Director Law and Governance be requested to amend the Constitution accordingly.

(8)          That members (and where appropriate, substitute members) be appointed to serve on each of the committees and other bodies in accordance with the nominations to be made by political groups:

Proportional Committees 2018/19

Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee

Membership (8 members with unnamed substitutes)

Appeals Panel

Membership (10 members with no substitutes)

Budget Planning Committee

Membership (12 members with unnamed substitutes)

Joint Appeals Panel

Membership (3 seats, 2 named substitutes)

Joint Commissioning Committee

Membership (6 members, unnamed substitutes)

Joint Scrutiny Committee

Membership (5 members, unnamed substitutes)

Licensing Committee

Membership (12 seats, unnamed substitutes)

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Membership (12 members with unnamed substitutes)

Personnel Committee

Membership (12 members, unnamed substitutes who shall not be members of the Appeals Panel)

Planning Committee

Membership (18 members, 12 named substitutes)

Substitutes

Standards Committee

Membership (8 members, unnamed substitutes)

Non-Proportional Committees

Joint Councils Employee Engagement Committee

Membership (3 seats, unnamed substitutes)

(9)          That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of Council, to appoint a representative to the Oxfordshire County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2018/2019.

(10)       That Councillor McHugh be appointed as the council’s representative to the Police and Crime Commissioner Scrutiny Panel for the municipal year 2018/2019.

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, Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 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.