Decisions

Resolved

(1)          That the progress on activities taking place with regard to the establishment of the companies, the communication plan activity, the sequence for the company establishment and transfer of revenues and benefits provision be noted.

(2)          That authority for the final sign off of the articles and shareholder agreement/ memorandum of understanding and the business plans of the revenues and benefits teckal company and sister trading company be delegated to the Head of Law and Governance in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee, the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee, the Chief Finance Officer and the Assistant Director – Transformational Governance.

(3)          That officers be requested to bring a gateway decision report to the committee in September to decide on the transfer date and to review the business and financial plans and it be noted that this report will also include an update on governance specifically in relation to shareholder arrangements.

Resolved

(1)          That the urgent action taken by the Joint Chief Executive to adopt the revised shared Drugs and Alcohol Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) with immediate effect be noted.

Item non-key

Resolved

(1)          That the urgent action taken by the Commercial Director in consultation with the Leader of the Council, which related to the approval of a new contract sum of £2,686,299 to include £78,000 for additional fees associated with the London Housing Consortium (LHC) levy to be applied to both the Coach House Mews, Bicester and Lincoln Close, Banbury housing developments be noted.

Resolved

(1)          That the updated Joint Corporate Fraud Prosecution and Sanction Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

Resolved

(1)          That the report and the recommendation of the Budget Planning Committee at its meeting on 17 January 2017 to approve the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy be noted.

(2)          That the proposed draft Discretionary Rate Relief Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for adoption subject to resolution (3) below.

(3)          That it be agreed that the final content of the policy guidelines will be subject to confirmation by the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management.

Reason for urgency: This item was included on the published Executive work programme however identified as a non-key and a public report. During the drafting of the report, officers have determined that the report is key and the Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee has been notified and due to the item containing ‘exempt’ information as defined in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, one of the appendices to the report should be restricted. The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been consulted and has agreed to the appendices being considered in private, having had regard to the urgency of the report.

Resolved

(1)          That the proposals for change and the actions taken by the Council to date be noted.

(2)          That, having given due consideration to the specialist advice to the Councils, the emerging Council response to the stage 1 consultation be endorsed.  

(3)          That agreement be given to hold an all member briefing at the end of March 2017 regarding the Council’s intended response to the stage 1 consultation proposals.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the draft budget in the context of the Council’s service objectives and strategic priorities be approved.

(2)          That Full Council be recommended to approve the balanced budget.

(3)          That Full Council be recommended to agree a Council tax freeze.

(4)          That Full Council be recommended to approve the proposed 2017/18 capital programme (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

(5)          That the impact of the proposed budget on reserves be noted and Full Council be recommended to approve the reserves 2017/18 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

(6)          That the use of £3.053m of reserves to fund the initial one-off payment to the pension fund, in order to achieve the saving of £382,000 be approved.

(7)          That the latest Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) for 2016/17 to 2021/22 be noted and it be further noted that this will be the basis of the work of the Budget Planning Committee for the following year. 

(8)          That no further changes be made and Full Council be recommended to approve the updated draft revenue budget (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) at the meeting on 20 February 2017

(9)          That authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management, to amend the contributions to or from general fund balances to allow the Council Tax to remain at the level recommended to Full Council following the announcement of the final settlement figures and any changes to relating to Business Rates.

(10)       That Full Council be recommended to approve the 2017/18 business plan and performance pledges (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and authority be delegated to the Director – Strategy and Commissioning, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor amendments to the plan as required before consideration by Full Council.

(11)       That Full Council be recommended to approve the joint cycle of growth strategies of Operational Excellence, Commercial Development and Innovation, and Commissioning (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and that authority be delegated to the Director of Operational Delivery, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any minor amendments to the strategies and corporate values as required.

(12)       That the 2017/18 Business Plan, Budget and Cycle of Growth Equality Impact Assessments be noted.