Decisions

That the original decision on application 20/01643/OUT be disolved and be reconsidered at the meeting of the Planning Committee in January.

Resolved

(1)      That notwithstanding the information submitted on behalf of the Appellant regarding potential alternative golf course re-provision at Bicester Hotel, Golf & Spa (paragraph 5.5 of the Appellant’s Rule 6 Statement) and the further submissions (made in paragraphs 5.9, 5.14 and 5.35 of the Appellant’s Rule 6 Statement), which suggested the District Council had failed to appropriately consider or interpret relevant evidence and planning guidance, the Council still wishes to maintain its first, second, third and fifth reasons for refusal at the forthcoming Inquiry on 9th-17th February 2021.

Refused, reasons to be set out in the minutes.

Approved contrary to Officer recommendations, conditions to be set out in the minutes.

Approved, conditions to be set out in the minutes

Resolved

(1)            That the position statement be accepted.

To consider and comment on a Draft Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire, as part of a wider public engagement exercise

Decision non-key, Item originally scheduled for January 2021 but moved to December to allow an earlier response to be provided in line with other Oxfordshire local authorities

Resolved

(1)           That, having given due consideration, the (Draft) Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire be supported and endorsed.

(2)           That the views expressed at Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

(3)           That responsibility be delegated to the Assistant Director – Growth and Economy to develop a response to the Strategic Vision engagement exercise, in consultation with the Leader, reflecting the views expressed at the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings

To consider the Infrastructure Funding Strategy

Resolved

(1)           That the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2019/20 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for publication by 31 December 2020, subject to any final changes considered to be necessary by the Assistant Director – Planning and Development in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning.

(2)           That the Assistant Director – Planning and Development be authorised to publish and submit the associated Infrastructure Funding Statement data as required by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

To consider the monthly performance, finance and risk monitoring report

Resolved

(1)           That the monthly performance, finance and risk monitoring report be noted.

To consider and recommend the proposed level of Council Tax discounts and a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the 2021-2022 financial year to Council

Resolved

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

(2)           That Full Council be recommended to agree the option of a no-change Council Tax Reduction  income banded scheme for working age customers for 2021-2022, to amend the Working Age Regulations in line with annual uprating and to amend the Council Tax Regulations for pensioners in line with uprating announced by Minster for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

(3)           That, having given due consideration, Full Council be recommended to agree the following levels of Tax discounts and premiums for 2021-2022:

·        Retain the discount for second homes at zero.

·        Retain the discount for empty homes (unoccupied and substantially unfurnished) at 25% for 6 months and thereafter at zero.

·        Retain the discount for empty homes undergoing major repair at 25% for 12 months and thereafter at zero.

·        Retain the empty homes premium of an additional 100% for properties that have remained empty for more than 2 years. 

To consider arrangements for civil parking enforcement 

(Item deferred from 2 November 2020 Executive)

Resolved

(1)           That the application to the Department for Transport (DfT) for civil parking enforcement be supported.

(2)           That the approval by the Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet to go forward with an application be noted.

Resolved

(1)       That the indicative work programme and topic sheet updates be noted, subject to the following amendments (as agreed under earlier agenda items)

·       Add Community Nature Plan update to October 2021

·       Add Annual Constitution Review to October and December 2021 

Resolved

That the following changes to the Constitution be recommended to Full Council:

Rules of debate:

(1)           to make no changes to the current process as regards the order of speakers in a debate but to clarify that the seconder can speak at any point if they have reserved their right and that this does not mean they must be the penultimate speaker;

(2)           to make no change to the existing rule that once the proposer of a motion or amendments begins summing up, no further speakers will be heard

Length of speeches (including all committees):

(3)           to reduce the length of speeches for proposers to and proposers of amendments to five minutes (from current 10 minute)

(4)           to reduce the length of speeches for seconder, and seconder of amendments and all other speakers to three minutes (from current 5 minutes);

Deadlines for submitting amendments to motions

(5)           to make no changes to the existing deadlines (5pm, two working days before the meeting)

(6)           to maintain the current word limit for amendment to motions as 250 words

Process for dealing with motions with budgetary implications

(7)           to encourage members to submit motions early and discuss with officers to enable a review in the light of budgetary implications, with the introduction of a threshold of “£10,000 or more” to inform what “significant” means in terms of the current budget or capital expenditure

(8)           to allow amendments to motions deferred for budgetary reasons to be amended when resubmitted to Council

Motions without notice/procedural motions:

(9)           to make no changes to the current arrangement that a procedural motion, once proposed and seconded, requires only a simple majority to succeed

Recorded vote:

(10)        to make no changes to the current arrangement that a request for a recorded vote needs only a proposer and seconder to succeed

Public addresses (not Planning Committee)

(11)        to make no changes to current arrangements for

i)               public speakers to register by noon on the working day before the meeting

ii)              five minutes per public speaker

iii)            no time limit on the number of public speakers or the time allowed for the public address item

Order of business/finish time for Full Council

(12)        to change the order of business for Full Council so that motions are taken after questions and reports (noting that the Constitution allows the Chairman to amend the order of business in any case in any given instance)

(13)        to introduce a finish time of 11pm for Full Council meetings with the provisos that the meeting would not stop mid-way through an item; the Chairman of the Council has discretion to continue the meeting to conclude business if, in the opinion of the Chairman this would be appropriate; and, that any motions not considered would be carried forward to be considered at the next scheduled Full Council meeting.

Planning Committee

(14)        to allow remote tools (drones) in facilitating site visits but to be clear that this does not replace the option for physical site visits and any such footage and usage should be approved by Planning Officers to ensure impartiality

(15)        to retain current arrangements whereby

i)               there is no separate slot for councillor questions of clarification to the officer after a presentation of a planning application

ii)              County councillors are allowed to speak as members of the public (i.e. no separate right to speak)

(16)        to introduce a ten-minute time limit for non-committee ward members in addressing the Committee

Terminology and glossary

(17)    to introduce a glossary to the Constitution to bring clarity to members of the public, officers and councillors

(18)    to achieve consistency within the Constitution by using the following words:

          i)        Executive (not Cabinet)

ii)              Chairman of a meeting (with the proviso that a person chairing a committee may call themselves by whichever term e.g. Chair)

iii)            Resident (rather than citizen)

(19)         to continue to use the following terms but provide contextual clarity (and explanation in the glossary) for the use of each:

i)               Councillor and member

ii)              Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service

iii)            Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer

Annual Review of the Constitution

(20)       to introduce an annual review of the Constitution whereby

i)               At its October and December meetings, the Overview & Scrutiny Committee will consider and make recommendations to Full Council to agree in December

ii)              Such a review to include a notice of any changes made in year under officer delegations to reflect legislation and transfers of functions 

iii)            Any significant changes would be submitted to Full Council as necessary for consideration

Resolved

(1)       That the verbal update be noted.

Resolved

(1)       That the 2020-2022 Community Nature Plan and its approach to addressing the Council’s statutory biodiversity duty be endorsed.

(2)       That the instruction of officers to investigate the resource implications of the provisions of the Environment Bill in terms of nature and biodiversity and development of recommendations be endorsed.

(3)       That the essential role of key partners in the delivery of the Community Nature Plan be recognised.

(4)       That officers be requested to provide an update on progress of the Community Nature Plan to Overview and Scrutiny Committee in December 2021.

Resolved

(1)       That Executive be advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee support the overall approach and vision and make the following comments to be shared with Executive:

·       the vision statement should be more succinct and accessible.

·       An action plan and milestones would need to be drafted in order to monitor progress of the vision

·       for regular reviews/refresh of the vision due to the long timescale

·       to ensure the vision is embedded in future relevant future plans and strategies.