Agenda and decisions

To receive communications from the Chair and/or the Leader of the Council.

The Chair to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

Petitions

One petition has been received with more than 1500 signatures, which in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, is submitted for Full Council debate.  

Petition topic: Petition requesting coordinated action to improve the processes and rigour applied to assessing and mitigating the full cumulative (combined) impacts of major developments.

Petition organiser: Paul Fennemore, North Oxfordshire Resident Action (NORA)

Process for consideration of the motion as set out in the Constitution:  

·         The petition organiser will present their petition for up to five minutes.

·         The petition will then be discussed by councillors for a maximum of 15 minutes.

·         Full Council will decide how to respond to the petition at this meeting.

·         Council may decide:

o   to take the action the petition requests

o   not to take the action requested for reasons put forward in the debate

o   to commission further investigation into the matter, for example by a relevant committee

o   to make recommendations to the Executive

·         Where the issue is one on which the Council Executive is required to make the final decision, Full Council will decide whether to make recommendations to inform that decision.

·         The petition organiser will receive written confirmation of this decision. This confirmation will also be published on the CDC website.

Addresses

Addresses may be presented by:

·         A Local Government elector for the area,

·         A person who is wholly or mainly resident in the area,

·         A Council Taxpayer or National Non-Domestic Ratepayer for the area

Addresses must be on an item on the agenda  before the meeting (excluding the petition) and not exceed 5 minutes. No person may address more than one meeting on any particular issue.

Requests to address the meeting (including the agenda item and reason for the address) should be submitted to democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk  The deadline for requests to address this meeting is noon on Friday 17 July.  

Full details of public participation at meetings is available in the Constitution.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of Council held on 20 May 2026.

a)         Minutes of Executive, Portfolio Holder Decisions and Executive Decisions not included in the 28 day notice

The Leader of the Council to formally propose that the minutes of the meetings of the Executive and Portfolio Holder Decisions as set out in the Minute Book (circulated separately) be received and to report that since the last meeting of Council at which this was reported, 16 March 2026, two key and/or exempt decisions, in respect of “Heyford Park New Town: Acceptance of MHCLG Preparatory Funding and Programme Delivery Arrangements” and “Banbury Museum Utility Charges”, have been taken by the Executive which were not included in the 28 day notice.

b)         Minutes of Committees

The Leader of the Council to formally propose that the minutes of committees as set out in the Minute Book (circulated separately) be received.

a)            Written Questions  

            Four written questions have been submitted with advance notice in accordance with the Constitution. These are attached to the agenda. The deadline for written questions has now passed.

A written response to the questions will be published on the working day before the meeting.

The Member who submitted the written question may ask a supplementary question provided it is relevant to the reply and does not introduce any new matter. The Member to whom the question was addressed may reply to such supplementary question or undertake to reply in writing.

b)         Questions to the Leader of the Council

The Chair to invite questions to the Leader of the Council (including any matters arising from the minutes).

Following a response to their question being provided, Members will be entitled to a follow up or supplementary question.

c)         Questions to Committee Chairs on the Minutes

The Chair to invite questions to Chairs of Committees on any matter arising from the minutes of their Committee (if any).

** Please note that that this report will follow as the by-election for the Kidlington West ward is taking place after agenda publication, on Thursday 16 July **

Report of Monitoring Officer

Resolved

(1)          That the result of the District by-election held on 16 July 2026 be noted.

(2)          That the constitution of Political Groups following the by-election (paragraphs 4.2 and 4.4 of the report) be noted.

(3)          That the allocation of seats on committees that are subject to the political balance requirements (Appendix 1 to the report) following the by-election be noted.

(4)          That the allocation of seats on committees that are not subject to the political balance requirements (Appendix 1 to the report) following the by-election be noted.

(5)          That the following amendments to committee membership, as advised by the Leader Liberal Democratic Group be noted:

Planning Committee

            ADD Councillor Rob Packard to Liberal Democrat vacancy

            Overview and Scrutiny Committee

            REMOVE Councillor Bryonie Wells and ADD Councillor Rob Packard

            One Liberal Democrat vacancy remains

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To provide information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy for 2025-26 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

To demonstrate that all treasury management activities undertaken during the reporting period complied with the CIPFA Code of Practice and the council’s approved Treasury Management Strategy.

Recommendations

The Audit and Governance Committee recommended this report to Council at its meeting on the 17 June 2026. 

Council resolves:

1.1         To note the contents of this Treasury Management Annual Performance Report and the Capital Prudential indicators (Appendix 1).

Resolved

(1)          That the Treasury Management Annual Performance Report 2025/2026 and the Capital Prudential indicators be noted.

To consider the following motions which have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Constitution (to be debated in the order submitted).

The Monitoring Officer has confirmed that motions 1 and 2 will be debated by Council due to the district wide significance of the motion topic. Amendments are permitted on these motions. The deadline for Members to submit amendments to these motions is noon on Thursday 16 July. No amendments will be permitted after this deadline.

Any amendments submitted will be published as a supplement to the agenda on the afternoon of Friday 17 July. Amendments for motions will be dealt with in the order submitted. 

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.18, as the detail of motions 3, 4, 5, and 6 falls within the remit of Executive, no amendments are permitted and there will be no Council debate on these motions. 

The proposer of the motion will propose the motion, the seconder will confirm, the Leader of the Council will respond and the motions will stand referred to Executive for consideration.

Resolved

(1)          That the following motion be agreed:

“Council notes that:

1.    The decision by Oxfordshire County Council's Liberal Democrat administration to withdraw support for the proposed Thames Valley Foundation Strategic Authority has effectively halted the current devolution process for Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Swindon.

2.    Government ministers had described a Thames Valley devolution deal as a significant opportunity to secure additional powers, investment and strategic influence over transport, infrastructure, housing and economic growth.

3.    The withdrawal raises serious questions regarding the impact on residents, businesses and communities across Cherwell, including the potential loss of future investment opportunities, reduced influence over regional decision-making and reputational damage to Oxfordshire as a strategic partner.

4.    The Government has made clear its intention that all areas should ultimately be covered by devolved strategic authorities, creating a risk that future arrangements could be imposed with less local influence if consensus cannot be achieved locally.

AND

asks the Leader of the Council to provide a member briefing setting out:

(a)  the financial and officer costs incurred by Cherwell District Council in pursuing the devolution process to date;

(b)  the implications of the withdrawal for Cherwell residents and businesses;

(c)  the process by which the withdrawal decision was reached;

(d)  the risks of future Government intervention or imposed arrangements; and

(e)  the options available to restore progress towards a locally agreed devolution settlement.”

(2)          That the following motion be agreed:

“This Council notes with concern that:

1.    Cherwell District Council has recently been designated by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for its performance in determining planning applications.

2.    This is the first time that Cherwell District Council has been subject to designation.

3.    Designation means that certain planning applications may be submitted directly to the Secretary of State, reducing the Council's role in determining development within the district.

4.    The represents a significant reputational setback for the Council and may undermine public confidence in the integrity, effectiveness and timeliness of the local planning system.

5.    The loss of planning application fee income and associated revenues may have financial implications for the Council at a time of continuing budgetary pressures.

6.    This designation raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of the Council's planning performance management and the adequacy of measures taken to address known issues.

This Council therefore resolves to:

(a)  Reaffirm its commitment to a planning service that is efficient, transparent, accountable and capable of maintaining the confidence of residents, applicants and local communities and committed to continuous improvement.

(b)  Request that Full Council asks Overview and Scrutiny to include this matter on its work programme and to examine the factors leading to designation, the financial and operational implications, lessons to improve planning performance and the actions being taken to secure removal of the designation.”

FOR INFORMATION:

Having been proposed, seconded and responded to by the Leader, the following motions referred to Executive without debate: “Pavement Blocking”; “Councillor Transparency with Public over AI”; and, “Community Wardens”.

The following motion was withdrawn by the  ...  view the full decision text for item 11.