Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest that they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Members declared interests in the following agenda item:

8. BicesterHospital.

Councillor James Macnamara, Personal, as a member of St John's Ambulance.

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

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

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

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2011.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2011 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Joint Report of Head of Regeneration and Estates and Head of Planning Policy & Economic Development

Summary

To consider the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and Companion Document for the Bolton Road area in Banbury and endorse it for public consultation.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Endorse the Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) attached as Appendix 1.

(2)               Authorise the Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, to make any further minor non-substantive changes as are necessary to the Draft SPD and Companion Document prior to the publication of these for public consultation.

Recommendations approved

The Head of Regeneration and Estates and Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report which sought consideration of the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and Companion Document for the Bolton Road area in Banbury and endorse it for public consultation.

Resolved

(1)       That the Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (attached as an annex to these minutes as set out in the Minute book) be endorsed.

(2)       That the appropriate Head of Service be authorised, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, to make any further minor non-substantive changes as are necessary to the Draft SPD and Companion Document prior to the publication of these for public consultation.

Reasons

This project is identified as a priority in the Regeneration and Estates Service plan and identified as land for redevelopment for a retail led scheme in the draft Core Strategy.

Options

Report of Strategic Director Environment and Community

Summary

To consider an initial report by the Banbury Museum Trust Project Board into the feasibility and options for the creation of a charitable organisation to deliver museum and visitor information services from 2013/14. The creation of such a Trust would ensure the continued delivery of services alongside savings to the Council. 

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To approve the creation of a charitable organisation to deliver museum and visitor information services at Banbury Museum, subject to the agreement of the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Oxfordshire County Council;

(2)               In relation to the charitable vehicle used for the creation of the trust,

a.      To endorse the use of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as the preferred vehicle, adopting the ‘Foundation’ model constitution, with objects suited to the establishment and maintenance of a museum and the advancement of local arts, culture and heritage; and

b.      To endorse the use of a Company Limited by Guarantee (having charitable status and pursuing identical aims) as an appropriate alternative legal structure for the trust in the event that the preferred vehicle in Recommendation no. 2(a) is not available.

(3)               To approve the working name of the Trust as ‘Banbury Museum Trust’, with the final decision on naming to be taken by the Trust itself.

(4)               To approve the establishment of a Board of Trustees comprising at least 5 members and including a Council member (to be nominated by the Executive for this purpose), with the number of Council members rising to two should the size of the Board increase to 10 or larger.

(5)               In relation to the appointment of such Trustees,

a.      To permit the Project Board to interview suitable candidates for Shadow Chairman, any such appointment to be confirmed by the Executive;

b.      To permit the Shadow Chairman, in consultation with the Project Board, to select, via advertisement or other effective process, suitable candidates for membership of the Shadow Board (in addition to those Council members nominated to the Board pursuant to Recommendation no. 4 above); and

c.      To authorise the relevant Head of Service to invite the Shadow Chairman and (non-Council) members of the Shadow Board to undertake those roles permanently upon establishment of the Trust.

(6)               To approve retention by the Council of the freehold of the Museum building and Bridge Gallery, granting, instead, a lease of it to the Trust for a minimum period of 30 years, and to authorise the appropriate Head of Service, in consultation with the Lead Member for the Environment to negotiate suitable terms for such a lease with the Trust on this basis.

(7)               In relation to other arrangements for the letting of the premises in addition to the lease of the Museum and Bridge Gallery referred to in Recommendation no. 6,

a.      To sub-let to the Trust the Visitor Information Centre/LinkPoint (including Tooley’s Boatyard) (subject to the consent of the Council’s head landlords, Scottish Widows and British Waterways) for a like period of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 54.

Recommendations approved

The Strategic Director Environment and Community submitted a report which sought consideration of an initial report by the Banbury Museum Trust Project Board into the feasibility and options for the creation of a charitable organisation to deliver museum and visitor information services from 2013/14. The creation of such a Trust would ensure the continued delivery of services alongside savings to the Council.

Resolved

(1)               That the creation of a charitable organisation to deliver museum and visitor information services at Banbury Museum, subject to the agreement of the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Oxfordshire County Council.

(2)               That in relation to the charitable vehicle used for the creation of the trust,

a.      the use of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as the preferred vehicle, adopting the ‘Foundation’ model constitution, with objects suited to the establishment and maintenance of a museum and the advancement of local arts, culture and heritage be endorsed; and

b.      the use of a Company Limited by Guarantee (having charitable status and pursuing identical aims) as an appropriate alternative legal structure for the trust in the event that the preferred vehicle in Recommendation no. 2(a) is not available be endorsed.

(3)               That the working name of the Trust as ‘Banbury Museum Trust’, with the final decision on naming to be taken by the Trust itself be approved.

(4)               That the establishment of a Board of Trustees comprising at least 5 members and including a Council member (to be nominated by the Executive for this purpose), with the number of Council members rising to two should the size of the Board increase to 10 or larger be approved.

(5)               In relation to the appointment of such Trustees,

a.      That the Project Board be permitted to interview suitable candidates for Shadow Chairman, any such appointment to be confirmed by the Executive;

b.      That Shadow Chairman be permitted, in consultation with the Project Board, to select, via advertisement or other effective process, suitable candidates for membership of the Shadow Board (in addition to those Council members nominated to the Board pursuant to Recommendation no. 4 above); and

c.      That the relevant Head of Service be authorised to invite the Shadow Chairman and (non-Council) members of the Shadow Board to undertake those roles permanently upon establishment of the Trust.

(6)               That retention by the Council of the freehold of the Museum building and Bridge Gallery be approved, granting, instead, a lease of it to the Trust for a minimum period of 30 years, and to authorise the appropriate Head of Service, in consultation with the Lead Member for the Environment to negotiate suitable terms for such a lease with the Trust on this basis.

(7)               That in relation to other arrangements for the letting of the premises in addition to the lease of the Museum and Bridge Gallery referred to in Recommendation no. 6 the following be agreed:

a.      To sub-let to the Trust the Visitor Information Centre/LinkPoint (including Tooley’s Boatyard) (subject to the consent of the Council’s head landlords, Scottish Widows  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

Report of Strategic Director Environment and Community

Summary

To consider the latest position regarding the procurement by Oxfordshire PCT of the re-provision of Bicester Hospital.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Note the PCT’s decision through its bidder shortlisting process to re- provide the new community hospital on the existing hospital site.

(2)               Continue to offer the full support of the District Council to the PCT in providing a new Bicester CommunityHospital as a fundamental part of the town’s infrastructure.

(3)               Urge the PCT to ensure service continuity throughout the redevelopment and to maximise the scope for future expansion possibilities in their design.

Recommendations approved

The Strategic Director Environment and Community submitted a report which sought consideration of the latest position regarding the procurement by Oxfordshire PCT of the re-provision of Bicester Hospital.

Councillor Sibley, Leader of the Labour Group, addressed Executive. Whilst commending the opportunity the Bicester Hospital re-provision represented for the residents of Bicester, he expressed disappointment at the decision of the PCT to retain the existing site. Councillor Sibley also thanked the Council for its ongoing support to the provision of a Community Hospital in Bicester.

In response to Councillor Sibley’s address, the Chairman confirmed that the council’s position about the need for a Community Hospital in Bicester remained unambiguous and the council would continue to support the matter.

Resolved

(1)               That the PCT’s decision through its bidder shortlisting process to re- provide the new community hospital on the existing hospital site be noted.

(2)               That the full support of the District Council continue to be offered to the PCT in providing a new Bicester Community Hospital as a fundamental part of the town’s infrastructure.

(3)               That the PCT be urged to ensure service continuity throughout the redevelopment and to maximise the scope for future expansion possibilities in their design.

Reasons

The Council has for many years expressed a strong preference for the new Bicester CommunityHospital to be located on the health village site within the SW Bicester development. It has argued that such a relatively large green field site provides greater opportunity for a high quality development and setting, the site due to its size offers the best opportunity for future expansion of healthcare services for a growing town, the health village concept has the potential to provide complementary adjacent health care services and service continuity during construction would be unaffected.

The PCT short listing decision effectively rules out this site option as the shortlisted bidding process, will now be concentrating only on the current hospital site.

With the major reforms and changes taking place in the health sector at present, particularly with the commissioning of services, there is the potential for a change of commissioning body part way through the procurement process. If this were to be the case then that would have to be managed at that time. In the meantime, both the process and the financial envelope for this procurement have been approved by the PCT and the Strategic Health Authority.

Arising from this position is the question over the future uses of the health village site at SW Bicester. The Section 106 Planning Agreement for that site in summary stipulates that the health village can be used for a community hospital, a GP Surgery and for the provision of other medical facility uses including that of an extra care elderly nursing home. It also requires the marketing of the site for these uses. As the first two of these health care uses are no longer required by the PCT, it can be expected that the marketing of the site will concentrate on other medical/health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.