Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2020 were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman in due course.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

** Please note this report will follow as it is currently being reviewed and finalised **

Report of Director of Finance

Resolved

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

(2)           That, having given due consideration, the recommended option (option 3, to introduce 4 categories of businesses to assist and to allocate funding envelope to each category to be allocated at officer discretion) for a scheme be agreed and the adoption of a Discretionary Business Grant Policy be approved.

(3)           That delegated authority be granted to the Section 151 Officer in conjunction with the Lead Member for Finance to make amendments to the draft policy as required.

The Executive Director Finance submitted a report to update Members on the recently announced Discretionary Business Grant fund, the work that had been undertaken so far and the options for a scheme for Cherwell District Council. The report also sought consideration of the options for a scheme and approval for the draft Discretionary Business Grant policy.

Resolved

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

(2)           That, having given due consideration, the recommended option (option 3, to introduce 4 categories of businesses to assist and to allocate funding envelope to each category to be allocated at officer discretion) for a scheme be agreed and the adoption of a Discretionary Business Grant Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(3)           That delegated authority be granted to the Section 151 Officer in conjunction with the Lead Member for Finance to make amendments to the draft policy as required.

Reasons

In response to the Coronavirus, the Government has announced a Discretionary Business Grant Fund to support small businesses who were not eligible for the original Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Fund

Alternative options

Option 1: Members could choose not to approve the proposed scheme, but this would mean the Council is not complying with Central Government guidance and this would be to the detriment of local businesses and economy

** Please note this report will follow as it is currently being reviewed and finalised **

Report of Head of Insights and Corporate Programmes and Assistant Director Finance (Interim)

Resolved

(1)           That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

(2)           That the expected costs and loss of income expected relating to Covid-19 in the first quarter of 2020/21 be noted.

(3)           That, having given due consideration, the following carry forward requests from 2019/20 to 2020/21 totalling £217,000 be approved:

The  Director of Finance and Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes submitted a report which summarised the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring position as at the end of March 2020.

Resolved

(1)           That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

(2)           That the expected costs and loss of income expected relating to Covid-19 in the first quarter of 2020/21 be noted.

(3)           That, having given due consideration, the following carry forward requests from 2019/20 to 2020/21 totalling £217,000 be approved:

Reasons

The Council is committed to performance, risk and budget management and reviews progress against its corporate priorities on a monthly basis.

This report provides an update on progress made so far in 2019-20 to deliver the Council’s priorities through reporting on Performance, the Leadership Risk Register and providing an update on the financial position.

Alternative options

Option 1: This report illustrates the Council’s performance against the 2019-20 business plan. As this is a monitoring report, no further options have been considered. However, members may wish to request that officers provide additional information.     

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To inform the Executive of two decisions taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to Park and Charge (Appendix 1) and Meeting Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need (Appendix 2).

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1         To note the decision taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to Park and Charge (Appendix 1).

1.2      To note the decision taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to Meeting Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need (Appendix 2).

Resolved

(1)           That the decision taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to Park and Charge be noted.

(2)           That the decision taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to Meeting Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need be noted.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to inform the Executive of two decisions taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to Park and Charge and Meeting Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need.

Resolved

(1)           That the decision taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to Park and Charge be noted.

(2)           That the decision taken under urgency powers by the Chief Executive in relation to Meeting Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need be noted.

Reasons

In line with the Constitution this report is informing Executive of two decisions that were taken by the Chief Executive under urgency powers.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to note the report. This is not recommended as the urgent action has been taken and it is a constitutional requirement for it to be reported to Executive.

The following report contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Members are reminded that whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider it in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

No representations have been received from the public requesting that this item be considered in public.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“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, Paragraph 3 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.”

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, Paragraph 3 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.

** Please note this exempt report will follow as it is currently being reviewed and finalised **

Exempt report of Director of Public Health

Resolved

(1)           As set out in the exempt decisions

(2)           As set out in the exempt decisions

(3)           As set out in the exempt decisions

The Director of Public Health submitted an exempt report to consider supplier relief at leisure sites in response to Covid-19.

Resolved

(1)           As set out in the exempt minutes

(2)           As set out in the exempt minutes

(3)           As set out in the exempt minutes

Reasons

As set out in the exempt minutes

Alternative options

As set out in the exempt minutes

The Chairman advised Executive that this was the last meeting that the Director Law and Governance & Monitoring Officer would be attending as he was leaving Cherwell District Council on 10 June 2020 to take up a new role at Buckingham Council.

Members thanked the Director Law and Governance & Monitoring Officer for his hard work for the council and support and advice to Members and wished him well in his new post.