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 6 February 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance and Assistant Director – Customer Focus

Purpose of report

To give the committee an update on the council’s performance, risk and financial positions for the period up to the end of January 2023.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To note the Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report for January 2023.

Resolved

(1)          That the Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report for January 2023 be noted.

The Assistant Director of Finance and Assistant Director – Customer Focus submitted a report to update Executive on the council’s performance, risk and financial positions for the period up to the end of January 2023.

Resolved

(1)          That the Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report for January 2023 be noted.

Reasons

This report provides an update on progress made during January 20223, to deliver the council’s priorities through reporting on its performance, risk and financial positions.

Alternative Options

This report summarises the council’s performance, risk and financial positions up to the end of January, therefore there are no alternative options to consider. However, members may wish to request further information from officers or for inclusion.

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To share the progress the Council has already made across the district towards reducing food insecurity through a wide-ranging support package that has included a food voucher scheme and new community food grant programme. This is in addition to the work the council delivers in partnership, which includes Winter Warmers, Play: Full and expanding the number of growing spaces across the district. The report also sets out further steps the council can take such as contributing to the Good Food Oxfordshire Strategy.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To acknowledge progress made over the last 7 months to reduce food insecurity across the district through coproducing projects, enabling community food network partners to make their offer more sustainable and accessible to residents experiencing difficulty in securing food.

1.2         To endorse Cherwell District Councils input into a Food Strategy for the district; promoting partnerships with volunteer groups and charities, businesses and system partners to improve outcomes for residents.

1.3         To approve the continuation of the Community Food Grant for 2023-2024 financial year at £20,000.

Resolved

(1)          That the progress made over the last 7 months to reduce food insecurity across the district through coproducing projects, enabling community food network partners to make their offer more sustainable and accessible to residents experiencing difficulty in securing food be acknowledged.

(2)          That Cherwell District Councils input into a Food Strategy for the district; promoting partnerships with volunteer groups and charities, businesses and system partners to improve outcomes for residents be endorsed.

(3)          That the continuation of the Community Food Grant for 2023-2024 financial year at £20,000 be approved.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report to share the progress the council had already made across the district towards reducing food insecurity through a wide-ranging support package that had included a food voucher scheme and new community food grant programme. This was in addition to the work the council delivers in partnership, which included Winter Warmers, Play: Full and expanding the number of growing spaces across the district. The report also set out further steps the council could take such as contributing to the Good Food Oxfordshire Strategy.

On behalf of Executive, the Chairman thanked officers for the work undertaken to reduce food insecurity in the district.

Resolved

(1)          That the progress made over the last 7 months to reduce food insecurity across the district through coproducing projects, enabling community food network partners to make their offer more sustainable and accessible to residents experiencing difficulty in securing food be acknowledged.

(2)          That Cherwell District Councils input into a Food Strategy for the district; promoting partnerships with volunteer groups and charities, businesses and system partners to improve outcomes for residents be endorsed.

(3)          That the continuation of the Community Food Grant for 2023-2024 financial year at £20,000 be approved.

Resolved

The progress made to date in this area of work has to a great extent fulfilled the ambitions of the July 2022 Council Motion. Putting residents at the centre of the tasks enabled improvements in access, information, and delivery.  Working with a range of partners is central to how Cherwell District Council enables and supports improvement in the outcomes of programmes. Results are cost effective and more sustainable. The working group recognise the interconnected nature of food insecurity, the cost-of- living crisis and health inequalities.

The Executive is invited to endorse the proposed approach to developing a Food Strategy for the District, articulating what the District Council can offer to enable the delivery of a local food strategy in conjunction with Good Food Oxfordshire.  The Food Action Working Group (FAWG) will begin its work in Cherwell on 7 March. The Food Insecurity Working Group will provide oversight and consider the developing data to shape future action plans.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to endorse the response to the Food Strategy developed by the Food Insecurity Working group – Rejected. This work has brought together a cross party group who have considered what the District Council could offer to enable partners and use its influence to best effect, to improve the food security of many local residents.

Option 2: Not to approve the continuation of the Community Food Grants – Rejected. The small-scale contribution of funds enables community groups to develop new offers and respond to local need.           

Report of Assistant Director Regulatory Services & Community Safety

Purpose of report

The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Banbury town centre lapsed in December 2022. Following conversations with Thames Valley Police proposals have been developed for a revised PSPO for Banbury. This paper outlines those proposals and seeks agreement from the Executive to commence a public consultation on introducing a new PSPO for Banbury town centre.

The proposed PSPO will contribute towards the delivery of the council objective to “work with partners to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour” within the Healthy, Resilient and Engaged Communities priority. A reduction in anti-social behaviour in the town centre will also contribute towards the Enterprising Economy with Strong and Vibrant Local Centres priority. Tackling anti-social behaviour is also consistently identified as a priority in residents surveys.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1       Agree that the Council will commence a public consultation on the introduction of a new PSPO for Banbury town centre as outlined in this paper.

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed that Cherwell District Council will commence a public consultation on the introduction of a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Banbury town centre covering the area shown in the annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book) and including the prohibitions as outlined in the annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book).

The Assistant Director Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted a report which advised that the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Banbury town centre had lapsed in December 2022. Following conversations with Thames Valley Police, proposals had been developed for a revised PSPO for Banbury. The report outlined the proposals and sought Executive agreement to commence a public consultation on introducing a new PSPO for Banbury town centre.

The proposed PSPO would contribute towards the delivery of the council objective to “work with partners to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour” within the Healthy, Resilient and Engaged Communities priority. A reduction in anti-social behaviour in the town centre would also contribute towards the Enterprising Economy with Strong and Vibrant Local Centres priority. Tackling anti-social behaviour was also consistently identified as a priority in residents surveys.

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed that Cherwell District Council will commence a public consultation on the introduction of a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Banbury town centre covering the area shown in the annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book) and including the prohibitions as outlined in the annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book).

Reasons

Discussions with the Police and Banbury Town Council confirmed that there is support for a further PSPO for Banbury town centre. Limitations with the previous PSPO led to a decision not to seek to renew that Order. A new PSPO has been developed addressing those limitations and encompassing a wider geographic area to support the work of the Council and partners in tackling Anti-Social Behaviour.

In order to introduce a new PSPO for Banbury town centre it is necessary to undertake a public consultation on the proposals. Therefore, it is recommended that a consultation is undertaken on the proposed new PSPO, with the outcome of the consultation informing the proposals that are then further reviewed by the Executive before a final decision is made on any new PSPO for Banbury town centre.

Alternative options

Option 1: To not seek to introduce a new PSPO for Banbury town centre. Key stakeholders have indicated that they support the introduction of a new PSPO and therefore this option has been rejected.

Option 2: Re-issue the PSPO with no changes. Given that the previous PSPO has lapsed a public consultation would be required to reintroduce it. Since it is recognised that the previous PSPO could be improved, this option is option was rejected.

There were no items of urgent business.