Agenda and decisions

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

To confirm as correct records the minutes of the meetings held on 15 October and 12 November 2024.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

The following item contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraph 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.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to resolve as follows:

“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 grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, 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.”

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered a report of the Assistant Director Planning and Development on the draft proposed Cherwell Local Plan 2042 at its extraordinary meeting on 12 November 2024.

At the meeting, the Committee requested that the following supporting documents be submitted to this meeting for consideration prior to submission to Executive on 2 December 2024.

a1)      Draft Sustainability Appraisal Non-technical Summary

a2)      Draft Sustainability Appraisal WIP

b)         Draft WIP Habitats Regulation Assessment

c)         the Health and Equalities Impact Assessment

d)         Interim Duty to Cooperate Statement

e)        Local Plan Appendix 4 - Strategic Gaps associated with Banbury, Bicester and Heyford Park: Key Characteristics and Recommendations 

All documents listed above are exempt. Due to the size of the exempt documents, they are supplements to the main agenda.

The Committee was advised at the 12 November meeting that the Heritage Impact Assessment was published and is available on the Cherwell District Council website.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves:

 1.1        To review the exempt supplementary documents and identify any comments for consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 2 December 2024.

Resolved  

(1)       To adjourn the Proposed Local Plan 2042 to allow members 5 clear days to read the public supplements published on the 25 November.

The Committee to resolve to readmit the press and public.

Presentation of Assistant Director - Wellbeing and Housing (Attached)

Purpose of report

To update members on the safeguarding self-assessment ahead of review in February 2025.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves:

1.1       To consider and comment on the presentation.

Resolved 

(1)  That having given due consideration, the Council’s Report on Safeguarding and the annual return be noted.

Report of Assistant Director – Customer Focus

Purpose of report

To report to the committee the council’s performance position at the end of Quarter 2 2024-25.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny resolves:

1.1       To consider and note the contents of the council’s performance Quarter 2 report.

Resolved 

(1)       That having given due consideration, the Council’s Performance Monitoring Report Quarter 2 2024 - 2025 be noted.

An update on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Food Insecurity and Climate Action Scrutiny Working Groups since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 15 October 2024. 

Recommendation   

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves: 

1.1       To note the Scrutiny Working Groups update.

1.2       To agree the terms of reference for the Climate Action Scrutiny Working Group, as set out in Appendix 1 of the briefing note.

Resolved 

(1) That the Scrutiny Working Groups update be noted.

(2) That the terms of reference for the Climate Action Scrutiny Working Group be agreed.

(3)  That the terms of reference for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Scrutiny Working Group be agreed.

(4)  That a Scrutiny Working Group be established to consider Planning Application Appeals, and the terms of reference be agreed, as follows: -

i).    To consider a report from the Assistant Director Planning and Development on planning application appeals performance monitoring.

ii).   To consider the main planning policy issues in relation to planning application refusals and planning decisions overturned at appeal.

iii).  To consider the main reasons for planning application refusals for planning decisions overturned at appeal.

iv).To consider the cost implications to the Council.

v).  To consider any lessons learned from planning applications that might inform planning policy and practise.

(5)  That a Scrutiny Working Group be established to consider Resettlement and Migration, and the terms of reference be agreed, as follows: -

i).    To consider a report of the Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing on resettlement and migration.

ii).   To consider the Council's resettlement activities throughout the year to identify successes and challenges in the council's policy and approach.

An update on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2024/25.

Recommendation

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves: 

1.1       To consider and agree the Scrutiny Work Programme 2024/2025 update.

Resolved 

(1)   That the updated Scrutiny Work Programme 2024/2025 be agreed.

i).    Add item on the sale of Bodicote House with the report from the Corporate Director for Resources and Transformation for consideration at the next meeting.

ii).   Remove the item on Council Owned Companies (Graven Hill and Crown House) from 11 March 2025 and referred for possible consideration by the committee in the next municipal year.