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.

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 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 13 March 2026.

The deadline to present a petition to this meeting has passed.

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 23 February 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 held on 15 December 2025 one key decision has been taken which was not included in the 28 day notice relating to HR System award of contract (exempt).

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

            No written questions have been submitted with advance notice in accordance with the Constitution. The deadline for written questions has now passed.

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).

Report of Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

The Constitution is the document by which, in accordance with the law, the Council exercises all its powers and duties. It is essential that it is reviewed to ensure it remains fit for purpose. This is to update Members with the latest changes agreed following meetings of the Constitution Review Working Group (CRG).

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1           To approve the changes to Part 3, Officer Scheme of Delegation (Appendix 1) and the organisation chart (Appendix 2).

1.2           To approve the proposed Access to Information Procedure Rules (Appendix 3).

1.3           To approve the composition of the Planning Committee be amended to 11 members (with 11 named substitutes) effective from the Municipal Year 2026/2027.

1.4           To agree the Key Decision threshold on revenue expenditure/savings be £250,000.

1.5           To approve the renaming of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee to the Audit and Governance Committee, with a Standards Hearing Sub-Committee established under its remit; and that, consequently, the existing standalone Standards Committee be removed from the committee structure.

1.6           To delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to make amendments to the committee terms of reference, including stating the purpose of the committees, and to make any minor amendments to the Constitution as appropriate.

1.7           To delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to change the frequency of Planning Committee, if required, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee.

Resolved

(1)          That the changes to Part 3, Officer Scheme of Delegation and the organisation chart be approved.

(2)          That the Access to Information Procedure Rules be approved.

(3)          That the composition of the Planning Committee be amended to 11 members (with 11 named substitutes) effective from the Municipal Year 2026/2027.

(4)          That it be agreed that the Key Decision threshold on revenue expenditure/savings be £250,000.

(5)          That the renaming of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee to the Audit and Governance Committee, with a Standards Hearing Sub-Committee established under its remit; and that, consequently, the existing standalone Standards Committee be removed from the committee structure, effective from the Municipal Year 2026/2027, be approved.

(6)          That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make amendments to the committee terms of reference, including stating the purpose of the committees, and to make any minor amendments to the Constitution as appropriate.

(7)          That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to change the frequency of Planning Committee, if required, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee.

Report of Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

To consider and agree the Member Development Framework and Programme for the municipal year 2026 – 27.

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1         To note the Member Development Framework for 2026 – 27.

1.2         To approve the Member Development Programme for 2026 – 27.

Resolved

(1)          That the Member Development Framework for 2026–27 be noted.

(2)          That the Member Development Programme for 2026–27 be approved.

To note amendment(s), if any, to Committee membership notified to the Monitoring Officer by Group Leaders.

None notified to the Monitoring Officer

The following item of business 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 each of them 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 pass the following recommendation:

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Exempt report of Assistant Director Property

Recommendation agreed as set out in the exempt report.

The meeting is recommended to resolve to readmit the press and public to the meeting.

The following motions have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Constitution (to be considered in the order submitted). Please note that the deadline to submit motions has passed.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.18, as the detail of the motions falls within the remit of Executive, there will be no Council debate on these motions. 

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

For information, having been proposed, seconded and responded to by the Leader, the motions “Consultation on move to three-weekly bin collections” and “Keep Cherwell Tidy” were referred to Executive.