Agenda item

Annual Council Business Report 2023/2024

“” An addendum and the appendices to this report will be published as a supplement to the agenda **

 

Report of Chief Executive

 

Purpose of report

 

To note the results of the 4 May 2023 district elections and agree the governance arrangements for the council following the elections for the municipal year 2023/2024.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1         To note the results of the District Elections held on 4 May 2023.

 

1.2         To note the constitution of Political Groups and notification of Group

Leaders.

 

1.3         To appoint the Leader of the Council (if required).

 

1.4         To note the appointment of Deputy Leader of the Council, the membership of the Executive and the Executive portfolios for Municipal Year 2023/2024.

 

1.5         To agree the allocation of seats on committees that are subject to the political balance requirements as set out in Appendix 2.

 

1.6         To appoint members (and where required, substitute members) to serve on each of the committees in accordance with the nominations made by political groups (Appendix 3).

 

1.7         To appoint a non-Executive representative to the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

1.8         To appoint a representative and named substitute to the Police and Crime Commissioner Scrutiny Panel.

 

1.9         To appoint an Executive member representative and Executive member substitute to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership.

 

1.10      To appoint three non-Executive representatives to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership Scrutiny Panel.

 

1.11      To appoint an Executive member and an Executive member substitute to each of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership Advisory Groups: Housing Advisory Group, Infrastructure Advisory Group, Environment Advisory Group and Planning Advisory Group (subject to approval by the Future Oxfordshire Partnership at its meeting of 13 June including confirmation of final title).

 

1.12      To appoint members to the Boundary Review Working Group.

 

Minutes:

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Council to note the results of the 4 May 2023 district elections and agree the governance arrangements for the council following the elections for the municipal year 2023/2024.

 

The Chairman advised that he take Council through the report and ask Members to vote on each recommendation separately. Council unanimously agreed recommendations 1.1 and 1.2.

 

Turning to recommendation 1.3, which related to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Woodcock proposed a vote of no confidence in the current Leader of the Council, Councillor Wood. This was duly seconded by Councillor Watkins.

 

In response to a Point of Order raised by Councillor Cotter, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that if the vote of no confidence in the Leader was passed, the Chairman would seek nominations for Leader.

 

It was subsequently proposed by Councillor Middleton and seconded by Councillor Cotter that a recorded vote be taken.

 

Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was duly taken and Members voted as follows:

 

Councillor Tom Beckett

 For

Councillor Andrew Beere

 For

Councillor Rebecca Biegel

 For

Councillor Maurice Billington

 Against

Councillor Besmira Brasha

 For

Councillor John Broad

 For

Councillor Phil Chapman

 Against

Councillor Mark Cherry

 For

Councillor Becky Clarke MBE

 For

Councillor Patrick Clarke

 Against

Councillor Jean Conway

 For

Councillor Gemma Coton

 For

Councillor Nick Cotter

 For

Councillor Isabel Creed

 For

Councillor Andrew Crichton

 For

Councillor Sandy Dallimore

 Against

Councillor John Donaldson

 Against

Councillor Donna Ford

 Against

Councillor Ian Harwood

 Against

Councillor David Hingley

 For

Councillor Matt Hodgson

 For

Councillor Simon Holland

 Against

Councillor Harry Knight

 Against

Councillor Simon Lytton

 For

Councillor Kieron Mallon

 Against

Councillor Nick Mawer

 Against

Councillor Fiona Mawson

 For

Councillor Andrew McHugh

 Against

Councillor Lesley McLean

 For

Councillor Ian Middleton

 For

Councillor Adam Nell

 Against

Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke

 For

Councillor Lynne Parsons

 For

Councillor Rob Pattenden

 For

Councillor Lynn Pratt

 Against

Councillor Chris Pruden

 For

Councillor Eddie Reeves

 Against

Councillor George Reynolds

 Against

Councillor Dan Sames

 Against

Councillor Nigel Simpson

 Against

Councillor Les Sibley

 Against

Councillor Dorothy Walker

 For

Councillor Amanda Watkins

 For

Councillor Douglas Webb

 Against

Councillor Bryn Williams

 Against

Councillor Barry Wood

 Against

Councillor Sean Woodcock

 For

 

 

The vote was won and the motion was carried.

 

The Chairman called for nominations for Leader of the Council. It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock and seconded by Councillor Watkins that Councillor Woodcock be appointed Leader of the Council.

 

In the course of the debate it was proposed by Councillor Middleton and seconded by Councillor Cotter that a recorded vote be taken.

 

Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was duly taken and Members voted as follows:

 

Councillor Tom Beckett

 Against

Councillor Andrew Beere

 For

Councillor Rebecca Biegel

 For

Councillor Maurice Billington

 Against

Councillor Besmira Brasha

 For

Councillor John Broad

 Against

Councillor Phil Chapman

 Against

Councillor Mark Cherry

 For

Councillor Becky Clarke MBE

 For

Councillor Patrick Clarke

 Against

Councillor Jean Conway

 Against

Councillor Gemma Coton

 Against

Councillor Nick Cotter

 Against

Councillor Isabel Creed

 For

Councillor Andrew Crichton

 For

Councillor Sandy Dallimore

 Against

Councillor John Donaldson

 Against

Councillor Donna Ford

 Against

Councillor Ian Harwood

 Against

Councillor David Hingley

 Against

Councillor Matt Hodgson

 For

Councillor Simon Holland

 Against

Councillor Harry Knight

 Against

Councillor Simon Lytton

 Against

Councillor Kieron Mallon

 Against

Councillor Nick Mawer

 Against

Councillor Fiona Mawson

 Against

Councillor Andrew McHugh

 Against

Councillor Lesley McLean

 Against

Councillor Ian Middleton

 Against

Councillor Adam Nell

 Against

Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke

 For

Councillor Lynne Parsons

 For

Councillor Rob Pattenden

 Against

Councillor Lynn Pratt

 Against

Councillor Chris Pruden

 Against

Councillor Eddie Reeves

 Against

Councillor George Reynolds

 Against

Councillor Dan Sames

 Against

Councillor Nigel Simpson

 Against

Councillor Les Sibley

 Against

Councillor Dorothy Walker

 Against

Councillor Amanda Watkins

 For

Councillor Douglas Webb

 Against

Councillor Bryn Williams

 Against

Councillor Barry Wood

 Against

Councillor Sean Woodcock

 For

 

The vote was lost and the motion therefore fell.

 

The Chairman called for nominations for Leader of the Council. It was proposed by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Nell that Councillor Wood be appointed Leader of the Council.

 

In the course of the debate it was proposed by Councillor Coton and seconded by Councillor Cotter that a recorded vote be taken.

 

Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was duly taken and Members voted as follows:

 

Councillor Tom Beckett

 Against

Councillor Andrew Beere

 Against

Councillor Rebecca Biegel

 Against

Councillor Maurice Billington

 For

Councillor Besmira Brasha

 Against

Councillor John Broad

 Against

Councillor Phil Chapman

 For

Councillor Mark Cherry

 Against

Councillor Becky Clarke MBE

 Against

Councillor Patrick Clarke

 For

Councillor Jean Conway

 Against

Councillor Gemma Coton

 Against

Councillor Nick Cotter

 Against

Councillor Isabel Creed

 Against

Councillor Andrew Crichton

 Against

Councillor Sandy Dallimore

 For

Councillor John Donaldson

 For

Councillor Donna Ford

 For

Councillor Ian Harwood

 For

Councillor David Hingley

 Against

Councillor Matt Hodgson

 Against

Councillor Simon Holland

 For

Councillor Harry Knight

 For

Councillor Simon Lytton

 Against

Councillor Kieron Mallon

 For

Councillor Nick Mawer

 For

Councillor Fiona Mawson

 Against

Councillor Andrew McHugh

 For

Councillor Lesley McLean

 Against

Councillor Ian Middleton

 Against

Councillor Adam Nell

 For

Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke

 Against

Councillor Lynne Parsons

 Against

Councillor Rob Pattenden

 Against

Councillor Lynn Pratt

 For

Councillor Chris Pruden

 Against

Councillor Eddie Reeves

 For

Councillor George Reynolds

 For

Councillor Dan Sames

 For

Councillor Nigel Simpson

 For

Councillor Les Sibley

 For

Councillor Dorothy Walker

 Against

Councillor Amanda Watkins

 Against

Councillor Douglas Webb

 For

Councillor Bryn Williams

 For

Councillor Barry Wood

 For

Councillor Sean Woodcock

 Against

 

 

The vote was lost and the motion therefore fell.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Hingley and seconded by Councillor Cotter that the meeting be adjourned to 6.30pm on Tuesday 23 May.

 

The proposal was debated and in the course of the debate, a procedural motion to move to the vote was proposed and seconded. On being put to the vote, the procedural motion was carried with 25 votes for, 22 votes against and no abstentions.

 

The procedural motion having been carried, the motion to adjourn the meeting to 6.30pm on Tuesday 23 May was put to the vote. The motion was lost with 14 votes for, 33 against and no abstentions.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Dallimore and seconded by Councillor Patrick Clarke that the meeting be adjourned for 30 minutes. On being put to the vote, the motion was unanimously agreed.

 

(The meeting adjourned at 8.15pm and reconvened at 8.45pm.) 

 

The Chairman called for nominations for Leader of the Council. It was proposed by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Nell that Councillor Wood be appointed Leader of the Council.

 

In the course of the debate it was proposed by Councillor Cotter and seconded by Councillor Coton that a recorded vote be taken.

 

Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was duly taken and Members voted as follows:

 

Councillor Tom Beckett

 Against

Councillor Andrew Beere

 Against

Councillor Rebecca Biegel

 Against

Councillor Maurice Billington

 For

Councillor Besmira Brasha

 Against

Councillor John Broad

 Against

Councillor Phil Chapman

 For

Councillor Mark Cherry

 Against

Councillor Becky Clarke MBE

 Against

Councillor Patrick Clarke

 For

Councillor Jean Conway

 Against

Councillor Gemma Coton

 Against

Councillor Nick Cotter

 Against

Councillor Isabel Creed

 Against

Councillor Andrew Crichton

 Against

Councillor Sandy Dallimore

 For

Councillor John Donaldson

 For

Councillor Donna Ford

 For

Councillor Ian Harwood

 For

Councillor David Hingley

 Against

Councillor Matt Hodgson

 Against

Councillor Simon Holland

 For

Councillor Harry Knight

 For

Councillor Simon Lytton

 Against

Councillor Kieron Mallon

 For

Councillor Nick Mawer

 For

Councillor Fiona Mawson

 Against

Councillor Andrew McHugh

 For

Councillor Lesley McLean

 Against

Councillor Ian Middleton

 Against

Councillor Adam Nell

 For

Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke

 Against

Councillor Lynne Parsons

 Against

Councillor Rob Pattenden

 Against

Councillor Lynn Pratt

 For

Councillor Chris Pruden

 Against

Councillor Eddie Reeves

 For

Councillor George Reynolds

 For

Councillor Dan Sames

 For

Councillor Nigel Simpson

 For

Councillor Les Sibley

 For

Councillor Dorothy Walker

 Against

Councillor Amanda Watkins

 Against

Councillor Douglas Webb

 For

Councillor Bryn Williams

 For

Councillor Barry Wood

 For

Councillor Sean Woodcock

 Against

 

The vote was lost and the motion therefore fell.

 

The Chairman called for nominations for Leader of the Council. It was proposed by Councillor Nell and seconded by Councillor Reeves that Councillor Wood be appointed Leader of the Council.

 

In the course of the debate it was proposed by Councillor Cotter and seconded by Councillor Coton that a recorded vote be taken.

 

Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was duly taken and Members voted as follows:

 

Councillor Tom Beckett

 Against

Councillor Andrew Beere

 Against

Councillor Rebecca Biegel

 Against

Councillor Maurice Billington

 For

Councillor Besmira Brasha

 Against

Councillor John Broad

 Against

Councillor Phil Chapman

 For

Councillor Mark Cherry

 Against

Councillor Patrick Clarke

 For

Councillor Jean Conway

 Against

Councillor Gemma Coton

 Against

Councillor Nick Cotter

 Against

Councillor Isabel Creed

 Against

Councillor Andrew Crichton

 Against

Councillor Sandy Dallimore

 For

Councillor John Donaldson

 For

Councillor Donna Ford

 For

Councillor Ian Harwood

 For

Councillor David Hingley

 Against

Councillor Matt Hodgson

 Against

Councillor Simon Holland

 For

Councillor Harry Knight

 For

Councillor Simon Lytton

 Against

Councillor Kieron Mallon

 For

Councillor Nick Mawer

 For

Councillor Fiona Mawson

 Against

Councillor Andrew McHugh

 For

Councillor Lesley McLean

 Against

Councillor Ian Middleton

 Against

Councillor Adam Nell

 For

Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke

 Against

Councillor Lynne Parsons

 Against

Councillor Rob Pattenden

 Against

Councillor Lynn Pratt

 For

Councillor Chris Pruden

 Against

Councillor Eddie Reeves

 For

Councillor George Reynolds

 For

Councillor Dan Sames

 For

Councillor Nigel Simpson

 For

Councillor Les Sibley

 For

Councillor Dorothy Walker

 Against

Councillor Amanda Watkins

 Against

Councillor Douglas Webb

 For

Councillor Bryn Williams

 For

Councillor Barry Wood

 For

Councillor Sean Woodcock

 Against

 

The vote was lost and the motion therefore fell.

 

It was subsequently proposed, seconded and carried, as set out in Minute 12, that the meeting be adjourned to 6.30pm on Tuesday 23 May 2023.

 

Resolved

            

(1)          That the results of the District Elections held on 4 May 2023 be noted:

 

Ward

Elected

Party

Adderbury, Bloxham and Bodicote

Robert Pattenden

Liberal Democrats

Banbury Calthorpe and Easington

Lynne Parsons

Labour

Banbury Cross and Neithrop

Becky Clarke MBE

Labour

Banbury Grimsbury and Hightown

Sean Woodcock

Labour & Co-operative

Banbury Hardwick

Besmira Brasha

Labour

Banbury Ruscote

Isabel Amelia Creed

Labour

Bicester East

Tom Beckett

Green

Bicester North and Caversfield

Simon Lytton

Liberal Democrats

Bicester South and Ambrosden

Nick Cotter

Liberal Democrats

Bicester West

Harry Knight

Independent – Bicester West Resident

Cropredy, Sibfords and Wroxton

Doug Webb

Conservative

Deddington

Andrew McHugh

Conservative

Fringford and Heyfords

Nigel Simpson

Conservative

Kidlington East

Ian Middleton

Green

Kidlington West

Lesley McLean

Liberal Democrat

Launton and Otmoor

Julian Nedelcu

Liberal Democrats

 

 

(2)          That the current constitution of the Council (48 Members) be noted: 

·         20 Conservative (41.67%)

·         12 Labour / Labour & Co-operative Party (25.00%)

·         10 Liberal Democrat  (20.83%)

·         3 Independent  (6.25%)

·         3 Green  (6.25%)

 

(3)          That the constitution of Political Groups and notification of Group Leaders be noted:

·         Conservative Group – 20 members (all Conservative councillors)

o   Group Leader: Councillor Barry Wood

·         Progressive Oxfordshire Group – 14 members (comprising 10 Liberal Democrat, 3 Green and 1 Independent (Cllr Broad) councillors)

o   Group Leader: Councillor David Hingley

·         Labour Group – 12 members (comprising all Labour / Labour & Co-operative councillors)

o   Group Leader: Councillor Sean Woodcock

·         Independent Group – 2 members (comprising 2 Independent councillors, Cllrs Sibley and Knight)

o   Group Leader: Councillor Les Sibley

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: