Decisions

To consider and recommend to Council the proposed levels of Council Tax discounts and a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the financial year 2022-2023

Resolved

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

(2)          That Council be recommended to agree:

·         The option of no change to the Council Tax Reduction Income Banded Scheme for Working Age Customers for 2023 -24.

·         To amend Working Age Regulations in line with annual uprating; and to amend the Council Tax Regulations for pensioners in line with uprating announced by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

(3)          That Council be recommended to agree that the levels of Council Tax discounts and premiums remain the same as previous years as follows:

·         Retain the discount for second homes at zero.

·         Retain the discount for empty homes (unoccupied and substantially unfurnished) at 25% for 6 months and thereafter zero.

·         Retain the empty homes premium of an additional 100% for properties that have remained empty for more than 2 years (total Council Tax payable 200%).

(4)          That it be noted and  Council be recommended to note that the following Council Tax discounts and premiums were currently proposed to change as part of the Council’s 2023/24 budget consultation:

·         Introduce an empty homes premium of an additional 200% for properties that have remained empty for more than 5 years (total Council Tax payable 300%).

·         Introduce an empty homes premium of an additional 300% for properties that have remained empty for more than 10 years (total Council Tax payable 400%).

·         Removal of the 25% discount for 12 months (zero thereafter) for dwellings which are vacant and undergoing major repair work to render them habitable.

Application withdrawn from agenda as issues had been discovered with the submitted plans that require correction. The application is to be submitted to a future meeting.

Approved, conditions to be set out in the minutes

Approved, conditions to be set out in the minutes

Refused, reasons to be set out in the minutes

Approved, conditions to be set out in the minutes

Application withdrawn by the applicant

Approved, conditions to be set out in the minutes

Resolved

(1)           That the planning appeals progress report be noted

Resolved

(1) That, having given due consideration, Executive be advised that the Budget Planning Committee have no feedback, comments or recommendations in relation to capital bids, revenue savings proposals and budget pressures for inclusion as part of the 2023/24 budget proposal.

Resolved

(1) The verbal Committee Work Plan update be noted.

To consider the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2021/22

Resolved

(1)          That the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2021/22 be approved for publication by 31 December 2022, subject to any final changes considered to be necessary by the Assistant Director – Planning and Development to secure accuracy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning.

(2)          That the Assistant Director – Planning and Development be authorised to publish and submit the associated Infrastructure Funding Statement data as required by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

To update on the long term East West Rail contribution, a 15 year commitment which the Council made in 2013 and seek approval for delegated powers to officers to progress workstreams and enter legal agreements as appropriate

Resolved

(1)          That investment of £133,000 in digital infrastructure along the East West Rail line be authorised.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director – Communities, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Economy, the S151 Officer and Monitoring Officer, to progress this workstream and to enter into any necessary agreement with partners to enable the works to proceed.

To provide a comprehensive update on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment plan and the development of an ‘Addendum’ to unlock the recently announced Rural England Prosperity Fund and to gain support for the proposed management of the two funds up to March 2025

Resolved

(1)          That progress made on unlocking Cherwell’s £1.255m allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) through the submission of an investment plan on 1 August 2022 be noted.

(2)          That the launch of the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) be noted and authority be delegated to the Corporate Director - Communities, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to endorse an investment plan ‘Addendum’ to unlock Cherwell’s £526,831 allocation.

(3)          That the approach in relation to external and internal governance structures, to manage the delivery of UKSPF and REPF projects, including the delegated authority to the Corporate Director, Communities to agree change requests.

To inform the Executive of the progress against our corporate priorities, a Leadership Risk update linking to the performance and a financial update

Resolved

(1)          That the Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report for October 2022 be noted.

Resolved

(1)          That, subject to the change of date from 12 December 2022 to Wednesday 11 January 2023 of the Extraordinary Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting to consider the draft Local Plan, the Work Plan be noted.  

(2)          That the update on items previously considered by the Committee be noted.

Resolved

(1)          That the Climate Action Working Group update be noted.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the Safeguarding Annual Audit be endorsed prior to its submission to Oxfordshire County Council.

(2)          That the importance of Members completing Safeguarding training be noted and the Safeguarding Officer and Democratic and Elections Officers be requested to liaise with Group Leaders regarding Members who have not completed Safeguarding training.

Resolved

(1)           That the update and progress to date be noted.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the approach being proposed for the council’s Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) action plan and councillor working group be endorsed.

(2)          That, having reviewed the draft action plans for Inclusive Communities and Inclusive Services, no specific comments be provided to the Executive to consider at its February meeting.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration,  the monthly Performance Report for October 2022 be noted and the following comments be provided to Executive to consider at their 5December meeting:

·         Consideration would need to be given to the target “Number of households in Temporary Accommodation”  in 2023/34 noting that reducing the target may have financial implications