Agenda

Council - Wednesday, 22nd March, 2023 2.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber

Contact: Democratic Services

Items
No.	Item
1.	Apologies for Absence To receive any apologies for absence from Members of the Council.
2.	Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Council on any items to be considered at the meeting.
3.	Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 86 KB To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 15 February 2023.
4.	Receipt of Announcements To receive any announcements from the Chair, Leader of the Council, Executive Members or the Chief Executive.
5.	Participation of the Public PDF 28 KB Any member of the public, who is a registered elector in the District, is eligible to ask one question at this meeting, of the Chair of the Council, any Member of the Executive or the Chair of any Committee, on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the District. Notice, together with a written copy of the question, must be provided to Democratic Services, either by email to democratic.services@westoxon.gov.uk or by post to: Democratic Services, West Oxfordshire District Council, Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1NB, and received no later than noon on the seventh working day before the date of the meeting. A response may be provided at the meeting or within three clear working days of the meeting. A total of 15 minutes is allowed for questions from members of the public.
6.	Questions by Members PDF 109 KB The following questions have been submitted by Members of Council, in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Constitution Part 5, rule 10). Oral responses will be provided at the meeting. Following receipt of the answer to their question, Members are entitled to ask one supplementary question at the meeting. Q1. Councillor Dr. Alaa Al-Yousuf to Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for the Environment: Will the Executive Member commit to "putting residents first" when it comes to the future of the waste and recycling service? Q2. Councillor Dr. Alaa Al-Yousuf to Councillor Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economic Development: Can the Deputy Leader confirm that Marriott’s Walk will be managed as per the approved business plan, to prioritise increasing rental income to support services for the District as a whole through the regeneration of the site in order to increase footfall? Q3. Councillor Ted Fenton to Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for the Environment: How often since May 2022 have replacement (as a result of breakdown or other reason) recycling collection vehicles had to be used which are unable to keep glass and other recycling materials separate? How many vehicles (e.g. those used on narrow streets) in regular use are unable to keep glass and other recycling materials separate? Q4. Councillor Norman MacRae MBE to Councillor Joy Aitman, Executive Member for Stronger, Healthy Communities: The District Council continues to hold money from developers to be used for the provision of a 3G pitch in Witney. Please update the Council as to when this money will be spent and when will the very much needed facility be built? Q5. Councillor Michele Mead to Councillor Joy Aitman, Executive Member for Stronger, Healthy Communities: The Woodstock open air pool is reopening in July 2023 for the school holidays. Please can you tell me what arrangements have been made for school swimming lessons, which would normally take place in the June (schools summer term) and was there a consultation with adult and family users? Q6. Councillor Ted Fenton to Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for the Environment: How many Food Waste caddies in particular and other household waste/recycling containers in general, have been replaced in the last year by WODC because householders’ original ones have been damaged?
	Reports from Officers
7.	Recommendation from Executive to Council PDF 60 KB Purpose: To agree a recommendation made to Council by the Executive on 8 March 2023. Recommendation: That Council Resolves to: 1. Agree a recommendation made by the Executive. Additional documents: 22 March 23 - Council - Recommendations from Executive - Annex , item 7. PDF 22 KB
8.	Recommendations from Independent Remuneration Panel PDF 73 KB Purpose: To outline the findings of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel regarding Member’s Allowances. Recommendation(s) Council is recommended to resolve to: Note the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (Annex A); Thank the Independent Remuneration Panel for their work; Agree that a backdated uplift of 4.04% will be applied to members’ allowances for the 2022/23 financial year; Adopt the Draft Allowances Scheme 2023-27 (Annex B), or an amended version of it; Note that if Council adopts a multi-year allowances scheme the Independent Remuneration Panel will hold a mid-term review; Instruct officers to produce a business case for issuing electronic devices to members. Additional documents: Annex A - IRP - WODC IRP Panel Report March 2023 - MT , item 8. PDF 97 KB Annex B - DRAFT Members' Allowances Scheme 2023-2027 , item 8. PDF 95 KB
9.	Recommendations from the Constitution Working Group PDF 75 KB View the background to item 9. Purpose: To consider proposals from the Constitution Working Group for amendments to the West Oxfordshire District Council Constitution to adopt a new Protocol on the Pre-Election Period, Local Petition Scheme, Officer Decision Making Protocol, Social Media Policy and Executive Procedure Rules. Recommendations: Council is recommended to: Approve the Protocol on the Pre-Election Period, at Annex A to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23^rd March 2023; Approve the Local Petition Scheme, at Annex B to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23^rd March 2023; Approve the Officer Decision Making Protocol, at Annex C to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23^rd March 2023; Approve the Social Media Policy, at Annex D to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23^rd March 2023; Approve the Executive Procedure Rules, at Annex E to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23^rd March 2023. Additional documents: Annex A - 6I protocol on pre-election period for Council 22-03-23 , item 9. PDF 509 KB Annex B - 6E Local Petition Scheme for council 22-03-23 , item 9. PDF 239 KB Annex C - 6H officer decision making protocol for Council 22-03-23 , item 9. PDF 226 KB Annex D - 6M Social Media Policy for council 22-03-23 , item 9. PDF 256 KB Annex E - 5B Executive Procedure Rules for council 22-03-23 , item 9. PDF 81 KB
	Motions on Notice
10.	Motion A: Botley West Solar Farm - Proposed by Councillor Lysette Nicholls, Seconded by Councillor Michele Mead Original Motion – Proposed by Councillor Lysette Nicholls, Seconded by Councillor Michele Mead. This council fully supports the Government’s Net Zero target and restates the importance of ensuring that the UK generates more of its own energy at home. Original Resolution – Council Resolves to: Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for Business & Trade, and all Oxfordshire MPs, informing them that West Oxfordshire District Council objects to the proposed Botley West Solar Farm on Blenheim Palace and Merton College land developed by ‘Photovolt’ Development Partners. Amendment to Motion – Proposed by Councillor Carl Rylett, Seconded by Councillor Andy Goodwin. [Words added in italics, words removed in ~~strikethrough text~~] This council fully supports the Government's Net Zero target and ~~restates~~ recognises the importance of ~~ensuring that~~ the UK ~~generates more of~~ generating its own ~~energy at home~~ carbon-neutral energy, and further recognises that West Oxfordshire must play its part in this process. This Council recognises that many residents and local businesses, including farmers, and Parish Councils have expressed concerns with the proposed Botley West Solar farm on land owned by Blenheim and Merton College, and developed by ‘Photovolt’ Development Partners. This Council notes and approves of the approach being taken by this council to respond to this proposed development, which will be determined by the relevant Secretary of State. The Council will produce an Impact Statement, which will detail the effect of the solar farm on the environment, population and businesses in the area, and which will be based on robust and empirical evidence. It notes that an officer is dedicated full-time to this role, and further notes that the Council has hosted meetings with Parish Councils to support their response to the application. Amendment to Resolution: Council Resolves to: 1. Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for Business & Trade, and all Oxfordshire MPs, informing them that West Oxfordshire District Council objects to the proposed Botley West Solar Farm on Blenheim Palace and Merton College land developed by Photovolt Development Partners. Give careful consideration to the Impact Assessment and decide at that stage whether any further action should be taken. Full Amendment – Proposed by Councillor Carl Rylett, Seconded by Councillor Andy Goodwin. This Council fully supports the Government’s Net Zero Target, and recognises the importance of the UK generating its own carbon-neutral energy, and further recognises that West Oxfordshire must play its part in this process. This Council recognises that many residents and local businesses, including farmers, and Parish Councils have expressed concerns with the proposed Botley West Solar farm on land owned by Blenheim and Merton College, and developed by ‘Photovolt’ Development Partners. This Council notes and approves of the approach being taken by this council to respond to this proposed development, which will be determined by the relevant Secretary of State. The Council will produce an Impact Statement, which will detail the ... view the full agenda text for item 10.
11.	Motion B: Local Economy - Proposed by Councillor Mark Johnson, Seconded by Councillor Jane Doughty. This Council recognises the importance of supporting local businesses in Witney and West Oxfordshire. Given the difficult economic climate local businesses on the Witney High Street in particular are facing, this Council calls on the Leader to write to the Cabinet Member for Highways Management at Oxfordshire County Council, calling for a full review and further consultation into the vehicle restrictions currently in place. Council Resolves to: 1. Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Cabinet Member for Highways Management at Oxfordshire County Council, calling for a full review and further consultation into the vehicle restrictions currently in place.
12.	Motion C: Strategic Planning - Proposed by Councillor Alaa Al-Yousuf, Seconded by Councillor Michele Mead. This Council needs to regain residents' confidence in its strategic planning process. The Local Plan 2031 is now, at best, a weak defence against speculative development applications. The Council’s claim in its current Position Statements on Housing Land Supply of 4.1 years has been successfully challenged by developers and set aside by Planning Inspectors. Council Resolves to: 1. Request that the Economic and Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee investigate and recommend improvements to ensure that future Position Statements are based on methodologies that result in estimates that stand up to scrutiny.

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