Agenda and minutes
PDF 77 KBVenue: Council Chamber
Contact: Democratic Services
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2022. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 21 September 2022 were approved by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader, Councillor Andy Graham. |
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: Carl Rylett the Cabinet Member for Planning & Sustainable Development. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations from Members of the Committee on any items to be considered at the meeting Minutes: There were no declarations of interest received. |
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Participation of the Public Members of the public may ask a question at a meeting of Cabinet for up to three minutes on any item of business for decision at the meeting or on any issue that affects the district or its people. Members of the public wishing to speak at a Cabinet meeting must notify [email protected], including their name and the agenda item or topic they wish to speak on, by 2.00pm two clear working days before the meeting (e.g. for a Wednesday meeting, the deadline would be 2.00pm on the Friday before). If the topic of the question is not within the remit of the Council, advice will be provided on where best to direct the question. The relevant Cabinet Member will either respond verbally at the meeting or provide a written response which will be included in the minutes of the meeting.
Minutes: There were no participation of the public registered to speak. |
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Receipt of Announcements Purpose: To receive any announcements from the Leader of the Council or Members of the Cabinet.
Minutes: The Leader, Councillor Andy Graham thanked everyone for all the best wishes and support he had received from the Council Members and Officers, whilst he was away. The next Cabinet meeting was set for Wednesday 16 November, at 2pm and would be back on tour, to be held at the Town Hall in Chipping Norton. Councillor MacRae enquired if there was adequate parking, Councillor Enright was able to confirm that there were two carparks, one in Albion Street and one in New Street, both nearby the Town Hall. |
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Recommendations from Scrutiny Committees Purpose: To consider a recommendation arising from the Climate and Environment Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting on 29 September 2022.
Recommendation: That the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary Of State for the Environment calling on him to:
A proposed response to the recommendation will be circulated prior to the Cabinet meeting. Minutes: To consider a recommendation arising from the Climate and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 29 September 2022. That the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary Of State for the Environment calling on him to: · Ensure the Environment Agency is fully funded to carry out flood protection and ‘river cleanliness’ works, · Ensure legislation is tight enough to bring forward successful prosecutions of breaches to river pollution, · Alter Planning Legislation to make the Water Authorities statutory consultees in planning applications. The Cabinet response to the above recommendation (circulated prior to the meeting) was proposed by Councillor Arciszewska the Cabinet Member for Environment, and seconded by Councillor Enright the Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member Economic Development. The response was to agree the recommendation. Councillor MacRae, Chair of the Climate and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, referred to the recent fines announcement from the Secretary of State, and asked if this could be mentioned in the letter and to ask if the fines could be used to address the issues, for enforcement and assist in the clearance of the rivers. Councillor Enright thought this was an excellent suggestion, and put it to the Cabinet that this be included within the letter, this was unanimously agreed. Resolved Leader to write to the Secretary of State.
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Commercial Solar Photovaltaic Installations on Council Estate Purpose: To seek agreement to proceed with a procurement to obtain costs which will inform a full business case for the installation of solar PV on the roofs of buildings owned and leased by the Council. To agree to proceed with investment subject to the proposal being in line with the Councils Investment Strategy.
Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to: (a) Agree that the Council should proceed with an open procurement process to identify costs and income potential to inform a business case for investment, and that, (b) Agree that the Council explore implications for selling energy generated to tenants. (c) Agree that viable business cases in line with the Councils Investment Strategy, are submitted to the Council’s Capital Investment Board for consideration before a formal decision is brought before Council to allocate capital to undertake the works. (d) Delegate Authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Climate Change, to appoint a contractor as it may be necessary for the selected contractor to carry out more detailed financial analysis before business cases can be formally considered.
Minutes: To seek agreement to proceed with a procurement to obtain costs which will inform a full business case for the installation of solar PV on the roofs of buildings owned and leased by the Council. To agree to proceed with investment subject to the proposal being in line with the Councils Investment Strategy. Councillor Levy the Cabinet Member for Finance proposed the following agreements, which was seconded by Councillor Prosser the Cabinet Member for Climate Change. (a) Agree that the Council should proceed with an open procurement process to identify costs and income potential to inform a business case for investment, and that, (b) Agree that the Council explore implications for selling energy generated to tenants. (c) Agree that viable business cases in line with the Councils Investment Strategy, are submitted to the Council’s Capital Investment Board for consideration before a formal decision is brought before Council to allocate capital to undertake the works. (d) Delegate Authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Climate Change, to appoint a contractor as it may be necessary for the selected contractor to carry out more detailed financial analysis before business cases can be formally considered. Councillor Dingwall was concerned about the cost of implantation and maintenance of roof solar panels, and asked if the widening of the scope could be considered to include ground-level solar panels and could section 106 agreements be made on strategic sites. Councillor Levy agreed it was an interesting idea, however there was little ground level land owned by the Council available, and that strategic sites not owned by the Council was also out of scope. Councillor Prosser the Cabinet Member for Climate Change confirmed that the scope was focussed on feasibility on roofs. Via planning solar panels on commercial buildings should be encouraged. Clare Locke the Group Manager - Commissioning, Leadership and Management Team confirmed that high level sites would give the Council good return within five years. Councillor MacRae enquired if any thought had been given to the Council forming a company to provide solar panels to the district, like other councils have done. This would make money for the Council but also reduce the costs for the residents, as they are expensive to purchase. The Leader, Councillor Graham, stated it was worthy consideration but not for this item, but thanked Councillor MacRae for his comments. Cabinet resolved to approve the recommendations. |
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Data Retention Policy Purpose: This report seeks approval for an updated Data Retention Policy to ensure compliance with the Council’s statutory obligations whilst at the same time being open and transparent in relation to records management.
Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to approve the Data Retention Policy attached at Annex A Additional documents: Minutes: This report seeks approval for an updated Data Retention Policy to ensure compliance with the Council’s statutory obligations whilst at the same time being open and transparent in relation to records management. Councillor Parkinson the Cabinet Member for Customer Delivery proposed the Cabinet approves the policy as stated within the report. Councillor Prosser the Cabinet Member for climate change seconded the proposal. Cabinet resolved to approve the Data Retention Policy
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Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Policy Purpose: To consider and approve the implementation of an Exception Hardship Policy to ensure additional financial assistance is available to help with Council Tax payments to those residents who are in severe financial hardship
Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to: a) Approve the Revenues spend to support this scheme; b) Approve the implementation of the Exceptional Hardship Policy as a matter of urgency; c) Note the additional revenue given by Oxfordshire County Council in support of this Policy; and, d) Grant delegated authority to the Group Manager for Resident Services to approve all payments made under the Exceptional Hardship Policy.
Additional documents: Minutes: To consider and approve the implementation of an Exception Hardship Policy to ensure additional financial assistance is available to help with Council Tax payments to those residents who are in severe financial hardship. Councillor Levy the Cabinet Member for Finance proposed that the Cabinet approve the Policy, this was seconded by Councillor Enright the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development. Councillor Levy stated that there was a revenue dedicated to this and it would be limited, it was supported and matched by the County Council, Officers would have authority to grant applications and that the scheme was well thought out to assist the residents in need. Councillor Enright thanked the Officers for their expertise and determination to support our Town and Parish Councils, it was good joint working. a) Approve the Revenues spend to support this scheme; b) Approve the implementation of the Exceptional Hardship Policy as a matter of urgency; c) Note the additional revenue given by Oxfordshire County Council in support of this Policy; and, d) Grant delegated authority to the Group Manager for Resident Services to approve all payments made under the Exceptional Hardship Policy.
Cabinet resolved to approve the policy.
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Combe Village Design Statement (VDS) Purpose: To consider the Combe Village Design Statement (VDS) and agree that it should be subject to a 6-week period of public consultation prior to it being potentially adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document.
Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to: a) Note the content of the report including the consultation summary report attached at Annex A be noted; b) Agree that the Combe Village Design Statement attached at Annex B and prepared by Combe Parish Council, be published for a 6-week period of public consultation; and c) Agree that the District Council’s current Local Development Scheme (LDS) published in July 2022 be updated as per the LDS addendum attached at Annex C.
Additional documents:
Minutes: To consider the Combe Village Design Statement (VDS) and agree that it should be subject to a 6-week period of public consultation prior to it being potentially adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document. Councillor Parkinson the Cabinet Member for Customer Delivery introduced the statement and thought it was a good design, and set the bar high, asking to go out for public consultation. Councillor Graham, the Leader, applauded the Parish Council’s diligent work, and hoped it encouraged other Parish Councils to follow suit. Councillor Enright the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development thought that Combe people deserved respect for producing the document. Councillor Mead asked why a design statement had been produced and not a Neighbourhood Plan, she felt that a Neighbourhood Plan would have given them more legal rights. Councillor Enright said he thought it was genuine lack of capacity as to why the statement was chosen rather than the Neighbourhood Plan approach. Councillor Parkinson the Cabinet Member for Customer Delivery proposed and Councillor Arciszewska the Cabinet Member for Environment seconded that the Cabinet: a) Note the content of the report including the consultation summary report attached at Annex A be noted; b) Agree that the Combe Village Design Statement attached at Annex B and prepared by Combe Parish Council, be published for a 6-week period of public consultation; and c) Agree that the District Council’s current Local Development Scheme (LDS) published in July 2022 be updated as per the LDS addendum attached at Annex C. Resolved the Cabinet noted and agreed the above recommendations.
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Oxfordshire Plan 2050 Purpose: To provide an update on the cessation of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 programme and the transition to a process focused on Local Plans
Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to note the content of this report including Annex A Additional documents: Minutes: To provide an update on the cessation of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 programme and the transition to a process focused on Local Plans. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Graham, invited The Chief Executive, Giles Hughes, to provide an update on the cessation of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 programme and the transition to a process focused on Local Plans. The Chief Executive stated that it was disappointing that the Oxfordshire Plan did not work as Officers had worked hard, but the main issue was housing and an agreement could not be reached. West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) tried very hard and worked constructively and attached to the report is an update to work forward, think about cross boundary issues, housing targets, strategies and delivery of net carbon zero. There is an agreed Oxfordshire strategic vision which has been adopted by WODC. Councillor Graham informed the
Cabinet that Councillor Alaa Al-Yousuf had submitted the following
questions for the Cabinet member for Planning and Sustainable
Development and Councillor Carl Rylett provided the following
answers:
A1. The decision to no longer progress the
Oxfordshire Plan 2050 has a number of implications including on the
scope and timing of individual local plans. This does not however
relate to, or impact upon, the Council’s ability to
demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply which is benchmarked
against the currently adopted Local Plan. Whilst I acknowledge that
the District Council cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year supply
of deliverable housing land, this is not a planning crisis, rather
it is a common issue faced by many local authorities and requires a
measured and robust plan of action. The Council is currently in the
process of finalising a new Housing Land Supply Position Statement
and Officers have been seeking additional information from
landowners and developers to provide clearer evidence of
anticipated delivery. It is anticipated that the updated position
statement will be published later this month. Alongside this, the
review of the Local Plan provides the opportunity to consider
future housing needs and identify additional housing sites in a
plan-led manner in consultation with local communities and other
key stakeholders. |
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Salt Cross Garden Village Area Action Plan Proposed Main Modifications Purpose: To agree the District Council’s formal response to consultation on proposed Main Modifications to the Salt Cross Garden Village Area Action Plan (AAP).
Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to agree the suggested draft response attached at Annex A for the purposes of submission to the AAP examination Additional documents: Minutes: To agree the District Council’s formal response to consultation on proposed Main Modifications to the Salt Cross Garden Village Area Action Plan (AAP). Councillor Levy the Cabinet Member for Finance proposed that the Cabinet agree the suggested draft response attached at Annex A, this was seconded by Councillor Aitman the Cabinet Member for Stronger Healthy Communities. Councillor Levy stated as Councillor Rylett was not in attendance, he wanted to address the members as he lived close to Eynsham. People at first were concerned about the location of Salt Cross, but people had moved on from that. The communities in Eynsham had got behind the project and wanted to ensure that the garden village was something that we all could be proud of. WODC put together an area action plan to ensure that the design met the needs of the residents, businesses and communities to be a genuine example to others how a garden village could evolve. Local residents were involved in putting together the action plan. Following consultation the action plan report went out to the inspectorate. The Inspectorate produced a report which removed transportation connections, removed the need for net carbon zero, all in all very disappointing. The Council is now in a position to respond to the consultation that has gone on in the amended report, and requesting it be amended to go back to the original report. The Council believe the garden village should be an exemplar as it was in the original report. It was disappointing that things were removed that WODC feel should have remained in the report. WODC Officer Chris Hargreaves has scribed a letter of response on the Council’s behalf for submission to the AAP examination. Councillor Haine was supportive of what Councillor Levy had said and thought that the Council’s Officer Chris Hargreaves had written a good letter. Cabinet resolved to agree the suggested draft response attached at Annex A for the purposes of submission to the AAP examination
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