Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 63 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1NB. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
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Apologies for Absence To receive any Apologies for Absence from Members of the Executive. Minutes: Apologies for Absence were received from Councillor Joy Aitman. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any Declarations of Interest from Members of the Executive on any items to be considered at the meeting. Minutes: There were no Declarations of Interest made by Members of the Executive. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Wednesday 6 March 2024. Minutes: Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Wednesday 6 March 2024, be agreed by the Executive as a true and accurate record, and signed by the Leader. This was seconded by Councillor Duncan Enright, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Executive. The Executive Resolved to: 1. Agree the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Wednesday 6 March 2024, as a true and accurate record. |
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Receipt of Announcements To receive any announcements from the Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive or the Chief Executive. Minutes: Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, welcomed Members and Officers to the meeting of the Executive. The Leader stated that West Oxfordshire District Council had been shortlisted for a National MJ Award, within the Innovation in Partnership category. The Leader thanked the work of those involved in achieving the accolade, including the work of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP). The Leader advised that the final award announcement was anticipated to be in June 2024.
Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Social Welfare, advised the Executive that Michael David had been appointed as the Council’s Housing Programme Delivery Manager and that they had started their employment with the Council the day prior to the meeting. The Executive Member gave a short overview of Michael David’s experience within local government and the private sector, adding that Michael David would take the lead of developing a programme of affordable homes across the district.
Councillor Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economic Development, advised the Executive that the second tranche of the Small Business Grant Scheme had recently opened for applications. The Deputy Leader highlighted that a first tranche of funding had awarded £5,000 to 34 local businesses, and that subject to due diligence and checks from applicants, there were 43 grants available in the second tranche of funding. The funding opportunities had been publicised in the ‘Business Matters’ publications, and that applications were greatly anticipated. |
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Participation of the Public Any member of the public, who is a registered elector in the District, is eligible to ask one question at the meeting, for up to three minutes, of the Leader of the Council, or any Member of the Executive on any issue that affects the district or its people. Notice, together with a written copy of the question, must be provided to Democratic Services, either by email to: or by post to: Democratic Services, West Oxfordshire District Council, Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1NB. Questions are to be received no later than 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). A response may be provided at the meeting, or within three clear working days of the meeting. 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 appropriate Executive 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 was no public participation at the meeting. |
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Reports from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee To consider any reports or recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which meets on 10 April 2024. Minutes: No matters had been raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The Leader gave the Executive an overview of the discussions from a recent meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including a summary of feedback received from Members regarding a presentation made to the Committee by Mobile UK regarding mobile network coverage in the district. |
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Matters raised by Audit and Governance Committee To consider any matters raised by the Audit and Governance Committee. Minutes: No matters had been raised by the Audit and Governance Committee. |
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Ubico Business Plan 24/25 Purpose: To consider the Ubico Business Plan 2024-25, which has been produced by Ubico in consultation with the Directors and Shareholders, and to recommend that the Leader (as Shareholder Representative) approves the plan.
Recommendations: That the Executive Resolves to: 1. Note the 2024/25 Ubico Business Plan; and 2. Note that the Leader of the Council, as shareholder representative, will sign the written resolution to approve the Ubico Business Plan 2024-2025 in due course. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, introduced the report which considered the Ubico Business Plan 2024-25. The report had been produced by Ubico, in consultation with the Directors and Shareholders. The report also recommended that the Leader (as Shareholder Representative) approve the plan.
Councillor Andy Graham proposed that the Executive agree to the recommendations as listed on the report. This was seconded by Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to:
The meeting was temporarily adjourned at 2.12pm owing to sound and technical issues being experienced with the live webcasting of the meeting. After the technical difficulties had been rectified, the meeting resumed at 2.21pm. |
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Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3 Application Purpose: To determine whether to support a third-round application to the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) and sign the associated Memorandum of Understanding (‘MoU’).
Recommendations: That the Executive Resolves to:
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Social Welfare, introduced the report, which determined whether to support a third-round application to the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) and sign the associated Memorandum of Understanding (‘MoU’).
At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Julian Cooper queried the rationale behind the Council utilising Soha Housing to fulfil the requirements of the LAHF on behalf of the Council in respect of the delivery of a further 4 additional affordable homes. It was confirmed by Officers that Soha Housing were ready and willing to carry out the work on behalf of the Council, and that other providers did not have the desired capacity to carry out the requested works.
Councillor Geoff Saul proposed that the Executive agree to the recommendations as listed on the report. This was seconded by Councillor Andy Graham, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to:
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Funding Request for Asset Management Strategy Purpose: To present the benefits of an Asset Management Strategy and Condition surveys and secure funding for their delivery.
Recommendations: That the Executive Resolves to:
Minutes: Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, introduced the report, which presented the benefits of an Asset Management Strategy and Condition surveys and secure funding for their delivery.
Councillor Alaric Smith proposed that the Executive agree to the recommendations as listed on the report. This was seconded by Councillor Andy Graham, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to:
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Funding for Decarbonisation Scheme – Carterton Leisure Centre Purpose: To present the business case for the decarbonisation of Carterton Leisure Centre and agree a strategy for funding the scheme.
Recommendation: That the Executive Resolves to: 1. Agree to pause the current project to decarbonise Carterton Leisure centre, informing Salix that here will be no further expenditure of PSDS 3b funding, and to reapply for more PSDS funding in Autumn 2024 to enable the scheme to proceed. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Change, introduced the report, which presented the business case for the decarbonisation of Carterton Leisure Centre and agree a strategy for funding the scheme.
At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Michele Mead queried the amount of money that had been spent on the project to date, and whether current finances could be redistributed to other project parts. It was confirmed by officers that circa £400,000 had already been spent on the project, and that a statement of finances was to be prepared showing what monies had been spent in relation to the project. Officers also confirmed that the total amount did not include any wasted works, and that all funding had been received through grant funding and eligible funding that did not need to be repaid.
Councillor Andrew Prosser proposed that the Executive agree to the recommendation as listed on the report. This was seconded by Councillor Tim Sumner, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to:
The Leader drew the meeting to a close by highlighting that the meeting was the last in the current cycle of Executive meetings. The Leader put on record his thanks to both Executive colleagues and Officers for their continued hard work and dedication in support of both the Executive and wider Council during the civic year. |