Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 56 KBVenue: Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1NB. View directions
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Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments To receive any apologies for absence and temporary appointments. The quorum for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee is 6 Members. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Joy Aitman, Thomas Ashby, Natalie King, Michele Mead, Elizabeth Poskitt, Carl Rylett, Mark Walker and Liam Walker.
Councillor Andrew Coles substituted for Councillor Mark Walker. Councillor David Jackson substituted for Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt. |
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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 from Members of the Committee. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve the minutes of the meeting held 4 September 2024. Minutes: Councillor Steve Cosier proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Wednesday 4 September 2024, be approved by the Committee as a true and accurate record. This was seconded by Councillor Alex Wilson, was put to a vote and it was unanimously agreed by the Committee. |
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Chair's announcements To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Minutes: The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting and explained that although there was only one item on the agenda, it was hoped that the Committee Work Programme would be discussed to ensure it contained all items agreed.
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Participation of the Public To receive any submissions from members of the public, in accordance with the Council’s Rules of Procedure, anyone who lives in the district or who pays council tax or business rates to the Council is eligible to read a statement or express an opinion at this meeting. You can register to speak by sending your written submission of no more than 750 words to [email protected] by no later than 10.00am on the working day before the meeting. Minutes: There was no participation of the public. |
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Responding to External Consultations Purpose: The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has requested detail on how West Oxfordshire District Council assesses which external consultations it responds to.
Recommendations: That the Committee resolves to: 1. Note the content of the report; 2. Agree any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Executive.
Invited: Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council Astrid Harvey, Strategic Policy and Partnerships Officer
Minutes: The Strategic Policy and Partnerships Officer introduced the report detail on how West Oxfordshire District Council assesse which external consultations it responded to.
It was explained that West Oxfordshire District Council received a wide range of consultations from a variety of bodies that deemed it to be a relevant consultee. These included, but were not limited to, Central Government bodies, other Local Authorities within and beyond Oxfordshire, the Cotswold National Landscape, Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire Integrated Care Board, and organisations from within the Community and Voluntary Sector.
External bodies could send consultations directly to Senior Officers within the service that was most relevant to the matter or topic under consultation or they could be sent to the Council Leader, relevant Executive Member or Chief Executive Officer who would delegate the consultation request to the relevant Service.
On receipt of a consultation, Senior Officers would assess the consultation against criteria in order to determine if a response was required and to undertake the consultation response. The criteria was contained in section 1.3 of the report.
In undertaking the assessment against the criteria, Senior Officers would engage with lead Members to inform their judgement of the significance of the proposal or matter. Usually this would be the Executive Member with portfolio responsibility for the matter being consulted on.
The following points and suggestions were to be noted by the Committee:
· In terms of what was considered a reasonable time for the 106 money consultation period; it was explained that Planning Officers would need to answer that question. Action Point: The Planning Policy Manager would provide the timeframe for the 106 money consultation period. · Members thanked Officers for the report.
RESOLVED that the Committee noted the report and it was agreed that there were no recommendations to the Executive on 9 October 2024. |
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Report back on recommendations For the Committee to note the Executive’s response to any recommendations arising from the previous Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting. Minutes: The Democratic Services Business Manager introduced the recommendations to the Executive arising from the previous Committee meeting which were based on the items ‘Development Management Improvement Programme – Progress Update’ and ‘Planning Enforcement’. It was explained that an Member Briefing was being scheduled on ‘Planning Enforcement’. |
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Executive Work Programme Purpose: To give the Committee the opportunity to comment on the Executive Work Programme.
Recommendation: That the Committee agrees which items on the Executive Work Programme should be subject to pre-decision scrutiny and the priority order of those items. Minutes: It was to be noted there were changes in relation to the timetable of the Local Plan and these were reflected on the most recent published version. It was therefore suggested that the ‘time table of the Local Plan be added as an agenda item for the next meeting.
It was AGREED that the Timetable of the Local Plan would be considered at the next meeting. The Executive Work Programme was noted and the above would be actioned. |
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Committee Work Programme Purpose: To provide the Committee with an updated Work Programme for 2024/25. Also included is the TOPIC work plan scoring criteria which is intended to aid the Committee in prioritising items for inclusion in its work plan.
Recommendation: That the Committee notes and comments on the work programme. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee Work Programme was noted with the addition of the following:
· A report on 106 would be added to the next meeting as to explain and understand the other reports around it. · The December meeting would be a housing theme, adding an update on Emergency Accommodation and also inviting a social landlord/housing association along for a Q&A session. The budget would therefore be removed as it was on the work plan for multiple meetings. · A report that provided a better understanding of Grants and then separately on the West Hive Grant would be added. · A report on the Re-procurement of the Leisure Programme would be added. · The Renewal of the Ubico Contract would be added. · A Police review item was also due to be added.
It was explained that a twelve month review was due of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. A survey, with a wide range of questions, for all Members would be circulated and would feed into Constitutional Review Group.
The Committee Work Programme was noted and the above be actioned.
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