Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader of the Council

 

 

Meeting: 20/07/2016 - Council (Item 28)

Report of the leader of the council

(1)       Urgent cabinet decisions

 

In accordance with the overview and scrutiny procedure rules, a cabinet decision can be taken as a matter of urgency, if any delay by the call-in process would seriously prejudice the council’s or the public’s interest.  Treating the decision as a matter of urgency must be agreed by the chairman of the Scrutiny Committee and must be reported to the next meeting of the council, together with the reasons for urgency.

 

To receive any details of urgent cabinet decisions taken since the last ordinary meeting of the council, (if any).

 

(2)       Delegation of cabinet functions

 

To receive details of any changes to the leader’s scheme of delegation. 

 

(3)       Matters affecting the authority arising from meetings of joint committees, partnerships and other meetings

 

To receive the report of the leader (if any).  

Minutes:

The Leader of the council provided the following updates:

 

  • Unitary status – the Oxfordshire authorities had issued a joint statement marking a pause in plans for consultation on unitary status proposals in light of national developments (new prime minister, new secretary of state and Brexit). Publication of the reports had been postponed. The Oxfordshire councils had agreed to discuss areas of common ground, assess potential options and seek to agree a way forward building on the work done to date.
  • Abbey Meadows – he welcomed the improvements to the wider area, the availability of contingency funds to replace the pool and the opportunity to work with community groups. Although resources were limited the planned works would significantly improve the existing facility.
  • Cabinet portfolio changes – he announced the departure of councillors Mohinder Kainth and Sandy Lovatt from the Cabinet and the appointment of Councillor Robert Sharp to the Cabinet. He placed on record his thanks to councillors Mohinder Kainth and Sandy Lovatt for their hard work and looked forward to their continued service – Councillor Lovatt as a member of the Planning Committee and Councillor Kainth continuing to lead on the IT strategy.

 

The revised portfolio responsibilities are set out below:

 

Matthew Barber

 

Leader; Devolution; Corporate Strategy

Roger Cox

 

Deputy Leader; Planning (Policy & Development Management)

Robert Sharp

Finance; Corporate Services Contracts

Mike Murray

Regeneration; Economic Development; Property

Elaine Ware

Housing; Environmental Health

Charlotte  Dickson

Leisure; Parks & Grounds Maintenance; Waste

Eric Batts

Legal and democratic; community safety; HR; IT & technical services
  • Committee places – he informed Council that he had given notice to the head of legal and democratic services that councillors Monica Lovatt and Ben Mabbett would become members of the Planning Committee replacing councillors Roger Cox and Robert Sharp.

 

 

He thanked David Buckle, Chief Executive, and Steve Bishop, Strategic Director, for their hard work for the council and wished them well for the future.