Issue - meetings

(1)       Urgent cabinet decisions

In accordance with the Cabinet arrangements and 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.

On 21 December 2017, the Cabinet member for corporate services took an urgent decision to award a contract to purchase a software licence.  The decision had not been advertised on the Cabinet work programme for 28 days before it was made as the council’s IT contractor and the council’s procurement contractor were leading on the re-procurement of the licences for which a budget was in place and the timing of completion and contract award was not fully appreciated.  This decision was urgent and could not be deferred because the council’s software licences expired at the end of December and new licences needed to be in place by then to enable the council to continue to operate its IT solution.  The agreement of the Scrutiny Committee chairman was sought and received before the Cabinet member made this decision. 

(2)       Delegation of cabinet functions

To note changes to the leader’s scheme of delegation (attached).  The changes involve the continuation of Councillor Eric Batts as cabinet’s representative on both the Safer Oxfordshire Partnership Oversight Committee and the South and Vale Community Safety Partnership.  These changes took effect on 12 January 2018. 

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

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

Council noted that Councillor Eric Batts will continue as the Cabinet member for community safety and the council’s representative on both the Safer Oxfordshire Partnership Oversight Committee and the South and Vale Community Safety Partnership.

In accordance with the Cabinet arrangements and procedure rules, Council noted that on 21 December 2017, the Cabinet member for corporate services took an urgent decision to award a contract to purchase a software licence.    The agreement of the Scrutiny Committee chairman was sought and received before the Cabinet member made this decision.