Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Timothy Foggin, Jane Hanna, Gill Morgan and John Morgan.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the council minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2011 (previously published). 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2011 as a correct record and agree that the Chairman sign them.

To receive any declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting. 

Councillor Jim Halliday declared a personal interest in the report of the Leader of Council as a member of an organisation which formed part of Science Vale UK.

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chairman.

The Chairman sought a show of hands in support of the continuation of prayers at Council meetings. A majority supported the continuation.

Any statements, petitions and questions from the public under standing order 32 will be made or presented at the meeting.

Beth Coates and Alistair Harper addressed Council on the Sweatbox Youth Centre motion. They highlighted the important role the facility played in providing a vital resource for young people, including those with special needs, and urged the council to support it.

Any urgent business will be considered at this point in the meeting. 

None.

To receive petitions from members of the council under standing order 13 (if any).

None.

To receive questions from members of the council under standing order 12 as follows:

(1)       Question to the Leader from Councillor Julie Mayhew-Archer:

Regarding the Abingdon Partnership: ‘Does the Leader agree that, with the current party representation across Abingdon County, District and Town Councillors  of 20 Conservatives, 16 Liberal Democrats and 2 Labour, that all six Councillor places are now taken by Conservatives, no longer reflects the spirit of true partnership in which all the opinions of the people of Abingdon are reflected and the spirit in which the partnership was set up – particularly as the meetings continue to be held in private?’

(2)       Question to the Leader from Councillor Richard Webber:

Regarding shared accommodation: 'Does the Leader agree that of the options facing this Council over the unused capacity of its Abbey House offices, a move by SODC to join VWHDC in Abbey House is the best option for the people of Abingdon and the Vale as a whole?'

(3)       Question to the Leader from Councillor Bob Johnston

Regarding environmental challenge: ‘Given the increasing emphasis being given at national level to the question of renewable forms of energy, could the Leader of the Council indicate the acceptability to him of each of the following, heat pump technologies, anaerobic digesters, microgeneration by small wind turbines, solar panels, solar arrays, archimedes screws, single wind turbines and wind farms in the Vale?’

(4)       Question to the Leader from Councillor Jim Halliday

Regarding the elections in May 2011: ‘Did the Leader approve the Terms of Reference of the enquiry into the conduct of the 2011 elections?’

The following questions were asked under Standing Order 12.

(1)      With the agreement of Council Councillor Julie Mayhew Archer put the following question to Matthew Barber, Leader of Council which replaced that published on the agenda:

Regarding the Abingdon Partnership: Is it in the new spirit of partnership for Vale Conservatives to take both District places on the Abingdon Partnership Board, when the majority of elected Vale Councillors in Abingdon are not Conservative? 

Councillor Matthew Barber responded that the partnership would continue to work co-operatively.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Mayhew-Archer Councillor Matthew Barber stated that observers were welcome to attend the meetings.

(2)       Question to the Leader from Councillor Richard Webber:

Regarding shared accommodation: 'Does the Leader agree that of the options facing this Council over the unused capacity of its Abbey House offices, a move by SODC to join VWHDC in Abbey House is the best option for the people of Abingdon and the Vale as a whole?'

Councillor Matthew Barber responded that Cabinet would look at all the options and work with South Oxfordshire District Council regarding any move if appropriate for joint working.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Richard Webber Councillor Matthew Barber stated that the council could investigate other ideas to address the unused capacity.  

(3)       Question to the Leader from Councillor Bob Johnston

Regarding environmental challenge: ‘Given the increasing emphasis being given at national level to the question of renewable forms of energy, could the Leader of the Council indicate the acceptability to him of each of the following, heat pump technologies, anaerobic digesters, microgeneration by small wind turbines, solar panels, solar arrays, archimedes screws, single wind turbines and wind farms in the Vale?’

Councillor Matthew Barber responded that he found all of these forms of renewable energy acceptable. Officers were exploring the feasibility of installing solar panels at the council offices and would explore other alternatives.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Bob Johnston Councilor Matthew Barber confirmed that he was aware that an Archimedes screw existed in his ward.

(4)       Question to the Leader from Councillor Jim Halliday

Regarding the elections in May 2011: ‘Did the Leader approve the Terms of Reference of the enquiry into the conduct of the 2011 elections?’

            Councillor Matthew Barber responded that he had not approved the terms of reference which were drawn up by the returning officer.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Richard Webber as to whether he would have added anything to the terms of reference Councillor Matthew Barber stated that he would await the content of the report but he was impressed with the investigator.

In accordance with the virement policy, all virements of £10,000 and over and virements across service areas require prior authorisation of the executive and must be reported to the council. 

In accordance with the virement policy, the Council noted all virements of £10,000 and over, approved since its last meeting.

(1)       Urgent executive decisions

In accordance with the overview and scrutiny procedure rules, an executive 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 executive decisions taken since the last ordinary meeting of the council, (if any).

(2)       Delegation of executive functions

To receive details of any changes to the executive 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).

The Leader of council reported that Science vale UK had applied to become an Enterprise Zone. The bid was supported by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and if successful would generate jobs and increased business rates.

To receive the following notice of motion under standing order 11.

Motion to be proposed by Councillor Richard Webber, seconded by Councillor Julia Bricknell:

“This council supports the work of the Youth Forum in stimulating the interest of young people in politics, and in the democratic process, and will do all it can to continue its support in the future.” 

At its meeting on 23 February 2011 Council considered the following motion submitted by Councillor Matthew Barber and seconded by Councillor John Morgan:

“This Council instructs the executive to investigate ways in which this Authority can support the Sweatbox youth centre”.

In accordance with Standing Order 27(5) regarding the duration of meetings the Council meeting held on 23 February 2011 concluded at 10.00pm. The debate on this motion was not concluded prior to the close of the meeting. In accordance with Standing Order 27(6), which provides that any business not disposed of by the end of a meeting shall be included on the agenda for the next appropriate meeting, this motion is now included on this agenda.

1.         Motion to be proposed by Councillor Richard Webber, seconded by Councillor Julia Bricknell:

“This council supports the work of the Youth Forum in stimulating the interest of young people in politics, and in the democratic process, and will do all it can to continue its support in the future.” 

Councillor Jason Fiddaman moved and Councillor Marilyn Badcock seconded an amendment to add the words “for these aims” after support in the third line of the motion.

RESOLVED: That council supports the work of the Youth Forum in stimulating the interest of young people in politics, and in the democratic process, and will do all it can to continue its support for these aims in the future. 

2.   At its meeting on 23 February 2011 Council considered the following motion submitted by Councillor Matthew Barber and seconded by Councillor John Morgan:

“This Council instructs the executive to investigate ways in which this Authority can support the Sweatbox youth centre”.

In accordance with Standing Order 27(5) regarding the duration of meetings the Council meeting held on 23 February 2011 concluded at 10.00pm. The debate on this motion was not concluded prior to the close of the meeting. In accordance with Standing Order 27(6), which provides that any business not disposed of by the end of a meeting shall be included on the agenda for the next appropriate meeting.

Councillor Matthew Barber sought and received the consent of Council to withdraw the motion on the grounds that since the Council meeting in February officers had met with the Sweatbox leader and were investigating ways of supporting its work.