Agenda and minutes

To record apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Duffield and Hayward.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Council minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2018 – attached. 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2018 as a correct record and agree that the Chairman sign them as such.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

Councillor Robert Sharp declared a personal interest in item 8 relating to the Local Plan as he owned property that he was proposing for development, which was not allocated for development in the Local Plan.  

Councillor Mike Badcock declared an interest in the motion on the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway as the council’s representative on the Oxfordshire Growth Board Infrastructure Advisory Sub-Group at which he had received confidential information.

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 thanked those who had attended her recent civic dinner at which £1200 was raised for her chosen charity SSAFA. She provided details of two forthcoming events with all proceeds going to SSAFA:

·         The Waterloo Band and Bugles of the Rifles on Saturday 2 March at Amey Theatre, Abingdon

·         The Chairman’s charity golf tournament on Friday 12 April at Drayton Golf Club

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

The Chairman advised that five members of the public had registered to address Council. Those who had registered to address Council on items on the agenda did so at the particular item.

Ms Hayleigh Gascoigne asked the following question of Councillor Cox, Cabinet member for planning:

“What assurances can the council give that it will work closely with the developer, Taylor Wimpey, to work towards a much shorter timescale to get the park open as soon as it is ready and safe to use? What policies can be put in place for the future to avoid such long periods of time before residents can use new facilities, such as the District Community Centre currently being built, which is also on Great Western Park?”

Councillor Cox responded as follows:

“Until Taylor Wimpey notifies the council that the park is complete to the required standard the council are not in a position to adopt it.  The S106 agreement stipulates that once the council has received that notification, inspected and agreed that the park is completed to council's satisfaction, a 12 month period commences before the council can take the transfer.

However, officers are working closely with Taylor Wimpey to determine if there is a way to make the whole neighbourhood park available for residents to use as soon as possible, even before the land has transferred to public ownership at the end of the 12-month maintenance period.  We are anticipating a notification very soon from Taylor Wimpey that their work is finished, and we will work closely with them to make these facilities available for our residents to use as soon as possible”.  

To receive any petitions from the public. 

No petitions were submitted to Council.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2019, considered a report on a factual correction to the Vale of White Horse District Council’s Adopted Policies Map (December 2016), which supports the Local Plan 2031 Part 1.

The report of the head of planning, which Cabinet considered on 4 February 2019, is attached.

RECOMMENDATION to Council to agree to make a factual correction to the Council’s Adopted Local Plan Part 1 Policies Map in relation to the boundary of the Green Belt at North Hinksey village, as set out in Appendix 1 to the head of planning’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019.

Councillor David Kay, Chairman of North Hinksey Parish Council, addressed Council in support of the Cabinet recommendation to make a factual correction to a map which had incorrectly shown that some land at North Hinksey had been excluded from the Green Belt.   

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendation, made at its meeting on 4 February 2019, to make a factual correction to the Adopted Policies Map (December 2016), which supports the Local Plan 2031 Part 1.

RESOLVED: to agree to make a factual correction to the Council’s Adopted Local Plan Part 1 Policies Map in relation to the boundary of the Green Belt at North Hinksey village, as set out in Appendix 1 to the head of planning’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019. 

Cabinet, at its meeting on 1 February 2019, considered a report on the Post Hearing letters from the Planning Inspector presiding over the Local Plan 2031: Part 2 Examination.

The report of the head of planning, which Cabinet considered on 4 February 2019, is available here

RECOMMENDATION to Council to: 

(a)      agree to undertake a six-week public consultation on the Main Modifications to the Local Plan 2031: Part 2, as identified by the Planning Inspector presiding over the Part 2 plan examination, and necessary for the plan to be found Sound, as set out at appendix 3 of the head of planning’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019;   

(b)      agree to publish the additional Modifications to the Local Plan 2031: Part 2, as set out at appendix 9 of the head of planning’s report; and

(c)       authorise the head of planning, in consultation with the Cabinet member for planning, to make any necessary minor amendments and corrections to the Local Plan 2031: Part 2 and its associated documents up to and prior to plan adoption. 

Councillor Robert Sharp declared a personal interest in this item and left the meeting during its consideration - see Minute Co. 58. 

Councillor Richard Bahu, representing St Helen Without Parish Council, addressed Council on the Local Plan.  He questioned the reasoning behind removing land in the parish from the Green Belt and urged Council to retain it in the Green Belt. 

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 4 February 2019, on Local Plan Part 2.  Following the Examination, the Planning Inspector had suggested a series of main modifications to make the plan ‘sound’ and invited the council to draw up a schedule for the inspector’s approval.  The Cabinet report summarised the main modifications and Cabinet recommended Council to allow the modifications subject to consultation. 

Whilst the majority of councillors supported the recommendations some spoke in support of the retention of Shippon within the Green Belt. 

RESOLVED: to 

1.    agree to undertake a six-week public consultation on the Main Modifications to the Local Plan 2031: Part 2, as identified by the Planning Inspector presiding over the Part 2 plan examination, and necessary for the plan to be found Sound, as set out at appendix 3 of the head of planning’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019; 

2.    agree to publish the additional Modifications to the Local Plan 2031: Part 2, as set out at appendix 9 of the head of planning’s report; and

3.    authorise the head of planning, in consultation with the Cabinet member for planning, to make any necessary minor amendments and corrections to the Local Plan 2031: Part 2 and its associated documents up to and prior to plan adoption. 

Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2019, considered a report on a request from Marcham Parish Council for section 106 funds of £305,095.74 towards community and sports facilities.

The report of the head of planning, which Cabinet considered on 4 February 2019, is attached.

RECOMMENDATION to Council to:

(a)      create a budget for £305,095.74 for a combined village hall and sports pavilion/clubhouse, multi-use games area including tennis court and sports pitches (cricket & football) project in Marcham;

(b)      agree to secure a funding agreement with Marcham Parish Council for the use of these section 106 monies of which the terms included should be passed on to The Arthur Anson Memorial Trust through a further separate funding agreement between Marcham Parish Council and The Arthur Anson Memorial Trust; and

(c)     agree to pay Marcham Parish Council £305,095.74 once the funding agreements mentioned above are signed. 

Mr David Walton addressed Council in support of the request. Marcham has been without a village hall for about 15 years, and the Community has been working hard to secure a replacement on Anson Field. The plan includes a new village hall, with changing rooms for sports, a new junior football pitch and a new Multi-Use Games and tennis area, as well as the existing cricket pitch, children's play area, and a replacement adult football pitch. Due to the physical constraints of the site, it is not possible to make the new adult football pitch quite as wide as that recommended by the Football Association – by a matter of a few metres. In requesting Council approve the application for s106 funds he requested that Council amend the scheme to provide for the football pitch size to meet the Football Association standards as far as is practicable for the site.

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendation, made at its meeting on 4 February 2019, on a request from Marcham Parish Council for Section 106 funds towards community and sports facilities. 

Councillors Webber and Johnston agreed to withdraw an amendment they had moved and seconded in relation to the pitch sizes. However, they and Council agreed to accept an amendment moved by Councillor Barber and seconded by Councillor Murray to authorise the chief executive to agree the wording of the agreements in relation to the size of the pitches.

RESOLVED: to

1.    create a budget for £305,095.74 for a combined village hall and sports pavilion/clubhouse, multi-use games area including tennis court and sports pitches (cricket & football) project in Marcham;

2.    agree to secure a funding agreement with Marcham Parish Council for the use of these section 106 monies of which the terms included should be passed on to The Arthur Anson Memorial Trust through a further separate funding agreement between Marcham Parish Council and The Arthur Anson Memorial Trust;

3.    authorise the chief executive, in consultation with the ward councillors and Marcham Parish Council, to agree the wording of the agreements in relation to the size of the football pitches to ensure that the football pitches meet the Football Association size standard, subject to the land available; and    

4.    agree to pay Marcham Parish Council £305,095.74 once the funding agreements mentioned above are signed.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2019, considered a monitoring report on the treasury management activities for the first six months of 2018/19 and an update on the current economic conditions with a view to the remainder of the year. 

The Joint Audit and Governance Committee considered the report at its meeting on 28 January 2019 and had not recommended any adjustments to the strategy as a result of the first six months’ activities.  

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet considered on 4 February 2019, is attached.

RECOMMENDATION to Council: to approve the head of finance’s 2018/19 treasury management mid-year monitoring report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019. 

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 4 February 2019, on the treasury management activities for the first six months of 2018/19.

The Joint Audit and Governance Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 28 January 2019 and had not recommended any adjustments to the strategy as a result of the first six months’ activities.  That committee and Cabinet had concluded that the treasury management activities had operated within the agreed parameters set out in the approved treasury management strategy.

The Cabinet member advised that following a request from the Joint Audit and Governance Committee there is an amendment to the table at paragraph 10 on page 21 of the report. An updated table was circulated at the meeting which showed that forecast investment interest for the year is likely to come in under budget primarily as a result of interest rates rises being slower than predicted.

RESOLVED: to approve the head of finance’s treasury management mid-year monitoring report 2018/19 to Cabinet on 4 February 2019 subject to the amended table attached to these minutes.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2019, considered a report on the council’s treasury management strategy (TMS) for 2019/20 and set out the expected treasury operations for this period.

The Joint Audit and Governance Committee considered the report at its meeting on 28 January 2019 and had not recommended any adjustments to the strategy. 

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet considered on 4 February 2019, is attached.

RECOMMENDATION to Council to:

(a)      approve the treasury management strategy 2019/20, set out in appendix A to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019; 

(b)      approve the prudential indicators and limits for 2019/20 to 2021/22, as set out in appendix A to the head of finance’s report; and 

(c)       approve the annual investment strategy 2019/20, set out in appendix A (paragraphs 41 to 82) to the head of finance’s report, and the lending criteria detailed in table 5. 

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 4 February 2019, on the council’s treasury management strategy for 2019/20.

The Joint Audit and Governance Committee considered the report at its meeting on 28 January 2019 and had not recommended any adjustments to the strategy. Cabinet agreed to recommend Council approve the strategy. 

RESOLVED: to

1.    approve the treasury management strategy 2019/20, as set out in appendix A to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019; 

2.    approve the prudential indicators and treasury limits for the period 2019/20 to 2021/22, as set out in appendix A to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019; and

3.    approve the annual investment strategy 2019/20, as set out in appendix A (paragraphs 41 to 82), to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019, and the lending criteria detailed in table 5.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2019, considered a report on the council’s capital strategy.

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet considered on 4 February 2019, is attached.

RECOMMENDATION to Council: to approve the capital strategy 2019/20 to 2028/29 which is contained in appendix one of the report of the head of finance to Cabinet on 4 February 2019. 

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 4 February 2019, on the council’s capital strategy 2019/20 to 2028/29.

Council noted that the adoption of a capital strategy ahead of the 2019/20 financial year is a requirement of the updated CIPFA prudential code and that Council will be required to review the strategy on an annual basis. The strategy will provide the overall policy framework for capital expenditure and investment although there are a number of key building blocks that underpin the strategy that are still being developed, including:

·         An asset management strategy and maintenance plan

·         Medium term service planning, and

·         Consistent management of projects and programmes

Council welcomed the strategy as a key document for the council going forward.

RESOLVED: to approve the capital strategy 2019/20 to 2028/29 which is contained in appendix one of the report of the head of finance to Cabinet on 4 February 2019.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2019, considered the report of the head of finance on the draft revenue budget 2019/20, and the capital programme to 2023/24.

Cabinet resolved to agree to maintain car park fees and charges at current levels and to agreethat the Cabinet member for finance, in conjunction with the head of finance, may make minor adjustments to the report and prudential indicators should they prove necessary prior to submission to Council. Any adjustments will be reported to Council.

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet considered on 4 February 2019, is attached. 

The Scrutiny Committee will consider this report at its meeting on 7 February 2019. Any views or recommendations will be reported to Council.

The report of the chief financial officer on the robustness of the budget estimates and adequacy of the reserves is attached.

RECOMMENDATION to Council to:

(a)      set the revenue budget for 2019/20 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019;

(b)      approve the capital programme for 2019/20 to 2023/24 as set out in appendix D.1 to the head of finance’s report, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.3 to the head of finance’s report;

(c)       set the council’s prudential limits as listed in appendix E to the head of finance’s report;

(d)      approve the medium term financial plan to 2023/24 as set out in appendix F.1 to the head of finance’s report. 

Mr Crawford addressed Council on this item and asked a question of Councillor Cox, Leader of the council.

He expressed the view that the council’s budget was not sustainable with a budget deficit of £1.5million predicted by 2023/24 having used the current reserves of £12.3million to support revenue expenditure.

He highlighted the cost of The Beacon, the 5 council’s partnership which was not realising savings and an alleged payoff to a departing chief executive as areas in which the taxpayer had not been well served.

He asked the following question of Councillor Cox:

“Given the parlous state of the financial position the current administration has created at the Vale why should the electorate have any faith that it can deliver anything but more financial mismanagement and misery in the future?”

Councillor Cox undertook to provide a written response.

The Chairman referred to regulations that require councils to record the names of those councillors voting in favour, against or abstaining from any vote on the budget, including amendments, and the council tax. In accordance with the regulations she would call for a named vote on each of these matters at this meeting.

The Chairman reminded councillors that they were not entitled to vote on any issue affecting the level or administration of the council tax or other decisions which might affect the making of any such calculation such as the budget, if they were over two months in arrears with their council tax payments. Where such circumstances applied, councillors were under a statutory obligation to disclose the restriction placed on them and refrain from voting at the relevant meeting. No councillor made any such declaration.

Council noted the report of the chief finance officeron the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the reserves.

Councillor Sharp, Cabinet member for finance, presented the Cabinet’s proposals for the revenue budget 2019/20 and capital programme to 2023/24. On behalf of the council he thanked officers for their part in continuing to control costs and in preparing the draft budget.  

Councillor Sharp moved and Councillor Cox seconded a motion to approve Cabinet’s recommendations as follows:

1.    set the revenue budget for 2019/20 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2019; 

2.    approve the capital programme for 2019/20 to 2023/24 as set out in appendix D.1 to the head of finance’s report, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.3 of the report; 

3.   set the council’s prudential limits as listed in appendix E to the head of finance’s report, 

4.   approve the medium term financial plan to 2023/24 as set out in appendix F.1 to the head of finance’s report; 

In moving the recommendation Councillor Sharp drew attention to the funding issues facing the council – rising expenditure with lower central government funding and lower investment returns.  

Councillor Smith moved and Councillor Hoddinott moved an amendment in the following terms:

“Council notes the Medium-Term Financial Plan showing that if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

To consider the report of the head of finance on the setting of the council tax for the 2019/20 financial year - report to follow.

Council considered the report of the head of finance on the setting of the Council Tax for the 2019/20 financial year.

In accordance with regulations requiring councils to record the names of those councillors voting in favour, against or abstaining from any vote on the council tax the Chairman called for a recorded vote which was carried with the voting being as follows:

RESOLVED:

1.    To note that at its meeting on 12 December 2018 the council calculated the council tax base 2019/20:

(a)    for the whole council area as 51,706.2[Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)]; and

 (b)   for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a parish precept relates as in column 1 of appendix 1.

2.    That the council tax requirement for the council’s own purposes for 2019/20 (excluding parish precepts) is £6,809,189

3.    That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2019/20 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

(a)    £74,961,096 being the aggregate of the amounts which the council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by parish councils.

(b)    £64,203,980 being the aggregate of the amounts which the council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)    £10,757,116 being the amount by which the aggregate at (3)(a) above exceeds the aggregate at (3)(b) above, calculated by the council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its council tax requirement for the

(d)    £208.04 being the amount at (3)(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the council, in accordance with Section 31(B) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year (including parish precepts).

(e)    £3,947,927 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act, as set out in column 2 of appendix 1.

(f)     £76.35 being the amount at (3)(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (3)(e) above by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

To consider the report of the head of corporate services on the adoption of a pay policy statement to meet the requirements of the Localism Act - report attached.

Council considered the report of the head of corporate services on the adoption of a pay policy statement to meet the requirements of the Localism Act.

RESOLVED: to approve the pay policy statement for 2019/20 attached to the report of the head of corporate services to Council on 13 February 2019.

(1)       Urgent cabinet decisions

In accordance with the 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). 

Councillor Roger Cox, Leader of the council, provided an update on a number of matters. The text of his address is available on the council’s website.

To receive questions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 33. 

1.    Councillor Margaret Crick to Councillor Roger Cox, Leader of the Council

With memories of the devastating floods in Abingdon in 2007, and climate change predicted to increase instances of flooding, residents in South Abingdon are very concerned about the Environment Agency’s decision to cancel plans for a flood storage facility at Abingdon Common.
Has the leader been given any further information about alternative proposals? And how can this council put pressure on the Environment Agency to ensure action is taken to reduce flooding risk in Abingdon. 

2.    Councillor Catherine Webber to Councillor Ed Blagrove, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

Vale of White Horse District Council is preparing to return to a purpose-built headquarters in Crowmarsh Gifford. Can the Cabinet member confirm that he will work with South Oxfordshire District Council to ensure that the new building is designed to be carbon neutral and energy efficient, and that despite the lack of public transport to the site, all efforts are being made to minimise the number of car journeys that staff and members will be required to make?

Bearing in mind the lack of public transport to Crowmarsh Gifford, what plans does the Cabinet member have to ensure residents and members have meeting places available to use within the Vale, so that residents struggling to access council support online or over the phone can reach us?

3.    Councillor Bob Johnston to Councillor Elaine Ware, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment

When established in the 1990's, Registered Social Landlords decorated their properties periodically, especially when tenants exchanged properties or moved out, in order to ensure that properties were in good repair and in good decorative order.  I understand that most internal repairs and decorating are no longer routinely provided.

Can the Cabinet Member explain why housing providers operating in the Vale no longer carry out routine interior decoration?  And is there anything this council can do to help ensure that tenants who are elderly, have disabilities, or are on low incomes are provided with well decorated homes in good working order?

4.    Councillor Catherine Webber to Councillor Ed Blagrove Cabinet member for Corporate Services

In July 2016 Council passed the following motion “This council resolves to manage our public consultations with openness and transparency, using industry best practice. Our public consultations will use open-ended questions that encourage a range of responses, and officers will produce consultation reports that highlight all major concerns raised and the actions to be taken in response. Where we have control of the consultation, we will ensure openness and transparency. Where we are part of a governing body managing the consultation, we will openly encourage openness and transparency.”

What progress has been made since this motion was passed to improve our consultations and ensure responses from the public and parish councils influence our decision making in meaningful ways?

Why are we still seeing situations such as Shippon Parish not being consulted in relation to a  ...  view the full agenda text for item 72.

Prior to consideration of the questions the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 9.10pm for a short comfort break.

The meeting reconvened at 9.15pm.

Prior to the expiry of two and a half hours, Council considered and rejected an option, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 82, to suspend Council Procedure Rule 12, which restricts the duration of a meeting to three hours, to allow Council to complete the business.

Council agreed, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, to extend the duration of the meeting by half an hour. 

1.    Councillor Margaret Crick to Councillor Roger Cox, Leader of the Council

With memories of the devastating floods in Abingdon in 2007, and climate change predicted to increase instances of flooding, residents in South Abingdon are very concerned about the Environment Agency’s decision to cancel plans for a flood storage facility at Abingdon Common.

Has the leader been given any further information about alternative proposals? And how can this council put pressure on the Environment Agency to ensure action is taken to reduce flooding risk in Abingdon? 

Councillor Cox undertook to provide a written response.

2.    Councillor Catherine Webber to Councillor Ed Blagrove, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

Vale of White Horse District Council is preparing to return to a purpose-built headquarters in Crowmarsh Gifford. Can the Cabinet member confirm that he will work with South Oxfordshire District Council to ensure that the new building is designed to be carbon neutral and energy efficient, and that despite the lack of public transport to the site, all efforts are being made to minimise the number of car journeys that staff and members will be required to make?

Bearing in mind the lack of public transport to Crowmarsh Gifford, what plans does the Cabinet member have to ensure residents and members have meeting places available to use within the Vale, so that residents struggling to access council support online or over the phone can reach us?

Councillor Blagrove undertook to provide a written response

3.    Councillor Bob Johnston to Councillor Elaine Ware, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment

When established in the 1990's, Registered Social Landlords decorated their properties periodically, especially when tenants exchanged properties or moved out, in order to ensure that properties were in good repair and in good decorative order.  I understand that most internal repairs and decorating are no longer routinely provided.

Can the Cabinet Member explain why housing providers operating in the Vale no longer carry out routine interior decoration?  And is there anything this council can do to help ensure that tenants who are elderly, have disabilities, or are on low incomes are provided with well decorated homes in good working order?

Councillor Ware undertook to provide a written response

4. Councillor Catherine Webber to Councillor Ed Blagrove Cabinet member for corporate services

In July 2016 Council passed the following motion “This council resolves to manage our public consultations with openness and transparency, using industry best practice. Our public consultations will use open-ended questions that encourage a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 38. 

1.    Motion to be proposed by Councillor Catherine Webber, seconded by Councillor Debby Hallett

Council notes that:

a) the recent 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that we have just 12 years to act on climate change if global temperature rises are to be kept within the recommended 1.5 degrees Celsius;

b) all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts on climate breakdown, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. UK county, district and city councils need to commit to aggressive reduction targets and carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

c) districts are well placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as their responsibility for planning policies opens up a range of sustainable transport, buildings and energy opportunities;

d) Council has already shown foresight when it comes to addressing the issue of Climate Change, having signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change in 2007. In 2008, Council agreed a Climate Change Strategy, introduced by Councillor Mary de Vere, which provided the framework for the council to set about reducing the carbon footprint of its own activities and of the local community. Between 2008 and 2013, this council collaborated with the Energy Saving Trust on the development of a strategy to reduce area-wide carbon emissions, as well as with the Carbon Trust, to produce a Carbon Management Plan which sets out how the council planned to reduce energy and fuel use in its own buildings and vehicles. All of this has led to a 30% drop in energy use in ourbuildings through 2018.

e) although the Vale of White Horse District Council is managing to deliver absolute carbon reductions despite the upward pressures on carbon emissions caused by changes in the structure of its operations and services and variability caused by factors such as the weather, it is not delivering the necessary absolute carbon reductions fast enough to meet either the UK’s 2050 80% reduction target or the 1.5 degree Celsius target.

In light of the above, the Council therefore agrees to:

1. Join other councils in declaring a Climate Emergency;

2. Ask the leader to write to the Secretary of State requesting that they provide the necessary powers and resources to make local action on climate change easier;

3. Request that, in light of the recent IPCC report and the latest Vale of White Horse District Council data (published June 2018), officers review the council’s Climate Change Strategy and Carbon Management Plan with the aim of bringing a report to Cabinet in the autumn of 2019, after consideration by Scrutiny. The review should include the option of adopting an early carbon neutral target for the Vale, and proposals for regular reporting to Scrutiny Committee the progress with the strategy and plan;

4. Ask officers to ensure that as the council’s policies are routinely reviewed, specific  ...  view the full agenda text for item 73.

1.    Councillor Catherine Webber moved, and Councillor Debby Hallett seconded the following motion:

“Council notes that:

a) the recent 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that we have just 12 years to act on climate change if global temperature rises are to be kept within the recommended 1.5 degrees Celsius;

b) all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts on climate breakdown, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. UK county, district and city councils need to commit to aggressive reduction targets and carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

c) districts are well placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as their responsibility for planning policies opens up a range of sustainable transport, buildings and energy opportunities;

d) Council has already shown foresight when it comes to addressing the issue of Climate Change, having signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change in 2007. In 2008, Council agreed a Climate Change Strategy, introduced by Councillor Mary de Vere, which provided the framework for the council to set about reducing the carbon footprint of its own activities and of the local community. Between 2008 and 2013, this council collaborated with the Energy Saving Trust on the development of a strategy to reduce area-wide carbon emissions, as well as with the Carbon Trust, to produce a Carbon Management Plan which sets out how the council planned to reduce energy and fuel use in its own buildings and vehicles. All of this has led to a 30% drop in energy use in ourbuildings through 2018; and

e) although the Vale of White Horse District Council is managing to deliver absolute carbon reductions despite the upward pressures on carbon emissions caused by changes in the structure of its operations and services and variability caused by factors such as the weather, it is not delivering the necessary absolute carbon reductions fast enough to meet either the UK’s 2050 80% reduction target or the 1.5 degree celsius target.

In light of the above, the Council therefore agrees to:

1. Join other councils in declaring a Climate Emergency;

2. Ask the leader to write to the Secretary of State requesting that they provide the necessary powers and resources to make local action on climate change easier;

3. Request that, in light of the recent IPCC report and the latest Vale of White Horse District Council data (published June 2018), officers review the council’s Climate Change Strategy and Carbon Management Plan with the aim of bringing a report to Cabinet in the autumn of 2019, after consideration by Scrutiny.  The review should include the option of adopting an early carbon neutral target for the Vale, and proposals for regular reporting to Scrutiny Committee the progress with the strategy and plan;

4. Ask officers to ensure that as the council’s policies are routinely reviewed, specific consideration is given to how policies, and our related decisions and actions,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.