Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence. 

None

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 June 2013 (previously published). 

RESOLVED: to adopt as a correct record the Cabinet minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2013 and agree that the chairman signs them. 

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

None

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.

None

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

Non-Cabinet Councillors Jim Halliday and Richard Webber had both requested to speak at the meeting on office accommodation and The Charter, Abingdon. 

Recommendation: to approve the virement request set out in table 1 attached.  

Cabinet considered one request for a virement and noted others approved under delegated authority. 

RESOLVED: to approve the virement from the waste team cost centre to the community grants cost centre to increase the budget for festival grants from £5,000 to £10,000 in 2013/14. 

To consider the report of the head of economy, leisure and property.

Cabinet noted that Councillors Richard Webber and Yvonne Constance (both present at the meeting) were also county councillors. 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of economy, leisure, and property on a proposal to let part of The Abbey House offices in Abingdon and relocate significant numbers of staff to South Oxfordshire District Council’s offices at Crowmarsh Gifford.  The proposal included letting part of the ground floor of The Abbey House and the whole of the first and second floors to Oxfordshire County Council, including shared use of the reception area.  Also, part of The Abbey House might be let to the Citizens Advice Bureau.  The report sought approval in principle to these proposals, and sought delegated authority for the strategic director to finalise the agreements, and appoint a consultant to manage the project, plan space requirements, and specify and oversee works at The Abbey House. 

The report set out the benefits and the costs of the proposal.  Cabinet noted that the costs could change as negotiations progressed; these would need to be kept under control.  Other options included retaining The Abbey House for staff accommodation as at present, and letting a smaller area of The Abbey House. 

The chairman invited non-Cabinet Councillors Richard Webber and Jim Halliday to address the meeting.  Councillor Webber referred to the resolution at the last Council meeting where councillors agreed that when sharing accommodation with others, this council should continue to be based at Abbey House, Abingdon.  He believed this proposal went against that decision.  He urged Cabinet to be aware of the implications of agreeing this deal and asked for careful consideration and handling.  He believed that there was no longer an urgent need to make these savings.  This move would give the perception of the council abandoning Abingdon, moving staff to a much less accessible location, and leaving only a skeleton staff presence.  He questioned whether Cabinet had properly analysed the costs of the other options, as this was not evident in the report.  He urged Cabinet not to be driven by the county council’s urgency. 

Councillor Jim Halliday spoke as chairman of the Scrutiny Committee.  He believed this decision was too important to determine without knowing the detail.  There had been minimal interaction with other councillors on this.  He questioned whether a councillor could be a member of the project group, acting as a critical friend, and why had there been no serious consideration of the other options.  The public perception of this proposal would be that the council was leaving Abingdon and moving to Crowmarsh.  This would make services less accessible, as there was insufficient public transport link from Abingdon to Crowmarsh.  As a Vale council taxpayer, he did not want to pay for improvements to the Crowmarsh offices.  He urged caution as this decision would be difficult to reverse. 

Cabinet considered that the proposal presented an opportunity to work with Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic services. 

Cabinet considered the head of legal and democratic services’ report regarding a review of the gambling policy.  The council had to review its policy every three years in line with the latest guidance.  The council had consulted the public on a revised policy, prepared jointly with South Oxfordshire District Council.  Taking into account the consultation responses, the Licensing Acts Committee had reviewed the policy and recommended its adoption.  Cabinet was asked to consider the revised policy, excluding the ‘no casinos’ element, and recommend its adoption to Council.  Cabinet noted that the ‘no casinos’ policy element was a matter for the Council, not Cabinet, as set out in the Gambling Act 2005.  Cabinet supported the revised draft policy. 

RESOLVED: to recommend Council to:

(a)               adopt the proposed Joint Gambling Policy, as set out in appendix 2 to the report;

(b)               authorise the head of legal and democratic services to make minor editorial changes to the Joint Gambling Policy; and

(c)               authorise the head of legal and democratic services to publish the Joint Gambling Policy in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement)(England and Wales) Regulations 2006. 

To consider the head of finance’s report.  

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report on the council’s treasury management activities during 2012/13.  Despite a fall in market interest rates during 2012/13, the council’s investments generated income of £553,000.  This was £136,000 above the original budget estimate and was above the industry average for 2012/13.  Cabinet welcomed this news. 

RESOLVED: to recommend Council to:

(a)       approve the treasury management outturn report 2012/13; and

(b)       approve the actual 2012/13 prudential indicators within the report. 

The chairman to move that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public, including the press, be excluded from the remainder of the meeting to prevent the disclosure to them of exempt information, as defined in Section 100(I) and Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, to the Act when the following items are considered:

The Charter, Abingdon

(Category 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information.)

RESOLVED: that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public, including the press, be excluded from the remainder of the meeting to prevent the disclosure to them of exempt information, as defined in Section 100(I) and Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, to the Act when the following item is considered:

The Charter, Abingdon

(Category 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information.) 

To consider the strategic director’s report. 

Cabinet considered a proposal for the council to enter into a new agreement to redevelop The Charter area in Abingdon town centre.  Cabinet agreed to proceed with the scheme.