Decisions

To: approve a final assessment of the performance of Biffa Municipal Ltd, in delivering the joint household waste collection, street cleansing and ancillary services contract for Vale of White Horse District Council for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 as “Good”.

To approve:

•         the Homes for Ukraine Guest Discretionary Payment Policy (appendix A) which outlines the council’s policy to make emergency discretionary payments to Ukrainian guests who are resident in the district under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.  Payments will be made from the allocation already made to district and city councils by Oxfordshire County Council from the £10,500 central government allocation.

•         the delegation of authority, if required, to the Deputy Chief Executive -Transformation and Operations in consultation with the Head of Finance (s151 officer) to review and amend the policy.

In accordance with the Constitution’s Finance Procedure Rules, to create a budget for £30,769.23 taken from three S106 contributions, and release those funds in one payment subject to completion of a third party funding agreement, to East Hanney Parish Council towards installation of a bespoke piece of play art as a centrepiece to the new playscape at Hanney Memorial Ground.

To commence public consultation on the draft Drayton Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (CAAMP) and Boundary Review.

Consultation to commence 18 January and run for 4 weeks accordance with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement.

To commence public consultation on the draft Stanford in the Vale Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (CAAMP) and Boundary Review.

Consultation to commence 1 February and run for 5 weeks accordance with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement.

To appoint Land Use Consultants (LUC) to produce a suite of landscape evidence to support the preparation of the Joint South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2041, consisting of:

•         Dark Skies/Light Impact Assessment (new)

•         Tranquillity Assessment (new)

•         Landscape Character Assessment (review and update)

•         Valued Landscapes Assessment (new)

•         Landscape Sensitivity Assessment: Renewable energy development (new)

•         Landscape Capacity Assessment: Edge of towns, service centres and larger villages (review and update)

•         Green Belt Review (review and update/new) *

*The Green Belt Review has two elements:

i)        An update of the 2015 Oxford Green Belt Study to take account of the Green Belt parcels removed in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse since that study was completed. This review should also draw upon information identified in the Landscape Character Assessment and other council studies to summarise what beneficial uses the Green Belt could be put to.

ii)        Consider whether exceptional circumstances exist to add areas of land to the Green Belt.

To approve the award of a contract with Sutcliffe Play (South West) Ltd for the supply and installation of play equipment in Vale of White Horse District Council owned play areas as and when the need arises for a term of three years plus an optional one year extension.

To approve submission of the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), as an addendum to the council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) three-year investment plan.

To approve keeping the overall performance report scored as ‘Good’ for 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 whilst recognising that the final performance quarter January – March 2020 was compromised by the pandemic and restrictions enforced by Government.

To approve a final assessment of ‘Not Scored’ for Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) performance in delivering the leisure management contract for the Vale of White Horse District Council during the periods, 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021, and 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Cabinet considered the Corporate Performance Report for quarter 1 in 2022/23.  This covered the period 1 April to 30 June 2022. 

The Cabinet member welcomed the improvements in the quality of the document and was open to any suggestions to improve it further. 

Cabinet welcomed the report; it showed good progress against the corporate objectives.  Cabinet suggested that members should share the report with their local residents and parish councils. 

RESOLVED: to note the Corporate Performance Report, Quarter 1, 2022/23. 

Cabinet considered the Climate Action Plan Performance Report for quarter 1, 2022/23.  This formed part of the Corporate Performance Report but had been separated out to produce a report concentrating solely on the council’s performance in tackling the climate emergency through its corporate objectives. 

Cabinet welcomed the production of this separate report and thanked officers and the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee for their work to date.  Performance had been strong, but the report showed some areas where further work was needed.  It was noted that the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee and the Scrutiny Committee would both be considering this report shortly. 

RESOLVED: to note the Climate Action Plan Performance Report, Quarter 1, 2022/23. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s budget monitoring report for quarter 1, 2022/23. 

The Cabinet member reported that, as at 30 June 2022, there was a predicted revenue overspend at the financial year-end, being 31 March 2023.  The council had experienced rising costs from inflationary increases.  In terms of the capital programme, only a small proportion had been spent but the programme would be re-profiled accordingly.  Increases in interest rates were expected to bring higher returns on the council’s treasury investments during the year.  Officers would closely monitor the effect of the economic downturn on the council’s budgets. 

Cabinet welcomed the report. 

RESOLVED: to note the Budget Monitoring Report, Quarter 1, 2022/23. 

Cabinet considered the report of the deputy chief executive – transformation and operations.  This set out a business case for the transformation of IT and systems for the council’s regulatory services, including planning, environmental protection, food safety, community safety, waste, and licencing services.  The transformation would be enabled by the procurement of new IT solutions. 

The report set out two options:

• Option 1 – full public procurement for new IT solutions through open market tenders 
• Option 2 – procurement of fit for purpose IT solutions through the GCloud 12 Framework Agreement
  
  

Cabinet supported option 2, as this would mitigate the risk of procuring an unproven solution and provide a quicker result.  Whereas option 1, which might require external support, was likely to take more time to achieve the desired outcomes.  Cabinet also supported the business case for the replacement of IT systems as an ‘invest to save’ initiative.  Cabinet also noted the confidential appendix containing exempt information. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       approve the business case and recommended procurement option for the replacement of the Planning and Regulatory Services IT systems as an Invest to Save initiative; and

(b)       authorise the deputy chief executive - transformation and operations, in consultation with the head of finance, to approve contracts subject to costs being within the business case. 

Cabinet considered the report of the deputy chief executive – transformation and operations.  The report set out the progress made in implementing the council’s transformation programme.  This included the proposed structure of the transformation team, and the further development of transformation outcomes. 

The Cabinet welcomed the progress made on the transformation programme to date.  The programme would improve the council’s interaction with the public and customers, deliver even higher standards of service and increased efficiencies, and provide greater value for money.  Cabinet noted that officers would be involved in the design and build stages of any transformation, and there would be continuous review of progress against the programme. 

RESOLVED: to note the update on the transformation programme and progress to date on the technology and customer workstreams. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report, which showed the treasury outturn for the 2021/22 financial year.  The report had been considered by the Joint Audit and Governance Committee, which recommended to Cabinet to note that the committee was satisfied that the council’s treasury activities in 2021/22 had been carried out in accordance with the treasury management strategy and policy. 

Cabinet noted that towards the end of the 2021/22 financial year, interest rates had begun to rise, resulting in increased income on the council’s financial investments.  As such, the budget target income had been exceeded.  Performance of the in-house managed portfolio exceeded benchmarks.  Externally managed performance was modestly below benchmarks.  There had been no breaches of the counterparty limits or prudential indicators during the year. 

Cabinet welcomed the report and thanked the Joint Audit and Governance Committee and officers for their work. 

RESOLVED to:

(a)       note that Joint Audit and Governance Committee is satisfied that the treasury activities are carried out in accordance with the treasury management strategy and policy;

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

(b)       approve the treasury management outturn report for 2021/22; and

(c)        approve the actual 2021/22 prudential indicators within the report. 

Cabinet considered the head of legal and democratic’s report on a proposal to introduce maximum hackney carriage fares.  The report set out the results of a consultation exercise on the proposals. 

The report explained that in June 2021, the council had adopted a new joint taxi licensing policy with South Oxfordshire District Council.  This included the intention to set a maximum tariff for journeys carried out by hackney carriages licensed within the Vale district.  Journeys outside of the district would not be affected by the maximum fares. 

The Cabinet member responsible for the licensing service reported that the aim of the policy was to protect the public, reduce the risk of fraudulent fares, and ensure consistency, whilst allowing for competition between taxi companies.  The council must balance the needs of the local taxi trade with the need to protect the public.  The council had to be mindful of the increasing cost of living.  There had been increases in the charge for carrying more than four people on one journey, and for the soiling charge.  The recommended tariff had taken these points into consideration and would be more in line with other councils.  However, the maximum fares were not set in perpetuity; the Cabinet member recommended that the tariff was kept under review. 

Other Cabinet members agreed and considered that the council should adopt the maximum fare tariff as set out in Appendix C to the report.  These were uncertain economic times and the tariff proposed should be reviewed regularly.  In doing so, officers were asked to find a method of consulting the public and taxi users.  Officers were also asked to work with the South and Vale Taxi Drivers’ Association as part of the review.  The review should be undertaken as soon as practicable. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       note the results of the consultation at Appendix B to the head of legal and democratic’s report to Cabinet on 30 September 2022; 

(b)       adopt the proposed maximum hackney carriage fares at Appendix C with effect from 1 October 2022; and

(c)        agree to review the hackney carriages fares as soon as practicable. 

Cabinet considered the head of planning’s report on the draft Great Coxwell Conservation Area appraisal and boundary reviews.  The review had been subject to public consultation, the results of which were set out in the report. 

The Cabinet member reported that the review had been carried out at the neighbourhood plan steering group’s request.  The review had recommended an extension to the conservation area boundary. 

The proposals had received local support.  Cabinet welcomed the review proposals also. 

RESOLVED to:

(a)       adopt the Great Coxwell Conservation Area boundary, as per the proposed revisions shown at Appendix 1 to the head of planning’s report to Cabinet on 30 September 2022; 

(b)       adopt the Great Coxwell Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan as amended; and

(c)        authorise the head of planning, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet member, to make minor changes, typographical corrections or non-material amendments to the Great Coxwell Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan document prior to formal publication and statutory notification requirements. 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of development and regeneration.  This set out a request from Oxfordshire County Council for Vale of White Horse District Council to act as its agent to operate and manage the responsibilities of the lead local flood authority within the Vale district.  The functions the county council was looking to discharge were:

·       local flood investigations

·       the determination of applications for consent to alter a watercourse

·       investigation of any nuisance caused by erecting or altering an obstruction or culvert in a watercourse

·       enforcement action to comply with county council policy for watercourse/ditch clearing enforcement

The Cabinet member reported that this work was already being carried out by this council’s staff.  The proposal was to regularise this arrangement.  The work would be fully funded by the county council.  Cabinet members supported the proposal. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       support the request from Oxfordshire County Council for Vale of White Horse District Council to adopt powers under the Land Drainage Act, as set out in paragraph 8 of the head of development and corporate landlord’s report to Cabinet on 30 September 2022;

(b)       subject to Council approving the adoption of powers in (c) below, that Cabinet authorises the head of development and corporate landlord, in consultation with the head of legal and democratic, to negotiate and finalise the agreement with Oxfordshire County Council and enter into agreement to adopt the powers from Oxfordshire County Council;

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

(c)        to approve the adoption of powers under an agency agreement with Oxfordshire County Council. 

To delegate authority to the Head of Development and Corporate Landlord, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic, Head of Finance and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Assets to complete negotiations to grant an option to the Environment Agency (EA), and to enter into and conclude negotiations, complete contracts to effect the grant of an option to the Environment Agency and to finalise the transfer of the two parcels of land in Kennington (KEN0010000 and KEN0070000, shown edged red in Appendix 1) to the Environment Agency for £1 (one pound).

To create a budget for £45,000.00 from CIL funding to be used to enable the remodelling and refurbishment of Portway toilets, Wantage to include a Changing Places facility, up to three separate toilets and a storage area for equipment including signs and barriers for use within the car parks. The scheme also has the potential to incorporate carbon saving measures which are to be identified through the tendering process.

To create a budget for £70,453.82 from S106 contributions and release funds, subject to a third party funding agreement, to Grove Parish Council for the temporary community facilities commuted sum project at Grove and Wantage.

Funds to be released, in total as one payment, subject to receipt of the signed legal agreement.

Motion 1. Delayed Waste Services Guidance

RESOLVED:

That Council notes that:

1. Under the Environment Bill, there are due to be significant changes in waste and recycling policy, as well as the introduction of a deposit return scheme.
2. It is expected that DEFRA will require the majority of the planned reforms to come into effect from 2025, but the guidance councils need to put this in place has not yet been issued.
3. Our current waste contract runs until 2024. This council, like many others, are unable to commission or plan new waste services in line with the Environment Bill without detailed information about what is expected and how it will be funded.
4. The Local Government Association wrote to the previous environment minister, highlighting growing disquiet within the sector because of the lack of guidance.
5. The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) concluded that continuing delays and uncertainty means that investment is not being “unlocked” and local decisions are being stalled.

Therefore, Council resolves to

6. Support the aims in the Environment Bill to reduce waste and encourage reuse as well as recycling.
7. Ask the leader to write to the new environment minister, copied to our two local MPs, to:

Motion 2. Support for Struggling Local Businesses

RESOLVED:

That we are living through a Cost of Living crisis, which is affecting individuals, families and businesses in the Vale and across the UK. This is being driven by food price inflation, up a record 13.1%* and energy price inflation. Small businesses have been particularly affected by rising energy, affecting their viability.

Data published by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that nearly 53% of small companies expect to stagnate, downsize or fold in the next year. Many were taken to the brink of collapse during the pandemic and desperately need a period of stability and prosperity to recover. Businesses such as restaurants and pubs, which experienced greater challenges during the pandemic, now face even greater problems.

Even with the Government price cap support, energy prices will be double what they were last year for domestic users and for businesses, the cap only lasts for six months. The capped electricity costs 30% higher than 2021 for small businesses, and gas prices are 147% higher.

People will have less disposable income to support our local businesses during this crisis and the many businesses that were taken near to collapse during the pandemic desperately need a period of stability and prosperity to flourish. The short-term energy price cap will not provide this.

During the covid-19 pandemic, this council processed and gave out £37.2 million of covid grants to help businesses in our district. We also offered advice and networking opportunities through services such as ‘South and Vale business support’.

Council therefore resolves to:

1. Request that the Leader write to the relevant minister(s) asking them to:

a)    reconsider the short length of the business energy cap period and to look at additional ways to provide direct support to specific business sectors such as pubs and restaurants.

b)    accelerate and provide further renewable energy grants to enable businesses to more affordably transition to non-fossil fuel derived energy sources. This will help to mitigate this crisis and reduce exposure to similar crises in the future.

2. Aim to process any available support grants in the fairest and quickest way in line with Government guidance and due diligence. Using the experience gained during the covid pandemic, enable the council to seek to get them to where they are needed most.
3. Continue to provide advice and support to help local businesses through South and Vale Business Support, building on the lessons learned through our covid support programme.

4.    Request the Chief Executive to consider instructing officer to bid for grants that become available to district councils to support local businesses to generate energy sustainably, making them less reliant on the rising costs of natural gas and electricity.

5.    Continue to work positively with the Future Oxfordshire Partnership and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) to ensure that the current needs of SMEs and rural businesses across the Vale are understood and considered when developing OxLEP programmes.
         

*as of the latest available figures in August 2022

Motion 3. Fracking

RESOLVED:

That this Council welcomes the government’s intention to tackle energy insecurity given the current energy costs crisis and supports all efforts to introduce new environmentally friendly power generation including wind, solar and other green energy solutions to combat the climate emergency.  However, this council is concerned at the suggestion of the potential for fracking in and around the Vale of White Horse and its impact of residents.

No viable deposits of shale gas have been identified in the area in or around Vale of White Horse, but even if one were to be identified, the potential introduction of fracking into the Vale would have a number of detrimental implications for the local area, which include:

1) The introduction and effect of heavy vehicle movements on our roads.

2) The seismic risks caused by fracking especially considering the uncertainty about steps to predict and reduce its impact

3) The potential impact upon our rivers and protected streams

4) The hugely detrimental potential effect on our Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

This government has said it would allow fracking in areas with local consent. This council would resist any exploration of fracking in the Vale of White Horse district. 

Our residents will be naturally concerned at the implications of fracking therefore this council believes that residents’ consent to any potential site is critical and that Government should take account of the views of residents – which should be at the forefront - when considering any application. 

With the evidence available, this council believes that fracking is an unacceptable alternative energy source for the Vale of White Horse.

Fracking is inconsistent with this council’s corporate plan objectives and in a climate emergency and current cost of living crisis, the focus should be on boosting the production and infrastructure for renewable energy and distribution for the future so everyone can afford green, sustainable energy.

Council therefore resolves to ask the leader of the council to write to the appropriate Government minister to make the council’s position on fracking clear and to ask for confirmation that no fracking sites will be allowed without district council approval. On top of this, the minister should also consider requiring a referendum of local residents to be carried out at the cost of the energy company.

To use the Government’s G-Cloud 12 Framework to award a two-year contract to Unit4 for Software as a Service provision of the Unit4 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application.  The contract is for a two-year period commencing 1 October 2022, with the option to extend for one-year on two occasions.

The cost of the two-year initial contract period will be £146,221 with the costs shared equally with South Oxfordshire District Council. 

That Cabinet authorises the Head of Development and Corporate Landlord in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic to:

1. negotiate and finalise the funding agreement with Thames Water (TW) and enter into agreement to accept funding and carry out capital works for a surface water management programme in a range of locations in the Vale of White Horse district area.

2. negotiate and finalise the long-term maintenance agreement with Thames Water (TW) and reciprocal maintenance agreements with third parties

3. authorise officers to go out to tender on the South East portal to seek competitive prices for the delivery of the schemes from a suitable Contractor as part of a competitive procurement exercise.

That Cabinet authorises the Head of Development and Corporate Landlord in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic to:

1. negotiate and finalise the funding agreement with Thames Water (TW) and enter into agreement to accept funding and carry out capital works for a surface water management programme in a range of locations in the Vale of White Horse district area.

2. negotiate and finalise the long-term maintenance agreement with Thames Water (TW) and reciprocal maintenance agreements with third parties

3. authorise officers to go out to tender on the South East portal to seek     competitive prices for the delivery of the schemes from a suitable Contractor as part of a competitive procurement exercise.

To undertake a minimum 28-day period of public consultation on the draft revised Milton Park Local Development Order – Milton Park, Milton. 

Cabinet considered the head of development and corporate landlord’s report.  This set out the outcome of public consultation exercise and proposed a new car park order and policy. 

The Cabinet member for finance and corporate assets welcomed the report and praised officers for the work that had been put into developing the new car park order and policy.  This brought the council’s car park order and policy up to date to support the civil parking enforcement introduced in November 2021.  It also brought the council into line with most councils in the country and would make the car parking service more efficient, and more transparent for the public. 

Cabinet noted that the only objection to the car park order was to the time allowed for free parking, an issue that was not related to civil parking enforcement but could be considered later in the year when Cabinet reviewed its car parking fees and charges. 

Cabinet welcomed the new car park orders and policy.  The new policy brought together existing and updated policy elements to set out how the council delivered its parking service.  It also was linked to the active communities’ strategy and the council’s general direction of travel in its corporate plan to encouraging greener thinking. 

Cabinet noted that the report referred to two car park orders.  The Cabinet member explained that one car park order covered the Vale district, whereas the other covered the Rye Farm and Hales Meadow car parks which, although located just outside the district boundary, were owned and managed by the council. 

The report also proposed that the council joined PATROL, the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London Adjudication Joint Committee, as a member.  This committee enabled all councils with car park orders to carry out civil enforcement of parking contraventions and to exercise their legal functions.  Cabinet supported the council becoming a member of the PATROL joint committee and noted that the appointments of a member and substitute member to this committee were decisions to be made by the leader. 

RESOLVED to:

(a)    agree the making of new 2022 car park orders having considered the comments made during the consultation period;

(b)    authorise the head of legal and democratic to make the new order and to determine the date it comes into effect;

(c)    adopt the new Joint Management Parking Policy, set out in Appendix C to the head of development and corporate landlord’s report to Cabinet on 22 July 2022;

(d)    agree to the Vale of White Horse District Council joining PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London) Adjudication Joint Committee as a member;

(e)    request the leader to appoint Councillor Neil Fawcett to represent the Vale of White Horse District Council on the PATROL Adjudication Joint Committee for the remainder of this council until May 2023; and

(f)     request the leader to appoint Councillor Andrew Crawford as the named substitute in respect of the appointment under (e) above. 

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report, which proposed a new active communities’ strategy.  The strategy’s vision was ‘be active, be healthy, be happy’.  The strategy had six key aims to:

§  enable everyone to be active

§  create healthier communities through walking and cycling

§  maximise the potential of our natural environment

§  build the skills base of our communities

§  provide effective communication, promotion and consultation

§  provide collaborative partnerships and funding advice

A delivery plan would be brought to Cabinet later in the year. 

The Scrutiny Committee had welcomed the strategy and had made suggestions for improvements, which had been included in the policy proposed to Cabinet. 

Cabinet welcomed the strategy as it provided opportunities to increase the general health of Vale residents by getting people more active and lead to improved health.  Small changes could have significant benefits.  Councillors suggested that using the green environment would help meet the strategy’s aims. 

RESOLVED: to approve the Active Communities Strategy, attached at appendix 1 to the head of policy and programmes’ report to Cabinet on 22 July 2022. 

To create a budget for £91,232.25 from S106 contributions and release funds, subject to a third party funding agreement (the contract), to the Freshwater Habitats Trust for the Wetland Habitat Creation and Floodplain Restoration Project at Manor Farm, Garford (partially within East Hanney Parish) and Wantage Sewage Treatment Works, Grove.

Delegate authority to authorise Head of Finance in consultation with Head of Legal and Democratic to enter and approve the contract and manage /deal with all matters arising from the contract. Funds to be released following seal of the contract.

To procure BT to upgrade the Vale of White Horse District Council’s CCTV transmission circuits and CCTV cameras in the Vale of White Horse from analogue to IP (digital) along with a five-year rental of the upgraded circuits.

To direct award this contract to BT under the CCS Framework (lot number RM3808) and to enter into the framework draw down contract.

To approve the submission of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment plan for Vale of White Horse District Council.

Decision 1 – Funding approval

1) To approve the budget for funding of the works and move the council’s main office to Abbey House, Abingdon.  The council’s share of the costs is £121,300(Capital £110,226 & Rev £11,074)

 The full value of the project budget is £242,600, and each council is being asked to be responsible for 50 per cent of the costs

2)To approve the virement of £86,684 from essential capital works budget to Operational Property Assets – essential works budget to fund the capital requirements of this project.

Decision 2 – Tender award

To approve the Tender process outcome the details of which are set out in the attached confidential appendix and to agree to appoint SCM Ltd as the preferred bidder and to enter into an industry standard, Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) minor works contract for the carrying out of the works details of which are set out below. 

N.B. The Scrutiny Committee chair, Councillor Nathan Boyd, has waived call-in rights on the two decisions above. 

To appoint Councillor Paul Barrow as the council’s Food and Farming Champion.

To create sufficient budget from CIL funding to be used to enable Sinewave (an OFGEM registered specialist company), to lay cabling for a new power supply, from the Faringdon Leisure Centres/Schools external sub-station to the leisure centres dry side plantroom (£46,381.34) and any additional related infrastructure costs towards this project to a limit of £100,000.

The works to upgrade the power supply are essential if the Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) and Solar Photovoltaic Cells (Solar PV) installation works are to progress.

To approve additional funding of £42,709 for the purchase of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software package, under 6.4 of the council’s Scheme of Delegation to Officers.

The authority to approve the purchase of a CRM solution is delegated to the Head of Corporate Services in Consultation with relevant Cabinet Members (Cabinet December 2021).  

To approve the purchase of a customer relationship management (CRM) solution at cost of £37080 per council in year 1 and £42780 per council in year 2. A one-off implementation cost of £39,050 per council.

The contract is a joint software licence agreement between Vale of White Horse District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and GOSS Interactive.

The council has run a procurement evaluation using the GCloud 12 framework (RM 1557.12) for cost comparison and suitability of solution and the outcome is to award to Goss Interactive under a call-off contract for 2 years (with the option to extend for 2 periods of 12 months). The award is made on the basis of the most advantageous to the councils.

Cabinet considered the corporate plan performance monitoring report for quarter 4 2021/22, together with the annual review report for 2021/22. 

Cabinet welcomed the reports.  They provided a helpful strategic overview of the council’s performance.  Officers would be increasing the promotion of these performance reports through the website and social media. 

Cabinet thanked officers and the Cabinet member for the reports, as well as Councillor Catherine Webber for her work as the former Cabinet member for climate emergency and the environment. 

RESOLVED: to note the corporate plan performance monitoring report for quarter 4, 2021/22 and the annual review report for 2021/22. 

Cabinet considered the head of planning’s report, which proposed a new Joint Design Guide.  The guide had been developed by the Vale and South Oxfordshire District Council as a supplementary planning document to the Vale’s adopted Local Plan.  The guide would also form a supplementary planning document to the Joint Local Plan once that had been adopted.  The Joint Design Guide would help the public when designing new development and would assist officers and members of the Planning Committee in determining planning applications.  The guide had been subject to public consultation.  The report set out the consultation results and proposed changes. 

On 20 June 2022, the Joint Scrutiny Committee had considered the guide also, suggesting some changes.  These were set out in an amendment note, which had been published as a supplement alongside the Cabinet agenda. 

The Cabinet member recommended Cabinet to adopt the Joint Design Guide, along with the changes recommended in the amendment note following the Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting. 

Cabinet welcomed the new Joint Design Guide, believing that it would provide clear advice to all users.  Members were pleased that the new guide was an interactive, online publication.  This would make it easier for the public to use and it could be updated quickly as planning legislation changed.  Cabinet also welcomed the changes suggested following the Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting. 

Cabinet thanked the officers and councillors involved in this project, and thanked the Joint Scrutiny Committee for its suggestions. 

RESOLVED to:

(a)    adopt the Joint Design Guide for Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils as a supplementary planning document, subject to the changes set out in the amendment note following the Joint Scrutiny Committee on 20 June 2022; and

(b)    authorise to the head of planning, in consultation with the Cabinet member for corporate services and transformation (Vale) and the Cabinet members for planning (South), to make necessary minor amendments or typographical corrections to the supplementary planning document prior to publication and undertake any factual updates thereafter (e.g. web links and live neighbourhood plan maps). 

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report, which proposed a revised delivery plan for Didcot Garden Town.  The new plan would bring forward community improvements, assist recovery of the area following the pandemic, and address the climate emergency. 

The council had been working with South Oxfordshire District Council on the new plan.  The respective Cabinets were being asked to draw funds from their Council-approved reserves to fund delivery.  The initial estimate was £825,000, with £165,000 being from the Vale and £660,000 from South Oxfordshire.  Cabinet was asked to authorise the movement of the council’s funds into the budget year 2022/23.  Any unspent funds at the financial year end would be carried forward into following years. 

Cabinet welcomed the new delivery plan, believing that it was simpler and more deliverable than the previous delivery plan.  Cabinet particularly welcomed the environmental benefits the plan would bring, including road improvements, cycling and walking improvements, and a green spaces project.  The plan would be delivered by working with South Oxfordshire, as well as Oxfordshire County Council and Homes England.  Officers were thanked for producing a plan that was more deliverable. 

RESOLVED to:

(a)       approve the revised delivery plan for Didcot Garden Town, as shown in Appendix 2 to the head of policy and programmes’ report to Cabinet on 24 June 2022; and

(b)       agree a supplementary estimate to the 2022/23 revenue budget £165,000 from Vale of White Horse District Council, fully funded from the grant monies held in the council's reserves, thereafter, to be managed by the relevant budget holder to deliver the approved delivery plan. 

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report, which proposed the approval of a communications and engagement strategy.  This would be a joint strategy with South Oxfordshire District Council. 

Cabinet noted that the Scrutiny Committee had considered the draft strategy and had welcomed it.  The committee had made some suggestions for improvements, which had been included in the draft before Cabinet for approval. 

The Cabinet member for community engagement reported that this was a new strategy, providing a framework, standards and toolkit for the council’s communications and engagement activities.  It included the key principles from the council’s public engagement charter, which would be replaced by the strategy.  The strategy also highlighted several areas that would be strengthened, including:

·       improving customer satisfaction by raising awareness of the council’s services and the work the council was doing to make the Vale a thriving place; 

·       encouraging more engagement to ensure ample opportunities for the public to give their views; and

·       improving the council’s reputation by demonstrating that it informed and listened to its communities. 

Cabinet welcomed the strategy.  It set out the communications and engagement responsibilities, which would bring greater consistency.  All staff and councillors had a role to play in the strategy’s success.  Cabinet agreed that the strategy should be approved. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       approve the Joint Communications and Engagement Strategy, attached as Appendix 1 to the 8 April 2022 Cabinet report of the deputy chief executive – transformation and operations; and

(b)       authorise the head of corporate services, in consultation with the Cabinet member for community engagement (Vale) and the Cabinet member for corporate services (South Oxfordshire District Council), to approve annual action plans that will underpin the strategy. 

To approve a scheme to determine and make Business Rate relief awards under the government’s Discretionary COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund Scheme (CARF) in accordance with Government guidance. The scheme is targeting businesses 2021/2022 net rates liability and will be applied to ratepayers’ business rate accounts as a rates relief (not grant payment) based on a fixed percentage rate of their 2021/22 charge. This will help ensure maximum coverage of the relief available. 

To introduce the proposed taxi tariff in Vale of White Horse from 4 August 2022 should no objections be received to the statutory consultation on the proposal. If any objections are received these will be formally considered by Cabinet at the end of September, who may modify the proposed tariff in light of these objections.

1.    To accept the award of £130,000 (2020-21 award allocation) and £50,000 (2021-22 award allocation) of revenue funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), for use with delivery of the Dalton Barracks Garden Village project, and;

2.    in accordance with the Council’s financial procedure rules in relation to receiving government grant outside of the usual budget setting cycle for which no budget exists, to request the chief finance officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, to use the grant to increase the Dalton Barracks revenue budget.

To approve a scheme to determine and make awards under the government’s Discretionary Energy Rebate Scheme in accordance with Government guidance. The scheme is targeting households on low incomes and those not covered by the main Council Tax Energy Rebate Scheme – ‘the council tax rebate’.

To award a call-off contract for merchant banking services to Barclaycard, using a Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework (RM6118), to commence as soon as possible and expire on 31 January 2026. 

1.       To authorise the Joint Local Plan to proceed to Issues consultation. Consultation documents to be published in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Transformation, and the Head of Service for Policy and Programmes, for a 6-week consultation.

This is in accordance with Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

2.       That prior to consultation commencement, officers prepare an online, interactive version of the Issues document, as well as a desktop-published version.

3.       To publish alongside the Issues Consultation any necessary supporting documents, including:

•         Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Screening and Scoping Report - May 2022

•         Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Scoping Report - May 2022

•         Draft Settlement Assessment Methodology - May 2022

•         Duty to Cooperate Scoping Document - May 2022

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report on a draft supplementary planning document for Dalton Barracks, a strategic housing allocation in the adopted local plan. 

The Cabinet member for corporate services and transformation referred Cabinet to the consultation statement and proposed modifications to the Dalton Barracks draft supplementary planning document.  The report asked Cabinet to consider the main issues arising from the consultation, to consider the proposed modifications, and to adopt the supplementary planning document. 

Cabinet recalled that the Local Plan 2031 Part 2 was adopted in October 2019 and allocated land at Dalton Barracks for a mixed-use development of 1,200 homes, removing that land from the Green Belt.  The local plan set out the council’s intention to produce additional guidance to allow planning of the allocated site.  The supplementary planning document contained that guidance.  

The Cabinet member reported that the strategic site allocation in the local plan covered part of the wider Ministry of Defence base at Dalton Barracks.  This was a result of a change the local plan Inspector had required to make the allocation smaller, so that it included only the land that would be needed for development in the plan period to 2031, and for which there was a well-developed evidence base.  Although the whole Ministry of Defence site had been selected by the government to join the Garden Communities Programme as a Garden Village in 2019, the supplementary planning document was focused on the part of the base that was allocated for development in the local plan. 

The supplementary planning document set out the design requirements and the information needed to support any planning applications for the site, to ensure that a high quality development was delivered.  The design and delivery of the new village would follow garden village principles.  The adopted supplementary planning document would be a material consideration in assessing future planning applications for the site.  Supplementary planning documents did not require independent examination, but they were subject to public consultation, which had been carried out in October and November 2021.  The Scrutiny Committee had considered the draft document inNovember 2021 and had supported it. 

A report on the public consultation process, the main issues and the proposed modifications was appended to the report.  There had been 218 responses, producing 863 categorised comments overall.  During the consultation period, officers had met with two local parish councils, St Helen Without and Wootton, to support them with their queries and consultation responses.  Since the close of the consultation period, further responses had been submitted by Natural England and the CPRE, the countryside charity.  The landowner of the site, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, had also submitted an updated response.  The Cabinet member reported that none of these late responses had raised new main issues that had not already been considered as part of the consultation process.  The landowners of the site had stated that they expected to submit a planning application during the last quarter of 2022.  Therefore, it was important that the council had a supplementary planning document in place as a material consideration to guide the form of that application. 

Modifications had been proposed to the supplementary planning document to address points previously raised by Cabinet members, including decentralised renewable energy supply, air source heat pumps, battery storage, electric vehicle charging, and active travel options. 

The Cabinet member recommended that Cabinet adopted the supplementary planning document with the proposed modifications.  

Cabinet supported the adoption of the supplementary planning document.  Cabinet could see that the document had taken into account the views of the two local parish councils, the landowner and the public  This had produced a document to guide a sustainable, green, exemplar garden village of high quality. 

Cabinet noted that officers would create a final version of the supplementary planning document and publish it along with an adoption statement, in accordance with the regulations. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       adopt the Dalton Barracks Strategic Allocation Supplementary Planning Document, subject to the modifications set out in the head of policy and programmes’ report and appendices to Cabinet on 8 April 2022; and

(b)       authorise the head of policy and programmes, in consultation with the Cabinet member for corporate services and transformation, to make the changes set out in the report and its appendices, and any other minor amendments or typographical corrections to the supplementary planning document, prior to publication. 

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report, being the corporate plan performance monitoring report for quarter 3, 2021/22.  This covered the period 1 October to 31 December 2021. 

The Cabinet member for corporate services and transformation reported that the monitoring report provided a strategic overview of performance, focusing on the activity to deliver the priorities in the corporate plan. 

The report had been considered by the Scrutiny Committee.  The committee had found the report helpful in understanding and monitoring the council’s activity.  The committee had asked the Cabinet member to consider improving the report’s promotion to the public, and suggested a press release each quarter along with social media posts.  The Cabinet member would be working with officers and the Cabinet member for community engagement on these suggestions during the next quarter. 

The Climate Emergency Advisory Committee had considered and welcomed the report also. 

Cabinet welcomed the performance monitoring report and thanked the Scrutiny Committee for its suggestions.  Cabinet recognised that not all councils undertook this level of reporting; this illustrated the council’s commitment to openness and accountability.  Cabinet thanked officers for the large amount of work being undertaken to further the council’s corporate objectives, particularly during the third quarter of 2021/22. 

RESOLVED: to note the corporate plan performance monitoring report for quarter 3, 2021/22. 

To undertake a minimum 28 day period of public consultation on the draft Didcot Technology Park Local Development Order - land at Hill Farm, Appleford, near Didcot, OX14 4PJ. 

To approve funding request from OCC to draw down their 2020 and 2021 CIL allocations of 50% of the infrastructure proportion, as set out in the council’s April 2021 CIL spending strategy, of £1,961,305.10 for which the Head of Finance has delegated authority to do so, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member and Head of Planning, under point 6.4 of the council’s scheme of delegation, 22 February 2022.

To enter into a funding agreement with OCC that governs the release of funds and sets out project monitoring requirements and claw back clauses for which the Head of Finance has delegated authority to do so under point 6.3 of the council’s scheme of delegation, 22 February 2022.

To release funds to OCC in accordance with the funding agreement once signed and sealed for which the Head of Finance has delegated authority to do so under point 6.3 of the council’s scheme of delegation, 22 February 2022. 

To accept the award of £86,000 revenue funding for two years from the Public Health Directorate at Oxfordshire County Council in accordance with the council’s Financial Procedure Rules in relation to receiving funding outside of the usual budget setting cycle for which no budget exists, to request the chief finance officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, to use the grant to fund a project to support families adversely affected by Covid, to improve their health and wellbeing.

That the scheduled pitch fee increase for residents of Vale of White Horse mobile home parks will be abated for 2022 from an RPI based 7.8 per cent to 3.1 per cent to align to the CPI increase in state pension and benefits. 

To commence public consultation on the draft Great Coxwell Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan and Boundary Review.

Consultation to commence 6 April and run for 8 weeks (added time for the Easter public holidays) in accordance with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement.

Cabinet considered the head of development and corporate landlord’s report on the annual review of the council’s car parking fees and charges.  The report set out the position of the council’s car parking account, with expenditure set against income.  This showed that the service was running at a significant deficit. 

The Cabinet member with responsibility for car parks set out the need to reduce the deficit by increasing fees and charges.  Applying no change to the current fees and charges was unsustainable and therefore rejected as an option.  The options to reduce the deficit were: 

A.    To reduce free parking from two hours to one hour and introduce a charge of £1.50 for up to two hours

B.    Increase all current fees by 40 pence

C.   To make permits non-transferable between car parks

The Cabinet member recommended that Cabinet approved all three options, A, B and C.  The estimated impact of these changes was that the deficit could be reduced significantly.  The council’s fees and charges would still be in line with neighbouring councils. 

Cabinet agreed with the proposed options, believing that these represented a balance between the need to reduce the deficit in the cost of providing the car parking service, and the need to be fair to ensure continued viability of town centres.  These changes would reduce the cost of the service to council tax payers also.  The council would monitor usage of the car parks to inform future decisions. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       approve changes to the car parking fees in line with the proposals (options A, B and C) set out in paragraphs 15 to 27 of the head of development and corporate landlord’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2022;

(b)       if the changes to the fees and charges require a change in the car parking order, to:

(i)         authorise the head of legal and democratic to prepare and publish a draft order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; and

(ii)        authorise the head of development and corporate landlord to oversee necessary communications and consultations and report back to Cabinet. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report on an application for section 106 funds from Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council.  The application was for £596,757.66 towards the replacement of the parish’s existing sports pavilion. 

The Cabinet member for development and infrastructure reported that the sum was proposed to be taken from eight contributions secured under section 106, from legal agreements linked to five developments.  A funding agreement would specify the parish council’s contribution and liabilities.  Due to the amount, the council’s constitution required Cabinet to recommend approval of the funding to Council. 

Cabinet supported the proposal, it being a good use of section 106 funds to provide a much-needed replacement facility for the local community. 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

(a)       create a further budget for £596,757.66 towards a replacement sports pavilion at The Sports Field, Kingston Bagpuize from the accumulated section 106 contributions set out in the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2022;

RESOLVED:

(b)       subject to Council agreeing (a) above, to authorise the head of finance, in consultation with the head of legal and democratic to:

(i)         agree and enter into a funding agreement with Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council regarding the terms of use of the Section 106 funding, the instalments in which the funding is paid, the timing of instalments, the conditions subject to which instalments are paid, and to otherwise protect the interests of Vale of White Horse District Council as the provider of the funding by undertaking legal and financial due diligence, including being satisfied that the funding is lawful and compliant with subsidy control provisions; and

(ii)        approve the payment to Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council of up to £596,757.66 towards a replacement sports pavilion at The Sports Field, Kingston Bagpuize, subject to and in accordance with the funding agreement. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report regarding a treasury management and investment strategy for 2022/23.  The Cabinet member for finance reported that several changes were proposed to the strategy, including increases to counterparty limits and bonds, increases to local authority and government deposits, an increase to portfolio limits for short-term deposits, reducing maturity limits for local authority deposits, removing the non-treasury management property-related investment category, enabling deposits with foreign financial institutions, and increasing variable interest rate exposure prudential indicator limits. 

The Joint Audit and Governance Committee had supported the revised strategy.  Cabinet concurred as the revised strategy would allow the council greater flexibility with its treasury management investments. 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

(a)       approve the treasury management strategy 2022/23 set out in appendix A to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2022;

(b)       approve the prudential indicators and limits for 2022/23 to 2024/25 as set out in, appendix A to the report; and

(c)        approve the annual investment strategy 2022/23 set out in appendix A to the report,and the lending criteria detailed in table 6.

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report on a capital strategy for the period 2022/23 to 2031/32.  The report requested Cabinet to recommend Council to approve the capital strategy.  The strategy provided a framework to the council’s approach to capital spending, and was linked to the council’s corporate objectives, its medium-term financial strategy, and the management of its projects and programmes.  The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy required the council to adopt a capital strategy. 

The main changes to the strategy included:

·       maximising the use and value of council-owned property assets to support council services, or for regeneration purposes to deliver a wider social or community benefit 

·       providing loans to companies and other organisations to support the delivery of the council’s corporate objectives 

·       investing in renewable energy schemes to support delivery of the council’s climate action plan priorities 

·       the flexible use of capital receipts to identify revenue activity, which could be funded using capital receipts rather than revenue resources 

The Cabinet member for finance reported that in all cases investment would need to be within the council’s legal powers, must be proportionate to the council’s financial standing, and should support the council’s corporate objectives.  However, investment could not result in commercial gain. 

Cabinet supported the strategy as it would allow the council greater investment opportunities to raise income. 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

(a)       approve the capital strategy 2022/23 to 2031/32, contained in appendix one of the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2022; and

(b)       agree the strategy for flexible use of capital receipts which is contained as annex 1 of the capital strategy. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report on the budget for 2022/23.  The report included a draft revenue budget, a capital programme for the period 2022/23 to 2026/27, the prudential indicators, and a medium term financial plan covering 2022/23 to 2026/27.  Cabinet was asked to recommend the report to the Council meeting on 16 February 2022. 

The Cabinet member for finance began by thanking the head of finance and his team for the work undertaken to prepare the draft budget.  He also thanked Cabinet members and other officers involved.  He reported that the Scrutiny Committee had considered the draft budget and had made no recommendations or suggestions to Cabinet. 

The council had faced significant financial issues in the preparation of this budget.  Its council tax was the fifteenth lowest in the country for a shire district and well below the national average; the council was unable to increase its council tax significantly.  The council had not benefitted from the business rates retention scheme.  Whilst the council had benefitted from the New Homes Bonus scheme, this was under review by the government and was expected to be less generous in future. 

The revenue budget set for 2021/22 had been balanced through the use of reserves at a level that was unsustainable over the medium term.  For 2022/23, Cabinet wished to set a more sustainable balanced budget.  Officers had undertaken a review of all expenditure and income, which resulted in a significant reduction in the base budget.  This allowed the council to set a balanced revenue budget for 2022/23 and beyond, with the use of reserves being significantly lower than previously forecast.  The Cabinet member believed that this was the first time that the council could claim to be solvent across the five year medium term financial plan period, based on future estimates of government funding.  The budget proposals included a sum to fund transformational activities to find efficiencies to further improve the council’s services and financial position.  The budget proposed no cuts to services but included revenue growth to support climate initiatives.  The council tax for a Band D property would increase by £5, the maximum allowed under the draft referendum rules.  The capital programme included several new schemes that would be funded from community infrastructure levy income. 

Cabinet members thanked the Cabinet member for finance for his work and thanked the head of finance for his support to councillors throughout the budget preparation period.  Cabinet supported the budget, which included several schemes to support the corporate objectives, funds to support climate schemes, improve leisure facilities and children’s play facilities for local communities, and new technology to provide green solutions and save money.  Cabinet welcomed the capital schemes funded by the community infrastructure levy, providing much-needed infrastructure.  Cabinet was especially pleased that the base budget had been reduced, allowing the council to balance its budget over the five year medium term financial plan, and praised the work that had been put in to achieve this. 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

(a)       set the revenue budget for 2022/23, as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 4 February 2022;

(b)       approve the capital programme for 2022/23 to 2026/27, as set out in appendix D.1 to the report, together with the capital programme changes as set out in appendix D.2 and appendix D.3 to the report;

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

(d)       approve the medium-term financial plan to 2026/27, as set out in appendix F to the report; and 

RESOLVED: to

(e)       agree that the Cabinet member for finance, in conjunction with the head of finance, may make minor adjustments to the report and the prudential indicators, should they prove necessary prior to its submission to Council on 16 February 2022. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report on the need to appoint external auditors for the five-year period starting with the 2023/24 financial year. 

In 2018, the council had opted into the ‘appointing person’ national auditor appointment arrangements, established by the Public Sector Audit Appointments for the five year period ending with the 2022/23 financial year.  The council had been invited to join the national procurement arrangements for the next appointing period, covering audits for 2023/24 to 2027/28, and had invited the council to opt into these procurement arrangements again.  The options were for the council to: 

1. arrange its own procurement and appointment of external auditors; or
2. join the national collective scheme administered by the Public Sector Audit Appointments, a decision needed by 11 March 2022. 

The Cabinet member for finance recommended option 2, joining the national procurement scheme.  The Joint Audit and Governance Committee, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and the Local Government Association had all recommended the same option.  Cabinet concurred, believing that this would bring clear advantages of economies of scale. 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

(a)       accept Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023; and

(b)       authorise the head of finance to opt into the national scheme for auditor appointments for the provision of external audit services, starting with the audit of the 2023/24 accounts. 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of policy and programmes, which recommended the approval of a climate action plan.  The plan included suggestions made by the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee. 

The Cabinet member for climate emergency and the environment reported that the plan was a key delivery vehicle to move the council forward in its climate work, with the overarching aim for the council to become a carbon neutral by 2030.  The plan was a ‘live’ document and would be adapted to meet changing circumstances.  A quarterly monitoring report would be produced and any further recommendations to update the plan would be made to Cabinet. 

Cabinet supported the climate action plan and was pleased to see that many of the actions had already been planned for in the budget. 

RESOLVED: to note the development of and approve the Climate Action Plan for adoption and implementation. 

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report on a climate action fund.  The report set out the proposed policy, guidelines and desired outcomes for the fund within the wider context of the council’s climate emergency work.  The report also detailed the proposed decision-making process for funding applications and outlined the timeline for its launch. 

Cabinet welcomed the introduction of the fund, which demonstrated the council’s commitment to tackling the climate emergency.  It was hoped that the fund’s launch would inspire and enable community groups to meet the climate challenge. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       approve the Climate Action Fund policy and guidelines;

(b)       endorse the launch of the fund and the head of policy and programmes making final award decisions, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet and ward members; and

(c)        request members to promote the fund within their communities to help ensure a wide reach of applicants. 

1.       To approve amendments to the Vale of White Horse District Council Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme – Winter 2021 to account for Omicron updates

2.       To delegate the authority to award grants to the Head of Development and Corporate Landlord, in consultation with the Head of Finance.

To approve a final assessment of Saba’s performance in delivering the Car Park Operations contract for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 for the Vale of White Horse District Council as “Good”. 

To approve arrangements for the allocation of Contain Outbreak Management Funds.