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Council Agenda
Contact: Steven Corrigan, Democratic Services Manager Telephone number 07717 274704 Email: steven.corrigan@southandvale.gov.uk Date: 8 February 2022 Website: www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk
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Summons to attend
a meeting of Council
to be held on Wednesday 16 February 2022 at 7.00 pm
First floor, 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton, OX14 4SB
Patrick Arran
Head of Legal and Democratic
To watch this meeting, follow this link to the council’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTj2pCic8vzucpzIaSWE3UQ
Alternative formats of this publication are available on request. These include large print, Braille, audio, email and easy read. For this or any other special requirements (such as access facilities) please contact the officer named on this agenda. Please give as much notice as possible before the meeting.
Agenda
Open to the public including the press
1. Apologies for absence
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To record apologies for absence.
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2. Minutes
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(Pages 7 - 16)
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To adopt and sign as a correct record the Council minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2021.
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3. Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest
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To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and any conflicts of interest in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.
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4. Urgent business and chair's announcements
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To receive notification of any matters which the chair determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chair.
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5. Public participation
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To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak.
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6. Petitions
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To receive any petitions from the public.
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7. Section 106 request - Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council - Replacement sports pavillion, The Sports Field, Kingston Bagpuize
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(Pages 17 - 25)
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Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2022, considered the attached report of the head of finance on an application for funds from Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council for a total of £596,757.66 towards replacing their existing sports pavilion.
Cabinet supported the application subject to Council creating the budget from accumulated section 106 contributions.
RECOMMENDATION: to 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
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8. Treasury management and investment strategy 2022/23
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(Pages 26 - 65)
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Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2022, considered the attached report of the head of finance on the council’s treasury management and investment strategy for 2022/23.
The Joint Audit and Governance Committee considered the report at its meeting on 25 January 2022 and had not recommended any adjustments to the strategy recommending approval of the strategy.
RECOMMENDATION: to
1. 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; 2. approve the prudential indicators and limits for 2022/23 to 2024/25 as set out in, appendix A to the report; and 3. approve the annual investment strategy 2022/23 set out in appendix A to the report, and the lending criteria detailed in table 6.
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9. Capital strategy 2022/23 to 2031/32
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(Pages 66 - 85)
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Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2022, considered the attached report of the head of finance on the capital strategy for 2022/23 to 2031/32.
RECOMMENDATION: to
1. 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 2. agree the strategy for flexible use of capital receipts which is contained as annex 1 of the capital strategy.
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10. Revenue budget 2022/23 and capital programme to 2026/27
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(Pages 86 - 123)
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Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2022, considered the attached report of the head of finance on the the draft revenue budget 2022/23, and the capital programme to 2026/27.
The Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 1 February 2022 and made no suggestions or recommendations to Cabinet.
RECOMMENDATIONS: to
1. 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; 2. 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; 3. set the council’s prudential limits, as listed in appendix E to the report; 4. approve the medium-term financial plan to 2026/27, as set out in appendix F to the report.
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11. Future provision of external audit services
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(Pages 124 - 130)
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Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2022, considered the attached report of the head of finance on proposals for appointing the external auditor to the council for the accounts for the five-year period from 2023/24.
The Joint Audit and Governance Committee considered the report at its meeting on 25 January 2022 and supported the recommendations set out in the report.
RECOMMENDATION: to
1. 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
2. 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.
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12. Council tax 2022/23
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To consider the report of the head of finance on the setting of the council tax for the 2022/23 financial year - report to follow.
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13. Pay policy statement 2022/23
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(Pages 131 - 135)
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To consider the report of the deputy chief executive on the adoption of a pay policy statement to meet the requirements of the Localism Act - attached.
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14. Update on Future Oxfordshire Partnership
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(Pages 136 - 138)
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To receive an update on the Future Oxfordshire Partnership from Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet member for strategic partnerships and place - attached.
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15. Report of the leader of the council
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1. To receive the report of the leader of the council.
2. Urgent cabinet decision
Council is requested to note the details of the following urgent decision.
Additional Restriction Grant Defrayal Omicron Update
On 1 February 2022, Councillor Bethia Thomas, Cabinet member for Community Engagement, took a decision to approve amendments to the Vale of White Horse District Council Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme – Winter 2021 to account for Omicron updates and to authorise the head of development and corporate landlord, in consultation with the head of finance, to award grants.
The chair of the Scrutiny Committee agreed to waive call in to allow the funds to be awarded immediately to meet Government conditions for the scheme or risk losing available business support funds.
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16. Questions on notice
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To receive questions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 33.
A. Question from Councillor Bob Johnston to Councillor Catherine Webber, Cabinet Member for Climate
Over the Christmas period, because of Covid absences and drivers being poached by supermarkets, newspapers reported that a considerable number of Councils struggled to maintain waste collections. Some had to suspend them altogether. Could the Cabinet member tell me if there have been any problems with the Vale's waste and Recycling collections in recent months, and how our performance is holding up in these challenging times?
B. Question from Councillor Alison Jenner to Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Development and Infrastructure
What affordable housing provision has this council achieved in recent years and how does this compare with our Oxfordshire neighbours?
C. Question from Councillor Amos Duveen to Councillor Helen Pighills, Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities
It was excellent to see that our two districts had zero rough sleepers recorded on 31 December. I would like to take a moment to praise all of the council officers who have played their part in achieving this milestone. I also note that South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse councils regularly outperform other Oxfordshire councils on homelessness prevention.
However, as I am sure all of us are all too well aware, rough sleepers only make up a proportion of those facing homelessness so could the Cabinet member confirm that we did indeed achieve a day of zero homelessness and comment on measures this council is taking to continue to address rough sleeping and what prevention measures are taken to assist those individuals and families at risk of all types of homelessness?
D. Question from Councillor Max Thompson to Councillor Emily Smith, Leader of the council
During the most stringent and lonely phases of Covid19 restrictions, before social bubbles and any household mixing, thousands of Vale of White Horse residents were helping their shielding neighbours, following the guidance, and foregoing birthdays, weddings, work drinks, and in some cases funerals.
At the same time, we now know that members of the Conservative government who made the rules were at best stretching their meaning and, at worst, breaking the law, by holding a large number of parties, get togethers and social events, several of which involved the consumption of alcohol.
Can the Leader confirm that no such events were organised for our members and that at all times she has sought to ensure that the Vale of White Horse has acted in compliance with all covid guidelines, and comment on her position regarding whether it is acceptable for elected representatives to consume alcohol whilst making decisions?
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17. Motions on notice
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No motions have been submitted from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 38.
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