Decision

Resolved

(1)          That the following motion, as amended, be adopted:

“This Council notes that:

1. The Home Office has proposed repurposing MOD Bicester (Site A) as asylum accommodation for 1,256 single men, which could have a profound impact on community safety, especially Piddington, a village of around 350 residents whose population would more than quadruple.
2. The site lies in an area with a rich concentration of protected and priority species, including barbastelle bat, great crested newt, otter and hairstreak butterfly.
3. A community-led campaign, Wrong Plan. Wrong Site, is pursuing a Judicial Review of the Secretary of State’s decision that no Environmental Impact Assessment is required.

This Council recognises that:

1. Planning Committee’s response identified major evidential gaps on transport, drainage, wastewater, environmental impact, pedestrian and highway safety, emergency access, the relationship with nearby rural communities, and notes that significant information was withheld under Section 293B.
2. Site A should comply with this Council’s biodiversity policies, and with the law which requires Natural England licences before any work that could harm European protected species begins.
3. The government’s Preliminary Ecological Appraisal is inadequate and does not recommend sufficient wildlife surveys.
4. On the evidence available, Site A is therefore the wrong plan on the wrong site.

This Council resolves to:

1. Formally declare its objection in the strongest possible terms to the Home Office.
2. Send a copy of this objection to the district’s Members of Parliament, Oxfordshire County Council, Bicester Town Council, Piddington Parish Council and other key stakeholders.”

(2)          That the following motion be adopted:

“This Council believes that local residents should not be left to pick up the bill for Local Government Reorganisation which the Government has now chosen to pause.

Council notes that significant public money has already been committed by Oxfordshire’s councils to the development of proposals for local government reorganisation, including officer time, external advice, consultancy, legal costs and other associated expenditure.

Council further notes that, following the Government’s decision to pause the reorganisation process, there remains uncertainty over whether, when and in what form reorganisation may proceed, and what further costs may consequently fall upon local taxpayers.

Council therefore believes that residents are entitled to a clear and transparent account of the costs incurred to date, the commitments already made, and any potential future costs arising from the reorganisation process.

Council asks the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider:

1. the total cost incurred by Cherwell District Council in relation to local government reorganisation to date;
2. any further expenditure to which the Council is already committed;
3. the anticipated future costs under the current pause and under any potential resumption of the process and
4. how these costs are being, or are proposed to be, funded.”

(3)          That the following motion be adopted:

“This Council recognises its previous commitments to tackling racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism, including its adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism.

This Council rejects the premise that Zionism is racism. This Council also recognises that opposition to antisemitism must not be used to stifle legitimate political debate about the actions of the Israeli Government. Furthermore, this Council recognises that the two-state solution is necessary to achieve a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.

This Council regrets that there’s been a 40% and 6.5% rise in recorded religious and racist hate crime respectively in our County over the last year. This Council is also concerned by documented incidents of Cherwell residents experiencing harassment, threats and other forms of hatred, and by the prevalence of Islamophobia, antisemitism and racism in public and political debate.

Council therefore resolves to:

1. Confirm its commitment to identifying and challenging discrimination, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hatred and prejudice affecting residents and communities in Cherwell.
2. Affirm the value of meaningful engagement with Jewish, Muslim, Black and other minority communities in Cherwell, recognising the importance of their experiences and perspectives in strengthening community cohesion.
3. Encourage Members to continue promoting respectful and inclusive participation in civic life and to challenge discrimination and hatred whenever it occurs.”

FOR INFORMATION

Having been proposed, seconded and responded to by the Leader, the following motions were referred to Executive:   “Car Parking Charges”; “Managing House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Concentrations in Cherwell”; “Henry Cornish Care Centre (Chipping Norton)”; “Apprenticeship Scheme”; and, “Developing a Youth Action Plan for Cherwell”.

The following motion was withdrawn by the proposer prior to Council: “Taking steps to improve countryside walks in Cherwell”.