One of the ways councillors get action on issues concerning Oxford residents is to ask questions of Board members, speak on agenda items, and submit motions for debate at Full Council meetings.

At next Thursday’s Council meeting, Ruth will be speaking to the following items as well as contributing to wider debate. Altaf will be speaking on tower block safety, hate crime and lease agreements with community groups.

If you would like your councillors to ask a specific question at Council or submit a motion on any specific issue, please get in touch.

Questions on notice

Cllr Wilkinson to Cllr Brown

Please can the Lead Member provide dates, times and duration in minutes of all instances when any part of the Council’s internet service has been down, including access to the Planning Portal, both on and off site, between 1/1/17 and 30/6/17 on

• weekdays
• out of hours

Cllr Wilkinson to Cllr Hayes

The 101 non-emergency service is used by both the public and by neighbourhood police team officers, and residents tell us they have waited for 30 minutes and over for a human reply to calls on that number. Is the Lead Member able to advise what progress has been made by TVP on identifying a more efficient Contact Management Platform and what priority is being given to this?

Cllr Wilkinson to Cllr Hayes

During the temporary pedestrianisation of Queen Street and the completion of the Westgate development, bus stops have been relocated to High Street outside the Covered Market. Queues for buses (particularly the 3 route to Rose Hill), pedestrians, and long lines of visitors including language school students are crowding pavements to such an extent that people are finding it necessary to walk on the carriageway. Residents tell me they are worried about safety both of pedestrians and cyclists. Can the Board Member please tell us what advice is being given by Oxford City Council to tour guides and language school co-ordinators on using alternative walking routes through Oxford if their destination is not a bus stop in the High?

Cllr Wilkinson to Cllr Hollingsworth

What are the arrangements for access, for members of the public and for academics, to historical planning records which pre-date the material available via the City Council website please?

Cllr Wilkinson to Cllr Hollingsworth

Can the Board member please confirm what air quality standards were imposed on the new underground car park at the Westgate Centre by the city during the planning process?

Cllr Wilkinson to Cllr Smith

Over the past month, an increasing number of white goods and other items have been dumped in the car park at Shotover. This started with five fridges which were there for a week after the Council was notified, and more fridges started to accumulate. Additional waste was dumped there on 13 July. Residents are calling for CCTV cameras to be installed. What further action is planned to address this, please?

Debate on agenda papers

Statement in support of the adoption of the  Headington Neighbourhood Plan

Motion on Notice

19f

Fair employment: voluntary charter “Dying to Work” Proposed by Councillor Wilkinson Liberal Democrat member motion This Council seeks to provide support and guidance to all its employees. In its Fair Employment Statement published in October 2016, the Rights and Responsibilities section makes it clear that: “Every employee and potential employee has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and not to be discriminated against, victimised, bullied or harassed or to be treated less favourably than any other on any basis of any protected characteristic.” It is acknowledged that unforeseen events can affect the lives of council workers, and that it is important that the Council does all that it can to maintain the dignity of staff who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Council notes that the TUC’s Dying to Work campaign includes a voluntary charter for employers to sign which sets out an agreed way in which their employees will be supported, protected and guided through their employment, following a terminal diagnosis. The charter states the following: ·         We recognise that terminal illness requires support and understanding and not additional and avoidable stress and worry. ·         Terminally ill workers will be secure in the knowledge that we will support them following their diagnosis and we recognise that, safe and reasonable work can help maintain dignity, offer a valuable distraction and can be therapeutic in itself. ·         We will provide our employees with the security of work, peace of mind and the right to choose the best course of action for themselves and their families which helps them through this challenging period with dignity and without undue financial loss. Council notes that a significant number of other city councils have signed up to this charter including Birmingham, Leicester, Liverpool and Sheffield. This Council supports the TUC’s Dying to Work campaign so that all employees battling terminal illness have adequate employment protection and have their death in service benefits protected for the loved ones they leave behind. Council therefore asks that Oxford City Council signs the Dying to Work voluntary charter to show its on-going commitment to supporting rights and responsibilities towards its staff and to bring back to Council any consequential changes to policy. It further requests that the City Council informs Oxfordshire County Council and the other district councils in Oxfordshire of its actions so that they may consider whether to follow its example.