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The amendment proposed by Councillor Reeves
and seconded by Councillor Bartholomew was accepted by the proposer
and seconder of the original motion and by Council.
 
The amendment proposed by Councillor Haywood
and seconded by Councillor Bennett was lost with 19 votes in
favour, 28 against and 1 abstention.
 
The motion as amended was carried with 29
votes in favour, 20 against and no abstentions.
 
This Council considered
setting up a Congestion Commission and agreed to set up a
Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Transport in Central
Oxfordshire as part of its last budget. This Council considers
that it is time to establish for such a
Citizens’ Assembly of local residents or a Congestion
Commission, focused on reducing congestion, to be
established. It should happen this financial year. including
businesspeople, public sector leaders, civil society and faith
group leaders, and academics with relevant expertise, to ensure a
greater democratic say in key decision-making.
 
This Council notes that its
ambitious suite of traffic management measures is due to be rolled
out in the very near future. These include Oxford’s traffic
filters and workplace parking levy, which are now largely enshrined
in the Council’s budget and will take place unless there is a
change of administration next year.
 
If all such measures go ahead,
Oxfordshire motorists could be hit by £57million in fines in
fines and charges, broken down as follows:
 

Expanded Zero
Emissions Zone £25m;
Traffic Filters
£11m;
Workplace Parking Tax
£21m.

 
For clarity, the purpose of a
Congestion Citizens’ Assembly or Congestion
Commission would be to assess the likely effectiveness
of such measures, provide recommendations on existing proposals and
advise as to whether other measures might be given effect after
next year’s local elections as supplements or substitutes for
such policies, putting residents’, businesses’ and
civil society groups’ voices at the heart of local
the decision-making process.
 
Council requests Cabinet to
establish a Congestion Commission or Citizens’
Assembly of Central Oxfordshire citizens, with an advisory group
to comprise ensuring in so doing that the voices of
elected members, local businesspeople, public sector leaders
from the Council’s health, education and blue light
partners, and civil society and faith groups
leaders are properly heard, and academics with
relevant expertise in the field.