Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2025 (CC1) and to receive information arising from them.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2025 be approved and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cotter, Crichton, Ley, McLean, Sargent and Shiri.  Councillor Sargent observed the meeting online.

Members are reminded that they must declare their interests orally at the meeting and specify (a) the nature of the interest and (b) which items on the agenda are the relevant items. This applies also to items where members have interests by virtue of their membership of a district council in Oxfordshire.

Members should also note that at the Annual Council meeting on 20 May 2025, general dispensations to speak and vote on certain items were granted to all Oxfordshire County Council Members including:

· Determining an allowance (including special responsibility allowances), travelling expense, payment or indemnity given to Members

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair announced that Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had confirmed that the Oxfordshire local area partnership had taken effective action to make improvements in services and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. A monitoring inspection to assess progress began on 15 September and ended with onsite activity between 29 September and 1 October 2025. Ofsted and CQC found that the local area partnership had taken “effective action” in all five areas that were previously identified as priorities. Whilst the partnership  recognised there was more to do to ensure all children, parents and carers feel these changes, this was an important milestone which showed a positive direction of travel.

The Chair thanked everyone who came to his Charity Christmas Quiz, held on 3 December, which raised £730 for his chosen charities. This was the third of his charity quizzes. Together, they have now raised £2,000 for OXSRAD, Abingdon RDA, and Oxford United in the Community.

The Chair was honoured to lay a wreath at the Oxford Service of Remembrance on Remembrance Sunday this year and thanked councillors who likewise placed wreaths on his behalf in their divisions.

A list of the Chair’s Events since the last Council meeting in November was included in Annex 1.

The Chair also announced some coming events:

10 December from 12.45 pm, the Annual City and County Council Christmas Fun Run in Christ Church Meadows.

On Monday, 15 December, the Chair’s Christmas Carol Service at 6.30pm in St Nicholas Church in Marston.  All councillors were invited to attend.

Council had been notified of the passing on 19 November of former county councillor Roy Darke.  He was elected as a Labour Member for the Headington & Marston Division in 2009 but did not contest the election in 2013.  He served as a member of the Audit Committee, which then became the Audit & Governance Committee, and sat as a member of the Standards Committee and Pension Fund Committee at periods during his term of office.

He also served on Oxford City Council from 2002 to 2004 and again from 2008 to 2016; and Sheffield City Council from 1990 to 1994.  The Chair paid tribute to his years of service and Members stood for a minute’s silence.

To make any changes to the membership of scrutiny and other committees on the nomination of political groups and to note any changes to the Cabinet made by the Leader of the Council.

There were no appointments to be made.

Members of the public who wish to speak on an item on the agenda at this meeting, or present a petition, can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.

Requests to present a petition must be submitted no later than 9am ten working days before the meeting.

Requests to speak must be submitted no later than 9am three working days before the meeting.

Requests should be submitted to committeesdemocraticservices@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am on the day of the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

The Chair accepted a request from Becky Howard to present a petition on ‘Increase mentalhealth care capacity in Oxfordshire’

Becky Howard stated she arranged the petition after witnessing a series of violent incidents perpetrated by a man in schizophrenic crisis.  The petition requested NHS leaders to increase mental healthcare capacity in Oxfordshire by training more nurses, doctors and well-being professionals, opening more beds and recruiting more staff.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adults, responded that the petition raised issues that sat largely within NHS responsibilities.  Oxfordshire County Council works closely with the NHS with one of the biggest pooled budgets in the country.  Councillor Bearder stated that he would refer the petition to the Chief Officer and ask them to liaise with our NHS partners to get a response back to the petitioner.

The deadline to submit questions is 9am, five working days before the meeting i.e. 9am Tuesday 2 December 2025.

Eleven questions were asked. The questions, responses and supplementary questions are recorded in an Annex below.

Sixty-five questions were asked. The questions, responses and supplementary questions are recorded in an Annex below.

Report by the Leader of the Council.

The report includes items at the Cabinet meetings on 13 November 2025 and 18 November 2025.

Council received the report of the Cabinet covering its meetings for 13 November and 18 November 2025.

On Item 1: Local Government Reorganisation – Submission of Proposal to Government.

Councillor Pressel asked how the County Council thought it could possibly run a unitary council across the whole of Oxfordshire, when it had no proper building to work from. Councillor Leffman responded by saying that the unitary authority would decide where it was going to be based and there was no reason why Speedwell and other buildings in the Council’s possession should not be part of that consideration.

Councillor Evans asked that, given the Council's revised proposal to have 99 councillors for a unitary Oxfordshire Council, it was difficult to see how any of the proposals for local government reorganisation could go ahead without a boundary review. As such, Councillor Evans asked the Leader of the Council whether the Leader was confident that elections to a new authority would go ahead in May 2027.  Councillor Leffman responded by saying that the elections would go ahead in accordance with the current boundaries.

Councillor Malik asked, whether Councillor Leffman had managed to convince her Members to support the ‘one unitary’ bid proposal or whether the matter was still undecided. Councillor Leffman responded that it was the Government's decision as to the configuration of the new unitary and it was not for Councillor Leffman to persuade anybody.

Item 3: HR and Cultural Change - Quarterly Employee Data Report - Quarter 2 2025-26

Councillor Barlow noted that the non-disclosure of ethnicity increased from 8 to 10% and asked how that compared to other local authorities and similar sized organisations and whether any analysis of the reasons for that had been undertaken. Councillor Fawcett undertook to look into this matter further.

Councillor Kerr asked if Oxfordshire had plans, similar to South Cambridgeshire, to move to a 4-day week, which was working well, or to permit officers more flexible working arrangements, such as allowing staff to work from abroad during the Christmas break. Councillor Fawcett responded that the county council was very keen to give staff as much flexibility as possible in terms of their working arrangements. Furthermore, he said that in terms of the 4-day working week, while some of the data was positive, there were some question marks over the outcomes. However, he was open to looking into this matter further.

Councillor Pressel asked why the amount spent on expensive agency staff had gone up based on the report. Councillor Fawcett confirmed that there had been a slight increase in this quarterly report. However, he said the trend over the last few years, was going in the right direction and stronger practices were in place to monitor the situation.

Councillor Malik asked about access to technology, especially for the elderly, where staff worked from home. Councillor Malik wanted to know what could be done to make sure that people could have face to face interaction with the relevant officers. Councillor Fawcett responded that staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105/25

Report of the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

COUNCIL IS RECOMMENDED

to note that the Chair of the Council will consult with Political Group Leaders on a proposal to bring the Council meeting originally scheduled for 7 July 2026 forwards to 30 June 2026 in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.1.  This is in order to avoid a clash with the Local Government Association Annual Conference.

It was reported that, following discussions with the Political Group Leaders, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.1, the Chair of the Council had decided to bring forward the Council meeting originally scheduled for 7 July 2026, to 30 June 2026. This change was made in order to avoid a clash with the Local Government Association Annual Conference.

RESOLVED:

That it be noted that the Council meeting originally scheduled for 7 July 2026, be brought forward to 30 June 2026,in order to avoid a clash with the Local Government Association Annual Conference.

Report by the Chief Executive

This report seeks Council’s endorsement for Cabinet to approve the decision that Oxfordshire submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Government for a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA), attached as Annex B. This item is scheduled to be received for approval by Cabinet immediately following the rising of the Council meeting.

Council is RECOMMENDED to

a)              NOTE the draft Cabinet report (Annex A)

b)              RECOMMEND to Cabinet that it approves the submission of the Expression of Interest (EOI) (Annex B) to Government.

Council received a report requesting Cabinet to approve the decision that Oxfordshire submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Government for a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA).

The report was moved by Councillor Liz Leffman and seconded by Councillor Ben Higgins.

Following discussion, an electronic vote was taken.  The recommendations were approved with 60 votes in favour, 2 abstentions and no votes against.

RESOLVED:

a)       That the draft Cabinet report be noted.

b)       That Cabinet be recommended to approve the submission of the Expression of Interest (EOI)to Government, as set out in Annex 2 of the report

Report by the Director of HR and Cultural Change

The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017 stipulate that all businesses, public sector and third sector organisations with over 250 employees must publicly report on average pay differences between their male and female employees. 

Unlike the gender pay gap, the Council is not legally required to publish its ethnicity pay gap. However, positive steps have been taken to measure and be transparent about the Council’s performance in this area.  

Council is RECOMMENDED to

a)              Note Oxfordshire County Council’s statutory Gender Pay Gap report of 2025 and approve it for onward submission to the Gender Pay Gap Service by 31 March 2026. 

b)              Note the Council’s voluntary Ethnicity Pay Gap report of 2025.

c)              Agree to the publishing of both reports on the Council’s website by 31 March 2026.

Council had before it two reports, the Gender Pay Gap Report which the Council is legally required to publish, and the Ethnicity Pay Gap Report which the council also publishes to be transparent about the Council’s performance in this area.  

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Neil Fawcett and seconded by Councillor Liz Leffman.  Following discussion, the recommendations were approved with 61 votes in favour, one abstention and no votes against.

RESOLVED:

a) That Oxfordshire County Council’s statutory Gender Pay Gap report of 2025 be noted and approval be given to its onward submission to the Gender Pay Gap Service by 31 March 2026.

b) That the Council’s voluntary Ethnicity Pay Gap report of 2025, be noted.

c) That approval be given to the publishing of both reports on the Council’s website by 31 March 2026.

Report by the Executive Director of Resources & Section 151 Officer

This report sets out the position at 30 September 2025.  Throughout the report, the performance for the first half  of the year to September  2025 is measured against the budget agreed by Council in February 2025.

Council is RECOMMENDED to note the council’s treasury management activity in the first half of 2025/26.

Council received a report on the performance for the first half of the year to September 2025, measured against the budget agreed by Council in February 2025.

The report was moved by Councillor Dan Levy and seconded by Councillor Ben Higgins.

Following discussion, the recommendation was approved with 55 votes in favour, seven abstentions and no votes against.

RESOLVED:

That the Council’s treasury management activity in the first half of 2025/26, be noted

Report by the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

Each year, Full Council is required to adopt a Scheme of Members’ Allowances to apply from 1 April of the following year. In particular, it must set the amount of a Basic Allowance payable to all members and may make payments for Special Responsibility and Co-opted Members’ Allowances.  Accordingly, this report asks members to adopt a Scheme of Allowances to apply from 1 April 2026. 

The Council is RECOMMENDED to adopt a Scheme of Members’ Allowances for the financial year 2026/27, and in so doing to consider the following options, either:

1)                  To adopt the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel made in November 2025 and as set out in Annex 1 to this report; OR

2)                  To adopt any particular recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel as the Council may determine; OR

3)                  To agree alternative values for any of the allowances, as the Council may determine; OR

4)                  If the Council does not wish to accept the Panel’s recommendations at this time, in whole or in part, or to substitute alternative amounts, to agree a status quo Scheme of Allowances for 2026/27 for any unchanged aspect; AND

5)                  That in any event, the Council adopts an annual index for a four year period (whereby if no other changes occur to a Scheme, then the Members’ Allowances may increase in relation to that index for a period of no more than four years), and that this should relate (as in previous years) to the annual pay award for local government staff. If adopted, the increase will be in line with the percentage rise in overall employee costs for Oxfordshire County Council arising from the annual Local Government Pay Award for staff and that this should take effect from the date on which the award for staff similarly takes effect.

Council considered a report of the Independent Remuneration Panel proposing a Scheme of Members’ Allowances to apply from 1 April 2026 for a maximum of a four-year period. The report set out options in relation to implementation covered in recommendations 1 to 4, of the report.

The Chair noted a correction in Appendix 1 to the report, page 99 in the agenda pack, in the list of scrutiny chairs in the table, “Health” should be replaced by “People”.    The Chair also reminded Members that Annex 2 to the report, the Equality Impact Assessment, was published in an Addenda.

Councillor Liz Leffman moved recommendations 1 and 5 in the report, for approval.  These were seconded by Councillor Neil Fawcett.  Following discussion, an electronic vote was taken.  Recommendations 1 and 5 were approved with 44 votes in favour, 17 abstentions and no votes against.

RESOLVED:

1) That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel made in November 2025, and as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be adopted.;

5) That the Council adopts an annual index for a four year period (whereby if no other changes occur to a Scheme, then the Members’ Allowances may increase in relation to that index for a period of no more than four years), and that this should relate (as in previous years) to the annual pay award for local government staff. The increase will be in line with the percentage rise in overall employee costs for Oxfordshire County Council arising from the annual Local Government Pay Award for staff and that this should take effect from the date on which the award for staff similarly takes effect.

Report from the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer

This report proposes some changes to the role and function of Member Champions and clarifies the appointment process for future Member Champions.

Council is RECOMMENDED to:

amend the Council’s Constitution to replace part 8.5, Member Champion Role with the text in Appendix 2.

Council had before it a report proposing some changes to the role and function of Member Champions and clarifying the appointment process for future Member Champions.

The report was moved by Councillor Liz Leffman and seconded by Councillor Neil Fawcett.  Following discussion, the recommendation was approved unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That the Council’s Constitution be amended to replace part 8.5, Member Champion Role with the text set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

Council notes that in July 2025 a judicial review upheld the Secretary Of State for the Environment’s decision to approve the proposed Thames Water Resources Management Plan which includes the South East Strategic Reservoir Option in Abingdon.?? 

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As a result, Thames Water has to have an Emergency Discharge facility in place including the ability to empty the reservoir at a rate of 1 metre per day, possibly over a period of 3 to 4 weeks. This would put water back into the Thames at a rate of 75 m³/s just south of Abingdon c.3x greater than its normal flow.? 

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Such a discharge could cause havoc along the Thames, endangering Life, residences, businesses, wildlife and the environment, yet there is no requirement for the reservoir operator to have an emergency plan before building the reservoir, only before filling it. Dealing with the emergency in the wider area will be the responsibility of this Council as the local emergency planning authority along with the emergency services.?? 

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This Council makes clear its deep concern that we could be made responsible by default for safely managing such an emergency, leaving us with impossible decisions about which lives, homes and businesses to save in a crisis situation.?? 

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We therefore call on the Leader to write to the Secretary of State to request clarity on how such an emergency discharge would be managed and to provide a commitment that we will be provided with the resources to do so before any Development Consent Order is considered.? 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Gavin McLauchlan and seconded by Councillor Peter Stevens.

“Council notes that in July 2025 a judicial review upheld the Secretary Of State for the Environment’s decision to approve the proposed Thames Water Resources Management Plan which includes the South-East Strategic Reservoir Option in Abingdon.?? 

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As a result, Thames Water has to have an Emergency Discharge facility in place including the ability to empty the reservoir at a rate of 1 metre per day, possibly over a period of 3 to 4 weeks. This would put water back into the Thames at a rate of 75 m³/s just south of Abingdon c.3x greater than its normal flow.? 

?? 

Such a discharge could cause havoc along the Thames, endangering Life, residences, businesses, wildlife and the environment, yet there is no requirement for the reservoir operator to have an emergency plan before building the reservoir, only before filling it. Dealing with the emergency in the wider area will be the responsibility of this Council as the local emergency planning authority along with the emergency services.?? 

?? 

This Council makes clear its deep concern that we could be made responsible by default for safely managing such an emergency, leaving us with impossible decisions about which lives, homes and businesses to save in a crisis situation.?? 

?? 

We therefore call on the Leader to write to the Secretary of State to request clarity on how such an emergency discharge would be managed and to provide a commitment that we will be provided with the resources to do so before any Development Consent Order is considered.”? 

Following discussion, an electronic vote was taken.  The motion was carried with 61 votes in favour, no abstentions and none against.

Council notes that:? 

• Oxfordshire residents have endured successive crises in recent years: Covid, the cost-of-living emergency, underfunding of public services by successive governments, leaving many residents in precarious situations, creating a climate of uncertainty and fear.? 

• Research shows that rising inequality fuels support for far-right movements, eroding trust in institutions and creating fertile ground for scapegoating and division.? 

• Against this backdrop, right-wing media and far-right groups have wrongly blamed migrant communities to further their agendas.? 

• Extensive research, including the Migration Observatory’s 2024 study, finds that migration contributes positively to the UK economy by expanding the labour force, addressing skill shortages, and supporting productivity and growth, with little evidence of wage suppression for native workers. Migrants’ net fiscal impact is generally positive, with greater contributions in taxes than cost to public services.? 

• Oxfordshire is proud to be the first County Council of Sanctuary, committed to ensuring that everyone who lives here, whether newly arrived or long settled, is treated fairly.? 

? 

Council therefore resolves to:? 

• Recognise the risks to our communities if the disinformation, suspicion, and intolerance disinformation generates go unchallenged, and commit to addressing them wherever they occur.? 

• Work with partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities and that racism is confronted wherever it occurs, in schools, workplaces, and on our streets.? 

• Request that Cabinet supports the co-production of a community cohesion action plan with key stakeholders in consultation with councillors, including actions to support community-led dialogue and ensure appropriate resourcing is considered during budget setting.? 

Note: The motion, if passed, would constitute the exercise of an executive function in which case it will be referred to the Cabinet together with any advice the Council may wish to give, in accordance with Rule 13.5.1 (i) of the Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Maggie Filipova-Rivers and seconded by Councillor Emma Markham.

“Council notes that:? 

• Oxfordshire residents have endured successive crises in recent years: Covid, the cost-of-living emergency, underfunding of public services by successive governments, leaving many residents in precarious situations, creating a climate of uncertainty and fear.? 

• Research shows that rising inequality fuels support for far-right movements, eroding trust in institutions and creating fertile ground for scapegoating and division.? 

• Against this backdrop, right-wing media and far-right groups have wrongly blamed migrant communities to further their agendas.? 

• Extensive research, including the Migration Observatory’s 2024 study, finds that migration contributes positively to the UK economy by expanding the labour force, addressing skill shortages, and supporting productivity and growth, with little evidence of wage suppression for native workers. Migrants’ net fiscal impact is generally positive, with greater contributions in taxes than cost to public services.? 

• Oxfordshire is proud to be the first County Council of Sanctuary, committed to ensuring that everyone who lives here, whether newly arrived or long settled, is treated fairly.? 

? 

Council therefore resolves to:? 

• Recognise the risks to our communities if the disinformation, suspicion, and intolerance disinformation generates go unchallenged, and commit to addressing them wherever they occur.? 

• Work with partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities and that racism is confronted wherever it occurs, in schools, workplaces, and on our streets.? 
• Request that Cabinet supports the co-production of a community cohesion action plan with key stakeholders in consultation with councillors, including actions to support community-led dialogue and ensure appropriate resourcing is considered during budget setting.”
  
  

Following discussion, an electronic vote was taken.  The motion was carried with 49 votes in favour, two abstentions and 10 votes against.  The motion was referred to Cabinet.

This Council being deeply concerned by the impact of poor mental health on adults and children in the County asks the Health and Wellbeing Board to request the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate and report back to them and to the County Council on how Mental Health services provided by Oxford Health and other organisations are tackling this issue.? 

Such an investigation of issues needs to include addressing accessibility to services including 

• Prevention 

• Assessment 

• Therapeutic support 

• Medication 

• Emergency intervention such as "sectioning" 

• Inpatient beds 

How these issues impact?on other public services such Community Safety, Public Health, Housing, Schools, Fire and Rescue and the Police also needs to be assessed and understood. Most of all poor mental health impacts on individuals, families,?and communities around the County and this must be addressed.? 

Council requests that the outcome of the investigation be sent to the appropriate Secretaries of State.? 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Liz Brighouse and seconded by Councillor Izzy Creed.

“This Council being deeply concerned by the impact of poor mental health on adults and children in the County asks the Health and Wellbeing Board to request the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate and report back to them and to the County Council on how Mental Health services provided by Oxford Health and other organisations are tackling this issue.? 

Such an investigation of issues needs to include addressing accessibility to services including 

• Prevention 

• Assessment 

• Therapeutic support 

• Medication 

• Emergency intervention such as "sectioning" 

• Inpatient beds 

How these issues impact?on other public services such Community Safety, Public Health, Housing, Schools, Fire and Rescue and the Police also needs to be assessed and understood. Most of all poor mental health impacts on individuals, families,?and communities around the County and this must be addressed.? 

Council requests that the outcome of the investigation be sent to the appropriate Secretaries of State.”

Following discussion, an electronic vote was taken.  The motion was carried with 61 votes in favour, no abstentions and none against.

?
The time being 3.30 pm, the following motions were not considered in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 5.2.

Council notes that: 

• November is Men’s Health Awareness Month (“Movember”), raising awareness of key issues affecting men and boys, including mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. 

• Men across Oxfordshire, as nationally, continue to experience significant health challenges, including lower healthy life expectancy and a greater likelihood of living more years in poor health. 

• Men are statistically less likely to seek help for both physical and mental health issues. This is especially true in rural communities, where access to services may be more limited and traditional stigma around help-seeking can be stronger. 

• Men continue to account for the majority of suicide deaths, demonstrating the urgent need for early intervention, better support, and improved signposting to local services.? 

Council welcomes the work already taking place across Oxfordshire to support men’s physical and mental health. 

Council resolves to:? 

1. Request Cabinet to recognise November each year as “Men’s Health Month in Oxfordshire”, working with NHS partners, veteran groups, charities, and community organisations to promote awareness, early intervention, and personal responsibility for health and wellbeing.? 

2. Request Cabinet to seek a standalone report from the Director of Public Health on men’s health outcomes in Oxfordshire, including mental health, suicide prevention, cancer awareness, rural and urban access to services, and practical recommendations that strengthen early help and reduce health inequalities.? 

3. Ask the Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care giving this council’s support for the introduction of the government’s National Men’s Health Strategy.? 

Note: The motion, if passed, would constitute the exercise of an executive function in which case it will be referred to the Cabinet together with any advice the Council may wish to give, in accordance with Rule 13.5.1 (i) of the Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution.

Pride in the appearance of the public realm is important to our residents. Clean and well-maintained pavements make people feel good about their neighbourhood, reduce accidents, and prevent more costly problems later. Neglect leads to uneven footways, hazards for those with mobility difficulties, and higher long-term repair bills. 

Routine weed clearance on county pavements was part of highways maintenance until 2007/08, when budget cuts removed the programme. Some parishes now commission their own weed spraying and may be using glyphosate, increasingly opposed by residents because of its risks to health, pets, rivers, and biodiversity. Other parishes are now beginning to trial alternative approaches. 

Council resolves to: 

1. Note the historic withdrawal of routine weed clearance and the resulting concerns about accessibility, safety, and neighbourhood appearance. 

2. Recognise the Council’s statutory duty to keep pavements free of hazards, and that neglect increases both risks and costs. 

3. Request Cabinet to seek an officer report with options for re-establishing pavement weed clearance and scheduled maintenance, including alternatives to glyphosate, and how the Council can support towns and parishes to reduce reliance on chemical spraying. 

4. Request that the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation give due consideration to the findings of this report as part of the next round of budget setting. 

Note: The motion, if passed, would constitute the exercise of an executive function in which case it will be referred to the Cabinet together with any advice the Council may wish to give, in accordance with Rule 13.5.1 (i) of the Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution.