Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/134

Contact: Hugh Potter, Area Stewardship Hub Team Leader Tel: 07766 998704

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CA8).

The report seeks approval to enter into an Agency Agreement with Oxford City Council to enable them to undertake, and be responsible for, the routine and reactive maintenance of and undertake minor schemes on all classified urban roads within the City boundary, including trees and public rights of way.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to: 

(a)          Approve in principle the Agency Agreement with Oxford City Council for highway maintenance on the classified road network in Oxford subject to the proposed review and monitoring as set out in the report; and

(b)         Delegate authority to the Director for Infrastructure Delivery and the Director for Law & Governance in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment to give final approval to the Agency Agreement.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to enter into an Agency Agreement with Oxford City Council to enable them to undertake, and be responsible for, the routine and reactive maintenance of and undertake minor schemes on all classified urban roads within the City boundary, including trees and public rights of way.

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, welcomed the proposal as sensible, simple and efficient. However he disagreed with the level of revenue funding for the Oxford City Council area when compared to the District Council areas. He argued that the level of funding be based on usage rather than the number of miles of roads in an area. Additional funding was needed together with a more favourable allocation of the funds in the Oxford City area.

Councillor Hudspeth, Leader of the County Council, replied that the current basis provided an equitable method of allocating funds. He pointed out that with the greater co-operation it would be possible for the City Council to put in additional funding. Cabinet Members supported the current allocation method for funds and welcomed the proposed agency agreement.

RESOLVED:                        to: 

(a)          Approve in principle the Agency Agreement with Oxford City Council for highway maintenance on the classified road network in Oxford subject to the proposed review and monitoring as set out in the report; and

(b)          Delegate authority to the Director for Infrastructure Delivery and the Director for Law & Governance in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment to give final approval to the Agency Agreement.