Issue - meetings

Cabinet Members: Infrastructure and Development Strategy & Transport Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/059

Contact: Carole Stow, Engagement and Consultation Manager

Carole.stow@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Public Affairs, Policy and Partnerships and Director of Environment and Highways (CA9)

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    Commit to considering and responding to the key recommendations of the travel and transport citizens’ assembly included in Annex A to this report.

b)    Formally request that Place and Overview Scrutiny Committee consider the council’s response to the assembly recommendations, prior to approval by Cabinet in July 2025.

c)    Record its thanks to the residents who participated in the travel and transport citizens’ assembly.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report which provided an update on the first ever citizens’ assembly organised by Oxfordshire County Council. The report described the process followed, presented the key recommendations from the assembly and set out how the Council intended to respond to them using a structured framework.

34 Oxfordshire residents selected by democratic lottery took part in the assembly. The assembly's purpose was to make recommendations on how the vision and targets set out in the council’s local transport and connectivity plan (LTCP) could be achieved in ways that best met the needs and preferences of the people of Oxfordshire and other stakeholders. Part of the scope of the assembly was to consider congestion in central Oxfordshire and the core schemes in the central Oxfordshire travel plan.

Cabinet was addressed by a number of speakers who emphasised the importance of informing the public about transport policy and the need for accurate information dissemination.  Some speakers criticised the Citizens Assembly process, claiming it was not conducted as intended and lacked meaningful debate.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, presented the report. Councillor Gant responded to the speakers, defending the Citizens Assembly process and emphasising that it was conducted independently and properly.

The Engagement and Consultation Manager answered a number of questions about the conduct of the assembly and its recommendations.

During discussion, members highlighted the importance of the assembly and its role in improving communication with the public. They also praised the diversity and representation within the process.

Councillor Gant moved and Councillor Sudbury seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    commit to considering and responding to the key recommendations of the travel and transport citizens’ assembly included in Annex A to the report.

b)    formally request that Place and Overview Scrutiny Committee consider the council’s response to the assembly recommendations, prior to consideration by Cabinet in July 2025.

c)     record its thanks to the residents who participated in the travel and transport citizens’ assembly.