Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dan Levy.

- guidance note below

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 20 March and 22 April 2025 and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes of the meetings held on 20 March and 22 April 2025 were approved as a correct record.

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am three working days before the meeting, ask a question on an item on the agenda.

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

See annex.

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.

7 – Report from Scrutiny Committee - Place OSC report to Cabinet - Transport Working Group

Amanda Chumas

Danny Yee

9 – Traffic Filter Trial Delay – Mitigation Proposals

City Councillor Lubna Arshad

Ian Loader

City Councillor Katherine Miles

John Center

Luke Marion

Sajad Khan

Becky Carlyle

Jeremy Mogford

Danny Yee

Patrick Lingwood

Robin Tucker

Aeron Buchanan

Anne Gwinnett

Emily Scaysbrook

Duncan Parkes

Chris Hanson

Councillor Emily Kerr

Councillor David Henwood

Councillor Emma Garnett

Councillor James Fry

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/030

Contact: Chris Reynolds, Senior Democratic Services Officer, chris.reynolds@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer

The Annex provided in the agenda pack contains the list of the bodies to which appointments will be made.  The nominations will be circulated in advance of the meeting.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the appointments to the bodies set out in the Annex to this report.

Cabinet had before it a report asks the Cabinet to consider member appointments to a variety of bodies which in different ways supported. the discharge of the Council’s executive functions.

Councillor Leffman moved, and Councillor Gregory seconded the recommendation, and it was approved.

RESOLVED to agree the appointments to the bodies set out in the Annex to the report.

Cabinet will receive the following Scrutiny reports:-

Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on:-

a)    Report of the Virtual School – to follow

b)    Update of Children's Homes – to follow

c)    Home to School Transport Policy – to follow if the Committee makes recommendations on Friday

Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on:-

d)     Local Enterprise Partnership Integration – to follow

e)    Business Management and Monitoring Report – to follow

Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on:-

f)     Report of the Transport Working Group - attached

g)    s.106 Improvement Project - attached

h)    Rail Strategy – to follow

Cabinet received the following Scrutiny reports and will respond in due course:-

Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on:-

a)    Report of the Virtual School

b)    Update of Children's Homes

c)    Home to School Transport Policy

Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on:-

d)     Local Enterprise Partnership Integration

e)    Business Management and Monitoring Report

Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on:-

f)      Report of the Transport Working Group

g)    s.106 Improvement Project

h)    Rail Strategy

Cabinet Member: Children and Young People

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/076

Contact: Stephen Good, Home to School Transport Programme Manager

Stephen.good@oxfordshire,gov.uk

Report by Director of Children’s Services

The existing Home to School Transport Policies were last consulted upon in 2014 (Compulsory School Age) and 2018 (Post 16). DfE Guidance was last updated in 2019 for Post 16 Travel and in 2023 and 2024 for Compulsory School Age.

Local authorities should keep their school travel policy under regular review to ensure it continues to meet local needs and comply with statutory requirements. Due to the significant time that had passed since the previous consultations, a review of the policies was undertaken in 2024. The purpose of the review was to ensure alignment with the Council’s statutory obligations and identify existing areas of discretionary provision.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED TO

a)            ENDORSE the recommendations following analysis of the public consultation feedback in relation to the Home to School Travel and Transport Policy 2025/26 onwards for Reception to Year 11.

b)           AGREE to the adoption of the proposed Post 16 Transport Policy Statement Academic Year 2026/27, which reflects the consultation analysis recommendations to not introduce a contribution charge for those eligible for support under this policy.

Cabinet had before it a report on a review of the Council’s Home to School Transport Policies. These were last consulted upon in 2014 (Compulsory School Age) and 2018 (Post 16). Department for Education Guidance was last updated in 2019 for Post 16 Travel and in 2023 and 2024 for Compulsory School Age.

Local authorities were required to keep their school travel policy under regular review to ensure it continued to meet local needs and comply with statutory requirements. Due to the significant time that had passed since the previous consultations, a review of the policies was undertaken in 2024. The purpose of the review was to ensure alignment with the Council’s statutory obligations and identify existing areas of discretionary provision.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the report.  The report reflected extensive analysis and consultation feedback on the revisions to the Home to School Transport Policy.

He said that the report highlighted that 60% of respondents to the consultation opposed the introduction of charges for post-16 transport.

During discussion, the following points were made:-

·       Councillor Liz Brighouse, Chair of the Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommended an annual review of the policy. She also suggested more flexibility in the policy to accommodate individual circumstances, such as the example of siblings traveling separately to the same school. 

·       Another member expressed satisfaction with the extensive consultation process and the decision not to introduce contribution charges. The importance of considering the lived experiences of those affected by the policy was emphasised. 

Councillor Gaul moved and Councillor Gregory seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)             endorse the recommendations following analysis of the public consultation feedback in relation to the Home to School Travel and Transport Policy 2025/26 onwards for Reception to Year 11.

b)             agree to the adoption of the proposed Post 16 Transport Policy Statement Academic Year 2026/27, which reflects the consultation analysis recommendations to not introduce a contribution charge for those eligible for support under this policy.

Cabinet Member: Transport Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/113

Contact: Aron Wisdom, Programme Lead – Central

Aron.wisdom@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Environment and Highways

Network Rail’s ongoing closure of Botley Road at Oxford station means Cabinet’s November 2022 decision to introduce six trial traffic filters in Oxford cannot be implemented until at least August 2026.

Officers have reviewed a range of potential options to mitigate this situation, and the recommended options to pursue (subject to consultation and development) have been identified.  This report outlines the background, the need for intervention, and the options considered.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)           Authorise officers to carry out a public consultation on a proposal to temporarily implement a congestion charging scheme using the systems and infrastructure developed for the traffic filter trial, to mitigate the impact of the delay of the traffic filter trial while Botley Road remains closed.

b)           Authorise officers to develop the minor schemes as outlined in paragraph 13 (e) to (i)

c)           Request officers to develop an ‘income spending strategy’ which will focus the net surplus income on reducing the costs of bus travel, including potential park and ride incentives, in accordance with relevant legislation.

Network Rail’s ongoing closure of Botley Road at Oxford station meant that Cabinet’s November 2022 decision to introduce six trial traffic filters in Oxford could not be implemented until at least August 2026.

Officers had reviewed a range of potential options to mitigate this situation, and the recommended options to pursue (subject to consultation and development) had been identified.  Cabinet received a report outlining the background, the need for intervention, and the options considered.

.

Cabinet was addressed by a number of members of the public and councillors on the proposals.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, presented the report. He outlined, in detail, the reasons for the proposed temporary implementation of a congestion charging scheme using the infrastructure developed for the traffic filter trial.

During discussion, the following points were made:-

·       the need to reduce congestion and improve bus services was emphasised

·       Members highlighted the historical context and previous support for traffic reduction measures in Oxford.

The Chair highlighted the lack of any credible alternative proposals and the need to tackle congestion in Oxford.

Councillor Gant moved and Councillor Bearder seconded the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    authorise officers to carry out a public consultation on a proposal to temporarily implement a congestion charging scheme using the systems and infrastructure developed for the traffic filter trial, to mitigate the impact of the delay of the traffic filter trial while Botley Road remains closed.

b)    authorise officers to develop the minor schemes as outlined in paragraph 13 (e) to (i)

c)    request officers to develop an ‘income spending strategy’ which will focus the net surplus income on reducing the costs of bus travel, including potential park and ride incentives, in accordance with relevant legislation.

Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member for Resources and Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/042

Contact: Cherie Cuthbertson, Director of HR and Cultural Change

Cherie.cuthbertson@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer

This report provides an overview of the progress towards delivering the Our People and Culture Strategy (as measured by the achievement of its key performance indicators) and summarises the main employee-related trends for Q4 2024/25.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

Cabinet had before it a report which provided an overview of the progress towards delivering the Our People and Culture Strategy (as measured by the achievement of its key performance indicators) and summarised the main employee-related trends for Q4 2024/25.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Resources and Deputy Leader, presented the report.  He commented, in particular, on the positive trends illustrated in the report including the reductions in agency staff spend and staff turnover.

During discussion, members made the following comments:-

·       the significant increase in the utilisation of the apprenticeship levy, from 66.5% in the previous year to 89.6% in the current year. 

·       An apprentice from the Council won an award for their achievements, showcasing the success of the apprenticeship program.  

·       the positive working relationship with trade unions, who provided constructive feedback and worked collaboratively with the Council.  

Councillor Fawcett moved and Councillor Leffman seconded the recommendation, and it was approved.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Cabinet Member: Finance, Property and Transformation

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/098

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Head of Corporate Finance

Kathy.wilcox@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Executive Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer

This report presents the year-end position for 2024/25 performance, risk, and finance position for the council.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Note the report and annexes including the council’s Annual Report for 2024/25 (Annex D).

b)   Note the summary of the provisional year-end financial position for 2024/25 along with the year-end position on general balances and earmarked reserves (Annex B).

c)    Approve the following proposals relating to reserves and the use of general balances:

                       i.                Add the £1.8m underspend against budgeted funding for investments in 2024/25 to the Budget Priorities reserve for use in 2025/26 (Annex B Paragraph 12).

                     ii.                Agree that the £1.2m 2024/25 On-Street Parking Account surplus, that has not yet been applied to fund eligible expenditure in accordance with Section 55(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, is carried forward to 2025/26 as set out in Annex B-3c (Annex B Paragraph 64).

                    iii.                Approve the use of one - off funding from General Balances to support Innovate Oxfordshire (£0.5m) and the Business and Intellectual Property Centre (£0.1m) (Annex B Paragraph 14).

The business management reports were part of a suite of performance, risk and finance documents which set out the council’s ambitions, priorities, and financial performance.

Cabinet had before it a report which presented the year-end position for 2024/25 performance, risk, and finance for the council. It also provided the council’s Annual Report for 2024/25.

In the absence of the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of the Council, presented the report. She highlighted the following points from the report:-

·       Oxfordshire County Council remained the top-performing waste disposal authority for the 11th consecutive year, with nearly 58% of household waste being recycled, reused, or composted.  

·        Progress was being made on the Vision Zero initiative to improve road safety and reduce road traffic accidents.  

·       £106,530 in grants had been awarded to maintain community transport services.  

·       The Council became the first County Council to be awarded Authority of Sanctuary status.  

·        Digital and information support sessions have been rolled out in libraries, with several libraries undergoing refurbishment.  

·       Oxfordshire had become a Marmot Place, focusing on reducing health inequalities.  

·       The longest waiting time for social care assessments has been reduced to 42 days, an 80% reduction over the last four years.  

·       The quality of education healthcare plans has improved, with 44% rated good or outstanding in November 2024, compared to 21% in July 2023.  

Councillor Leffman reported that the Council reported an underspend of £0.3 million for 2024-2025, with a £12.5 million underspend on corporate budgets due to unused contingency and higher-than-expected income from interest on cash balances.   £20.1 million of the planned £30.1 million savings were delivered in 2024-2025. Some savings were delayed due to timing issues, such as the introduction of lane rental charges.  

After accounting for the underspend, general balances were £15.1 million above the risk-assessed level of £30.2 million, putting the Council in a strong financial position.  

The high needs deficit for 2024-2025 was £36.5 million, increasing the cumulative negative balance to £92.3 million. The Council awaited government action to address this national issue.  

Members noted that the Cheers M’Dears community support service in Banbury had won the MJ Award for Innovation in Children's and Adult Services and that two graduates were runners-up in the Young Local Authority of the Year Awards.

During discussion, a member highlighted that Oxfordshire County Council remained the top council in the Climate Emergency Scorecards, with an improved score from the previous year.  

Councillor Leffman moved, and Councillor Roberts seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)             Note the report and annexes including the council’s Annual Report for 2024/25 (Annex D).

b)            Note the summary of the provisional year-end financial position for 2024/25 along with the year-end position on general balances and earmarked reserves (Annex B).

c)             Approve the following proposals relating to reserves and the use of general balances:

                                i.           Add the £1.8m underspend against budgeted funding for investments in 2024/25 to the Budget Priorities reserve for use in 2025/26 (Annex B Paragraph 12).

                               ii.           Agree that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87/25

Cabinet Member: Finance, Property and Transformation

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/079

Contact: Natalie Crawford, Capital Programme Manager

Natalie.crawford@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer

The ten-year Capital Programme sets out the agreed capital investment to deliver the priorities identified in the council’s Capital and Investment Strategy.  This report updates on the performance against the programme shown in the latest monitoring report for 2024/25 and also compares back to the capital programme agreed by Council in February 2024.  Figures shown reflect those to be included in the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2024/25.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    note the performance against the capital programme for 2024/25 as set out in the report.

b)   note the Capital Programme Provisional Outturn Summary for 2024/25 as set out in:

Annex 1a: Strategy Programmes Expenditure

Annex 1b: Capital Financing

Annex 1c: Strategy / Programme Level Reporting during the year

The ten-year Capital Programme set out the agreed capital investment to deliver the priorities identified in the council’s Capital and Investment Strategy.  Cabinet received a report which provided an update on the performance against the programme shown in the latest monitoring report for 2024/25 and also compared back to the capital programme agreed by Council in February 2024. 

In the absence of the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of the Council, presented the report. She referred to the significant number of schemes which had been delivered including additional school places and progress on various major infrastructure projects.

Councillor Leffman also referred to the Schools Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme and schemes delivered through the Children's Home Programme

Councillor Leffman moved, and Councillor Roberts seconded the recommendations, and they were accepted.

RESOLVED to:

a)             note the performance against the capital programme for 2024/25 as set out in the report.

b)            note the Capital Programme Provisional Outturn Summary for 2024/25 as set out in:

Annex 1a: Strategy Programmes Expenditure

Annex 1b: Capital Financing

Annex 1c: Strategy / Programme Level Reporting

Cabinet Member: Finance, Property and Transformation

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/124

Contact: Natalie Crawford, Capital Programme Manager, natalie.crawford@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer

The Capital Programme was approved by Council in February 2025 and will be updated during the year through the capital programme and monitoring reports.  This report sets out change requests requiring Cabinet approval that will be incorporated into the agreed programme and included in the next update to the Capital Programme in July 2025.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)               to approve the inclusion of a programme of work into the capital programme with an indicative budget of £5.906m to be funded from the Traffic Congestion Improvement Fund (TCIF), agreed through Council in February 2024.

b)              to note the proposed schemes to be delivered under the TCIF programme of work.

c)               approve a budget increase of £1.800m for the Access to Witney Scheme from £25.025m to £26.825m to be funded by incorporating £1.800m from the Traffic Congestion Improvement Fund.

d)              approve the inclusion of the Benson Lane Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) into the capital programme, with an indicative budget of £1.232m, to be funded by a combination of developer contributions, Transport Provision funding, BSIP programme funds and the Traffic Congestion Improvement Fund.

The Capital Programme was approved by Council in February 2025 and will be updated during the year through the capital programme and monitoring reports.  This report sets out change requests requiring Cabinet approval that will be incorporated into the agreed programme and included in the next update to the Capital Programme in July 2025.

In the absence of the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of the Council, presented the report. She referred to the various schemes requiring approval and inclusion in the capital programme.

Councillor Leffman moved, and Councillor Roberts seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    approve the inclusion of a programme of work into the capital programme with an indicative budget of £5.906m to be funded from the Traffic Congestion Improvement Fund (TCIF), agreed through Council in February 2024.

b)    note the proposed schemes to be delivered under the TCIF programme of work.

c)    approve a budget increase of £1.800m for the Access to Witney Scheme from £25.025m to £26.825m to be funded by incorporating £1.800m from the Traffic Congestion Improvement Fund.

d)    approve the inclusion of the Benson Lane Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) into the capital programme, with an indicative budget of £1.232m, to be funded by a combination of developer contributions, Transport Provision funding, BSIP programme funds and the Traffic Congestion Improvement Fund.

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Chris Reynolds, Senior Democratic Services Officer, chris.reynolds@oxfordshire.gov.uk

The Cabinet Procedure Rules provide that the business of each meeting at the Cabinet is to include “updating of the Forward Plan and proposals for business to be conducted at the following meeting”.   Items from the Forward Plan for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet appear in the Schedule at CA13.  This includes any updated information relating to the business for those meetings that has already been identified for inclusion in the next Forward Plan update.

The Schedule is for noting, but Cabinet Members may also wish to take this opportunity to identify any further changes they would wish to be incorporated in the next Forward Plan update.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

The Cabinet considered a list of items for the immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet together with changes and additions set out in the schedule of addenda.

RESOLVED to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

There are two Cabinet responses provided:

• Network management (Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

• Local Area Partnership SEND Update (Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

Cabinet noted the following responses to Scrutiny items:-

a)    Network management (Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

b)    Local Area Partnership SEND Update (Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee)