Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies received.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2022 (CA3) and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2022 were approved with the following amendments:

a) Page 15, first paragraph, add:

“His reasons for abstaining were that he did not believe that the Council should be putting £30m of its own capital into the scheme.  It should be put into climate adaptation.  He was also not sure that the Council would have the confidence to be as ruthless as it needed to be to get the level of modal shift.”

b) Corrections to the spelling of Councillor Miller’s surname.

See Annex

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection. 

To facilitate ‘hybrid’ meetings we are asking that requests to speak are submitted by no later than 9am four working days before the meeting i.e., 9am on Wednesday 13 July 2022.  Requests to speak should be sent to colm.ocaomhanaigh@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 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

A petition was received from David Henwood with regard to the Cowley LTN.

The Chair agreed to the following requests to speak:

6. Cowley LTN Experimental TRO

James Schumann

Richard Parnham

Duncan Parkes

Matthew Webb

City Cllr Louise Upton

City Cllr Ajaz Rehman

Ella Sinclair

City Cllr Lubna Arshad

Kamruz Zaman

Hannah Cole

Cllr Linda Smith

Danny Yee

Bashir Ahmed

Robin Tucker

Hazel Dawe

Michael Buick

Shams Uddin

Chris Heron

Anna Railton

Sarah Lockyer

Scott Urban

City Cllr Saj Malik

Judith Harley

Sadiea Mustafa-Awan

Qasim Mohammed

Amir Khan

Tina Reid

Michael Evans

Salman Naqvi

Patrick Vale

Jenny Saunders

John Skinner

Anne Stares

Cllr Charlie Hicks

Cllr Dan Levy

Cllr Brad Baines

7. Reports from Scrutiny Committees

Climate Reduction Targets: Cllr Yvonne Constance

LTCP: Cllr Charlie Hicks

Equality Diversity & Inclusion: Cllr Michael O’Connor

Voluntary & Community Sector Strategy: Cllr Ian Corkin

Digital Inclusion Strategy: Cllr Ian Corkin

9. Capital Programme

City Cllr Katherine Miles

Robin Tucker

17. Didcot Garden Town HIF

Cllr Charlie Hicks

Cabinet Member: Highway Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/051

Contact: Naomi Barnes, Project Manager, 07824528681

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place.

*** The Annexes are published as Supplementary Documents due to their number and length. ***

To make permanent or remove.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)              Incorporate the provisions of the current Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO) into a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for the Church Cowley, Florence Park and Temple Cowley areas that are Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).

b)              Undertake further community and stakeholder engagement in order to further refine and improve the scheme, with any changes to be implemented by Spring 2023.

c)              Undertake a process of monitoring and reviewing all elements of the scheme, and to bring forward proposals for changes through the consultation process which may include (but not necessarily be limited to): replacing some hard closures with ANPR-controlled traffic filters; reviewing the exact location of some installations within a road; replacing others with elements such as parklets in order to deliver public realm improvements

The current Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO) covering the Cowley schemes were due to come to an end in September.  Cabinet was asked to choose one of two options, these being to: either incorporate the ETRO into a TRO; or to remove the schemes altogether.

Before the discussion commenced, the Leader noted that Page 4 of the Cowley 2021 report contained a human error in miscalculation in the table relating to support for the Church Cowley LTN filters. There was an error in the percentage totals, which should read 47% support and 53% oppose, and not 36% support and 64% oppose. This amendment will be made to the original report published online and has been subsequently amended in this 2022 report.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, proposed amendments to remove two terms in relation to burials within the Muslim tradition which were incorrect.  He apologised on behalf of the Council for their inclusion.

Councillor Gant proposed and Councillor Pete Sudbury seconded the following amendment which was agreed:

In Supplementary Documents for Item 6 Part 2, Annex 7, page 126

section headed "Religion or belief"

In column 4, delete word "crematorium" and replace with "burial ground"

In column 5, delete entirely the paragraph "Liaise with Crematorium regarding later hours and portable lighting in the winter could allow ceremonies to be completed".

David Henwood presented a petition with over 3,500 signatures calling for a reversal of the Cowley LTN scheme.  The meeting also heard contributions from thirty members of the public on this item.  Texts of these speeches, and those of a number of people who were unable to attend at the earlier start time for the meeting, that were provided in advance of the meeting had been circulated to Cabinet Members and will be published on the Cabinet meeting page on the Council website.

Councillor Charlie Hicks welcomed the recommendations to make the scheme permanent.  He noted that there were other schemes coming forward in the next 12 months to reduce traffic on the boundary roads too.

Councillor Dan Levy read out an email he received from a resident on one of the roads where bollards had been illegally removed, describing the negative impact on her ability to walk and cross roads in her neighbourhood.

Councillor Brad Baines described LTNs as a critical element in reducing the number of car journeys as required to meet the country’s commitments on reducing carbon emissions.

Councillor Gant commended the three recommendations to Cabinet.  He emphasised that there was a commitment to review and change the measures where appropriate.  The use of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) will be considered as this could allow choices to be made as to who can access and at what times.

There was no such thing as unrestricted access.  Roads come at a cost.  There was a need for behaviour change.  There would be a process soon on charges and bus gates were also an important part of the overall vision.

Cabinet Members made further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94/22

The following reports are presented from scrutiny committees:

·       Report of the Carbon Reduction Targets Working Group – Commissioned by the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee (CA7a)

·       Report of the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Scrutiny of Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (CA7b)

·       Recommendations of the Performance & Corporate Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee re 2022/23 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (CA7c)

The report of the Carbon Reduction Targets Working Group, commissioned by the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee, was presented by Councillor Yvonne Constance, Chair of the Working Group.  She summarised the seven recommendations in the report.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery & Environment, welcomed the report and thanked Councillor Constance for the report and for the foundations she laid as his predecessor in Cabinet.

The Chair noted that Oxfordshire had more Community Action Groups involved than any other county.  It was agreed to accept the recommendations and respond formally.

The report of the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Scrutiny of Local Transport and Connectivity Plan was introduced by Councillor Charlie Hicks, Deputy Chair of the Committee.  Most of the observations in the report related to the deliverability question.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel & Development Strategy, thanked the Committee and added that he planned to respond at their November meeting to outline the lessons from history and how they planned to learn from them.

The report of the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Voluntary Sector Strategy was presented by Councillor Ian Corkin, Chair.  He itemised the five recommendations which mostly related to consultation and concerns that the impression might be given that the needs of younger people might be de-prioritised in comparison to needs of older people.

Cabinet accepted the report and will respond formally.

Councillor Corkin introduced the Committee’s report on Digital Inclusion Strategy which had two recommendations: that the Council consult with parish, town, district and city councils as well as with businesses, particularly smaller ones, on the barriers they faced to ensuring the benefits of the internet were available to them.

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, responded that she accepted the recommendations in full and would respond formally.

The recommendations of the Performance & Corporate Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee re the 2022/23 Equality, Diversity And Inclusion Action Plan were introduced by Councillor Michael O’Connor, Deputy Chair.  They recommended that an annual report be published on the implementation and impact of the action plan and that the council publish an accessible overview of its work to deliver its strategic priority ‘Tackle inequalities in Oxfordshire’ and a dashboard of all relevant indicators of inequality to demonstrate its progress.

Councillor Mark Lygo, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Equality, responded that the first recommendation will be covered by the quarterly Business Management and Monitoring Reports and officers will make the second recommendation happen.  The Health & Wellbeing Board will be involved as well as scrutiny.

Cabinet accepted the recommendations and will respond formally.

Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member for Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/016

Contact: Louise Tustian, Head of Insight & Corporate Programmes Tel: 07741 607452/Kathy Wilcox, Head of Financial Strategy Tel: 07788 302163

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources and Director of Finance (CA8).

To note and seek agreement of the report.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)          note the report.

b)          agree the virements set out in Annex B-2a

c)          note the virements and supplementary estimate set out in Annex B-2b and B-2c

d)          agree the proposed update to the Review of Charges for 2022/23 as set out in paragraphs 94 and 95 of Annex B.

e)          note the additional £5.9m Business Rate funding set out in Annex B paragraph 130 and agree that this should be added to the Business Rates Reserve pending agreement about the use of this funding.

Cabinet had before it a report summarising the performance and finance position for the council with recommendations on virements, Review of Charges and Business Rate funding.

Councillor Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report.  He noted that it was the first report under the new Outcomes Framework of the Fair Deal Alliance.  He drew particular attention to paragraph 22: Risk Management Overview which he said highlighted some of the real risks in relation to children’s services.  The projected overspend for this financial year was £4.4m which was high for so early in the financial year but will continue to be closely monitored.

Cabinet Members made comments including the following:

·       Paragraph 94 of Annex B refers to new combined parking and bus tickets being introduced for a trial period by the County and City Councils to encourage more use of this more environmentally friendly option.

·       Officers were working hard to limit the continuing overspend in the High Needs Block but it was being driven by high demand for services and central government was not providing any additional funding.  They were looking at better ways of delivering the service but that can only be done by releasing capital to provide our own special schools.

·       Central government has continually cut funding for local government and the contestants to be the next prime minister were all advocating further tax cuts that will hit the most vulnerable hardest.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Sudbury and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

a)              note the report.

b)              agree the virements set out in Annex B-2a

c)              note the virements and supplementary estimate set out in Annex B-2b and B-2c

d)              agree the proposed update to the Review of Charges for 2022/23 as set out in paragraphs 94 and 95 of Annex B.

e)              note the additional £5.9m Business Rate funding set out in Annex B paragraph 130 and agree that this should be added to the Business Rates Reserve pending agreement about the use of this funding.

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/015

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Head of Financial Strategy Tel: 07788 302163

Report by Director of Finance (CA9).

Financial Report on capital spending against budget allocations, including any necessary capital programme approvals.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

Re-profiling

a)                  Agree the re-profiling of HIF1, HIF2, A40 and the Banbury & Bicester  programmes (paragraphs 19,20)

Grant funding

b)                  Agree the inclusion in the Capital Programme of the following grant funding updates and allocation:

·             High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for 2022/23 and 2023/24 of £15.7m to the basic need programme to address SEN provision (Paragraph 61),

·             £2.2m Sustainable Warmth Fund for Home Upgrade grant (Paragraph 70),

·             Highways Structural Maintenance Programme between 2022/23 and 2024/25 of £25.2m towards the annual maintenance programmes (Paragraph 65)

Capital Programme Governance and prioritisation

c)                  Endorse the changes to Capital Programme governance, noting the enhanced role of Cabinet and rollout of changes to strengthen internal structures and procedures. (paragraph 78 and annex 3, structure chart).

d)                  Agree to a full review of the Capital Programme, in light of pressures and rising inflation costs (paragraph 80)

e)                  Agree that the Housing & Growth Deal should be reported at project level rather than programme level, as set out in paragraph 32.

f)                    Endorse the latest capital monitoring position for 2022/23 set out in Annex 1, noting the return of £1.7m corporate funds from the Defect Liability Programme.

g)                  Approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 2 incorporating the changes set out in this report.

Cabinet considered a report recommending reprofiling of major infrastructure projects, allocations of grant funding and a full review of the Capital Programme in light of pressures and increasing inflation costs.

Councillor Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report.  The reprofiling of infrastructure projects was necessary following some delays in land purchase and design.  £50m of capital expenditure will be moved to the following financial year as a result.  Measures were being taken to ensure that the Council lived within its means in what will be a very challenging period.

Before considering the report, the Chair had agreed to hear the following speakers:

City Councillor Katherine Miles, Summertown Ward, criticised the recommendation in the review of Homes from Infrastructure Programme to remove further funding from the Woodstock Road and Banbury Road corridor improvements and re-allocate the remaining funding from these schemes to other schemes.  These improvements were much needed especially given the new development at Oxford North.

Robin Tucker, Co-chair of the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel, called on Cabinet to ask central government to re-think HIF1 (Housing Infrastructure Fund) given that the Department for Transport’s Decarbonising Transport strategy, the strategy of EEH, our sub-national transport body, and our own LTCP all require a reduction in motor traffic, and the Committee on Climate Change tells us that more action is needed on modal shift.

Cabinet Members responded that the HIF1 scheme was constantly under review to make it better for active travel.  The recommendation on the Woodstock and Banbury Road schemes had not been accepted yet.  They were still a high priority but will have to be consistent with the Central Oxford Transport Strategy and funding could come from somewhere other than the Growth Deal.

Cabinet Members acknowledged that there was increasing difficulty in funding projects with current inflation rates.  Other sectors such as children’s social care and SEN needed capital investment too as well as climate adaptation projects.  The Capital Projects Board was in place to evaluate the projects equitably.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Cllr Gant and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

Re-profiling

a)                  Agree the re-profiling of HIF1, HIF2, A40 and the Banbury & Bicester  programmes (paragraphs 19,20)

Grant funding

b)                  Agree the inclusion in the Capital Programme of the following grant funding updates and allocation:

·                     High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for 2022/23 and 2023/24 of £15.7m to the basic need programme to address SEN provision (Paragraph 61),

·                     £2.2m Sustainable Warmth Fund for Home Upgrade grant (Paragraph 70),

·                     Highways Structural Maintenance Programme between 2022/23 and 2024/25 of £25.2m towards the annual maintenance programmes (Paragraph 65)

Capital Programme Governance and prioritisation

c)                  Endorse the changes to Capital Programme governance, noting the enhanced role of Cabinet and rollout of changes to strengthen internal structures and procedures. (paragraph 78 and annex 3, structure chart).

d)                  Agree to a full review of the Capital Programme, in light of pressures and rising inflation costs (paragraph 80)

e)                  Agree that the Housing & Growth Deal should be reported at project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97/22

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/071

Contact:Robin Rogers, Programme Director, robin.rogers@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Interim Chief Executive (CA10).

SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENT:

Oxfordshire-Cherwell Partnership Transition Arrangements Summary

To appove the transition plans for the discontinuance of the Oxfordshire County Council – Cherwell District Council s113 Agreement.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)                  Note the conclusions of the Joint Shared Services and Personnel Committee (JSSP) as set out in Table 1;

b)                  Agree the transition arrangements as set out in Table 1;

c)                  Note the financial implications as set out in Annex A, which are incorporated in the Business Management & Monitoring Report for 2022/23 elsewhere on this agenda;

d)                  Note that the on-going financial impact will be addressed as part of the Budget and Business  Planning process for 2023/24;

e)                  Delegate to the Interim Chief Executive powers to operate, terminate, extend or vary the new arrangements with Cherwell District Council where they relate to executive functions.

In February 2022, Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council agreed to give notice to terminate the current s.113 partnership between the two Councils. Cabinet considered a report setting out the decisions made on each service, the transition arrangements away from the current partnership, and the financial implications of the termination.

The Chair introduced the report which she said had been extensively discussed at the Council meeting the previous week and the Joint Shared Services and Personnel Committee.  The process was on target thanks to very good management by officers in both Councils.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Leffman, seconded by Councillor Brighouse and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

a)                  Note the conclusions of the Joint Shared Services and Personnel Committee (JSSP) as set out in Table 1;

b)                  Agree the transition arrangements as set out in Table 1;

c)                  Note the financial implications as set out in Annex A, which are incorporated in the Business Management & Monitoring Report for 2022/23 elsewhere on this agenda;

d)                  Note that the on-going financial impact will be addressed as part of the Budget and Business  Planning process for 2023/24;

e)                  Delegate to the Interim Chief Executive powers to operate, terminate, extend or vary the new arrangements with Cherwell District Council where they relate to executive functions.

Cabinet Member: Travel & Development Strategy

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/164

Contact: Joy White, Principal Transport Planner Tel: 07554 103522

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA11).

To seek delegated authority for officers to respond in the council’s statutory consultee role, to consultations on this proposed development, which, as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, falls outside the council’s current Scheme of Delegation.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve Oxfordshire County Council’s response to a non-statutory public consultation on the proposals for the Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange.

Oxfordshire Railfreight Ltd. has proposed a rail freight interchange close to the site of the former Ardley railway station.  Given the scale and significance of the development, officers considered that Cabinet should have the opportunity to approve the Council’s response to the first public consultation by the promoter.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel & Development Strategy, introduced the report.  The proposal was part of the national infrastructure programme.  The LTCP committed the Council to supporting rail freight.  This consultation response conveys our concerns about the implications in this proposal for the local road network, the employment market, onward transport of goods and access for employees.

Cabinet Members raised other concerns including the following:

·       The Bicester area already had a large number of warehouses.

·       There were concerns about the scale of the site and knock-on implications for the road network.

·       This proposal was located in an important area for nature.

·       Thousands of staff will likely have to travel long distances and access the site 24 hours a day, yet there was no proposal to have a passenger station on this site.

·       We should not be converting much needed farmland to warehouse space.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Enright, seconded by Councillor Sudbury and agreed.

RESOLVED to approve Oxfordshire County Council’s response to a non-statutory public consultation on the proposals for the Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange.

Cabinet Member: Corporate Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/021

Contact: Elena Grant, Policy Officer Tel: 07825 403173

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA12).

To seek approval of the Oxfordshire Digital Inclusion Strategy and agree the actions that the County Council will undertake.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  Approve the OCC Digital Inclusion Strategy.

b)                  Approve the annual review by Cabinet and People Overview & Scrutiny Committee of our progress against the commitments set out in the strategy.

c)                  Approve the Oxfordshire Digital Inclusion Charter.

Cabinet was asked to approve the Oxfordshire Digital Inclusion Strategy and agree the actions that the County Council will undertake.

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, introduced the report.  The strategy was designed to ensure that the benefits of the digital technologies were available to all.  The pandemic brought home to us the vital role that technologies now play in all our lives.  The report identified groups of people who were more likely to be digitally excluded and aimed to ensure they were included in all consultations.

Councillor Phillips added that the charter had been drafted in partnership with the district and city councils.  Cabinet had earlier accepted the recommendations from the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee and was committed to submitting an annual update of the process to scrutiny and Cabinet.

Councillor Pete Sudbury stated that this strategy was a critical enabler in allowing more people to work from home and travel less.  This was particularly important in a more rural county with a high proportion of knowledge workers.  The strategy needed to ensure that the needs of the disabled and neuro-diverse were catered for.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Phillips, seconded by Councillor Sudbury and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

a)                  Approve the OCC Digital Inclusion Strategy.

b)                  Approve the annual review by Cabinet and People Overview & Scrutiny Committee of our progress against the commitments set out in the strategy.

c)                  Approve the Oxfordshire Digital Inclusion Charter.

Cabinet Member: Public Health & Equality

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/069

Contact: Lauren Rushen, Senior Policy Officer, 07990367851

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA13).

To agree the equality, diversity and inclusion action plan for 2022-23.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  adopt the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan for 2022-2023;

b)                  agree delegated authority to the Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development and Resources to agree minor typographical changes to the action plan and an updated foreword from the Leader.

Cabinet had before it a report setting out how the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) action plan for 2022-23 had been developed to support the Council’s EDI framework known as ‘Including Everyone’.  The action plan for adoption was attached as annex 1.

Councillor Mark Lygo, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Equality, introduced the report.  There was a particular effort this year to be more specific in timelines and benchmarks.  Improvements had been made in the Council’s anti-bullying policy.  A new senior policy officer had been recruited to work closely with our staff networks and public health team in addressing health inequalities.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Lygo, seconded by Councillor Phillips and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

a)                  adopt the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan for 2022-2023;

b)                  agree delegated authority to the Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development and Resources to agree minor typographical changes to the action plan and an updated foreword from the Leader.

Cabinet Member: Public Health & Equality

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/043

Contact:Rosie Winyard, Interim Senior Public Health Principle, 07564055880

Report by Corporate Director for Public Health & Wellbeing (CA14).

Cabinet approval is sought for: permission to commence a procurement exercise for accomodation and support services for adults and children affected by domestic abuse and; provide a support service for perpatrators to reduce associated harms in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)              Agree the proposed commencement of a procurement exercise for Oxfordshire domestic abuse services, including IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocates) and Perpetrator provision in 2022.

b)              Agree the progress of the statutory duties set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, including the Needs Assessment and Overarching Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022

Cabinet considered a report highlighting the intention to commission Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse services in time for a contract start date of April 2023.  These include provision for safe accommodation and support, specialist support from the IDVA service and Perpetrator support services to assist in the prevention and reduction of harm for individuals and their children affected by domestic abuse.

Councillor Mark Lygo, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Equality, introduced the report on behalf of all the partners across the county that have worked together on its creation.  The strategy was built on four pillars: prevention, provision, pursuing and partnership.  A Lived Experience Advisory Group will work with lived experience consultants to enable a co-production approach.  Councillor Lygo thanked the officers who worked on the strategy and Members whose feedback helped shape it.

Cabinet Members made the following observations:

·       Domestic abuse was a major factor in bringing children into care.

·       There was a need to look at how schools deal with behaviour issues.

·       The focus on helping abusers to change their behaviour was very welcome.

·       Domestic abuse occurs in all communities and the involvement of the district and city councils, the NHS and Police in this strategy was very welcome.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Lygo, seconded by Councillor Enright and agreed

RESOLVED to:

a)                      Agree the proposed commencement of a procurement exercise for Oxfordshire domestic abuse services, including IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocates) and Perpetrator provision in 2022.

b)                      Agree the progress of the statutory duties set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, including the Needs Assessment and Overarching Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022

Cabinet Member: Public Health & Equality

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/025

Contact: Emily Schofield, Acting Head of Strategy Tel: 07881 311707 / Karina Russell, Senior Policy Officer Tel: 07917 921511

Report by Acting Head of Strategy (CA15).

To seek approval for the draft Oxfordshire Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Strategy for 2022 – 2027.

Cabinet had before it a report on the proposed five year Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) strategy to set out the Council’s commitment to support a sustainable sector, through co-production with the VCS, district and city council colleagues and Oxfordshire County Councillors.

Councillor Mark Lygo, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Equality, introduced the report.  The pandemic had led to collaboration with the voluntary and community sector on a scale never seen before.  There was considerable ambition now to retain that new culture to drive efficiency, flexibility and responsiveness.  A steering group will include ten VCS organisations and the district and city councils.

Councillor Lygo noted that while the consultation on the strategy showed 90% support for the priorities, some aspects were challenged and those comments, along with the views of the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee will be taken on board as this will be a flexible strategy.

Cabinet Members commented as follows:

·       Newly appointed youth workers were already examining what was happening in the VCS sector to ensure that the Council complements that work and a report will be forthcoming on that.

·       Without the support of the VCS adult social care would have been overwhelmed.  They do particularly valuable work keeping people safe in at home.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Lygo, seconded by Councillor Hannaby and agreed.

RESOLVED to approve the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Strategy for 2022 – 2027.

Cabinet Member: Corporate Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/089

Contact: Claire Taylor, Corporate Director – Customers, Organisational Development and Resources, claire.taylor@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director – Customers, Organisational Development and Resources (CA16).

*** ANNEX TO FOLLOW ***

To note the independent research project undertaken by the consortium of researchers from Oxford University and request that Overview and Scrutiny consider a dedicated event in September 2022 to consider the findings in committee. To formally record its thanks to the residents who participated in the Jury and commit to consideration and response to the recommendations from the Jury.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  Note the independent research project undertaken by the consortium of researchers from Oxford University (annex 1) and request that Overview and Scrutiny consider a dedicated event in September 2022 to consider the findings in committee.

b)                  Formally record its thanks to the residents who participated in the Jury and commit to consideration of and response to the recommendations from the Jury and any subsequent Overview and Scrutiny Committee considerations.

Cabinet received an update on the independent research project undertaken by the consortium of researchers from Oxford University and was recommended to ask Overview and Scrutiny to consider a dedicated event in September 2022 to consider the findings in committee.

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, thanked the advisory group and the officers who gave up their weekends to support this process.  The process itself had been designed by the Oxford University team to consider a broad range of transport issues.  A report will come back to Cabinet following the consideration by scrutiny.

Councillor Phillips proposed an amendment to delete “in September 2022” from the recommendation as the scrutiny committees set their own work plan.  This was seconded by Councillor Brighouse and agreed.

Cabinet Members noted that the recommendations in the initial report were broadly in line with the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan recently agreed by Cabinet.

The recommendations as amended were proposed by Councillor Phillips and seconded by Councillor Brighouse.

The Chair thanked the University of Oxford for approaching the Council with the proposal.

RESOLVED to:

a)              Note the independent research project undertaken by the consortium of researchers from Oxford University (annex 1) and request that Overview and Scrutiny consider a dedicated event to consider the findings in committee.

b)              Formally record its thanks to the residents who participated in the Jury and commit to consideration of and response to the recommendations from the Jury and any subsequent Overview and Scrutiny Committee considerations.

Cabinet Member: Travel & Development Strategy

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/134

Contact: Timothy Mann, Senior Project Manager, Tel 07922 848408

Report by Director of Growth & Economy (CA17).

The information in this case is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed categories:

2. Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The CPO Schedules in Annex A, Appendix 8b and in Annex B, containing exempt information under the above paragraph are attached.

*** The Annexes are published as Supplementary Documents due to their number and length. ***

To seek approval of the Statement of Reasons and Orders Plans and approval to make the Compulsory Purchase and Side Road Orders.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)              Confirm that the acquisition of the land and new rights identified on the map attached to this report (Annex B) (“the Order Map”) being the map accompanying The Oxfordshire County Council (Didcot Garden Town Highways Infrastructure – A4130 Improvement (Milton Gate to Collett Roundabout), A4197 Didcot to Culham Link Road and A415 Clifton Hampden Bypass) Compulsory Purchase Order 2022 (“the CPO”) is necessary for highway purposes;

b)              Approve the CPO, the Order Map, the SRO, the plans accompanying the SRO (“SRO Plans”) and the Bridge Scheme all substantially in the form annexed to this report but to delegate to the Director of Transport and Infrastructure following consultation with the Director of Law & Governance, authority to modify them as necessary;

c)              Authorise the  Director of Law & Governance to make The Oxfordshire County Council (Didcot Garden Town Highways Infrastructure – A4130 Improvement (Milton Gate to Collett Roundabout), A4197 Didcot to Culham Link Road and A415 Clifton Hampden Bypass) Compulsory Purchase Order 2022 pursuant to Sections 239, 240, 246, 250 and 260 of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) and Parts II and III of Schedule 2, and Schedule 3 to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 for the purpose of acquiring the land and interests shown on the Order Map and described in the Schedules to the CPO (or such lesser area of land should this in his opinion be appropriate) to facilitate the construction of new highway and other necessary and related works and mitigation on such land and to affix the Common Seal of the Council to the CPO and to the Order Map;

d)              Authorise the Director of Law & Governance to make The Oxfordshire County Council (Didcot to Culham Thames Bridge) Scheme 2022 (“the Bridge Scheme”) pursuant to Section 106(3) of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) for the purpose of allowing construction of a bridge over a navigable waterway, being the Thames River and to affix the Common Seal of the Council to the Bridge Scheme and its accompanying plan(s);

e)              Authorise the  Director of Law & Governance to make The Oxfordshire County Council (Didcot Garden Town Highways Infrastructure – A4130 Improvement  ...  view the full agenda text for item 105/22

Cabinet in July 2020 agreed the preferred options to proceed with the preliminary design and planning application for this Scheme. A subsequent report in June 2021 approved the “in principle” use of statutory powers.  Cabinet was now asked to approve the Compulsory Purchase and Side Road Orders deemed necessary as outlined in the report.

Before considering the report, the Chair had agreed to the following speaker:

Councillor Charlie Hicks noted that inflation forecasts had increased since the figures were calculated for this report and in particular construction costs were rising more quickly than general inflation.  He asked Cabinet to delay the decision until after the capital budget review.  There were ways to build homes that did not require more roads.  These ideas were gaining ground in government departments.

Councillor Tim Bearder left the meeting.

Councillor Liz Brighouse asked for confirmation that Cabinet had agreed that it would put no more of the Council’s money into this project.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel & Development Strategy, responded that he was comfortable with the funding arrangements.  These issues had already been given an airing when discussing the Grant Determination Agreement.  The argument against further delay was that the scheme was time-limited on the basis of the GDA.

Councillor Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, noted that paragraphs 79 and 80 of the report outlined how the risks associated with scheme delivery and inflation were accounted for within the overall forecast budget.  Since then, the inflation outlook had worsened but Cabinet had made it clear to Homes England that the current total for this scheme was the maximum that the Council can fund from its resources.  The team was already working on value engineering for this scheme.

Councillor Miller added that Homes England had agreed that their capital would be drawn down first and there was a “no clawback” clause.  There were various gateways at which it would be possible to review the funding situation.  Any discussion at those stages would be on the premise that the Council was not putting any more money in.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, referring to paragraphs 86 and 87, stated that there will only be positive impacts on air quality and carbon emissions for local villages if the old bridges are closed to motor traffic.

Recommendations a) to p) were proposed by Councillor Enright, seconded by Councillor Lygo and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

a)              Confirm that the acquisition of the land and new rights identified on the map attached to this report (Annex B) (“the Order Map”) being the map accompanying The Oxfordshire County Council (Didcot Garden Town Highways Infrastructure – A4130 Improvement (Milton Gate to Collett Roundabout), A4197 Didcot to Culham Link Road and A415 Clifton Hampden Bypass) Compulsory Purchase Order 2022 (“the CPO”) is necessary for highway purposes;

b)              Approve the CPO, the Order Map, the SRO, the plans accompanying the SRO (“SRO Plans”) and the Bridge Scheme all substantially in the form annexed to this report but to delegate to the Director of Transport  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105/22

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/017

Contact: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh, Committee Officer Tel: 07393 001096

Report by Director of Law & Governance (CA18).

To report on a quarterly basis any executive decisions taken under the specific powers and functions delegated under the terms of Part 7.1 (Scheme of Delegation to Officers) of the Council’s Constitution – Paragraph 6.3(c)(i).  It is not for Scrutiny call-in.

Councillor Bearder re-joined the meeting.

Cabinet received a quarterly report on the use of the delegated powers under the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution (Part 7.1, paragraph 6.3 (c)(i)) where the Chief Executive is authorised to undertake an executive function on behalf of the Cabinet.

RESOLVED: to note the report.

Cabinet Member: All

Contact Officer: Colm Ó Caomhánaigh, Committee Officer Tel: 07393 001096

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 CA19.  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 (CA19) 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.