Agenda

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2025 (CC1) and to receive information arising from them.

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.

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.

Report of the Director of Human Resources and Cultural Change 

The pay policy statement sets out the council’s approach to pay in accordance with the requirements of Section 38-43 of the Localism Act 2011. It has been drafted with due regard to the associated statutory guidance, including the supplementary statutory guidance issued in February 2013, the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, and the statutory guidance on special severance payments issued in May 2022 under section 26 of the Local Government Act 1999.  

Council is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Approve and adopt the 2026/27 pay policy statement and agree to its publication on the council website and intranet, as required by The Localism Act 2011 (the Act) and the Code of Practice on Data Transparency.

Report by the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer)

This report is the culmination of the Budget and Business Planning process for 2026/27 to 2030/31. It sets out the Cabinet’s proposed budget for 2026/27, medium term financial plan to 2030/31 and capital programme to 2036/37, together with a number of strategies and policies that the Council is required to approve for the 2026/27 financial year.

The Council is RECOMMENDED to:

a.     have regard to the statutory report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer) (at Section 3) in approving recommendations b to d below;

b.    (in respect of the budget and medium term financial strategy – at Section 4) approve:

(1)  the council tax and precept calculations for 2026/27 set out in Section 4.3 and in particular:

(i)              a precept of £567,372,273.74

(ii)             a council tax for band D equivalent properties of £2,006.78;

(2)  a budget for 2026/27 as set out in Section 4.4;

(3)  a medium term financial strategy for 2026/27 to 2030/31 as set out in Section 4.1 (which incorporates changes to the existing medium term financial strategy as set out in Section 4.2);

(4)  the Financial Strategy for 2026/27 at Section 4.5;

(5)  the Earmarked Reserves and General Balances Policy Statement 2026/27 at Section 4.6 including

(i)              the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer)’s recommended level of General Balances for 2026/27 (Section 4.6), and

(ii)             the planned level of Earmarked Reserves for 2026/27 to 2030/31 (Section 4.6.1)

c.      (in respect of capital – at Section 5) approve:

(1)  the Capital & Investment Strategy for 2026/27 to 2036/37 including the Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Section 5.1;

(2)  a Capital Programme for 2026/27 to 2036/37 as set out in Section 5.4 which includes new capital proposals set out in Section 5.3.

d.    (in respect of treasury management – at Section 5) approve:

(1)  the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2026/27 at Section 5.2 including the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators and the Specified Investment and Non-Specified Investment Instruments.

(2)  that any further changes required to the 2026/27 strategy be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer) in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation;