Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and temporary appointments.

Apologies were received from Cllr Baines, substituted by Cllr Pressel, Cllr Mallon, substituted by Cllr Sargant, and Cllr Shiri.

Apologies were received from invited attendees Cllr Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adults, Lorna Baxter, Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, Karen Fuller, Director of Adult Social Services, and Victoria Baran, Deputy Director of Adult Social Care.

See guidance note on the back page.

Cllr Pressel declared an interest as a member of Oxford Pedestrians Association.

Cllr Greenaway declared an interest, stating that he worked for an educational provider in Oxfordshire.

The Committee is recommended to APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on 04 April, 2025, and also the one held on 20 May, 2025, and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes for the meetings held on 04 April 2025 and 20 May 2025 were APPROVED as a true and accurate record.

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 speak must be submitted no later than 9am three working days before the meeting, i.e. 15 July 2025

Requests should be submitted to the Scrutiny Officer at scrutiny@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.

There were none.

Niel Fawcett, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Lorna Baxter, Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, and Cherie Cuthbertson, Director of HR and Cultural Change have been invited to present an update report on the Our People and Culture Strategy.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Cllr Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources and Cherie Cuthbertson, Director of HR and Cultural Change were invited to present an update report on the progress of Our People and Culture Strategy. Cllr Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, also attended to support the report.

The Deputy Leader introduced the Our People and Culture Strategy, which aimed for fair staff treatment and more opportunities. He noted progress in reducing voluntary departures, reducing sickness absence, and strengthening apprenticeships. Restructuring top management has also created a leaner organisation and saved costs.

The Director of HR and Cultural Change outlined the Our People and Culture Strategy's four pillars: attract, thrive, grow, and lead. She reported on progress such as forming a new recruitment team, implementing updated policies and manager training, investing in apprenticeships, launching a reciprocal mentoring scheme, restructuring top management, and hiring a leadership consultant.

The Committee discussed the following question and concerns:

·       Members asked about the progress made in moving away from the traditional command structure towards matrix management within the Council. The Director of HR and Cultural Change responded that progress had been made, with matrix management beginning to take hold, particularly in areas like the Transformation Directorate, where programme management offices worked across different parts of the organisation. The Director of HR and Cultural Change noted that, although there were good examples of matrix management in practice, the transition was ongoing and would take time, as it represented a significant cultural shift for the Council.

·       Members asked whether the Council had considered donating unused apprenticeship levy funds to other companies, as this is an available option, and also requested information on trends in job applications. The Director of HR and Cultural Change responded that the Council's main use of the levy has been internal, focusing on addressing skills gaps by aligning apprenticeships with anticipated organisational needs. She reported that the Council has used approximately 85% of the levy and is considering whether some remaining funds could be allocated to voluntary organisations in Oxfordshire for workforce development in the coming year.

The Deputy Leader added that, through Enterprise Oxfordshire, the Council participates in a project that gathers surplus apprenticeship levy funds from local businesses to create additional apprenticeship opportunities throughout the county, thereby supporting workforce development beyond the Council.

·       Members observed that the report showed a reduction in staff absences, with the average dropping from 9.1 to 8.7 days per full-time equivalent, and asked if the report could include information on the financial savings achieved as a result, as well as analysis of whether absences were concentrated at particular levels of the organisation.

·       Members also observed an increase in internal movement and promotions within the Council, from 4.8% to 7%. They inquired about the presence of quantifiable targets for internal progression, as well as the existence of an internal progression framework or specific support for professional development and secondments. The Director of HR and Cultural Change responded that there was no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26/25

Cllr Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Tim Bearder, Cabinet Members for Adults, Cllr Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, Lorna Baxter, Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, and Victoria Baran, Deputy Director of Adult Social Care, have been invited to present a Business Management Monitoring Report (BMMR) with a focus of Adult Social Services.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Cllr Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, Kathy Wilcox, Head of Corporate Finance, Pippa Corner, Deputy Director of Joint Commissioning HESC, and Paul Fermer, Director of Environment and Highways, were invited to present a Business Management Monitoring Report (BMMR) with a focus of Adult Social Services.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation reported an underspend in adult social care due to strong financial management. Oxfordshire County Council outperformed most peers in helping vulnerable adults remain at home. The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation also emphasised the need for government reform in adult social care despite the Council’s strong performance and highlighted possible challenges linked to NHS administrative changes.

Cllr Pressel rejoined the meeting at this stage.

The Deputy Director of Commissioning HESC and the Head of Corporate Finance presented the adult social care Business Management and Monitoring report, highlighting strong collaboration between Oxfordshire County Council and the NHS amid upcoming Integrated Care Board (ICB) changes aimed at supporting frontline services. The financial overview showed an overall underspend and effective use of the Better Care Fund. They noted reduced care home use and increased home care, both linked to the Oxfordshire Way initiative.

The Committee discussed the report raising the following concerns and questions:

·       Clarification on the Council's NHS relationship, noting that over 40% of Council spending goes to adult social care and citing possible effects from NHS administrative changes. The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation explained that some service income is shared with the NHS, particularly for those transitioning between health and social care, and warned that changes to ICBs could disrupt current arrangements. The Deputy Director of Commissioning HESC said Oxfordshire had had strong NHS partnerships and that structural changes aimed to direct more resources to frontline services, but maintaining close collaboration is vital. She emphasised that local funding should not be affected, though ongoing cooperation remains important given the complexity involved.

·       Members inquired about care home vacancies, referencing a 14% reduction in activity, and asked how this impacted the financial sustainability of care homes and their ability to fill spaces previously purchased by the Council. The Deputy Director of Commissioning HESC stated that the care market in Oxfordshire remained stable, with established relationships and a transparent care homes framework. She clarified that the Council aimed to support individuals to live independently for as long as possible, which resulted in fewer care home bed usages and shorter stays.

The Deputy Director of Commissioning HESC observed that approximately 54% of the care market is made up of self-funders, with Council use comprising only a portion. She indicated that the Council prioritises paying fair and transparent rates to providers and supporting overall market sustainability.

·       Members expressed concerns about inadequate housing, particularly regarding adaptation to heat events, which could cause earlier entry into care homes. They also questioned the impact of the construction of new private care homes and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27/25

The Committee is recommended to NOTE the progress of previous recommendations and actions arising from previous meetings, having raised any questions on the contents.

The Committee NOTED the action and recommendation tracker.

The Committee is recommended to AGREE its work programme for forthcoming meetings, having heard any changes from previous iterations, and taking account of the Cabinet Forward Plan and of the Budget Management Monitoring Report.

The Cabinet Forward Plan can be found here: https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgListPlanItems.aspx?PlanId=448&RP=115

The most recent BMMR, submitted to Cabinet in March 2025, can be found here: https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=7477&Ver=4

The Committee AGREED the proposed work programme, subject to discussions between the Chair and the Executive Director of Resources as to whether Committee dates should be changed to better accommodate the budget-setting process.

The  Committee AGREED to take the issue of parking permits as an agenda item. Members suggested investigating why a particular firm had been chosen for the parking permit process and why improvements had been difficult to secure.

Attached is the draft Cabinet responses to the Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on Business Management and Monitoring Report, and Local Enterprise Partnership Integration. These responses have not been agreed by Cabinet at the time of publication, but are expected to by the time the Committee meets.  The Committee is asked to NOTE the response.

The Committee NOTED the Cabinet responses to scrutiny recommendations on the Business Management and Monitoring Report, and Local Enterprise Partnership Integration.