Agenda item

Report by the Leader of the Council.

The report covers the Cabinet meetings held on 19 September 2023 and 17 October 2023.

Council considered the report of Cabinet covering the meetings held on 19 September 2023 and 17 October 2023.

On paragraph 1, Pan-regional partnership for the Oxford-Cambridge area,

Councillor Brighouse asked if the new Cabinet would continue supporting the partnership given that the Leader relied on votes of Labour Party members of the previous Cabinet to approve membership of this body.  Councillor Leffman responded that the partnership was dealing with issues of the environment and sustainability and it was important to cooperate with our neighbours on these issues.

On paragraph 3, Local Aggregate Assessment for 2022, Councillor Cherry asked if the Cabinet Member could assure that there were adequate routing agreements relating to quarries in Oxfordshire.  Councillor Sudbury agreed to provide a written response.

Councillor Johnston asked for an assurance that the Council would not change the targets for aggregate extraction which might lead to speculative applications.  Councillor Sudbury responded that the Council was obliged by the NPPF to set targets.  Oxfordshire was short of crushed rock so he believed he could not give an assurance that there would be no change.

On paragraph 4, Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2022-23, Councillor O’Connor asked what the Council was doing to reduce the risk of death for homeless people.  Councillor Bearder responded that safeguarding concerns had increased by 14% in line with national trends. He outlined a number of measures being taken by the Council and partners to reduce harm and offered to give more detail in a written response.

Councillor Hanna asked if the learning from examples of multi-agency working to reduce risk of death in those with learning disabilities can be implemented, particularly around safe discharge that involves next of kin and allied health providers.  Councillor Bearder responded that he would detail the ways in which the Council will work with partners in a written response.

On paragraph 7, Local Area Partnership/SEND Ofsted Inspection,Councillor Reeves asked why Council had heard no response yet to the motion on SEND services passed by Council a month previously.  He asked for a response after the meeting.

On paragraph 8, Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report 2022-23, Councillor Hanna noted that the report into child deaths estimated that 42% had avoidable factors and asked if the Cabinet Member could assure the Council that he will take on board the recommendations for more collaboration and efficient sharing.  Councillor Howson responded that he was happy to commit to improving all cooperation across services to reduce child deaths to the lowest possible number.

Councillor O’Connor asked the Cabinet Member to outline how he would ensure as many Early Help Assessments take place this year as possible, as the target was missed last year.  Councillor Howson offered a written response as it was too technical to be able to give a brief answer.

On paragraph 9, Workforce Report and Staffing Data - Quarter 1 - April to July 2023, Councillor Phillips asked what was being done to bridge the disparity between the proportion of non-white staff in the County Council at 10% and the proportion of non-white British in the Oxfordshire population at 23%.  Councillor Fawcett responded that he would have to look more closely at the statistics to see if the definitions matched.  Then he would provide a more detailed written response.

On paragraph 10, Proposal from Oxford United Football Club to Oxfordshire County Council as Landowner – September 2023,Councillor Baines asked why so much time and effort was expended by the Council on the decision to lease land to Oxford United for a stadium compared to the relatively quick decision on Rewley Road Fire Station.  Councillor Levy responded that there was a long history of moves for Oxford United and the Council was determined to get it right this time.

Councillor Miller asked for assurances that the Council will not accept closure of the Oxford Road on match days and will insist on the pedestrian bridge which had been promised.  Councillor Levy agreed that he would oppose any such road closure.

On paragraph 11, Business Management & Monitoring Report – July 2023, Councillors Bartholomew and Baines drew attention to examples of poor forecasting in expenditure and savings.  Councillor Levy accepted that the Council needed to be much better at forecasting.

On paragraph 12, Capital Programme Approvals – September 2023, Councillor Bartholomew asked if the expenditure of £1.55m on the wider Zero Emissions Zone was worth it given that it was noted that it was an “at risk investment”.  Councillor Levy responded that capital projects generally carried an element of risk for one reason or another.  This scheme was very much in line with the Council priority of providing cleaner air.

Councillor Hicks asked the Cabinet Member to provide the original business case costs of the projects approved.  Councillor Levy agreed to do so.

Councillor Middleton asked if the Cabinet Member could provide the start date for works on the Kidlington roundabout.  Councillor Levy said he would provide a written reply.

On paragraph 14, Capital Programme Update and Monitoring Report – July 2023, Councillor Bartholomew asked why Thames tow path repairs at Oxford had been approved while a part of the path at Henley has been closed for nearly two years despite the repairs there being at a lower cost.  Councillor Levy responded that he would look into it a provide a written reply.

On paragraph 16, Budget & Business Planning Report - 2024/25 - 2026/27, Councillor Bartholomew asked if the data from the online budget simulator being made available to the public was being recorded so that it could be used as part of the budget setting process.  Councillor Levy confirmed that the results, along with other feedback from the consultation, will be used in framing the budget.

Councillor Baines asked if the Cabinet Member would commit to providing grant funding to welfare rights advice centres.  Councillor Levy confirmed that the Council would provide protection to those most in need.

On paragraph 17, Local Transport & Connectivity Plan (LTCP) Monitoring Report, Councillor Bartholomew noted that officers have had to change ‘objections’ to local planning applications to ‘concerns’ as the LTCP is subservient to district council plans.  He asked why this critical element of compliance was not monitored.  Councillor Roberts responded that she would provide a written response.

Councillor Enright asked the Cabinet Member if she would consider including a measure on sample journey times particularly on key bus routes.  Councillor Roberts responded that she was concerned at some of the small sample sizes available and she was happy to take the suggestion on board.

Councillor Hicks asked about the Cabinet Member’s plans to reverse the increase in car journeys and road fatalities.  Councillor Roberts responded that three key elements were not in place yet: traffic filters, the workplace levy and the expanded Zero Emissions Zone.  These were the core schemes expected to reduce those figures.