Decisions

Minutes approved

None

None

None

The Cabinet Member considered a report, which indicated that Sexual Health Service was a legally mandated public health service that the Council was responsible for commissioning. Furthermore, it was said that the Oxfordshire Integrated Sexual Health Service delivered by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUHFT), was an open access and free at the point of delivery service and offered sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, diagnosis and treatment services as well as a range of reproductive health care services.

The Service commenced on 1st April 2019, with the contract period due to end on the 31st of March 2027. This followed the maximum three-year extension period and the current total annual contract value for the ISHS which was a maximum amount of £5,600,000 per year and which came from the Public Health Grant.

It was indicated that the option for recommissioning the Service was to continue with current tariff-based payment model utilising the Provider Selection Regime (PSR), in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.This option was approved by Public Health DLT on the 20th of November 2025 and by Commercial Board on the 11th of December 2025.

The Cabinet Member agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

a)    Approve the Business Case and the option to recommission the Integrated Sexual Health Service (ISHS) based on the current tariff-based payment model and using the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).

b)    Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health and Communities to approve the recommission of the ISHS Contract for 5+3 years from 1st April 2027.

The final funding formula for schools and academies for 2026/27 needs to be formally approved politically for submission to the DfE for setting mainstream schools budgets for the 2026/27 financial year.

The Chair introduced the item to the meeting.

The Chair noted that this was the formal approval to submit the Schools Funding Formula 2026/27 to the Department for Education, after consultation with local schools and the Schools Forum.

The Chair stated that the National Formula Factor rates had been followed as closely as they could be subject to affordability.

The Chair thanked officers and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

a)    Approve the final funding formula for 2026/27 for submission to Department for Education (DfE).

The agreement will allow the construction of the HIF1 DSB (including A4130) scheme to commence. 

To seal and complete the construction contract for the Didcot Science Bridge (incl. A4130) between (1) Oxfordshire County Council and (2) Volker Fitzpatrick Ltd.

Noted.

Recommendations approved.

Noted.

Cabinet noted the reports and will respond in due course.

There were no appointments to report to this meeting.

8 – Budget and Business Planning 2026/27 – 2030/31

Robin Tucker

9 – Oxfordshire Learning Disability Plan 2025-2035

Cllr Jane Hanna

10 – My Life My Choice Councillor Deal

Cllr Jane Hanna

11 – Movement and Place Plans – Science Vale

Robin Tucker

See attached.

The minutes of the meetings held on 9 and 16 December 2025 were approved as a correct record.

There were none.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kate Gregory.

Recommendations approved.

Recommendations approved.

Recommendations approved.

There was no use of delegated powers during this period.

Recommendations approved.

Recommendations approved.

1.             In relation to the Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (Section 4);

RESOLVED to:

a)      approve the Review of Charges for 2026/27 (Annex A, page 1 -58, 67) and in relation to the Registration Service, the charges for 2027/28 (Annex A, page 59 – 62) and 2028/29 (annex A page 63 – 66);

b)      receive any recommendations and observations from Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

c)      approve the Financial Strategy for 2026/27 (Section 4.5);

d)      approve the Earmarked Reserves and General Balances Policy Statement for 2026/27(Section 4.6), including the creation of a new Lane Rental reserve and the renaming of the Demographic Risk Reserve to the High Needs DSG Deficit Risk Reserve;

e)      approve the use of retained business rates from EZ1 Science Vale Growth Accelerator and EZ2 Didcot Growth Accelerator as set out in paragraph 169-172 and Annex B;

f)       note that following any funding changes as a result of the final Local Government Finance Settlement and information from the district and city councils in relation to business rates or council tax will be managed as set out in Paragraph 10; and

g)      delegate 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, the authority to make any appropriate changes to the proposed budget not covered by Paragraph 10.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND Council:

h)      approve 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);

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

                                                    (i)    a precept of £567,372,274; 

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

2.             In relation to the Capital and Investment Strategy and Capital Programme (Section 5);

RESOLVED to recommend Council to:

j)        approve the Capital and Investment Strategy for 2026/27 – 2036/37 (Section 4.1) including;

                                                               (i)     the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement (Section 5.1 Annex 1);

                                                             (ii)     the Prudential Indicators (Section 5.1 Annex 2) and

k)      approve the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2026/27 (Section 5.2); and

                                                               (i)     continue to delegate the authority to withdraw or advance additional funds to/from external fund managers to the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer);

                                                             (ii)     approve that any further changes required to the 2026/27 Treasury Management 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;

                                                            (iii)     approve the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators; and

                                                            (iv)     approve the Specified Investment and Non - Specified Investment instruments as set out in Section 5.2.

l)        approve the changes to the capital programme and new capital proposals for inclusion in the Capital Programme and proposed pipeline schemes (Section 5.3) 

m)    approve the capital programme (Section 5.4)

The Safe Space project is a critical initiative aimed at supporting individuals with learning disabilities and / or autism who are experiencing a crisis that threatens their current living situation. 

The project aims to provide a community-based “Safe Space” 2 self-contained new builds with an additional staff / multi-purpose support space on site providing an alternative to hospital admission, allowing individuals to stay close to home whilst receiving intensive support to reset and stabilise their wellbeing.

Approve the inclusion of Safe Space into the capital program with a budget of £1.795m (para 64-66).

The project will de-commission an existing building and build a new facility called ‘The Safe Space’ to be located on Wantage Road, Didcot. 

It will provide two self-contained single-storey buildings with enclosed gardens and parking spaces, as well as a third building to accommodate Support Provider staff who are on duty throughout the day and night, to enable safe withdrawal and monitoring of individuals in the safe space. 

This third building will also provide a flexible space for skills teaching, day support for crisis prevention and support moves back into longer term supported housing.