Decisions

The decision will enable the Trust to draw down the funding as appropriate to complete the detailed design development for the project and proceed ahead.

To approve the Outline Business Case and associated budget increase to enable the delivery of the additional SEND places.

Delivers on the targets set out in the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan to increase trips made by walking and cycling, whilst reducing private vehicle trips. This is done by providing a safe and inclusive transport network, giving opportunities to parishes and residents to have a say in how this is achieved.

Instruct the making of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order which will create a quiet lane on Shepherd’s Pit Lane in Stanton St John, as per the Quiet Lanes Policy and pilot programme.

This covers the closure of Shepherd’s Pit Lane at the southern end (the junction with Bayswater Road) to all motorised traffic except for access, whilst maintaining use for people walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding. This is to be enforced by installing a gate, highway verge protection, and updating the signage in the vicinity of the area to alert other road users of the change.

This derives from the recently approved policy and programme,

This includes the approval of the following:

a)    The Quiet Lanes Policy statement

b)    The assessment criteria for consideration of Quiet Lanes and the implementation toolkit

c)     Endorsement of the proposed approach to implementing, and testing, the Quiet Lanes Policy across Oxfordshire through a programme of pilot schemes (to be identified with local county councillors and parish/town councils)

d)    Delegate authority to the Director of Environment and Highways in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport Management, to bring into operation Traffic Regulation Orders (both permanent and experimental) for the pilot schemes.

Cabinet received the report and recommendations.  The Cabinet response was published with the Scrutiny report.

6- Proposed Changes to Adult Social Care Contributions Policy

Zoe Williams

Canio Santoliquido

Cllr Imade Edosomwan

See annex.

There were none.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Laura Gordon.

Recommendations approved.

Re-commissioning the service allows continued wider access to evidence-based drug harm reduction interventions, thereby:

-        Decreasing risk of transmission of blood-borne infections associated with using non-sterile injecting equipment

-        Decreasing risk of illicit drug related deaths

-        Decreasing risk of injury and infections spread from discarded used injecting equipment

-        Ensuring universal access to drug harm reduction interventions, helping to reduce inequalities in access for underserved and vulnerable populations

-        Helping people to achieve recovery from drug use

-        Supporting fulfilment of local and national strategic actions to prevent harms and deaths from drug use

The decision is to re-commission the contract for provision of Needle Exchange Delivery and Waste Collection and Disposal (NXDWC) service.

Needle Exchange service provides sterile injecting equipment and other drug harm reduction products to people who use drugs. The service also enables collection and safe disposal of drug injecting waste.

The aim of a Needle Exchange service is to prevent blood-borne infections and other harms associated with illicit drug use. The service is available locally from Oxfordshire County Council approved outlets.

The NXDWC contract relates to the supply of injecting equipment to these Council approved outlets and the collection and safe disposal of injecting waste returned to the outlets by users.

The contract is commissioned by Public Health; the current contract commenced on 1^st April 2022 and ends on 31^st March 2027

The decision is to commission a new contract for the service, for a 3-year, plus 4, term, starting from 1^st April 2027.

The proposed budget for the contract is approximately £48,000 per year, whole life cost of circa £336,000.

Cabinet had before it the 2026 Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy (OxIS) Stage 2 Prioritisation Report outlining the strategic infrastructure needed to support Oxfordshire’s projected growth to 2050.  The report identified key challenges in transport, energy, digital connectivity, water, green spaces, and social infrastructure, while highlighting a £7.6 billion funding gap out of the £9 billion required, and presenting a flexible, evidence-based prioritisation framework for over 550 projects to guide investment and sustainable development aligned with the county’s 2050 Strategic Vision.

Councillor Laura Gordon, Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, presented the report.

During discussion, members discussed the importance of clear infrastructure priorities to support Oxfordshire’s significant growth in jobs and housing, noting that infrastructure delivery has lagged behind development. They referenced the need for basic infrastructure such as renewable energy connections and water management.

Concerns were raised about the rigidity of the current project scoring system, with calls for more flexibility to ensure equitable distribution of funding and the ability to respond to strategic opportunities. Cabinet agreed to add recommendations emphasising flexibility and the need for nuanced prioritisation, especially regarding job and housing co-location.

Members also highlighted the lack of focus on climate adaptation in the current strategy and the need to consider alternative funding mechanisms, such as land value capture. They agreed that future iterations should place greater emphasis on climate mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable funding.

Councillor Gordon moved and Councillor Fawcett seconded the amended recommendations.

RESOLVED to :-

a)    Endorse the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy Stage 2 Prioritisation Report (provided at Annex 1)

b)    Note the need for flexibility in bringing forward projects for funding to ensure equitable distribution of funding around the County and take advantage of strategic funding opportunities as they arise.

c)    Ensure that future iterations of this report or other infrastructure prioritisation exercises, such as the Spatial Development Strategy, place stronger emphasis on: job creation in priority locations; housing development in priority locations (notably Oxford City); climate mitigation and adaptation; and alignment with Oxfordshire County Council transport and other policies.