Background Information

The Committee agreed a work programme to pursue during the year 2012-2013. Members have been updated on progress as the year has advanced, and this report represents the end of year position.

Why is it on the agenda?

This report highlights:-

• The end of year position on the work programme;
• The progress on all recommendations made;
• Statistics and comparative data;
• Issues that have arisen and new challenges.

The Committee is asked to consider the information presented and set a further informal meeting to discuss the issues in more details.

Attached alongside the work programme is the latest version of the Forward plan to allow the Committee to express interest in any of the issues listed.

Who has been invited to comment?

Pat Jones, Principal Scrutiny Officer, will present the report and the Chair will give his view on the year.

What will happen after the meeting?

An informal meeting will be set to discuss issues further. Any proposals or comments for the coming work programme will be presented for discussion by the Committee membership appointed in May.

Background Information

The Oxford Strategic Partnership (OSP – a partnership of key public sector, universities, private sector and voluntary bodies in the City co-ordinated by the City Council) commissioned the development of a new Economic Growth Strategy in May 2012.

The refreshed document was presented for pre-scrutiny by the Committee at its meeting on 30^th January 2013.

Why is it on the agenda?

The Committee asked to see any Action Plan before it was presented to City Executive Board. The report will be presented at CEB on 10^th April 2013.

A draft Action Plan for the City Council is attached as requested.

Who has been invited to comment?

Michael Crofton Briggs has been invited to the meeting to present the plan and answer questions.

What will happen after the meeting?

Any recommendations will be passed to the relevant Board Member and/or CEB for comment.

Background Information

A number of celebratory events are held in Oxford each year, including the Cowley Road Carnival and the Barton Bash. These events play an important role in community cohesion and add to the vibrancy and diversity of the City.

The Council uses some of these events in its promotional work and examples of partnership working with local communities. Over the years, the Council’s role has changed, particularly in relation to the staging and funding of events.

Why is it on the agenda?

The Committee decided to hold a select committee enquiry at which the following aspects of the Council’s role would be considered:-

·         The importance the Council places on these events within the cultural calendar;

·         Do officers and the Board Member believe we have the correct relationships and support mechanisms to sustain these events for the future (the committee have noted the use of events such as these in Council literature to exemplify Oxford as a vibrant and exciting place)?

·         What role does the Council have in sustaining events such as these, and growing new community based activities for the future (they have noted the change in role over the last years and want to understand why the change and what have been the effects of this)?

·         What support is given to communities and groups organising this type of event?

·         How much money and resources do we put into this type of activity and how has this changed over the last few years?

Who has been invited to comment?

Ceri Gorton (Cultural Development Manager) and Peter McQuitty (Head of Policy, Culture and Communications) have been invited to the meeting.

What will happen after the meeting?

Any recommendations will be passed to the relevant Board Member and/or CEB for comment.

Background Information

The Committee agreed to establish a Panel to work with, and scrutinise, the focus and outcomes from the City Council’s investment in primary education. This Panel consists of Councillors Clack, Campbell, Jones, Kennedy and Khan.

The Panel has established an active partnership with a school, and has visited it.

Why is it on the agenda?

The attached report is presented to update the Committee on work and progress so far.

Who has been invited to comment?

Councillors Campbell, Clack, Kennedy, Khan and Jones (Panel Members) and Pat Jones (Principal Scrutiny Officer) will present their update to the Committee.

What will happen after the meeting?

The Committee is asked to recommend continuation of the Panel’s work into the next Scrutiny work programme.

Background Information

The Panel has now agreed to focus upon Headington and Cowley Road District Centres.

Their first step will be to talk to traders’ groups within these areas about their view of the health and vitality of their local shopping area. The Panel has drawn up a brief questionnaire for traders in both areas, which is explained in the attached report.

Why is it on the agenda?

To provide a brief update for the Committee concerning the current status of the Panel.

Who has been invited to comment?

The Panel, Councillors Clack, Wolff and Wilkinson will give an update to the Committee and invite comments.

What will happen after the meeting?

The Panel seeks to continue its work, and will report back to the Committee.

Background Information

At its last meeting, the Committee noted the work of the Panel so far, and agreed that the next step was to focus on empowerment; using data to select a few communities in order to discuss with them their views of empowerment.

The Panel has held a further meeting at which Martin Tudge (Communities and Neighbourhoods) was able to assist the Panel to narrow down the issues and decide which communities to focus upon.

Why is it on the agenda?

The item is presented here to give the Committee a update on progress to date.

Martin Tudge has kindly offered to arrange some informal focus group meetings with representatives from the Pakistani, Somali and Polish communities, starting in April.

Who has been invited to comment?

The Panel, Councillors Jones, Darke and O’Hara will present the item to the Committee.

What will happen after the meeting?

The Panel will continue its work, will attend the planned focus group meetings and will report back to a future meeting.