The Assistant Chief Executive has submitted a report to seek approval of Oxford City Council Business Plan 2020-21.

Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Agree a revised draft Oxford City Council Business Plan 2020-21, updated due to the impact of the on-going COVID 19 crisis, setting out the Council’s priority work programmes for the remainder of the financial year; and

2.    Delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive in consultation with the Council Leader to make minor amendments to the draft Oxford City Council Business Plan 2020-21 before implementation.

The Assistant Chief Executive had submitted a report seekingapproval of Oxford City Council Business Plan 2020-21.

Councillor Brown, Leader of the Council, introduced the report and explained that the Council’s overall aims and priorities as set out in the Council Strategy 2020-24, adopted by Council in February 2020, had not altered and the business plan also included actions to mitigate where possible the economic and social impact of the Covid19 pandemic on the city. 

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Agree the revised draft Oxford City Council Business Plan 2020-21 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, updated due to the impact of the on-going COVID 19 crisis, setting out the Council’s priority work programmes for the remainder of the financial year; and

2.    Delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive in consultation with the Council Leader to make minor amendments to the draft Oxford City Council Business Plan 2020-21 before implementation.

On 09 September the Cabinet will consider a report on the Revised Oxford City Council Business Plan 2020/21. The Panel is asked to consider the report, making any recommendations to Cabinet as it sees fit.

Mish Tullar, Corporate Policy, Partnerships and Communications Manager, and Shelley Ghazi, Policy and Partnerships Officer, will be at the meeting to present the report.

NB The report for this item will be issued as a supplement.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Susan Brown introduced the report on the revised Oxford City Council Business Plan. With the immense disruption of Covid it had been necessary to revisit the Council’s plans for the current year, particularly due to the increased need to support economic recovery and promote safe, green travel. It was reassuring, however, how much of the Council’s plans and priorities remained. Particular highlights and priorities within the updated Business Plan included the launch of a new Procurement Strategy, which was being considered by the Panel that evening. The importance of the Council’s staff reflecting the demographics of the city they sought to serve was also underlined. Black Lives Matter had really resonated with residents in the city and given fresh impetus to a priority for the Council where progress had been made, but where work remained still to do. The area within the Business Plan most changed was in relation to economic recovery, but it was pleasing to see that much of the Council’s original ambitions would help to support recovery. One caveat to the Business Plan was in regards to how much central government’s new Planning guidance might alter the Council’s ability to deliver its housing ambitions. Finally, an amendment was also put forward to the text on page 32 of the report pack. The amended version was to read ‘continue to reduce the carbon footprint of Oxford City Council’s operation so that each year there is a reduction in line with achieving zero carbon by 2050 or earlier.’

Mish Tullar, Head of Communications, Partnerships & Policy, underlined that the Business Plan was Year 1 of the Council Strategy, which had been adopted in February 2020. Regarding KPIs, it was explained that under usual circumstances there would normally have been 16 or so corporate-level KPIs for the entire Corporate Strategy. That had not happened due to Covid and was being deferred until March 2021. At the same time, service level KPIs would also be considered. The Council’s auditor would work with the Council to collaborate on developing the most beneficial KPIs.

In response to the presented report, the Panel raised a number of questions and suggestions. Potential concern was raised over the Council’s support for the County Council’s bus gate plans on small businesses and overall economic recovery, and it was asked what research had been done to underpin the Council’s position. The exact proposals had not been made available by the County Council, making it difficult to assess their detail. However, the idea behind bus gates was to support businesses, and national and local policy indicated that reduced congestion and greater ease of access for customers was supportive of local business overall. The County Council would be expected to produce a case looking at those issues, but it was fair to say that business in those streets which had reduced traffic significantly through pedestrianisation were amongst the most thriving. Further, consultation on the proposals had included many businesses and the results would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21