Councillors Jemima Hunt, Amar Latif, Edward Mundy, Jo Sandelson, Chris Smowton, and Naomi Waite. Councillor Yeatman sent apologies for a late arrival.

None.

Public addresses and questions to the Leader or other Cabinet member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution relating to matters for decision in Part 1 of this agenda.

Up to five minutes is available for each public address.

The request to speak accompanied by the full text of the address must be received by the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy by 5.00 pm on Thursday, 8 January 2026.

The briefing note will contain the text of addresses submitted by the deadline, and written responses where available.

A total of 45 minutes is available for both public speaking items. Responses are included in this time.

There were no addresses or questions.

The Chief Executive has submitted a report regarding a recent letter from the Government.

Council is recommended to:

1. That Members consider and express views in relation to the City Council 2026 local elections following a letter from Minister McGovern to the Leader of the Council seeking her views on the postponement of the elections and if this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

The report will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

The Chief Executive had submitted a report regarding a recent letter from the Government regarding local elections in 2026.

Councillor Brown presented the report which was before Council. She said that the Council had received a letter just before Christmas from central government, regarding the possible postponement of local elections in 2026. This special meeting of Council was called to consider the Leader’s response to the letter from central government. Councillor Brown said that the draft minutes of the current meeting would be appended to her response to central government to ensure that all views are presented.

Councillor Goddard outlined his and his colleagues reasoning for calling for the special meeting of council. He said that their response to government should be a firm no and that the 2026 local elections should proceed as planned. He said that postponing these elections would deprive the people of the city the right to vote and their right to hold elected officials accountable. He argued that it would be undemocratic to deprive the people of Oxford of their right to vote by cancelling the 2026 local elections. He expressed his opposition to any postponement or cancellation of the 2026 local elections.

Councillor Kerr stated that the cancellation of the 2026 local elections would be a case of democratic backsliding.

Councillor Turner expressed sympathy with people’s points about the timing and the process around deciding this matter. He noted that different councils in other areas of the country were taking different views on the matter. He acknowledged the importance of voting for democratic functions. He noted the costs and disruption to business of elections and the all-out election planned for 2027. He expressed his support for the postponement of the 2026 elections.

Councillor Powell said that it was disappointing that they would not be voting on this issue today. He said that he was in favour of holding the 2026 elections and that to deny residents the ability to participate in this election would be democratic backsliding. He noted that they did not know the shape or outcome of Local Government Reorganisation at this point, but that there were democratic issues to be considered throughout the processes and decisions to be made before and as Local Government Reorganisation unfolds. He urged the Leader to argue for the local elections to proceed as planned.

Councillor Henwood stated that elections are the foundation of democracy and that they are essential to public trust. He added that postponing an election has consequences and raises the troubling question of if not now, then when. He said that if elections can not be free fair and accessible to all, the legitimacy of their elections and democracy were at risk. He continued and said that elections should not be decided behind closed doors. He concurred with Councillors Goddard, Kerr, and Powell on their frustration of not being able to vote on this matter. He expressed his support for elections in 2026 to proceed as planned.

Councillor Roz Smith said that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.