Minutes from 6 November 2023.

Recommendation: That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2023 be APPROVED as a true and accurate record.

The work plan is driven to a very large extent by the Cabinet Forward Plan a summary of which is attached. The Scrutiny Committee agrees its priorities for items coming onto the Forward Plan, which then form part of its work plan.

The Committee is recommended to confirm its agreement to the work plan, or agree any amendments as required.

At its meeting on 15 November 2023, Cabinet considered the following reports from Scrutiny and made responses to the recommendations:

-          Grant Allocations to Community and Voluntary Organisations 2024/25

-          Central (City & University) Conservation Area Appraisal

Since the Scrutiny Committee’s previous meeting on 06 November 2023, the following Panels have met:

-          Climate and Environment Panel (29 November 2023)

The Committee is asked to:

1.    Note Cabinet’s responses to its recommendations.

2.    Note any updates from Panel meetings.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report seeking the appointment of members and chairs of Scrutiny Standing Panels and Review Groups following changes to the political composition of Oxford City Council. The recommendations are set out in the report.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 December 2023, will consider a report from the Planning Policy and Place Manager seeking approval of the Authority Monitoring Report and Infrastructure Funding Statement for publication. Cllr Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities, Rachel Williams, Planning Policy and Place Manager, Alexander Sutton, Planner, Lorraine Freeman, CIL, Data Analysis and Reporting Team Leader and Lan Nguyen, Senior Data Analyst, have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 December 2023, will consider a report from the Head of Business Improvement seeking approval for the publication of the annual Workforce Equality Report 2023, Gender Pay Gap Report, Ethnicity Pay Gap Report and Disability Pay Gap Report; and setting out progress on the Workforce Equalities Report and Action Plan. Cllr Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, Helen Bishop, Head of Business Improvement and Gail Malkin, Head of People, have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 December 2023, will consider a report from the Head of Corporate Strategy setting out recommendations over the use of Glyphosate by Oxford Direct Services (ODS) to control weeds on behalf of Oxford City Council. Cllr Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, Tina Mould, Head of Sustainability and Laura Harlock, Parks and Open Spaces Service Manager (Oxford Direct Services), have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 December 2023, will consider a report from the Chief Executive outlining the Council’s Action Plan in response to the Corporate Peer Review feedback and recommendations received in July 2023. Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy and Partnerships, Caroline Green, Chief Executive and Lucy Cherry, Policy and Partnerships Officer, have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Scrutiny Committee

·       16 January 2024

·       06 February 2024

·       04 March 2024

·       11 April 2024

Standing Panels

Housing & Homelessness: 05 December 2023; 07 March 2024

Finance & Performance: 06 December 2023; 22 January 2024; 26 March 2024

Climate & Environment: 27 February 2024; 20 March 2024

Companies Scrutiny Panel will meet on the same dates as the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group (SJVG): 07 December 2023; 27 March 2024; 24 April 2024

All meetings start at 6.00 pm.