Minutes from 02 July 2024

Recommendation: That the minutes of the informal remote meeting held on 02 July 2024 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 10 July 2024, Cabinet considered the following reports from Scrutiny and made responses to the recommendations:

·       Oxford City Council Corporate Strategy 2024-28

·       Leisure Investment Programme

·       Update of Byelaws for Parks and Open Spaces

Since the Scrutiny Committee’s previous informal remote meeting on 02 July 2024, the following Panels have met:

·       Housing and Homelessness Panel (03 July 2024)

·       Finance and Performance Panel (18 July 2024; 27 August 2024)

At its informal remote meeting on 02 July 2024, the Committee requested that the Scrutiny Officer develop a recommendation tracker incorporating all Scrutiny Committee recommendations from 2023/24 onwards. The recommendation tracker is attached.

The Committee is asked to:

1.    Note Cabinet’s responses to its recommendations.

2.    Note any updates from Panel meetings.

3.    Note and comment on the recommendation tracker.

At its first meeting of the municipal year the Scrutiny Committee established a Budget Review Group to examine the Council’s budget proposals for 2025/26.

The Committee is recommended to consider and agree the attached scope, or agree any amendments as required.

In the 2023/24 municipal year, the Committee requested that annual reporting on progress against all of the Council’s Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy pledges be submitted for consideration, alongside the full list of possible pledges so that the Committee might identify any further potential pledges that the Council could sign-up to.

The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report providing a year one update against the Council’s pledge commitments as part of the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership (OIEP) Charter. Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Partnership Working, Cllr Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and an Inclusive Economy, Clayton Lavallin, Economic Development Team Leader and Emma Coles, Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership Manager have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

The Executive Director (Communities and People) has submitted a report presenting the Safeguarding Annual Report 2023-24. Cllr Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for a Safer Oxford, Richard Adams, Community Safety Service Manager and Laura Jones, Safeguarding Coordinator have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

At its informal remote meeting on 02 July 2024, the Committee commissioned an item on Anti-Social Behaviour. This presentation item will provide the Committee with a general overview of Anti-Social Behaviour ahead of undertaking a review of the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Policy later in 2024/25. The presentation will cover topics including: roles, responsibilities, legislation, partnership working and performance/management information. Cllr Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for a Safer Oxford and Richard Adams, Community Safety Service Manager have been invited to present and answer questions.

The Committee is asked to receive a presentation followed by an opportunity for discussion; and to agree any recommendations.

Note: The presentation will not be available to review before the meeting; any slides will be published with the minutes of the meeting.

Scrutiny Committee

·       08 October 2024

·       04 November 2024

·       02 December 2024

·       14 January 2025

·       29 January 2025

·       03 March 2025

·       01 April 2025

Standing Panels

Housing & Homelessness: 10 October 2024; 07 November 2024; 06 March 2025

Finance & Performance: 04 September 2024; 04 December 2022; 15 January 2025; 07 April 2025

Climate & Environment: 10 September 2024; 20 November 2024; 26 February 2025; 27 March 2025

All meetings start at 6.00 pm.