·       Cllr Malik

·       Cllr Stares

Minutes from 05 June 2024.

Recommendation: That the minutes of the meeting held on 05 June 2024be 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 current suggestions for the longlist of Scrutiny-commissioned reports for consideration by Scrutiny in 2024/25 are attached, which have been ranked in priority order by the Scrutiny Officer in line with the ‘TOPIC’ scoring criteria. A copy of the ‘TOPIC’ scoring criteria is included for reference.

The Committee is recommended to:

1.    Confirm its agreement to the Work Plan, or agree any amendments as required.

2.    Agree Scrutiny-commissioned items for consideration during 2024/25, noting that exact scope and timescales may be dependent on resource capacity.

3.    Request that the Scrutiny Officer engage with relevant Cabinet Members and officers regarding scheduling Scrutiny-commissioned items into the Work Plan.

At its meeting on 12 June 2024, Cabinet considered the following reports from Scrutiny and made responses to the recommendations:

·       Tree Management Policy 2024-2032

·       Framework for the Installation of Renewable Technologies in Council-owned Properties

·       Biodiversity Net Gain

·       Citywide Retrofit Strategy

·       Tree Planting

·       Energy Generation/Solar Potential on Council Buildings

·       Integrated Performance Report Q3 2023/24

·       Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code Self-Assessment

·       Implementation of Selective Licensing

·       Adult Exploitation

Since the Scrutiny Committee’s previous meeting on 05 June 2024, the following Panels have met:

·       Climate and Environment Panel (11 June 2024)

The Committee is asked to:

1.    Note Cabinet’s responses to its recommendations.

2.    Note any updates from Panel meetings.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 10 July 2024, will consider a report from the Executive Director (Corporate Resources) providing an update on the delivery of the Citizen Experience (CEX) Strategy. Cllr Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, Tom Hook, Executive Director (Corporate Resources), Helen Bishop, Head of Business Improvement and Vicki Galvin, Senior Programme Manager for Customer Experience 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 10 July 2024, will consider a report from the Head of Corporate Strategy seeking approval for the Corporate Strategy 2024-2028. Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of the Council, Mish Tullar, Head of Corporate Strategy and Clare Keen, 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.

Council, at its meeting on 15 July 2024, will consider a report from the Executive Director (Development) seeking approval for progressing the submission of the proposed byelaws for parks and open spaces to the Secretary of State for approval following public consultation. Cllr Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for a Healthy Oxford, Tom Bridgman, Executive Director (Development) and Chris Bell, Green and Blue Spaces Development Manager have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Appendix 4 to this item includes exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If the Scrutiny Committee wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendix 4 to the report, it will be necessary for the Scrutiny Committee to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting (as set out at agenda item 12).

Cabinet, at its meeting on 10 July 2024, will consider a report from the Executive Director (Communities and People) seeking approval for a programme of improvements at the City Council’s leisure facilities. Cllr Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for a Healthy Oxford, Peter Matthew, Executive Director (Communities and People), Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services and Hagan Lewisman, Active Communities Manager have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Scrutiny Committee

·       06 August 2024

·       03 September 2024

·       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: 03 July 2024; 07 August 2024; 10 October 2024; 07 November 2024; 06 March 2025

Finance & Performance: 18 July 2024; 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.

If the Committee wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any aspects of the preceding or following agenda items it will be necessary for the Committee to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 specifying the grounds on which their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act if and so long, as in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(The Access to Information Procedure Rules – Section 15 of the Council’s Constitution – sets out the conditions under which the public can be excluded from meetings of the Council).