Minutes from the extraordinary meeting on 18 November 2024 and the ordinary meeting on 2 December 2024.

Recommendation: That the minutes of the extraordinary meeting on 18 November 2024 and ordinary meeting held on 2 December 2024 be APPROVED as a true and accurate record.

The Work Plan is driven to a very large extent by the Cabinet Forward Plan. 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 11 December, Cabinet considered the following reports from Scrutiny and made responses to the recommendations:

·       Thriving Communities Strategy Update

·       Authority Monitoring Report and Infrastructure Funding Statement 2023/2024

·       HRA Asset Management Strategy and 5-Year Investment Programme

·       Tenancy Engagement and Management

·       Eco-moorings Update

·       High-level challenges and constraints impacting on the deliverability of solar opportunities at Council car parks

Since the Scrutiny Committee’s previous meeting on 2 December 2024, the following Panels have met:

·       Finance and Performance Panel (4 December 2024)

The Committee is asked to:

1.     Note Cabinet’s responses to its recommendations.

2.     Note any updates from Panel meetings.

The Scrutiny Committee has received a report from the Head of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) to update the Committee on the progress and plans to address the increase in Urgent Key Decisions in 2024, and to improve and strengthen governance of the Council.

Emma Jackman, Head of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer), and Jonathan Malton, Committee and Member Services Manager have been invited to present the report and answer questions.

The Committee is asked to note the report and agree any recommendations.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 22 January 2025, will consider a report from the Executive Director (Corporate Resources) seeking approval and adoption of the draft Council of Sanctuary framework document.

Cllr Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Tom Hook, Executive Director (Corporate Resources), Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Service, Richard Wood, Housing Strategy and Needs Manager, and Stephen Cohen, Refugee and Resettlement Manager 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 22 January 2025, will consider a report from the Head of Financial Services presenting the outcome of Oxford City Council’s annual rent review and associated rent setting proposal for 2025/26 in respect of all council dwellings within the Housing Revenue Account, including the setting of associated services and facilities charges.

Cllr Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, Cllr Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services, Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Services and Jason Jones, Finance Business Partner (HRA) 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 22 January, will consider a report to approve the withdrawal of the Oxford Local Plan 2040 from Examination and to approve the Local Development Scheme 2025-2030, which sets out the work programme for the revised Oxford Local Plan 2042.

Cllr Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning, David Butler, Head of Planning and Regulatory Services, Rachel Williams, Planning Policy and Place Manager, and Sarah Harrison, Planning Policy Team Leader have been invited to present the report and answer questions.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

The Scrutiny Committee has commissioned a report to consider the Council’s current flood management including an overview of responsibilities and responses.

Cllr Susan Brown, Lead member for Emergency Planning, Cllr Nigel Chapman, Lead member for Flood Relief, Richard Adams, Community Safety Service Manager, James Barlow, Principal Flood Mitigation and Environmental Quality Team Leader, Kamil Lipowski, Emergency Planning Officer and Andy Brett,Senior Resilience Officer (Oxfordshire County Council) have been invited to present the report and answer questions.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Scrutiny Committee

·       03 March 2025

·       01 April 2025

Standing Panels

Housing & Homelessness: 06 March 2025

Finance & Performance: 15 January 2025  21 January 2025; 07 April 2025

Climate & Environment: 26 February 2025; 27 March 2025

All meetings start at 6.00 pm.