The Panel noted that Councillor Simmons would be leaving the meeting at 6.30pm for an engagement in his capacity as Lord Mayor.

None

Items to be considered in private - matters exempt from publication

If the Panel wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any of the items on the exempt from publication part of the agenda or at any other point in the meeting, it will be necessary for the Panel to pass a resolution to that effect.

The Panel may maintain the exemption 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 Panel resolved to move into private session on the grounds that the presence of the public would likely involve the disclosure of exempt information in accordance with paragraph 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Recommendation: That the open and confidential notes of the meeting held on 22 June 2020 be approved.

Subject to officers checking whether Councillor Landell Mills had left the meeting as stated in the draft minutes, the record of the meeting of 22 June 2020 was AGREED.

Report from the Scrutiny Officer on the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group’s Covid-delayed response to recommendations from the Panel’s meeting on 12 March.

No recommendations were made from the meeting of 22 June 2020.

The Panel NOTED the responses to previous recommendations.

To consider reports to the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group (reports are open/ fully exempt as shown on that meeting’s agenda: pack republished on 11 September to remove the item from Oxford City Housing Ltd).

Minutes of the consideration of the relevant Shareholder and Joint Venture Group reports are detailed below.

The Panel discussed the exempt appendix in private session and agreed to NOTE the report.

Jane Winfield, Director of Barton Oxford LLP was present to answer questions.

The Director of Barton Oxford LLP agreed to report back on whether innovative online methods of marketing homes were being used, and to facilitate a site visit for Panel Members.

The Panel discussed the exempt report in private session and agreed to NOTE the report.

Kevin Minns, OxWED Executive Director, and Jane Winfield, OxWED Director, attended the meeting to answer questions from the Panel.

Councillor Simmons left the meeting during this item.

The next scheduled meeting of the Companies Scrutiny Panel will be held on:

-        14 December 2020

If an additional meeting of the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group is agreed, an additional meeting of this Panel will also be arranged.

The date of the next scheduled meeting was NOTED.

Subject to the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group agreeing to hold a meeting on 22 October 2020 to consider the Oxford Direct Services business plan, the Panel AGREED to hold a meeting on 20 October 2020.