Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 08 July 2026 as a true and accurate record.

Public addresses relating to matters of business for this agenda, up to five minutes is available for each public address.

The request to speak accompanied by the full text of the address must be received by the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy by 5.00 pm on Thursday the 13^th of August.

Councillor addresses relating to matters of business for this agenda, up to five minutes is available for each address.

The request should be received by the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy by 5.00 pm on Thursday the 13^th of August.

The Scrutiny Committee met on the 11th of August 2026. The Climate and Environment Working Group met on 6 July 2026, and the Finance and Performance Working Group met on 15 July 2026.

The Committee and its Working Groups considered the following reports:

•                  Use of CIL funding to support infrastructure and public realm related to the Cowley Branch Line [Report for Cabinet]

•                  Heat Network Update [Scrutiny-commissioned report]

•                  Community Energy Interim Policy Update [Scrutiny-commissioned report]

Scrutiny’s discussions and recommendations on the reports are published as supplement to the agenda.

Appendix 1 contain exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. To discuss this item, it will be necessary for the Committee to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting 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.

(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)

The Transition Director submitted a report to Cabinet to seek Cabinet approval to procure a strategic partner for the design and implementation of a Greater Oxford Council, and working within an established systemwide LGR implementation governance framework. 

It also seeks to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Group Finance Director and Monitoring Officer, to award and appoint the strategic partner consultancy support, except where there is an existing officer delegation within the Council’s Constitution. 

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Note the update as to the progression of the procurement of a strategic partner for the design and implementation of the Greater Oxford Council. 

2.    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Group Finance Director and Monitoring Officer to award the contract.

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Note the update as to the progression of the procurement of a strategic partner for the design and implementation of the Greater Oxford Council. 
2. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Group Finance Director and Monitoring Officer to award the contract.

The Director of Planning and Regulation submitted a report to Cabinet to request that Cabinet approve the request to add the West Oxford Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) to the approved list of existing CPZ’s in the city that are being reviewed by Oxfordshire County Council using previously agreed CIL monies.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Approve the request to add the West Oxford Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) to the approved list of existing CPZ’s in the city being reviewed by Oxfordshire County Council using previously agreed CIL monies.    

2.    Approve the return of any further underspend to the CIL pot for strategic infrastructure.

3.    Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Regulation to make any further amendments to the list of CPZs included in the review.

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Approve the request to add the West Oxford Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) to the approved list of existing CPZ’s in the city being reviewed by Oxfordshire County Council using previously agreed CIL monies.    
2. Approve the return of any further underspend to the CIL pot for strategic infrastructure.
3. Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Regulation to make any further amendments to the list of CPZs included in the review.

The Director of Planning and Regulation submitted a report to Cabinet to request that Cabinet endorse the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy following earlier endorsement by the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Endorse the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy (OxIS) which has already been endorsed by the Oxfordshire Joint Leaders Committee (OLJC) on 24^th April 2026.

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Endorse the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy (OxIS) which has already been endorsed by the Oxfordshire Joint Leaders Committee (OLJC) on 24^th April 2026.

The Deputy Chief Executive - Place submitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval for future CIL funding collected within the vicinity of the Cowley Branch Line to be ringfenced to meet necessary infrastructure and public realm costs in relation to the reopening of the line for passenger services. 

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Ringfence 30% of future CIL income arising from development within 1.5 km of either of the two CBL stations to a cap of £2.5m or for a period of 10 years (whichever is earlier) to repay forward funding agreed by Oxfordshire County Council to support essential infrastructure and public realm works in relation to the line. This ringfencing applies only once existing CIL commitments in relation to Cowley Branch from previous Cabinet decisions have been met (as set out in paragraph 12-14).

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Ringfence 30% of future CIL income arising from development within 1.5 km of either of the two CBL stations to a cap of £2.5m or for a period of 10 years (whichever is earlier) to repay forward funding agreed by Oxfordshire County Council to support essential infrastructure and public realm works in relation to the line. This ringfencing applies only once existing CIL commitments in relation to Cowley Branch from previous Cabinet decisions have been met (as set out in paragraph 12-14).

Meetings are scheduled for the following dates:

·       16 September 2026

·       21 October 2026

·       18 November 2026

All meetings start at 6.00 pm.