None.

The Chair reordered the agenda. 

Items were considered in the following order: 8, 7, 9, 4, 5, 6, 10.  

Councillor Fry joined the meeting.  

Cabinet, at its meeting on 9 July 2025, will consider a report to approve the Domestic Abuse Policy for Service Users.

Councillor Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Richard Adams, Community Safety Service Manager, Liz Jones, ASBIT Manager and Domestic Abuse Lead and Dawn Thompson, DAHA Project Worker 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 9 July 2025, will consider a report to approve the Domestic Abuse Policy for Service Users. 

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

Councillor Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for A Safer Oxford, Richard Adams, Community Safety Service Manager, and Liz Jones, ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead, were present to respond to questions.  

Councillor Arshad introduced the report, noting that Oxford City Council is currently working to achieve the Domestic Abuse Housing Accreditation (DAHA) which will offer housing providers a framework and benchmark to operate by to ensure delivery of effective responses to domestic abuse. The Committee heard that the Council will be assessed for the required standards in respect of supporting survivors of domestic abuse, children of domestic abuse, and holding perpetrators to account. Councillor Arshad explained that the policy will guide the Council in this effort. Members were also notified of an edit to the report, as highlighted in yellow.  

The Chair invited the Committee to ask questions. 

Councillor Ottino requested some illustrative examples of how staff would be expected to respond.  

Councillor Qayum joined the meeting.  

Councillor Jarvis asked firstly, in relation to the wider context of temporary accommodation provision pressures, what confidence there is that the current capabilities are adequate for dealing with instances of domestic abuse and how much confidence is there that the Council can move people on from temporary accommodation into more stable environments. Secondly, information regarding prevention of domestic abuse was requested.  

Councillor Henwood sought clarification around the process for recording and managing domestic abuse against those under 16 years of age.  

The ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead responded. In response to Councillor Ottino’s request, an increase in the number of people coming forward and reporting domestic abuse was noted. For these scenarios it was explained that contact centres report to Safer Oxford and the Community Safety Team who then consider the report and contact the person as required. The Committee heard that contact could take the form of a text, and risk assessments are used to determine risk levels and next steps. The ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead explained that referrals are made to MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) for high-risk cases and referrals to Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Service are used for medium-risk cases. It was emphasised that each case is individual, and needs are assessed upon this understanding, however Oxford City Council is not a support service but does hold responsibility for identifying and sourcing the correct support for victims. In respect of children, it was explained that referrals are made to MASH as necessary.  

In response to Councillor Jarvis, the ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead explained that anyone who approaches the Council through the housing team to report lack of accommodation due to domestic abuse would be immediately triaged and risk assessed. This can lead to the assignment of emergency accommodation with consideration of the location and context of the placement based on the risk assessment. The Committee heard how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Scrutiny Committee has commissioned a report to consider an update on tourism work across the city, alongside work being undertaken to explore the implementation of a tourist tax for the city.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Culture, Clive Tritton, Interim Director of Economy, Regeneration and Sustainability, and Diana Fawcett, City Centre 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 had commissioned a report to consider an update on tourism work across the city, alongside work being undertaken to explore the implementation of a tourist tax for the city. 

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

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Culture, and Diana Fawcett, Oxford City Centre Manager, were present to respond to questions.  

Councillor Hollingsworth introduced the report, explaining that it provides a broad summary of ongoing actions relating to tourism in Oxford City centre which are subject to high tourist levels from visitors across the world and the associated benefits and challenges. The Committee were informed that positive change in recent years has ensured that on average, tourists often now stay longer overnight and attend more events and facilities within Oxford and the surrounding areas.  

The City Centre Manager provided a summary of the impacts of tourism and potential funding routes in line with the presentation enclosed within the agenda. The Committee were informed that the statistics enclosed relate to 2023 and demonstrate the popularity of Oxford as a global city with international reputation. Following the pandemic, it has been noted that countries within Asia and North America have started to return to Oxford in larger numbers and have contributed to the boom observed in 2024 which is a shared trend across other regions such as Europe. The City Centre Manager recognised the impacts that accompany increased tourism and assured Committee members that funding options are being explored to manage this considering that the City Centre Action Plan has no funding available for tourism related issues. The Committee were assured that the matter is being considered with importance as tourism affects anyone living and working in the city, and not just those visiting. As such, focus is being paid to supporting overnight stays and hotels to ensure more stable employment levels in the hospitality industry.  

In relation to the proposed Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), the City Centre Manager emphasised that the Council is a facilitator and not the levy payers as the ABID would be set up and manage by an independent company. As such, the Council cannot decide if the bid goes ahead but can support facilitation of the process. The Committee heard details relating to similar examples in Manchester and Liverpool and understood that the project is a positive opportunity to generate funds for the city. The City Centre Manager explained however that any funds resulting from the ABID could not be used on Council services under existing legislation. There is no legislation currently in England that allows a ‘tourist tax’ but such has been discussed in locations such as Edinburgh. An ABID is the only legislation in England that allows a levy charge.  

The City Centre Manager summarised other funding options which had been considered and explained the rationale for supporting the ABID which would involve around 29 hotels. On a presumed hotel occupancy rate of 75%, and a presumed charge of £2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 9 July 2025, will consider a report reviewing the Citizen Experience Strategy 2025-27 and approve the updated action plan.

Councillor Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, Helen Bishop, Director of Communities and Citizens’ Services, and Vicki Galvin, Citizen Experience Programme 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 9 July 2025, will consider a report reviewing the Citizen Experience Strategy 2025-27 and approve the updated action plan. 

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

Vicki Galvin, Citizen Experience Manager, and Helen Bishop, Director of Communities and Citizens Services, were present to respond to questions.  

The Director of Communities and Citizens Services summarised the report, noting that the original strategy from 2023 is expected to be reviewed in full in 2027. This report offers a brief refresh which focused on updating the data and insight and using this to update the action plan. The demographic profile of the city demonstrates increasing diversity, healthy inequalities, poverty and a digital divide. The Committee understood that a lot of work has gone into the revised action plan to ensure that the Council services support the quality of life for all citizens of Oxford City. The report also considers feedback from a range of key stakeholders.   

Councillor Azad and Councillor Mundy rejoined the meeting.  

The Chair invited questions from the Committee.  

Councillor Ottino requested examples of how they are reaching people that may not usually respond to survey and in places without community buildings. It was also asked what is being done to ensure that residents believe that their views are relevant and mater to the Council. Additionally, in relation to young people, it was asked what is being done to ensure engagement in the democratic process.  

With a focus on AI, Councillor Jarvis asked how it is currently being utilised within Council services and whether it risks diminishing residents’ service experiences. It was commented that AI is often variable in quality. The Chair supported this query and asked whether AI had been considered within the environmental impact assessment.  

In response to Councillor Ottino, the Director of Communities and Citizens Services detailed examples of ongoing work to engage broadly within the local community. This included examples such as telephone contact centres, face to face services within the Westgate Library, and links with food larders across the city. The Committee heard that reviews are ongoing to assess the regularity of visits to food larders and possible new community locations to attend. To support digital access, work is also ongoing with Oxfordshire County Council to facilitate a digital cafe in the Westgate Library to support skill development. In response to the need to ensure residents’ feel their voices are valued, the Director of Communities and Citizens Services emphasised that a new comments and complaints process has been installed across the Council and in-person walkabouts are taking place in localities. In respect of young people specifically, the Committee heard that a young person’s panel has been established and there is ongoing work with schools.  

In response to Councillor Jarvis, the Director of Communities and Citizens Services detailed the ongoing work relating to AI, including upskilling current staff and purchasing additional MS CoPilot licenses. The Committee also heard of an upcoming workstream which will focus on analysis  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The Committee is asked to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2025as a true and accurate record.

The Chair requested an amendment to Minute 7 of the minutes to note in his introduction that whilst it was not the appropriate time for members to raise broader concerns related to Serco Group, those concerns were nonetheless legitimate.  

The Committee resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2025 as a true and accurate record incorporating the amendment from the Chair.  

Councillor Fry left the meeting. 

The Work Plan is driven to a very large extent by the Cabinet Forward Plan. The Scrutiny Committee agrees its priorities for items appearing on the Forward Plan, which then form part of its Work Plan.

Attached is a longlist of suggested Scrutiny-commissioned reports for consideration in 2025/26. They have been scored against the ‘TOPIC’ criteria by the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor, the Chair and Vice-Chair to reflect the Committee’s priorities.

The Committee is recommended to:

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

2.     Agree the Scrutiny-commissioned items for consideration during 2025/26, noting that exact scope and timescales may be dependent on resource capacity.

3.     Request that the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor liaise with relevant Cabinet Members and officers to schedule Scrutiny-commissioned items into the Work Plan.

The Chair informed the Committee that Cabinet has added a new item to its Forward Plan and would now be considering the Oxpens River Bridge at its next meeting in August. The Chair suggested that the Scrutiny Committee also considered the report at its meeting in August.  

Councillor Henwood and Councillor Ottino requested clarification on what this would involve and what the Scrutiny Committee would be considering.  

The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor informed members that Cabinet would be considering approval for power to be delegated and enter into necessary legal and funding agreements. Councillor Ottino questioned whether there was value in Scrutiny engaging meaningfully with the item given the scope of the report. 

The Chair noted that the Committee may wish to scrutinise the delegations for the decision Cabinet will be taking and put forward recommendations given that the topic has been of great interest.  

Councillor Miles reflected on previous discussions at the Scrutiny Committee and suggested that members could focus on lessons learned to inform future projects.  

Upon a vote, the Committee voted in favour of adding the report to Scrutiny agenda for discussion at the meeting in August.  

The Chair thanked Councillor Ottino for the issues he raised and committed to considering and managing the remit of the discussion.  

The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor updated the Committee on the suggested topics added to the workplan, as detailed in the report, and explained how these topics were selected. The Committee were assured that further additions could be made and would be agreed with the Chair. 

In response to Councillor Ottino, the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor explained the TOPIC scoring system used to determine the addition of topics to the workplan.  

Councillor Miles suggested that the Committee consider capacity constraints on the Council’s environmental health team following discussion within Licensing Committees. The Chair supported the suggestion.   

The Committee: 

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

2. Agreed the Scrutiny-commissioned items for consideration during 2025/26, noting that exact scope and timescales may be dependent on resource capacity. 

3. Requested that the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor liaise with relevant Cabinet Members and officers to schedule Scrutiny-commissioned items into the Work Plan. 

At its meeting on 18 June 2025, Cabinet considered the following reports from Scrutiny and made responses to the recommendations:

·       Leisure Investment Programme Update and More Leisure Service Annual Plan

·       Oxford Local Plan 2042 Regulation 18 Consultation Document

·       Annual Complaint Performance & Service Improvement Report

Since the Scrutiny Committee’s previous meeting, the following Working Groups have met:

·       Housing and Homelessness Working Group (24 June 2025)

The Committee is asked to:

1.     Note Cabinet’s responses to its recommendations.

2.     Endorse any recommendations from Working Group meetings.

Recommendations from meetings held after the publication of this agenda will be included in a late supplement.

The Chair detailed the response from Cabinet to the 5 recommendations made at the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee. The Committee understood that all were agreed in full or in part. The Chair outlined each individually.  

Councillor Jarvis left the meeting and did not return. 

The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor summarised the recommendations resulting from the meetings of the Scrutiny Committee’s working groups since its last meeting. 

The Committee: 

1. Noted Cabinet’s responses to its recommendations. 

2. Endorsed?any recommendations from Working Group meetings. 

Scrutiny Committee

·       5 August 2025

·       9 September 2025

·       14 October 2025

·       11 November 2025

·       2 December 2025

·       13 January 2026

·       3 February 2026

·       10 March 2026

·       7 April 2026

All meetings start at 6:00 pm.

The Committee noted the dates of future meetings.