At its meeting on 24 January 2024, Cabinet considered the following reports from Scrutiny and made responses to the recommendations:

-         Leisure Services Contract Award

-         Draft Corporate Strategy 2024-28 for Consultation

-         Private Rented Sector Regulation Policies – Results of Consultation

-         DAHA Accreditation and Domestic Abuse Review Group Update

-         Biodiversity Action Plan for Oxford City Council Parks and Nature Areas – September 2023 Review

-         Retrofit

Since the Scrutiny Committee’s previous meeting on 16 January 2024, the following Panels have met:

-         Finance and Performance Panel (22 January 2024)

The Committee is asked to:

1.       Note Cabinet’s responses to its recommendations

2.       Note any updates from Panel meetings

The Chair presented the report on recommendations.

The Committee noted that on 24 January 2024, Cabinet considered recommendations related to six reports, responses to which were set out in the agenda pack:

·       Leisure Services Contract Award

·       Draft Corporate Strategy 2024-28 for Consultation

·       Private Rented Sector Regulation Policies – Results of Consultation

·       DAHA Accreditation and Domestic Abuse Review Group Update

·       Biodiversity Action Plan for Oxford City Council Parks and Nature Areas – September 2023 Review

·       Retrofit

The Committee noted that the Scrutiny Officer had followed-up on one of the recommendations made in respect of the Leisure Services Contract Award, which related to Cabinet responding to the public address made at the January Committee meeting. No response had been circulated to date. The recommendation on the same report related to the Committee receiving an update on arrangements established for effective monitoring of the Leisure Services Contract had been added to the list of suggestions for the 2024/25 Scrutiny Committee Work Plan.

In relation to the response to one of the Committee's recommendations on the DAHA Accreditation and Domestic Abuse Review Group Update report, the Committee noted a slight discrepancy between the update on the recommendations of the Domestic Abuse Review Group and the response to a recommendation made by the Committee in January related to Domestic Abuse training. The Committee requested that the Scrutiny Officer clarify this outside the meeting and report back to the Committee.

The Scrutiny Officer advised that the Finance and Performance Panel met on 22 January 2024. Four substantive items were considered which included the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2024/25, HRA Rent Setting Report 2024/25, Corporate KPI Review presentation and the draft report of the Budget Review Group. The Panel made a number of recommendations in respect of the Corporate KPI Review item, which were in the process of being formalised before submission to Cabinet.

The Committee noted the update from the Finance and Performance Panel meeting.