Cabinet, at its meeting on 12 March 2025, will consider a report from the Director of Corporate Strategy (Interim), seeking approval for the Oxford City Council Annual Business Plan for 2025 to 2026.

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of the Council, Mish Tullar, Director of Corporate Strategy (Interim) and Lucy Cherry, Policy and Partnership Officer will present the report and answer questions.

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

Mish Tullar, Director of Corporate Strategy, and Lucy Cherry, Policy and Partnership Officer, were present to respond to questions from the Committee. 

Councillor Mundy declared an interest relating to item 7, noting he is an employee of the Agnes Smith advice centre. The Scrutiny and Governance advisor noted there is no requirement for him to leave the room during consideration of the item but registered the interest.  

The Director of Corporate Strategy introduced the draft business plan for the 2025/26 Council year which outlined the top-level actions proposed to support delivery of the outcomes in the Council’s 4-year strategy, categorised under each of the five corporate priorities. The Committee heard that the report builds on historic feedback from the LGA peer review in 2023 and focuses on prioritisation and is designed in a manner which is easier to read for the public. The Director of Corporate explained that the report is published annually and highlights the work which has been delivered against actions form previous annual plans. 

Councillor Regisford joined the meeting.  

The Policy and Partnership Officer explained that the process of developing the strategy involved collaboration between officers and the Corporate Leadership Team to assess and filter a long list of suggested priorities. 

The Chair invited the Committee to ask questions.  

Councillor Ottino queried whether the presence of the review into the approach to housing allocations is standard, or indicative of an issue. In reference to page 41, it was asked what the term ‘accommodation business improvement district’ meant, and finally, it was queried whether the risks mentioned had been updated since the previous year.  

The Chair also sought clarification on what steps are envisaged for facilitating conversations, the task group, and who will be involved. In regards housing priority and The Renter’s Rights Bill, the Chair also queried what the new opportunity mentioned could mean in connecting with the Council’s priorities. 

The Director of Corporate Strategy assured the Committee that the housing allocations policy is updated as part of good practice and that the review is not indicative of a wider issue. In regards the ‘accommodation business improvement district’, the Committee learned that this relates to a levy which applies to commercial accommodation businesses and raises money for improvements within the same area. Furthermore, the levy must be organised and led by the businesses themselves. In response to Councillor Ottino’s recognition of risks mentioned within the report, it was confirmed that some could now be removed. In regard the Renter’s Rights Bill, Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, explained that changes will be coming into place which ban section 21 notices (no fault evictions) and thus impact the number of people who present as homeless. Therefore, the Committee heard that the Council would want to review the legal change as there are currently around 3500 people on the housing register who hold little chance of being allocated limited social housing. The Council will be required to assess this over future years, and it must be understood that being added to the register is not a solution; other solutions to homeless must be considered.  

The Chair emphasised the importance of the ABID being led by businesses, but queried how the Council will be made aware of any formal agreements reached, and what the implications would be for Council resources. The Director of Corporate Strategy explained that the ABID is currently at the planning and initiation stage which involves discussions with major hotel owners and both universities. The Council’s city centre team will work with these organisations within a task group to develop a proposal which will then be voted on by all interest parties within the geographic area who would be subjected to a levy on top of their business rates. The Committee were informed that the funding would be ring-fenced and explained to the Chair that any admin costs for the Council would only become apparent once the details of the proposal were finalised.  

Councillor Ottino asked if the Council holds veto powers in the instance that the group make a proposal which the Council does not agree with. The Director of Corporate Strategy confirmed that they do, explaining that the decision would be linked to maintenance of the public realm which is the Council’s responsibility. However, the assumption is that any proposal would be based on partnership work and agreements which would seek positive improvements to the city.  

The Chair, in relation to the programme of locality-based support to business, asked firstly whether smaller economic centres including Summertown and Headington would be included and secondly, whether principles of sustainability and net zero would be integrated into the support provided to businesses. Finally, it was asked who would be involved in any key stakeholder consultation around the Growth Commission. The Director of Corporate Strategy explained that current locality-based support for businesses is ongoing for the Cowley Road and Botley Road areas, however noted an ambition to roll this out to other small businesses in other commercial areas. In regards the Growth Commission, the Committee heard that any decisions regarding stakeholder consultation would be at the behest of central government, noting that the inception of the commission was in response to a letter from Oxford City Council and the universities. The Director of Corporate Strategy noted that the announcement of the new chair is expected shortly, and that other appointments would likely be made from representatives within the Council, universities, businesses, and innovation organisations. It was clarified that it is not the place of the Council to recommend or decide this membership, but that the government is consulting with Oxford City Council on the terms of reference.  

Councillor Ottino sought further clarity on whether the locality business support would include areas containing a small number of shops and what the nature of this support would be. The Director of Corporate Strategy reiterated that current focus is on the city centre, but that there are plans to extend this in the future. On the forms of support available, the Committee heard that engagement with local small businesses would inform these decisions, but previous support to the Botley Road area was described. The Director of Corporate Strategy welcomed the support of councillors in helping influence this process through feeding in the ideas of ward residents.  

The Chair thanked the officers and invited the Committee to discuss recommendations. 

Councillor Ottino noted that the scope of the areas considered should be expanded to include smaller units which are often independent and located within public areas that could benefit from reliable local services; he also emphasised the need to make these areas safer and more attractive. Councillor Stares supported this, noting that they are often overlooked and reiterated the importance of supporting vital local services. 

The Chair supported this recommendation and confirmed the wording with the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor. 

The Committee resolved to make the following recommendation(s) on the report to Cabinet: 

1. That Cabinet ensures locality-based support for business in Oxford, outside the city centre, focuses on the commercial centres as defined in the Local Plan; and that efforts be made to collaborate with businesses that, while not formally designated as commercial centres, provide essential services to local residents within walking distance of certain residential areas. 

2. That the reference to the creation of an Accommodation Business Improvement District in the Oxford City Council Annual Business Plan Priorities 2025-2026 be revised to clearly indicate that its establishment is contingent on the decision of the businesses involved, and not the Council. 

The Head of Corporate Strategy and the Policy and Patronships Officer left the meeting. 

Due to his declared interest in relation to item 8, Councillor Ottino left the meeting.