Contact Officer: Pat Jones, Principal Scrutiny Officer.

 Tele: 01865 252191

Email:  phjones@oxford.gov.uk

Work Programme

The Principal Scrutiny Officer presented the current Work Programme and Forward Plan to the Committee and provided some background and context.

The Committee noted that the following items were now expected to be taken by City Executive Board (CEB) in October, and as a result they were not on the current Scrutiny agenda:-

·         Riverside Land;

·         City Deal;

·         Grants Commissioning.

The Committee resolved to:-

(1)  Note that Councillor McCready had joined the Housing Standing Panel;

(2)  Note that Councillor Brett had agreed to lead the debate on the Council’s use of social media when this is considered at its October meeting;

(3)  Note that the Oxfutures item which the Committee had requested, is in abeyance and that the County Council is not moving this forwards at present;

(4)  Agree that Councillor Jones could take part in the Committee’s debates on flooding, Community Safety and building scale when they take place;

(5)  Note that Councillor Van Nooijen has left the Covered Market Review Group.. It was agreed that a substitute Labour member would be sought to take his place, although the Committee did not that the work of this review group was well advanced;

(6)  Agree that Councillor Mills would leave the Finance Standing Panel, and that his place would be taken by Councillor Fooks;

(7)  Agree that the following recommendation from the Housing Panel (concerning the Allocations Scheme Review) should be forwarded to CEB on 11^th September:-

A Communications Strategy should be in place to explain the scheme as agreed; what it means for applicants alongside some general information on the likelihood of being housed. Communication should include the opportunity for feedback on the scheme itself, and the understandibility of it.

Covered Market Review – update

Councillor Jim Campbell provided a short update concerning the work of this group.  So far the group had:-

·         Visited markets in London and Bristol;

·         Carried out a survey of traders in the Covered Market; producing 30 written responses and many oral comments;

·         Held discussions with many Council Officers, including the City centre Manager;

·         Met with Board members Councillor Price and Councillor Cook.

The strategy produced by the Retail Group will not be available until October 2^nd, and the Review Group would like to see this before finalising its recommendations. It would prefer to report to the Scrutiny Committee’s November meeting.

The Committee asked that an interim report be presented at the October meeting, noting that Councillor Campbell would be unable to present it (but another group member would).

Other updates

(1)  It was noted that the Recycling Review has stalled owing to lack of time, but it was hoped to revive it.

(2)  There is an item in the work programme concerning Thames Water’s investment in sewage treatments and flooding alleviation in Oxford.  The Principal Scrutiny Officer suggested that a group be formed (two Councillors have already volunteered for this) to meet with officers who regularly deal with Thames Water, agree a firm brief with them, and seek information from Thames Water concerning its investment so far. Information about the City Council’s responsibilities (where it is the riparian owner) would also be sought.

It was agreed that Councillor Wilkinson should be invited to join this group, as this was her original suggestion. The Principal Scrutiny Officer will circulate all members in case anyone else wished to join.

Forward Plan

It was noted that the Public Engagement Strategy would be on the November agenda. The Committee did not wish to add anything else from the current Forward Plan.