The Director of Law Governance and Strategy and the Transition Director submitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval for the Council’s annual Business Plan priorities 2026 to 2027; and to provide an update on delivery of the 2025 to 2026 Business Plan.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Agree the draft Oxford City Council annual Business Plan priorities 2026 to 2027, which set out the Council’s priority work for the next financial year beginning 1 April 2026; 

2.    Delegate authority to the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy and Transition Director in consultation with the Council Leader to make any further minor amendments to the Business Plan priorities before implementation, provided that such amendments do not materially affect the substance of the Business Plan;

3.    Note the progress made delivery against the actions set out in the Business Plan 2025 to 2026.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Agree the draft Oxford City Council annual Business Plan priorities 2026 to 2027, which set out the Council’s priority work for the next financial year beginning 1 April 2026; 

2.       Delegate authority to the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy and Transition Director in consultation with the Council Leader to make any further minor amendments to the Business Plan priorities before implementation, provided that such amendments do not materially affect the substance of the Business Plan;

3.       Note the progress made delivery against the actions set out in the Business Plan 2025 to 2026.

The Director of Law Governance and Strategy and the Transition Director had submitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval for the Council’s annual Business Plan priorities 2026 to 2027; and to provide an update on delivery of the 2025 to 2026 Business Plan.

Clare Keen, the Policy and Partnerships Officer, presented the report. She said that the business plan built upon the work they had done previously and as always, they were focusing on the Council’s core themes. She said that they did a review against their aspirations and the realities of Local Government Reorganisation. She said that the business plan was created in the view of Local Government Reorganisation and the context this created.

Lucy Cherry, the Policy and Partnerships Officer, said that the business plan aligned with the Council’s strategy for 24 – 28. She said the plan set out the priority workplan for the year ahead, which was aligned with the budget. She said that the Council was performing well in the current climate and there were strong examples where the Council was being ambitious and meeting KPIs around their strategy priorities.

Caroline Green, Chief Executive, reminded Cabinet that this was not an exhaustive list of things going on across the Council, but focused on key priorities and key areas of work. She noted the additional challenge posed by Local Government Reorganisation. She said that it was still an impressive list of priority areas of work. She thanked officers for their work to put together the priorities and the plan. She commended the leadership team for their work putting the plan together as they navigated Local Government Reorganisation.

Councillor Brown said that it was amazing that although they had reduced the number of priorities they were focusing on, there was still an incredible amount of work across the Council, even as they address Local Government Reorganisation. She said that the priorities reflected the priorities of people from across the city. She thanked officers for their work on the report.

Councillor Hollingsworth said that the report focused on Local Government Reorganisation as an important factor to consider. He asked if they would need to review the plan again in July, once the government had announced its decision regarding Local Government Reorganisation. 

The Chief Executive said that they would review the plan after the decision is made and that they wanted to ensure that the plan gave them continuity of work while they undergo the transition.

Councillor Brown said that all Councils across Oxfordshire were working closely together to determine how they would merge services, whatever the decision on Local Government Organisation.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Agree the draft Oxford City Council annual Business Plan priorities 2026 to 2027, which set out the Council’s priority work for the next financial year beginning 1 April 2026; 

2.       Delegate authority to the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy and Transition Director in consultation with the Council Leader to make any further minor amendments to the Business Plan priorities before implementation, provided that such amendments do not materially affect the substance of the Business Plan;

3.       Note the progress made delivery against the actions set out in the Business Plan 2025 to 2026.