The meeting began with the election of Councillor Andrew Beane as the new chair and Councillor Aitman as the vice-chair. Apologies for absence were noted, and the minutes of the previous meeting were approved. The main topics discussed included upgrades to the CCTV system, service performance reports, the Salt Cross Village Area Action Plan, changes to customer telephone access, and updates on the committee and executive work programs.

CCTV System Upgrades

The council discussed the need to upgrade the existing CCTV system, which consists of 63 cameras located in Whitney, Marriott's, Woolgate, and Carterton. The system is currently monitored by Thames Valley Police at Whitney Police Station. The proposed upgrades include:

• Removing two cameras and relocating six in Whitney, with three new locations added.
• Extending coverage to Chipping Norton with five new cameras.
• Upgrading to high-definition digital cameras.
• Joining Thames Valley Police's CCTV partnership, transferring all CCTV assets to them for full operational responsibility.

The estimated annual revenue saving from these changes is around £60,000. The funding formula would split ongoing costs 50-50 between Thames Valley Police and local authorities, with contributions calculated based on the number of cameras and the community safety partnership funding formula.

Service Performance Reports

The council reviewed the service performance reports, noting overall good performance in most areas. Highlights included:

• Visits to leisure centres exceeded targets.
• Official land charge search times and processing times for council tax support and housing benefits were better than target.
• Areas needing improvement included FOI requests answered within 20 days and the percentage of household waste recycled.

Salt Cross Village Area Action Plan

The council received an update on the Salt Cross Village Area Action Plan. The plan aims to develop a new garden community near Ensham. The initial plan was found sound by the Planning Inspectorate but required changes to the net zero carbon policy. A legal challenge led to the reopening of the examination, focusing solely on the zero carbon policy. The council is commissioning additional evidence to support the policy, with a hearing expected around October.

Changes to Customer Telephone Access

The council discussed making permanent the trial of reduced telephone access hours from 9 AM to 2 PM. The trial showed high customer satisfaction and significant cost savings. An emergency line remains available from 2 PM to 5 PM for urgent issues. The decision will be finalized after the election period, with Cotswold District Council also expected to adopt similar changes.

Committee and Executive Work Programs

The council reviewed and updated the committee and executive work programs. The next meeting dates were confirmed, and adjustments were made to accommodate the general election period. The council also addressed the need for timely distribution of meeting papers to ensure members have adequate time to review them.

Additional Items

• Councillor Aitman was appointed to the Leisure and Wellbeing Working Party, filling a vacancy.
• The council discussed the importance of maintaining IT performance and cyber security, with a suggestion to provide updates to members.

The meeting concluded with a reminder of the next meeting date on July 17th.