The Oxfordshire Council Cabinet was scheduled to meet on 22 April 2025 to discuss the cost of living support package for 2025/26, capital programme approvals, and future business. The meeting was also scheduled to include responses to scrutiny items and reports from scrutiny committees.

Cost of Living Programme 2025/26

The Cabinet was expected to discuss the proposed approach to support residents most affected by the rising cost of living. A report by the Director of Public Affairs, Policy & Partnerships outlined a support package for 2025/26, following the government's extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF) from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

The report noted that Oxfordshire is a relatively affluent area, but that this can hide less wealthy areas. It stated that according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), 17 out of 407 Lower-layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in Oxfordshire fall within the lowest two deciles.

The proposed £6,724,114 cost of living programme includes:

• £3,400,000 for Free School Meal (FSM) support in holidays
• £1,700,000 for the Residents Support Scheme
• £500,000 delegated to city and district councils
• £85,000 for Community Wealth Building
• £300,000 for advice services
• £115,000 for Oxfordshire Community Foundation grants
• £125,000 for programme administration
• £499,114 to be allocated later in the year

The Cabinet was also expected to consider repurposing £85,000 from the Emergency Welfare Fund reserve to support the Community Wealth Building programme. The Community Wealth Building programme aims to support collaborative recruitment, develop a local social investment fund, support new business development, review the Community Asset Transfer policy and provide a Community Wealth Building training programme for staff.

Capital Programme Approvals

The Cabinet was scheduled to consider the addition of a new phase of energy saving measures into the capital programme, costing £10.360m. The two-year programme, running from 2025-2027, is to be funded by £10.000m from corporate resources, with the remaining £0.360m to be funded by a bid to Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS4). The programme of work will remove fossil-fuelled heating, replace broken components with sustainable solutions, and implement decarbonisation measures across the council’s corporate estate.

The inclusion of phase 2 and 3 of Fire Compartmentation Remedial works into the capital programme, at a cost of £3.700m, was also scheduled for discussion. The programme of work is to be funded from £2.000m corporate resources and a further £1.700m.

Forward Plan and Future Business

The Cabinet was expected to review items identified from the Forward Plan for forthcoming decisions. These included:

• A decision on the future model for the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) management contract, as the current contract ends on 30 September 2027.
• Appointments for 2025-26 to various bodies supporting the council’s executive function.
• A quarterly staffing report providing details of key people numbers and analysis of main changes since the previous report.
• Updates to the Home to School Transport & Post 16 Travel Policy 2025-26, in accordance with Department for Education (DfE) guidance.

The Cabinet was also scheduled to discuss various delegated decisions relating to transport management, including:

• Proposed amendments to parking permit eligibility in Oxford.
• Proposed relocation of parking bays on Frenchay Road in Oxford to improve traffic access.
• A proposed U-turn ban on Cherwell Drive in Oxford to improve traffic signal operation.
• Exemptions from Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) enforcement sites for urgent community responders in Oxford.
• Proposed traffic calming features on the B4031 in Hempton, as part of a Department for Transport (DfT) United States Visiting Forces road safety initiative.
• A proposed traffic calming chicane and extension of the existing 30mph speed limit in Shirburn.
• Proposed parking amendments on Church Way in Iffley to accommodate time-limited bays.
• A proposed parallel crossing on Blackthorn Road, Ambrosden.
• Proposed 40mph and 50mph speed limits on the A420 through Tubney for road safety.
• Proposed 20mph speed limits in Westwell.
• A 20mph speed limit extension on B4493 Didcot Road in Great Western.
• A 20mph speed limit extension in Forest Hill, Shotover, Old Road.
• A proposed 20mph speed limit extension in Holton.
• Proposed 20mph speed limits in Shutford.
• Proposed 20mph speed limits in Goddington.
• A proposed 40mph speed limit on Banbury Road in Chipping Norton, along with new bus stops and crossing points.
• A proposed prohibition of motor vehicles on Cornhill Lane BOAT, East Challow.
• Introduction of a puffin crossing and associated speed limit reduction on Howes Lane, Bicester.
• Changes from National Speed Limit (NSL) to 50mph on A420 Tubney dual carriageway and from NSL to 40mph on Oaksmere between A420 and 20mph speed limit at Appleton.

The Cabinet was also scheduled to discuss a tender for insurance coverage and associated services for Oxfordshire County Council and Maintained Schools.

Scrutiny Items

The Cabinet was scheduled to note responses to scrutiny items, including:

• Disposal of County Hall.
• Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
• EOTAS Policy (Education Other Than At School).

The Cabinet was also scheduled to receive the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s report on Co-production in Adult Social Care.