Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet met on 21 October 2025 and approved a new strategic plan for 2025-2028, a biodiversity action framework, and a plan for future bus regulation, among other items. The Cabinet also received updates on the council's financial performance and capital programme, and discussed a new operating model for the Fire and Rescue service.

Strategic Plan 2025-2028

The Cabinet approved the Strategic Plan 2025-2028, which will now be recommended to the full council for adoption in November 2025. The plan outlines the council's key priorities and objectives for the next three years.

Oxfordshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The Cabinet approved the adoption of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Oxfordshire, fulfilling a statutory duty under the Environment Act 2021¹. The LNRS sets out recommended locations for nature recovery actions, aiming to create a resilient network of nature across Oxfordshire. The Cabinet also supported the council's commitment to deliver, monitor, and review the LNRS in partnership with local people and organisations.

Future Bus Regulation Options

The Cabinet approved the development of an Enhanced Partnership Plus (EP+) approach to bus regulation. The Director of Environment & Highways has been delegated the development of the EP+, including defining the desired and achievable outputs, informed by passenger and resident feedback. Formal adoption of the EP+ agreement has been delegated to Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, through the Cabinet Member Delegated Decisions process. The Cabinet decided not to undertake any further work on bus franchising or municipal operation at this time.

Fire and Rescue Cover Model

The Cabinet approved proposals for a new operating model for the Fire and Rescue service, aimed at ensuring greater resilience for emergency response resources and a more effective response to emergencies. The Fire and Rescue Cover Model will now be taken forward to public consultation. The Chief Fire Officer and Director for Community Safety Services (CSS) has been delegated authority to undertake a 12-week employee, stakeholder and public consultation on the proposals and to report back to Cabinet thereafter.

Update to the Street Lighting and Illuminated Assets Policy

The Cabinet approved the updated Street Lighting and Illuminated Assets Policy and supporting Electrical Procedure, as well as the adoption of the proposed Part-Night Lighting Implementation Framework, following stakeholder engagement and public consultation feedback.

Get Oxfordshire Working Plan

The Cabinet approved the Get Oxfordshire Working Plan, a local plan for the centrally funded Get Oxfordshire Working project. The plan will now go through the approval processes of other partner organisations, including the Jobcentre Plus and NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board. The Director of Economy & Place has been delegated authority, in consultation with Councillor Ben Higgins, Cabinet Member for Future Economy and Innovation, to make any amendments arising from the Cabinet discussion and to account for feedback from partner organisations, and sign off the final plan. They also have the authority to refresh and/or make revisions to the Plan as appropriate during its lifetime.

Enterprise Zone Business Rates

The Cabinet noted the intention to develop an Enterprise Zone Investment Plan and endorsed the proposed Enterprise Zone investment priorities. They conditionally approved an allocation of up to £10m from the retained funding for Enterprise Zone 1 (Science Vale) to enable the delivery of priorities arising from the forthcoming OxRail strategy, and conditionally approved an allocation of up to £4m from Enterprise Zone 2 (Didcot Growth Accelerator) for infrastructure that directly enhances access to the Enterprise Zone itself.

The Cabinet also conditionally approved an allocation of £0.700m in 2025/26 for additional economic strategy and delivery capacity and capability at Oxfordshire County Council and Enterprise Oxfordshire from the Enterprise Zone 1 retained business rate funding, and conditionally approved an on-going allocation of up to £1.254m each year for additional economic capacity and capability at Oxfordshire County Council and Enterprise Oxfordshire from 2026/27 – 2027/28, from the Enterprise Zone 1 retained business rate funding.

The Cabinet approved switching the use of remaining funding of £15.7m from supporting on-going borrowing costs to a direct contribution to finance the capital investment allocated towards the City Deals & Pinch Point Programme.

Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, declared an interest in this item as a director of Enterprise Oxfordshire and left the meeting during its consideration.

S106 Project – Accelerated Delivery and Corporate Funding

The Cabinet noted the approach to accelerated s106² developer agreement scheme delivery and approved the programme of £27.5m investment. The Director for Economy and Place, in consultation with Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, has been delegated the approval of procurement, sign off and any detailed changes needed to be made to the programme of schemes.

Business Management & Monitoring Report – Revenue Update and Monitoring Report (August 2025)

The Cabinet noted the Business Management & Monitoring Report – Revenue Update and Monitoring Report (August 2025) and annexes. They noted that c£6.6m funding for pay inflation added to service area budgets is included in the virements relating to funding changes. The Cabinet approved the debt write offs as detailed in paragraph 28 of the report, and approved the change to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs Block 2025/26 updated budgeted deficit.

Capital Programme Update and Monitoring Report

The Cabinet noted the capital monitoring position for 2025/26 and approved the updated Capital Programme. They approved the inclusion of the Section 106 Accelerated Delivery Programme, into the capital programme, with a budget of £27.575m to be funded by S106 developer contributions and from £4m corporate resources agreed in February 2025. The Cabinet noted the inclusion of several projects to deliver high-quality specialist supported housing with a total value of £2.8m, to be funded from the £5.9m allocation agreed by Council in February 2025, and noted the following grant funding updates and allocations into the capital programme: £2.050m Consolidated Active Travel Funding (CATF) from Active Travel England (ATE).

Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP) Annual Report

The Cabinet noted the annual report of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership senior safeguarding partners and considered the key messages.

Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-25

The Cabinet noted the findings of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) Annual Report 2024-25.

Report on urgent decision by Chief Executive re supply of community equipment

The Cabinet noted the report on the urgent decision taken on the award of a contract for the supply of community equipment due to the failure of the previous provider.

Report on urgent decision by Chief Executive re Telecare Monitoring and Response Service

The Cabinet noted the report on the urgent decision taken on the award of a contract for the Telecare Monitoring and Response Service due to the failure of the previous provider.