This week in Oxfordshire:

• The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the Cost of Living Programme for 2025/26, and Capital Programme Approvals.
• The Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss the rail strategy, Section 106 funding, and a report from the Transport Working Group.
• The Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport Management meeting was scheduled to discuss local cycling and walking infrastructure plans, speed limits and traffic calming measures, and parking amendments.
• The Local Pension Board met to review the annual business plan, risk register, governance and communications, administration reports, and the fund’s strategic asset allocation.

Cabinet - Tuesday 22 April 2025

The Oxfordshire Council Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the Cost of Living Programme for 2025/26, and Capital Programme Approvals, as well as note the forward plan and a response to a scrutiny item. The meeting was due to take place at County Hall in Oxford.

Cost of Living Programme 2025/26

The Cabinet were asked to consider the proposed approach to support residents most affected by the cost of living crisis, following the government's extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF) from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

The proposed £6,724,114 Cost of Living programme was scheduled to include: £3,400,000 for Free School Meal (FSM) support in holidays, £1,700,000 for the Residents Support Scheme (RSS), £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, and £499,114 to be allocated later in the year.

The Cabinet were also asked to approve the repurposing of £85,000 from the Emergency Welfare Fund reserve to support the Community Wealth Building programme, and to delegate authority to the Director for Public Affairs, Policy & Partnerships in consultation with Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, to approve the deployment of unallocated funds for emerging needs, and to amend the programme during the year within the overall budget.

Capital Programme Approvals

The Cabinet were asked to approve changes to the Capital Programme, including a new phase of energy saving measures, costing £10.360m, running from 2025-2027, and the inclusion of phase 2 and 3 of Fire Compartmentation Remedial works, costing £3.700m. The energy saving measures would be funded by £10.000m from corporate resources, and £0.360m from a successful bid to Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS4). The fire compartmentation remedial works would be funded from £2.000m corporate resources agreed in February 2024 and a further £1.700m agreed in February 2025.

Forward Plan and Future Business

The Cabinet were scheduled to note the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings, including a decision on the future Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) management contract model, appointments for 2025-26 to various bodies supporting the council's executive function, a quarterly workforce report and staffing data for Quarter 4 2024-25, and updates to the Home to School Transport & Post 16 Travel Policy 2025-26, in accordance with Department for Education (DfE) guidance.

The Cabinet were also scheduled to discuss various delegated decisions regarding transport management, including proposed amendments to parking permit eligibility in Oxford, relocation of parking bays in Frenchay Road, and a proposed U-Turn ban on Cherwell Drive in Oxford. Other delegated decisions included traffic calming features in Hempton and Shirburn, proposed parking amendments in Church Way, Iffley, a new pedestrian crossing in Blackthorn Road, Ambrosden, and proposed speed limits in Tubney, Westwell, Great Western, Forest Hill, Holton, Shutford, Goddington and Chipping Norton. A decision was also scheduled to be made on proposals to restrict access on Cornhill Lane, East Challow, and the introduction of a puffin crossing on Howes Lane, Bicester.

Infrastructure Funding Statement and S.106 Project Review

The Cabinet were scheduled to note the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Response regarding the Infrastructure Funding Statement and S.106 Project Review.

Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 23 April 2025

The Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet on 23 April 2025 to discuss the rail strategy, Section 106 funding, and a report from the Transport Working Group. The committee was also scheduled to receive an update on verge and vegetation management.

Rail Strategy

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the development of the council’s rail strategy, which is being planned around three key themes: enhancing infrastructure and improving connectivity, climate action, and rail as place-shaper.

The initial key projects listed were: Oxford Station expansion and redevelopment, ‘Electrifying Oxfordshire’ freight spine wiring, Oxfordshire Metro/Oxfordshire Connect network, signalling, track and rolling stock improvements, Cowley Branch Line open for passenger services, four new rail stations by 2040 – at Begbroke, Oxford Cowley, Oxford Littlemore, Wantage and Grove, with the potential for other stations being explored, business case development for a Carterton-Witney-Oxford connection, East West Rail - phased introduction from December 2025, and rail stations embedded in the community with better active travel and bus connections.

Section 106 Improvement Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the management of Section 106 planning obligations funding and associated processes.

As of year-end 2023/24, the council held £236m in S106 contributions for infrastructure projects, excluding Highways Maintenance commuted sums and Public Transport provisions. Nearly two-thirds of these funds are allocated to Education Infrastructure, such as new school developments and expansions.

Transport Working Group Report

The committee was scheduled to review the report of the Transport Working Group and to approve its submission to Cabinet.

Responses to Scrutiny Recommendations

The committee was scheduled to note the Cabinet responses to the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, the City Centre Accommodation Strategy – Disposal of Old and New County Hall, and the Infrastructure Funding Statement and s.106 Funding Review Report.

Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport Management - Thursday 24 April 2025

The Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport Management meeting on 24 April 2025 included several items for consideration, focusing on local cycling and walking infrastructure plans, speed limits and traffic calming measures, and parking amendments in Oxfordshire.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans

The meeting included reports on the adoption of two Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs): the Chipping Norton LCWIP, and the Woodstock LCWIP. Both plans align with the council's broader goals of creating an inclusive, integrated, and sustainable transport network.

Churchill - Proposed 40mph Speed Limits and Traffic Calming Features

The report pack included a report on proposed changes in Churchill, including introducing 40mph speed limit 'buffers' on the approaches to the village, and implementing traffic calming features at the 20mph/40mph terminal location points.

Oxford, Frenchay Road - Proposed Relocation of Parking Bays

The report pack included a report on proposed changes to parking on Frenchay Road in Oxford, including relocating existing 'Permit Holders Only' parking places outside Nos. 27 & 33 Frenchay Road to being partly on the adjacent footway.

Davenant Road - Traffic Calming and Enhancement of Tree Pits

The report pack included a report on proposed traffic calming measures on Davenant Road in Oxford, including new traffic-calming buildouts on both sides of the carriageway, and associated amendments to existing parking provision and introduction of new 'No Waiting at Any Time' parking restrictions to facilitate the proposed traffic calming.

Walton Street, Oxford - Proposed Parking Amendments

The report pack included a report on proposed parking amendments on Walton Street in Oxford, including reducing the lining at the existing Zebra crossing on Walton Street (north of Observatory Street) in Oxford.

Local Pension Board - Friday 25 April 2025

The Oxfordshire Council Local Pension Board met on Friday 25 April 2025 to review the annual business plan, risk register, governance and communications, and administration reports. Also on the agenda was a discussion of the fund’s strategic asset allocation, and what items the board wished to include in their report to the Pension Fund Committee.

Strategic Asset Allocation

The board was scheduled to discuss a report by Greg Ley, Pension Fund Investment Manager, covering the fund’s current strategic asset allocation, the timescales for its review, and information on active versus passive investment management.

The current strategic asset allocation is: 51% Equities, 16% Fixed Interest, and 33% Other Assets.

The fundamental review was scheduled to take place in the second half of 2025, alongside the triennial valuation process, with draft results expected by the end of September 2025. A report setting out the proposed strategic asset allocation and detailing the rationale for any changes was scheduled to be taken to the Pension Fund Committee meeting on 6 March 2026.

Review of the Annual Business Plan

The board was invited to review the position against the Annual Business Plan for 2024/25 and the Annual Business Plan for 2025/26, as considered by the Pension Fund Committee at their meeting on 7 March 2025, and to offer any comments to the Committee.

The key objectives for the Oxfordshire Pension Fund as set out in the Business Plan for 2025/26 were: to fulfil the fiduciary duty to all key stakeholders, to administer pension benefits in accordance with the LGPS regulations, and the guidance set out by the Pensions Regulator, to maintain a funding level above 100% (LGPS only), to ensure there are sufficient liquid resources to meet the liabilities of the Fund as they fall due, and to maintain as near stable and affordable employer contribution rates as possible.

Risk Register

The board was scheduled to review the latest risk register, as considered by the Pension Fund Committee on 7 March 2025, and offer any further views back to the Committee.

Governance and Communications Report

The board was invited to review the Governance and Communications Report as presented to the Committee at their meeting on 7 March 2025. The report included a log of all regulatory and data breaches.

Administration Report

The board was invited to review the latest Administration Report as presented to the Pension Fund Committee on 7 March 2025, including the latest performance statistics for the service.

This week in Oxfordshire:

• The Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities & Community Safety meeting was cancelled.
• The Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Finance meeting was scheduled to discuss decarbonising council properties across Oxfordshire, including libraries and fire stations.

Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Finance - Friday 11 April 2025

The Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Finance meeting was scheduled to discuss the decarbonisation of council properties, and to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. The meeting was scheduled to be held in Room 3 of County Hall, New Road, Oxford.

Property Decarbonisation Programme

The main item for discussion was the outline business case for the Property Decarbonisation Programme 2025/26. The report before Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, recommended that he:

• Note that the total Property Decarbonisation Programme Budget included in the capital programme for 2025/26 will be £10m for works to 20 sites
• Approve the commencement of the procurement of decarbonisation works for the sites in the programme of works, noting that where sites are batched together into a single procurement exercise these may have a combined value in excess of £2m
• Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources & Section 151 Officer¹ to agree the procurement strategy and approve the award of contracts associated with the 2025/26 Property Decarbonisation Programme

The report noted that the council had:

secured central government grant funding of £0.36m, requiring £10m match funding, to conduct full scale property decarbonisation of 20 buildings, putting these buildings on the pathway to net zero. This includes the electrification of heating, building fabric improvements, electrical efficiency improvements and deployment of renewable electricity generation technology.

The report stated that this funding is time limited and needs to be spent by 31 March 2026.

The report stated that in 2019 the council declared a climate emergency with a target of 2030 to bring the council’s operations and activities to carbon neutrality, and that this target is reflected in the council’s Climate Action Framework and Property Strategy.

The report stated that in 2023/24 the council’s property accounted for approximately 35% (2,706 tCO2e) of the emissions that need to be reduced to meet the carbon neutrality target by 2030. It also noted that a reactive only maintenance approach has left much of the council’s estate in very poor-quality condition, with many components past their expected working life and in need of replacement irrespective of the carbon neutrality target.

The report stated that the aim is to stop fossil fuelled activities within the council’s properties, which is predominantly heating, via the electrification of these components. It also stated that the transition to electric heating will predominantly be via heat pumps and infrared heating.

The report listed the 20 properties that would be subject to decarbonisation works:

• Wallingford Community Support Service
• Wantage Fire Station
• Abingdon Children and Family Centre
• Didcot Fire Station
• Thornhill Park and Ride
• Abingdon Fire Station
• Bampton Fire Station
• Ron Groves House
• Wantage Library
• Oxford Community Support Service
• Holton Library HQ
• Oxford Parkway
• Deddington Depot
• Henley Fire Station
• Berinsfield Library
• Summertown Library
• Drayton Highways Depot
• Witney Resource Centre
• Bicester Fire Station
• Blackbird Leys Library

The report presented three options:

• Option 1: Do Nothing, this will incur a capital cost of £2.35m to replace components at the end of their useful life.
• Option 2: Do Minimum, will incur a capital cost of £2.8m, in addition to option 1 this approach will be to focus on technologies that have a high payback, this would utilise the existing funding available and would focus on an unknown set of measures delivering a lower amount of carbon savings. The council would also need to return the PSDS grant incurring a reputational risk.
• Option 3: Do Maximum, this approach will conduct the full set of measures as set out within the paper costing £10m, with an annual saving of £0.013m and 333T CO2e per year.

The recommended option was option 3, due to the need to meet the council’s corporate priorities, achieving the maximum carbon savings and utilising grant funding.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

Councillor Levy was asked to approve the minutes of the last meeting of 14 February 2025 as an accurate record of proceedings.