The West Oxfordshire District Council Executive met on Wednesday 10 June 2026, with Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, chairing the meeting. The Executive reviewed the council's financial performance for the 2025/26 year, noting a better-than-budgeted outturn and approving the transfer of funds to reserves. They also discussed and approved updates to the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy, the Procurement and Contract Management Strategy, and noted appointments to outside bodies. A public question was raised regarding misleading publicity for the Woodstock open-air pool.

Woodstock Open-Air Pool Publicity Concerns

Councillor Sharon Parnasse, representing Woodstock Town Council, raised concerns about misleading imagery and text used in publicity materials for the Woodstock open-air pool. She highlighted that permanent structures had been installed, significantly reducing the usable lawn space, yet promotional materials continued to depict the grounds as expansive. Councillor Parnasse questioned whether the cabinet member would acknowledge the misleading nature of the publicity, commit to a public apology or correction, order the removal of an unauthorised roadside banner, and disclose specific capital investment from section 106 funds for pool facility upgrades. The Executive stated they would provide a written response to these concerns.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Recommendations

The Executive considered recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26 March 2026. For recommendations 1-4 concerning Woodford Way, Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, stated that while the council was undertaking much of the suggested work, they did not see benefits from a trial closure of Woodford Way. For recommendations 5-7 regarding parking provision at Marriott's Walk car park and community safety, the Executive agreed to take these forward. The proposed reduction in funds from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner was noted as affecting countywide services, and the council would write to the Commissioner requesting reinstatement of funding where possible.

Supporting Community Services - Crowdfunder UK Approach

The Executive reviewed and approved the proposed application and assessment processes, criteria, and eligibility for a new grants scheme to be hosted by Crowdfunder UK. This marks a move away from the previous platform, Spacehive, with the aim of making more funds available to community groups. The new scheme will offer a maximum pledge of £12,000 or 50% of the campaign target, with no platform fees for applicants, though Stripe will apply transaction fees. The decision-making authority for award decisions was delegated to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Members for Stronger, Healthier Communities and Arts, Culture and Sport. Councillor Alistair Wray, Executive Member for Environment, noted the success of the previous system in engaging organisations and raising funds, and praised officers for their work in assessing options. Councillor Sandra Coleman, Executive Member for Stronger, Healthy Communities, highlighted that since the introduction of the new system, 54 projects across diverse areas had been funded, demonstrating its value to the community.

Publica Business Plan 2026-28

The Executive endorsed the draft Publica Business Plan for 2026-28. This two-year plan focuses on preparing Publica, its services, and its people for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), a significant change expected to reshape local government structures. The plan acknowledges that the exact future of Publica remains undetermined, pending government decisions on the shape of local government in Gloucestershire. Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, highlighted that Publica remains a key service delivery partner, and the business plan seeks to keep options open for new councils. Councillor Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economic Development, praised the staff at Publica for their resilience, flexibility, and ingenuity, and thanked Ms Gore and Mr Wilson for their leadership.

Ubico Business Plan 2026-27

The Executive noted the Ubico Business Plan for 2025-26 and will note the approval of the 2026-27 plan in due course. Councillor Enright, Deputy Leader of the Council, endorsed the comments made about Publica, stating that similar praise could be given to Ubico, highlighting West Oxfordshire's position as a top recycling area. He commended Ubico's flexibility in working with Oxfordshire County Council. Councillor Alistair Wray, Executive Member for Environment, seconded the recommendation, praising Ubico's past performance and noting the business plan's balance between economies of scale, operational efficiency, and the changing local government context. Councillor Graham, Leader of the Council, added that the plan shifts from growth to scaling services and becoming more intelligent in operations, aligning with WODC's Net Zero 2030 target. He also highlighted the high customer satisfaction with bin collection services, despite the challenges of operating in a rural area.

Quarterly Service Review Q4 2025/26

The Executive noted the 2025/26 Quarter Four Service Performance Report, which indicated overall strong performance across most services, meeting or exceeding targets. Key achievements included the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy, progress on regeneration programmes like Salt Cross Garden Village, delivery of community support funding, and investment in climate and environmental programmes. Council tax collection, customer satisfaction, and planning determination times were all exceeding targets. Affordable housing delivery significantly exceeded its target. Areas of ongoing pressure included processing times for housing benefit and council tax support, and land charge performance impacted by staffing capacity. Recycling rates were below target, reflecting seasonal trends but remaining strong nationally. Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, highlighted work on a park nature recovery area in Carterton and the completion of the Coronation Community Orchard Scheme, with 392 trees planted across 25 new orchards. He also noted the progress on the decarbonisation of the Windrush Leisure Centre. Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, reported significant improvement in housing benefit and council tax benefit processing times, and highlighted good news stories on homelessness prevention and the delivery of 352 new affordable homes against a target of 274. Councillor Alistair Wray, Executive Member for Environment, noted that despite a slight drop in recycling rates, West Oxfordshire remains a strong performer nationally, ranking 14th out of 164 waste collection authorities. He also mentioned the recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to incorporate video clips in future recycling campaigns.

Financial Performance Report 2025/26 Year End

The Executive noted the 2025/26 financial performance report, which showed a strong and resilient financial position with a final surplus of £203,155, better than originally budgeted. This improved position was attributed to strong income performance in areas like trade waste and development management, higher-than-expected treasury investment returns (£800,000), and cost efficiencies. The council has strengthened its financial resilience by transferring resources into earmarked reserves to support key priorities and manage future risks, including Local Government Reorganisation. The Executive recommended to Council to carry forward the capital budget of £4,395,180, approve transfers to and between earmarked reserves, and approve necessary budget virements related to Publica Phase 2.

Discretionary Rate Relief Policy

The Executive approved amendments to the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy and delegated authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, for any future amendments concerning electric vehicle charging points and forecourts. These amendments follow recent government announcements on business rate reliefs, including new support for pubs, live music venues, and small businesses. Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, highlighted the importance of supporting local businesses and expressed pleasure at the additional support for pubs and live music venues. Councillor Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded the proposal, emphasizing the importance of supporting local businesses.

Procurement and Contract Management Strategy

The Executive approved an updated draft Procurement and Contract Management Strategy. This strategy sets out how the council delivers value for money, high-quality services, and broader social, economic, and environmental outcomes. It also responds to significant changes, including the Procurement Act 2023 and upcoming Local Government Reorganisation, to ensure the council remains compliant, resilient, and commercially effective. Councillor Enright commented that the policy supports the effective use of council taxpayer money and the council's objectives, as well as the local economy.

Appointments to Outside Bodies 2026-28

The Executive noted the appointments to outside bodies for the 2026-28 civic year, as set out in Annex A. Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, explained that these appointments represent key bodies where the council sends representation, including strategic bodies and organisations pertinent to the district. He highlighted the importance of these appointments for effective communication and partnership working. Councillor Enright seconded the recommendation.

The meeting concluded at 3:00 pm.