The Delegated Decisions by the Leader of the Council meeting on Thursday, 21 May 2026, approved the allocation of flood risk funding and the implementation of active travel measures on Bicester Road in Kidlington. Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of the Council, made these decisions on behalf of the Leader.

Flood Risk Funding Allocation

The council has approved the allocation of £1.39 million in rolled-over flood risk management funding. This funding will be used to continue existing community grant schemes for flood resilience and to establish a new discretionary grant and direct works scheme. This new scheme will support the implementation of recommendations from formal flood investigations conducted under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The decisions aim to reduce flood risk across Oxfordshire through collaborative working and targeted investment. The funding will be managed by the Director of Economy and Place, with individual business cases and funding allocations delegated to this role within existing financial limits.

Land at Bicester Road, Kidlington - Proposed Active Travel Measures

The council has approved proposals for traffic and highway improvements on Bicester Road in Kidlington. These improvements include the installation of a new Toucan crossing, the conversion of an existing footway section to a shared foot and cycleway, and the creation of two new bus stop Clearways with 'No stopping except local buses' restrictions. These measures are intended to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety and improve access to local amenities. The proposals were subject to a formal consultation, which received 12 responses, including three objections and three partial support/concerns. Officers addressed these objections, explaining that detailed plans could not be provided during the public consultation due to ongoing technical audits. Concerns were raised by various groups, including Oxfordshire Liveable Streets and Cyclox, regarding the shared-use nature of the path, the design of the junction, and the responsiveness of signal timings. Officers confirmed that the shared path width would be 3 metres, with hedges being removed to achieve this. They also stated that a segregated cycleway could not be provided due to boundary constraints and that a raised table for the access was not appropriate due to the volume of heavy goods vehicles using the road. The council will investigate the condition of the existing shared pedestrian and cycleway along Bicester Road and ensure any identified issues are rectified. These active travel measures are funded by the developer as part of s278 works related to adjacent land development.