The Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy approved a grant for the Community Action Group Project Oxfordshire Limited (CAGPOL) and updated local standards for surface water drainage on major developments.

Community Action Group Project Oxfordshire Limited (CAGPOL) Grant Award

A grant of £306,200 was approved for the Community Action Group Project Oxfordshire Limited (CAGPOL) for the 2026/27 period. This funding will enable CAGPOL to continue its work supporting over 117 grassroots community groups across Oxfordshire. These groups focus on environmental action, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, biodiversity, and local food initiatives.

The grant aims to help meet Oxfordshire County Council's (OCC) climate aspirations, building on a commitment made in the 2022/23 budget to increase support for the CAG network. The funding will support CAGPOL in sustainably growing its network, providing one-to-one support to groups, offering training, assisting with funding applications, and distributing small grants. A key focus will be on engaging communities not currently involved in climate action or those disproportionately affected by climate change.

Additionally, the grant will incorporate a community garden project, expanding support for gardens in deprived areas to address public health inequalities, upskill growers, create career pathways, aid climate adaptation, and reduce social isolation. Funding for this specific element is being provided by the Public Health team.

The CAG project aligns with OCC's strategic priorities under the 'Greener, Fairer, Healthier' agenda, supporting climate emergency mitigation and adaptation, tackling inequities, promoting health and wellbeing, preserving access to nature, and encouraging active travel. The funding is within existing revenue budgets and is legally compliant with the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Update to Local Standards Guidance for Surface Water Drainage on Major Development

Oxfordshire County Council's local standards and guidance for surface water drainage on major developments have been updated to align with the new National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2025.

As the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), Oxfordshire County Council is a statutory consultee for major planning applications involving surface water drainage. The updated guidance, which complements the national standards, aims to provide clearer and more concise information for developers, thereby streamlining the consultation process for council officers.

The proposed changes involve removing references to superseded national and local standards, incorporating the new national standards, and updating the developer checklist for required information. The updated document, detailed in Annex 1 of the report, ensures that the LLFA's local standards remain current and do not conflict with national guidance. This update is expected to lead to more efficient consultations and improved quality of surface water drainage submissions from developers. The financial implications are minimal, with delivery expected to be managed within existing resources. The changes are consistent with the council's corporate strategy and its Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, promoting nature-based drainage solutions and a sustainable approach to flood risk management.