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Summary
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The Oxfordshire Council Cabinet was scheduled to meet on 22 April 2025 to discuss the cost of living support package for 2025/26, capital programme approvals, and future business. The meeting was also scheduled to include responses to scrutiny items and reports from scrutiny committees.
Cost of Living Programme 2025/26
The Cabinet was expected to discuss the proposed approach to support residents most affected by the rising cost of living. A report by the Director of Public Affairs, Policy & Partnerships outlined a support package for 2025/26, following the government's extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF) from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
The report noted that Oxfordshire is a relatively affluent area, but that this can hide less wealthy areas. It stated that according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), 17 out of 407 Lower-layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in Oxfordshire fall within the lowest two deciles.
The proposed £6,724,114 cost of living programme includes:
- £3,400,000 for Free School Meal (FSM) support in holidays
- £1,700,000 for the Residents Support Scheme
- £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
- £499,114 to be allocated later in the year
The Cabinet was also expected to consider repurposing £85,000 from the Emergency Welfare Fund reserve to support the Community Wealth Building programme. The Community Wealth Building programme aims to support collaborative recruitment, develop a local social investment fund, support new business development, review the Community Asset Transfer policy and provide a Community Wealth Building training programme for staff.
Capital Programme Approvals
The Cabinet was scheduled to consider the addition of a new phase of energy saving measures into the capital programme, costing £10.360m. The two-year programme, running from 2025-2027, is to be funded by £10.000m from corporate resources, with the remaining £0.360m to be funded by a bid to Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS4). The programme of work will remove fossil-fuelled heating, replace broken components with sustainable solutions, and implement decarbonisation measures across the council’s corporate estate.
The inclusion of phase 2 and 3 of Fire Compartmentation Remedial works into the capital programme, at a cost of £3.700m, was also scheduled for discussion. The programme of work is to be funded from £2.000m corporate resources and a further £1.700m.
Forward Plan and Future Business
The Cabinet was expected to review items identified from the Forward Plan for forthcoming decisions. These included:
- A decision on the future model for the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) management contract, as the current contract ends on 30 September 2027.
- Appointments for 2025-26 to various bodies supporting the council’s executive function.
- A quarterly staffing report providing details of key people numbers and analysis of main changes since the previous report.
- Updates to the Home to School Transport & Post 16 Travel Policy 2025-26, in accordance with Department for Education (DfE) guidance.
The Cabinet was also scheduled to discuss various delegated decisions relating to transport management, including:
- Proposed amendments to parking permit eligibility in Oxford.
- Proposed relocation of parking bays on Frenchay Road in Oxford to improve traffic access.
- A proposed U-turn ban on Cherwell Drive in Oxford to improve traffic signal operation.
- Exemptions from Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) enforcement sites for urgent community responders in Oxford.
- Proposed traffic calming features on the B4031 in Hempton, as part of a Department for Transport (DfT) United States Visiting Forces road safety initiative.
- A proposed traffic calming chicane and extension of the existing 30mph speed limit in Shirburn.
- Proposed parking amendments on Church Way in Iffley to accommodate time-limited bays.
- A proposed parallel crossing on Blackthorn Road, Ambrosden.
- Proposed 40mph and 50mph speed limits on the A420 through Tubney for road safety.
- Proposed 20mph speed limits in Westwell.
- A 20mph speed limit extension on B4493 Didcot Road in Great Western.
- A 20mph speed limit extension in Forest Hill, Shotover, Old Road.
- A proposed 20mph speed limit extension in Holton.
- Proposed 20mph speed limits in Shutford.
- Proposed 20mph speed limits in Goddington.
- A proposed 40mph speed limit on Banbury Road in Chipping Norton, along with new bus stops and crossing points.
- A proposed prohibition of motor vehicles on Cornhill Lane BOAT, East Challow.
- Introduction of a puffin crossing and associated speed limit reduction on Howes Lane, Bicester.
- Changes from National Speed Limit (NSL) to 50mph on A420 Tubney dual carriageway and from NSL to 40mph on Oaksmere between A420 and 20mph speed limit at Appleton.
The Cabinet was also scheduled to discuss a tender for insurance coverage and associated services for Oxfordshire County Council and Maintained Schools.
Scrutiny Items
The Cabinet was scheduled to note responses to scrutiny items, including:
- Disposal of County Hall.
- Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
- EOTAS Policy (Education Other Than At School).
The Cabinet was also scheduled to receive the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s report on Co-production in Adult Social Care.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Cost of Living programme for 2025/26
Recommendations Approved...to approve a £6.7 million expenditure programme for the 2025/26 Cost of Living support package, funded by the Household Support Fund and council resources, including repurposing £85,000 for the Community Wealth Building programme and delegating authority for unallocated funds.
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For information only: Cabinet response to Scrutiny item
Recommendations Approved...it noted a response to a scrutiny item regarding the Infrastructure Funding Statement and Section 106 Funding Review Report, approving the recommendations with proposed actions and timelines for implementation.
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Reports from Scrutiny Committees (TO FOLLOW)
Recommendations Approved... to the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee's report on Co-production in Adult Social Care, the Cabinet approved the recommendations and will provide a formal response within two months, including proposed actions and timelines.
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Petitions and Public Address
Recommendations Approved...to approve the recommendations regarding petitions and public address, as no requests were received.
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Questions from County Councillors
Recommendations Approved...to approve the recommendations, as no questions were received from County Councillors.
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Minutes
Recommendations Approved...to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2025 as a correct record.
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Declarations of Interest
Recommendations Approved...to approve the recommendations, noting that there were no declarations of interest.
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Delegated Powers Report for January to March 2025
Recommendations Approved -
Capital Programme Approvals - April 2025
Recommendations Approved...to the capital programme, the Cabinet approved the addition of a new £10.360m energy saving measures phase and phases 2 and 3 of £3.700m fire compartmentation remedial works.
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Forward Plan and Future Business
Recommendations Approved... the Cabinet of Oxfordshire noted the Forward Plan and Future Business, which included upcoming decisions on topics ranging from household waste recycling centre management and member appointments to staffing data, school transport policies, and various traffic and parking amendments across Oxfordshire.
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Appointments
Recommendations Approved...to note that there were no appointments to report at the meeting.
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Apologies for Absence
Recommendations Approved...to note the apologies for absence from Councillors Bearder, Fawcett, and Gregory.
Attendees
Topics
No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.
Meeting Documents
Agenda
Reports Pack
Additional Documents