The Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Oxfordshire Council met on Wednesday 24 September 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including verge and vegetation management, part night lighting, future bus regulation options, and the strategic context for city centre development. Councillor Liam Walker, Leader of the Opposition Group Oxfordshire Alliance, chaired the meeting. The committee was scheduled to review reports and consider recommendations to be made to the cabinet.

Future Bus Regulation Options

The committee was scheduled to review a report on future bus regulation options ahead of consideration by the cabinet. Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet member for Transport Management, Paul Fermer, Director of Environment, Highways & Transport, Robin Rogers, Director of Economy and Place, Hannah Battye, Head of Place Shaping, and Katharine Broomfield, Technical Lead – Bus Service Improvement, were invited to present the report and answer questions.

The report, titled Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Future Bus Regulation Models - 24 Sept 25, included a draft cabinet report, Oxfordshire Bus Delivery Options Bus Report, an Equalities Impact Assessment EQIA, and a Climate Impact Assessment CIA.

The draft cabinet report outlined several options for bus service improvement, including:

• Bus franchising: This would give the council greater control over bus routes, fares, and service standards.
• Enhanced partnerships: This would involve closer collaboration between the council and bus operators to improve services.
• Municipal bus company: The council could establish its own bus company to operate services.

An example of a Leicester Buses EP proposal was included as an annex.

City Centre Development Strategic Context

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report on the strategic context for city centre development, with a focus on the redevelopment and regeneration of Oxford city centre, arising from the City Centre Accommodation Strategy. Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet member for Finance, Property, and Transformation, Lorna Baxter, Executive Director (Resources) and Section 151 Officer, and Vic Kurzeja, Director of Property and Transformation, were invited to present the report.

The committee was provided with a cover report and a slide deck on the Oxford West End.

Verge and Vegetation Management

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the implementation of the Verge and Vegetation Policy. Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet member for Transport Management, Paul Fermer, Director of Environment, Highways & Transport, Sean Rooney, Head of Highway Maintenance and Road Safety, and Paul Wilson, Operational Manager (Operations) were invited to present the report and answer questions.

The committee was provided with the Place OSC report - Verge and Vegetation, the Vergeandvegetationpolicy, and the RVNRSurveyReport.

Part Night Lighting Consultation

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the consultation relating to Part Night Lighting. Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet member for Transport Management, Paul Fermer, Director of Environment, Highways & Transport, and Caroline Coyne, Project Manager, were invited to present the report and answer questions.

The committee was provided with the Place Overview and Scrutiny COmmitte- Part Night Lighting 24 Sept 2025 report, the Report to Cabinet, the Street Lighting Illuminated Sign Policy 2022, the Electrical Procedure 17.01.19, the Proposed Part Night Lighting Implentation Framework, and the 2025 Street Lighting Policy Update.

Other Matters

The committee was also scheduled to:

• Approve the minutes of the meeting held on 27 August 2025.
• Note the progress of previous recommendations and actions arising from previous meetings, as detailed in the Place Recommendation Tracker 24.09.25.
• Note the Cabinet response to the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee report on the Transport Working Group Report.
• Agree its work programme for forthcoming meetings, as detailed in the Place OSC Work Programme 24.09.25.