The Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Oxfordshire County Council was scheduled to discuss a range of significant local issues, including the ongoing challenges with minerals and waste planning, the effectiveness of school streets initiatives, and the state of bus services and rural transport across the county. The committee was also set to review progress on the temporary congestion charge scheme in Oxford and receive an interim report on the unauthorised waste disposal site near Kidlington.

Minerals and Waste Planning

The committee was scheduled to receive a report providing an overview of Oxfordshire County Council's statutory responsibilities as the Minerals and Waste Planning Authority. This report detailed the governance, performance, and resourcing arrangements in place for these functions, which are distinct from district planning roles and are crucial for supporting economic activity, environmental protection, and sustainable growth. The report highlighted the significant demand and activity across the three core functions: Minerals and Waste Policy and Strategy, Minerals and Waste Development Management, and Minerals and Waste Monitoring and Enforcement. Key risks identified included the challenges of preparing a new Minerals and Waste Plan within a tight statutory timetable and the potential for mineral resources to be made inaccessible by development.

School Streets Enforcement

An update was scheduled on the school streets programme, which aims to reduce motor traffic at school gates, improve road safety, and encourage active travel. The report detailed the implementation of school streets across two phases, with a third phase anticipated. It addressed concerns raised by the committee regarding the number of fines issued, the clarity of highway signage, and the split of fines across different schools. The report also outlined the process for vehicle exemptions and the criteria used for prioritising new school street schemes. Data from Phase 1 schools indicated reductions in car trips to school and increases in cycling and park and stride travel.

Bus Services and Rural Transport

The committee was set to receive an update on actions being taken to implement the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan's policies concerning rural transport. This included information on bus services, mobility hubs, transport interchanges, and active travel. The report detailed the current position of local bus and community transport services, noting that many services cut in 2016 have been restored, with the council now spending approximately £10 million annually on supported bus services. The report also discussed the success of the MyBus Oxfordshire multi-operator ticket and outlined plans for improving rural accessibility through a new report focusing on transport needs in these areas.

Temporary Congestion Charge Scheme Monitoring

A monitoring report on the temporary congestion charge scheme in Oxford was scheduled for discussion. This scheme, implemented to reduce traffic during the Botley Road closure, was being closely monitored for its impacts on traffic volumes, journey times, bus services, and Park & Ride usage. The report indicated that while some inner city routes had seen reductions in traffic and journey times, certain outer roads and parts of the ring road had experienced increases. Income generated by the scheme was being used to fund free Park & Ride bus journeys until the end of May 2026, with a decision on future spending of net income to be made by Cabinet.

Unauthorised Kidlington Waste Disposal Site: Interim Report

The committee was to receive an interim report on the unauthorised waste disposal at a large-scale illegal site near Kidlington. The report detailed the respective roles and responsibilities of the Environment Agency and Oxfordshire County Council in addressing such incidents. It outlined the timeline of events, including the discovery of the site, the commencement of a criminal investigation by the Environment Agency, and the subsequent implementation of a Restriction Order to prevent further waste deposition. The report also covered the multi-agency response to manage immediate risks and plan for remediation, with the Environment Agency funding the removal of the waste. The report noted that waste removal was expected to begin in mid-April 2026.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The committee was also scheduled to review the Committee Action and Recommendation Tracker and consider responses to previous scrutiny recommendations concerning Infrastructure Funding Statement and s.106 agreements, and Movement and Place Plans. A provisional work programme for forthcoming meetings was also to be agreed.