The Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Oxfordshire Council met on Wednesday 22 April 2026, discussing a range of significant issues including minerals and waste planning, school streets, bus services, rural transport, the temporary congestion charge, and an illegal waste site near Kidlington. Key decisions included making recommendations to Cabinet on improving minerals and waste planning processes, strengthening school streets enforcement, and exploring pilot shuttle bus services in rural areas.

Minerals and Waste Planning

The committee received a comprehensive overview of Oxfordshire County Council's responsibilities as the Minerals and Waste Planning Authority. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of resourcing for these functions, particularly in light of the need to prepare a new Minerals and Waste Plan within a statutory 30-month timetable. Public addresses from representatives of Sutton Courtenay and Appleford-on-Thames Parish Councils highlighted frustrations with lengthy application determination times, the repeated use of Section 73 applications to extend site lifespans, and perceived weaknesses in enforcement action.

The committee agreed to make six recommendations to Cabinet:

• Develop and implement proportionate and meaningful Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Minerals and Waste monitoring and enforcement.
• Ensure organisational reorganisation and workforce planning adequately resourced Minerals and Waste planning functions, including succession planning for specialist roles.
• Strengthen and standardise liaison arrangements for major Minerals and Waste sites, potentially through planning obligations, and improve officer support for councillors involved in liaison groups.
• Reinstate regular reporting of formal Minerals and Waste enforcement activity and outcomes to the Planning and Regulation Committee.
• Review and update online information on Minerals and Waste planning responsibilities, policies, and enforcement arrangements for improved accessibility.
• Consider commissioning an independent review of Minerals and Waste planning processes, including enforcement practice, the use of extensions and Section 73 applications, and resource adequacy.

School Streets

An update was provided on the School Streets programme, highlighting its role in reducing traffic at school gates, improving road safety, and encouraging active travel. The report detailed the implementation of phases one and two, with phase three planned for summer 2026. Questions were raised regarding the number of fines issued, the adequacy of signage, and the split of fines across different schools. Officers explained that exemptions for certain vehicles, such as taxis, are managed through ANPR cameras, and while data on total vehicle movements within restricted times is not held, taxi companies would be reminded of their exemption conditions. The committee noted that appeals against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) related to signage have consistently been found in the council's favour. The report also outlined the criteria for prioritising new school street schemes, which include school interest, engagement with school engagement officers, and geographical suitability.

The committee agreed to make recommendations to Cabinet to:

• Strengthen early engagement and sign-off arrangements for School Streets proposals, including clearer involvement of county councillors and town and parish councils.
• Ensure adequate officer capacity and funding for the expansion of the School Streets programme.
• Accelerate engagement with independent schools to reduce traffic impacts associated with school travel.
• Review exemptions and enforcement arrangements for School Streets, within legislative constraints, and consider options to tighten controls where persistent issues arise.
• Ensure School Streets principles and wider active travel measures are prioritised within planning, Section 106 agreements, and developer-funded infrastructure for new schools and housing developments.

Bus Services and Rural Transport, including Mobility Hubs

The committee received an update on bus services and rural transport initiatives. It was noted that since July 2024, all parishes with a population of 500 or more are served by a scheduled bus service. The success of the MyBus ticket, offering multi-operator travel, was highlighted, though its financial sustainability is under review. The report detailed progress on developing mobility hubs, with over 300 potential sites identified and pilot schemes being progressed. The importance of these hubs in improving rural connectivity and enabling modal shift was emphasised. The committee discussed concerns about limited frequency on some rural routes and the accessibility of bus stops.

The committee agreed to make recommendations to Cabinet to:

• Explore pilot shuttle or feeder bus services in rural areas to improve connectivity between smaller settlements and main bus corridors.
• Review the terminology and communications used for mobility hubs, considering clearer language such as transport hubs.
• Improve communication and engagement to ensure residents, particularly in rural areas and vulnerable groups, are aware of available bus services.
• Continue to prioritise improvements to the accessibility of bus stops and routes.
• Consider options for a more granular assessment of demand for bus services to inform future planning.
• Ensure Movement and Place Plans and Section 106 priorities clearly reflect local transport needs, including bus services and active travel.
• Accelerate progress on key transport and interchange schemes, including interim improvements at Oxford railway station.

Temporary Congestion Charge Scheme Monitoring Report

A monitoring report on the temporary congestion charge scheme was presented, indicating that the scheme has generally led to faster bus journeys, increased park and ride usage, and reduced congestion in many city areas. However, increases in traffic and journey times have been observed on some outer roads and parts of the ring road, largely as predicted by modelling. The report noted that income generated by the scheme is being used to fund the free park and ride bus journey offer until the end of May 2026. Concerns were raised about the presentation and accessibility of monitoring data, with requests for clearer, more longitudinal reporting. The committee also discussed impacts on businesses and the delay in obtaining footfall and spend data.

The committee requested that a written response be provided to questions posed by the Oxford Business Action Group, a breakdown of customer engagement enquiries and feedback themes be provided, and that future congestion monitoring data be presented in a clearer and more contextualised format.

The committee agreed to make recommendations to Cabinet to:

• Strengthen business monitoring, with footfall and spend data and survey results published as soon as validation is complete.
• Ensure mitigations for areas experiencing increased congestion, including parts of north and east Oxford, continue to be developed and reported.
• Ensure contingency measures are prepared in advance of the reopening of Botley Road and the implementation of traffic filters.

Unauthorised Kidlington Waste Disposal Site: Interim Report

The committee received an interim report on the unauthorised waste disposal site near Kidlington. The report detailed the respective roles and responsibilities of the Environment Agency and Oxfordshire County Council in responding to such incidents. It outlined the timeline of events, including the discovery of the site, the joint agency response, the Environment Agency's criminal investigation, and the granting of a Restriction Order to prevent further waste deposition. The report also detailed the multi-agency response coordinated through the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum to manage immediate risks and plan for remediation, with the Environment Agency funding the removal of the waste. The committee was informed that arrests have been made in connection with the criminal investigation.

The committee agreed to make recommendations to Cabinet to:

• Ensure lessons learned from this incident are captured and used to strengthen early detection, escalation, inter-agency coordination, and internal communication in future cases of illegal waste activity.
• Ensure that elected members are kept appropriately informed of progress and key milestones, subject to legal and investigation-related constraints.

The committee also agreed that it would be appropriate to receive a further report on this matter at a later stage.