Issue - meetings

2025/26 Quarterly Service Review Q4

Purpose

To provide details of the Council’s operational performance at the end of 2025-26 Quarter Three (Q3).

Recommendation

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to:

1. Note the report and agree any recommendations to the Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the 2025/26 Quarterly Service Review Q3 report. The Leader introduced the report and highlighted that:

· There was now only one vacant unit at Marriotts Walk and public realm improvements would be coming forward soon.

· The Salt Cross Area Action Plan had been approved by full Council.

· The Woodford Way project was progressing with further plans to come forward in quarter 1 of 2026/27.

· Customer satisfaction was high.

· Shop front improvement grants were on track to be awarded.

· Leisure centre visits remained high.

· Planning applications were being determined in a timely fashion.

· Affordable housing delivery was above target.

· 100% of high-risk food premises had been inspected.

· Missed bin collections were within target.

The Senior Performance Analyst summarised the areas that were below target:

· Processing times for Council Tax change events – this was a cumulative measure which had fallen below target in quarter 1.

· Processing times for housing benefit change of circumstances - the performance was skewed where people had failed to provide the requested documentation.

The Committee asked questions and noted from the responses that:

· Household recycling performance remained strong when compared nationally although there were concerns that the trend was that recycling was down and residual waste was up.

· The Council was looking at further recycling messaging and campaigning and what more could be done to encourage and facilitate recycling and make it simpler for residents.

· Officers would explore whether quality metrics could be included for disability grants, as well as processing times for fast-track applications.

· Council Tax and Business Rates collections needed to be reprofiled for next year to reflect the increase in people switching from 10 monthly payments to 12 monthly payments.

· Officers would consider the impact of Oxford City Council offering free bulky waste collections.

· Officers would consider whether the performance reports could be more prominent on the Council website.

The Chair thanked the Leader and officers for presenting the report and answering questions. There were no recommendations to the Executive.

Issue - meetings

2025/26 Quarterly Service Review Q4

Meeting: 04/03/2026 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 104)

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