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Agenda and minutes

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 2nd July, 2025 5.30 pm

Venue: Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1NB. View directions

Media

Items
No. Item

20.

Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments

To receive any apologies for absence and temporary appointments. The quorum for the Committee is four members.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received by Councillors Liz Lefman, Dan Levy, Natalie King

and Adam Clements.

 

Councillor Liz Leffman was substituted by Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt and Councillor Dan Levy was substituted by Councillor Julian Cooper.

21.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations from Members of the Committee on any items to be considered at the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

22.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To approve the minutes of the Committee meeting held 4 June 2025.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Alex Wilson proposed accepting the minutes, and Councillor Paul Marsh seconded this.

 

The minutes were voted on and unanimously agreed.[AB1] 

 

 [AB1]Does this need a resolution do you think?

23.

Chair's announcements

To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair stated that there would be two upcoming training dates for the Committee on the 15th and 24th July and encouraged all members of the Committee to attend.

 

24.

Report back on recommendations

For the Committee to note the Executive’s response to any recommendations arising from the previous Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Democratic and Electoral Services stated that the Committee’s suggestions in relation to the Local Plan had been responded to by the Executive, as set out in an annex to the minutes of the previous meeting.

 

25.

Participation of the Public

To receive any submissions from members of the public, in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Rules.

 

The deadline for submissions is 2.00pm, two clear working days before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was no participation of the public.

 

26.

Car Parking Strategy pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Report to follow

 

Purpose

Pre-decision scrutiny of an Executive report seeking agreement of a revised car parking strategy 2016 – 2031.

 

Recommendation

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to:

1.    Note the report and agree any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for the Environment,  introduced the item and was supported by the Business Manager for Support and Advice and the Publica Interim Executive Director. The Executive Member highlighted the following points;

  • That a comprehensive review of the parking strategy had been carried out.
  • The report was reflective of local parking demand, and it was clear that free parking was valued by businesses and residents.
  • In terms of demand, there was a surplus of parking in areas of Witney but an unmet demand for parking in Woodstock and Charlbury.
  • The strategy’s aim was to provide a framework for challenges and options for increasing capacity.
  • The Executive Member thanked Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Carterton Area Strategy, who had previously held the parking portfolio, for their prior work on the area.

 

The Committee made a number of recommendations to the Executive, which are included as an annex to these minutes.

 

The Executive Member and the Officers thanked the Committee for their questions and suggestions.

 

Resolved: That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the report and recommend that the Executive accept the suggestions in the annex to these minutes.

27.

Climate Change Strategy pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Purpose

Pre-decision scrutiny of an Executive report seeking approval of the West Oxfordshire Climate Change Strategy 2025-2028.

 

Recommendation

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to:

1.    Note the report and agree any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, introduced the item and the Climate Change Team and made the following points;

  • The strategy outlined actions over five years to achieve district-wide net zero by 2050.
  • The new strategy built on the previous strategy (2021–2025), aligned with the Council Plan 2023–2027, and supported the Nature Recovery Plan to 2030.
  • The strategy was guided by national and Oxfordshire-level frameworks, including the Path to Zero Carbon and the Adaptation Route Map.
  • West Oxfordshire had declared a climate emergency in 2019 and had committed to carbon neutrality by 2030.
  • Definitions of carbon neutral, embodied carbon, and net zero were clarified.
  • Achievements included: ranking as the top rural district for climate action, the launch of the Cap Zero retrofit project, the emissions reductions, EV infrastructure rollout, food strategy development, and planning tools.
  • Challenges remained such as behaviour change, funding constraints, and the need for collaboration.
  • Priority actions included local energy planning, expanding Cap Zero, retrofitting buildings, green skills training, enforcing energy standards for landlords, implementing the food action plan, improving waste services, enhancing active travel and EV infrastructure (including freight and taxis), progressing Salt Cross and the Local Plan and developing a carbon market, climate adaptation planning, and air quality management.
  • The strategy was guided by principles of community empowerment, partnership working, support for vulnerable groups, and maximising co-benefits.

 

The Committee made a number of recommendations to the Executive, which are included as an annex to these minutes. In response to Members’ request, the Climate Change Manger also stated that they would organise a Q&A with members.

 

Councillor Cooper left the room at 18:49 and came back shortly after at 18:50.[AB1] 

 

The Executive Member and the Officers thanked the Committee for their questions and suggestions[AB2] .

 

Resolved: That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the report, and recommend that the Executive accept the suggestions in the annex to these minutes.

 

 [AB1]Do we need to say this given that it was not a decision making meeting? Happy to go with what you think.

 [AB2]Also for the previous item, should the record also show that the Chair thanked the attendees?

28.

2024/25 Quarterly Finance Review Q4 pdf icon PDF 454 KB

Purpose

Pre-decision scrutiny of an Executive report detailing the financial performance of the Council in 2024/25.

 

Recommendation

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to:

1.    Note the report and agree any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Executive.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, introduced the item. Councillor Smith highlighted the following key points;

  • The original budget forecasted a contribution of £5,107 to the general fund.
  • An overspend of £247,000 occurred, primarily due to:
  • Increased costs of temporary emergency accommodation.
  • Loss of housing benefit subsidy (approx. £490,000).
  • Treasury management investment income was higher than budgeted, due to sustained higher interest rates.
  • Despite pressures, the Council ended the year with a £6,345 contribution to the general fund.
  • The Council was actively acquiring property to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation, supported by a £50 million capital programme.
  • Overspends also resulted from delays in refurbishing and re-letting Council-owned properties (Elmfield and Marriotts).
  • Marriotts still delivered a net contribution to the Council of £465,000.
  • Elmfield was expected to yield a return on investment exceeding 20%.
  • A £200,000 leisure contract contingency was not required due to recovery in memberships and attendance.
  • Proposed transfers to the budget deficit reserve:

o    £426,000 from a refund.

o    £852,000 from Section 31 grant, in anticipation of future business rates changes.

  • Capital projects delayed due to tendering and scheduling:

o    Waste Vehicle Fleet Replacement Programme to be incorporated into a county-wide transformation.

o    Investment property repairs and Witney Leisure Centre decarbonisation scheme deferred.

  • A total of £4.9 million was proposed to be carried forward to the capital programme budget for 2025–26.

 

In discussion, members raised the following points;

  • The rising costs and demand for temporary accommodation, with 82 households currently supported. The Executive Member stated that the Council was actively acquiring properties, including family-suitable housing, to reduce reliance on temporary solutions.
  • The importance of supporting families, not just individuals, through housing provision.
  • The £35,000 cost for dog warden services. Officers clarified thayt this was an outsourced statutory service, with costs mainly for kennelling and transport.
  • The transfer of funds to the budget deficit reserve. Officers confirmed £426,000 from a refund and £852,000 from the Section 31 grant were allocated to address a projected funding gap of £6–6.5 million.
  • Raised concerns about the opportunity cost of internal borrowing for the Marriotts acquisition. Officers acknowledged the loss of interest income but noted the regeneration benefits and rental income outweighed the foregone interest.
  • Welcomed the inclusion of CCTV within budget and confirmed it was progressing.

 

Resolved: That the Committee note the report.

 

29.

Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Purpose:

For the Committee to review and note its work programme.

 

Recommendation:

That the Committee notes and comments on the work programme.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillors Michelle Mead and Nick Leverton left the meeting at this point.

 

The Chair invited Councillor Stuart McCarroll to introduce the Terms of Reference for the Leisure Task and Finish Group, which had been circulated prior to the meeting. Councillor McCarroll stated that the Committee may wish to receive an update on the output of the leisure work on 3 September 2025.

 

The Senior Democratic Services Officer explained that a number of items the Committee had requested when setting its work plan had now been scheduled.

 

Resolved: That the Committee accept the work plan.

30.

Executive Work Programme pdf icon PDF 153 KB

Purpose:

To give the Committee the opportunity to comment on the Executive Work Programme.

 

Recommendation:

That the Committee agrees which items on the Executive Work Programme should be subject to pre-decision scrutiny and the priority order of those items.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee noted that the Executive Member for the Car Parking Strategy item should now be Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment, rather than Councillor Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Carterton Area Strategy.

 

The Chair thanked attendees and closed the meeting.

 

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