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Agenda item

2025/26 Quarterly Service Review Q4

Purpose          

To provide details of the Council’s operational performance at the end of 2025-26 Quarter Four (Q4).

 

Recommendation

That the Executive Resolves to:

1.    Note the 2025/26 Q4 service performance report.

Minutes:

Councillor Andy Graham presented the item, the purpose of which was to provide details of the Council’s operational performance at the end of Quarter Four (Q4) of 2025-26.

 

In his presentation, Councillor Graham made the following points:

 

·         Overall performance was strong, with most services having met or exceeded targets and continued progress on corporate priorities.

·         CIL implementation had progressed during the quarter.

·         Regeneration schemes, including Salt Cross Garden Village and Carterton SDA, had continued to advance.

·         Community support funding and youth initiatives were ongoing.

·         Environmental investment had continued, including leisure decarbonisation and electric fleet upgrades.

·         Recycling was below target this quarter due to seasonal factors, but remained in the top quartile nationally (c. 25th of 200+ councils).

·         Leisure visits were below target; however, this was considered to be due to data capture issues, and annual figures showed an overall increase.

 

In discussing the report, other members raised the following points:

·         Significant work had taken place across corporate priorities, delivered by officers in partnership with communities and external organisations.

·         People and wildlife (environment priority) – Community-led nature recovery work had progressed in Carterton, alongside the Coronation and Community Orchards Scheme, now in its final delivery stage.

·         Orchard scheme delivery – 190 trees were planted in the final round, bringing the total to 392 trees across 25 orchards district-wide, with ongoing support funded (e.g. Longmead Foundation pruning workshops).

·         Climate emergency response – Major progress had been made on decarbonisation of Windrush Leisure Centre, with a new heating system installed and final connection pending.

·         Carbon reduction impact – The project was expected to deliver a significant reduction in district carbon emissions, noting the complexity of works within a live leisure facility.

·         Housing and Council Tax Support performance had improved significantly and was now back on track.

·         Positive outcomes were highlighted across housing services, including the delivery of 252 affordable homes, which would have a positive impact for families across the district.

·         The housing team had prioritised reducing homelessness pressures.

·         Temporary accommodation use was decreasing, with a shift towards providing more self-contained units for those in need.

·         A small increase in residual household waste was noted, reflecting the dip in recycling performance; the figures remained marginal but were identified as an area for improvement.

·         Strong national performance in recycling was acknowledged, together with an ongoing commitment to high recycling performance across Oxfordshire.

·         The Communications Team was working with officers and Executive Members on a coordinated communications plan for the financial year, including support for countywide initiatives.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation to include videos as part of the Council’s communication strategy was partly agreed and accepted by the Executive, and the most appropriate method and channel for this communication would be considered based on best practice guidance and available resources.

 

Councillor Wray stated that West Oxfordshire was performing above average on waste collection and recycling figures compared with the national average. A slight increase in residual waste was noted. In response to comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, it was recognised that the Council was one of the top performers nationally. The Communications Team was currently working with officers during this financial year, and the best method and channel, based on best practice guidance, would be considered. Evidence would be reviewed to determine the best way to communicate this.

 

Councillor Andy Graham proposed the recommendations in the report, which were seconded by Councillor Duncan Enright.

 

The Executive voted on these and agreed them unanimously.

 

There were no alternative options, as the report was for noting previous operational performance only.

 

The Executive resolved to:

1.    Note the 2025/26 Q4 service performance report.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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