Agenda and minutes

To record apologies for absence. 

Councillors Neil Fawcett (Vice-Chair), Debby Hallett and Helen Pighills had each sent their apologies for absence. 

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 March 2023. 

RESOLVED: to adopt as a correct record the public minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 March 2023 and agree that the chair signs them as such. 

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and non-registrable interests or any conflicts of interest in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.

Councillor Andy Crawford declared an interest in item 8, the integrated care strategy, as his wife was chair of the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

To receive notification of any matters which the chair determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chair.

Cabinet noted the emergency evacuation arrangements for this meeting venue. 

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

None

To consider any recommendations to Cabinet from other committees. 

Cabinet received a recommendation from the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee. 

RESOLVED: to refer the recommendation of the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee below to the task group preparing the draft Joint Local Plan for information and reflection:

“That, as part of the local plan, the council should highlight areas suitable for electric vehicle charging stations for mixed vehicles, cars and freight/lorries.”

To consider the head of policy and programmes’ report. 

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report.  This sought approval for a new partnership grant policy, to provide five years’ funding to successful organisations, subject to annual budget approval by Council. 

The policy would provide for revenue grant support to organisations providing information and advice services across the district to residents who were most in need.  The scheme would favour organisations actively exploring partnership or collaborative working with other voluntary organisations to avoid duplication of services and improve efficiency. 

Cabinet supported the proposed policy that committed to awarding funding to organisations for up to five years, subject to annual budget review and approval.  This would give the funded organisations more security, allowing them to plan with confidence to meet the needs of residents.  Cabinet noted that officers would prepare the application process and launch the scheme in July 2023, with the potential funding being in place from April 2024.  Members thanked officers for their work on the policy. 

RESOLVED: to approve the Partnership Grant Policy 2024/25 – 2028/29, as set out at appendix 1 to the head of policy and programmes’ report to Cabinet on 23 June 2023. 

To consider the head of policy and programmes’ report. 

Councillor Andy Crawford declared an interest in this item as his wife was chair of the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  He remained in the meeting during the consideration of this item. 

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report.  This recommended the endorsement of an Integrated Care Strategy.  The report explained that the Integrated Care Board was the new National Health Service (NHS) body that received funds from NHS England and planned and bought services for Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.  The Health and Care Act 2022 set new statutory requirements for the Integrated Care Board, one of which was to produce an Integrated Care Strategy. 

The strategy had been developed by the Integrated Care Partnership, which consisted of health and care partners across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West.  The strategy set out priorities to support improved health and wellbeing, with an emphasis on prevention.  The vision was for residents to have the best possible start in life, to live happier, healthier lives for longer, and to get the right support when they needed it.  To achieve the vision, the partnership had developed the Integrated Care Strategy, including a set of priorities that partners would work towards.  The strategy had been subject to consultation; Cabinet was asked to endorse it. 

Cabinet considered that it was important to endorse the strategy, believing it to be a key step towards the integration of local health and care services.  It would also release funding for these services as new housing was delivered. 

Cabinet looked forward to seeing the action plan to implement the strategy.  However, members asked how the partnership could be held accountable for its performance.  Officers reported that there were two options.  Firstly, South Oxfordshire District Councillor David Rouane had been appointed as the Oxfordshire district councils’ representative on the Integrated Care Partnership and so could feedback this council’s views.  Secondly, the council’s Scrutiny Committee had within its terms of reference the ability to hold other public service providers to account.  The committee could review and scrutinise the performance of other public bodies in the area, invite reports from them, and request them to address the Scrutiny Committee about their activities and performance.  Officers agreed to raise this with the Scrutiny Committee’s chair. 

RESOLVED: to endorse the Integrated Care Strategy, as set out in appendix 1 to the head of policy and programmes’ report to Cabinet on 23 June 2023.  

To consider the report of the deputy chief executive – partnerships. 

Cabinet considered the report of the deputy chief executive – partnerships.  This set out proposed changes to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership’s Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding.  The changes were needed to reflect:

·       the government’s requirement that Oxfordshire County Council was responsible for the delivery of the remaining £30 million infrastructure funding;

·       the adoption of the strategic vision for Oxfordshire; and

·       the cessation of work on the Oxfordshire Plan 2050. 

In answer to questions from Cabinet members, the proposed changes did not remove or weaken any of the council’s planning powers.  The council still had sovereignty of its local plan decision-making. 

Cabinet supported the proposed changes as they clarified responsibilities.  Members noted that these changes would need approval from all six principal councils in Oxfordshire. 

RESOLVED: to approve the Future Oxfordshire Partnership’s revised Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding, the revisions taking effect following approval by each of the six Oxfordshire councils. 

To consider whether to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business under Part 1 of Schedule 12A Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 on the grounds that:

(i)         it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and

(ii)        the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

RESOLVED: to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business under Part 1 of Schedule 12A Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 on the grounds that:

(i)         it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and

(ii)        the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

To adopt and sign as a correct record the exempt minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 March 2023. 

The exempt minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 March 2023 were adopted and signed as a correct record. 

To consider the report of the head of development and corporate landlord.   

Cabinet noted an update on progress with a new health facility at Great Western Park and authorised additional work to further this project.