Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 June 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive communications from the Chair.

There were no Chair’s announcements.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of the Assistant Director – Law & Governance/Monitoring Officer.

Purpose of report

For the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider and approve the draft annual report for 2024-25, for submission to full Council.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves:

1.1           To consider and provide feedback on the draft Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2024-25.

1.2           To approve the annual report for submission to full Council.

Resolved

(1)        That subject to the following amendments, the annual report be approved for submission to full Council:

·       Paragraph 2.35 Final part of the final sentence ‘…and if achieved would then result in lower energy costs involved in heating said developments’

amended to read

‘would then result in helping to reduce the cost of living’

·       Paragraph 2.46 Second line ‘…to want extent…’ amended to read ‘…to what extent…’

·       Paragraph 3.14 Final sentence ‘This included reducing the District Council’s own greenhouse gas emissions, as well as reducing the area of the districts greenhouse gas emissions as a whole’

amended to read

‘This included reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of both the District Council, and the geographical district as a whole’

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director Law & Governance on the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2024/25.

The report provided a summary of the subjects covered by the Committee during the previous municipal year, highlighting key observations and outcomes of discussions. The report also provided a summary of work undertaken by four working groups during the course of the year.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked the previous Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee, the working groups as well as officers for their work the previous municipal year and the interim Principal Officer – Scrutiny and Democratic Lead Michael Carr, for his work compiling the Annual Report. 

Members were asked to provide comment on the report prior to submission to full Council., Several amendments were suggested, in addition to those that had already been identified in the addendum paper published as a supplement to the agenda. It was proposed by Councillor John Broad and seconded by Councillor Harry Knight that the report be approved for submission to full Council, subject to the following agreed amendments:

·       Paragraph 2.35 Final part of the final sentence ‘…and if achieved would then result in lower energy costs involved in heating said developments’  

amended to read  

‘would then result in helping to reduce the cost of living’ 

·       Paragraph 2.46 Second line ‘…to want extent…’ amended to read ‘…to what extent…’ 

·       Paragraph 3.14 Final sentence ‘This included reducing the District Council’s own greenhouse gas emissions, as well as reducing the area of the districts greenhouse gas emissions as a whole’  

amended to read

‘This included reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of both the Agenda Item No. Agenda Item Decision District Council, and the geographical district as a whole’

Resolved

(1)                          That subject to the following amendments, the annual report be approved for submission to full Council:

·       Paragraph 2.35 Final part of the final sentence ‘…and if achieved would then result in lower energy costs involved in heating said developments’  

amended to read  

‘would then result in helping to reduce the cost of living’ 

·       Paragraph 2.46 Second line ‘…to want extent…’ amended to read ‘…to what extent…’ 

·       Paragraph 3.14 Final sentence ‘This included reducing the District Council’s own greenhouse gas emissions, as well as reducing the area of the districts greenhouse gas emissions as a whole’  

amended to read

‘This included reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of both the Agenda Item No. Agenda Item Decision District Council, and the geographical district as a whole’

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee are meeting with Corporate Leadership Team on 8 July, to discuss the items on the work programme and suggested timings and format for each one. The work programme will be published as a supplement to the agenda after that meeting has taken place.

Committee members will have the opportunity to propose further subjects for consideration, and should bear in mind the five roles of scrutiny:

·       Performance Monitoring

·       Policy Development

·       Policy Review

·       Holding the Executive to Account – the latest version of the Executive Forward Plan can be viewed via the Cherwell District Council website

·       External Scrutiny

Resolved

(1)        That having given due consideration, the indicative Work Programme 2025 – 2026 be noted and endorsed.

The Committee considered the indicative work programme for 2025-26.

The Chair explained that since the last meeting, she and the Vice-Chair had met with Corporate Leadership Team on 8 July, to discuss the indicative work programme and suggested timings and format for each item.

The Committee were asked to consider and provide feedback and suggestions on the indicative Work Programme 2025 – 2026 as presented in the supplement to the agenda.

In response to a question relating to the inclusion of Primary Care expansion as a result of Section 106 (s106) contributions within the Performance of s106 item of the work programme, the Chair confirmed that the request would be made to relevant officers.

In response to a question relating to changes in national business rate redistribution as a result of a change in government legislation and the potential impact on service levels within the district, the Committee were advised that this would be covered by the service levels item scheduled for the November meeting. An additional question was asked regarding a briefing for Members in advance of that item, on desired service levels and any relevant national targets for all of the council services. It was agreed that the query would be raised with relevant officers and an update be provided at the next meeting of the Committee.

Resolved

(1)    That having given due consideration, the indicative Work Programme 2025 – 2026 be noted and endorsed.