Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 November 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chair’s announcements.

There were no items of urgent business.

To fulfil the Council’s requirement regarding crime and disorder scrutiny, in relation to the Cherwell Community Safety Partnership.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber, Chief Constable Jason Hogg and Chief Superintendent Ben Clarke will be in attendance to answer questions from the Committee on their presentation (to follow).

The Committee will also receive a presentation from the Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety (to follow).  

All Members of the Council are invited to attend the meeting for this item.

If possible, Members are asked to submit questions to the Democratic and Elections Team in advance of the meeting

Resolved     

(1)  That having given due consideration, the presentations of the Cherwell Safer Communities Partnership, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Thames Valley Police be noted.

The Chair welcomed the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, Chief Constable Jason Hogg and Superintendent Ben Clark, Thames Valley Police, to the meeting.

The committee considered a presentation from the Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety on the Cherwell Community Safety Partnership (CCSP) detailing its duties and responsibilities. Members were informed of the make-up of the partnership and its six statutory partners as well as other permanent members.

The presentation also provided an overview of the Safer Oxfordshire Partnership (SOP), and the Strategic Needs Assessment of the CCSP.

Members were updated on the CCSP’s for 2025-2026 that identified six priority areas;

• Antisocial behaviour
• Modern slavery and exploitation
• Violence against women and girls (VAWG)
• Serious violence
• Domestic abuse
• Retail crime

Members were also updated on activities and interventions of the CCSP and Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) within Cherwell and Oxfordshire as a whole detailing the multi-agency partnership working undertaken to tackle issues such as domestic abuse, antisocial behaviour, and safeguarding children.

The Police and Crime Commissioner began his presentation by referencing the recent Government announcement regarding the planned abolishment of the Police and Crime Commissioner role, and assured members that work would continue for the remainder of the term of office.

Members were advised that police staffing numbers had increased significantly due to a successful and ongoing recruitment drive, with a focus on neighbourhood policing having trebled officer numbers over a 3 year period.

Members were advised that increased funding for services was being sought to bolster and maintain this growth in employment of police officers. As government funding was directed to recruiting police officers, pressures still remained with regards to other back of house and front line staff such as call handlers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

Members were advised of the work to reduce call wait times for non-emergency calls to 101 as part of the Crime Fighters Strategy, taking an average of 7-8 Minutes to answer calls to a new average of 1 minute53 seconds within the previous 6 months, and as of November being reported as low as 46 seconds.

Members attention was drawn to the new introduction of a new A.I. chat bot “Bobbi” launched on the UK Police website with the aim to provide advice and support to the public for non-emergency police inquiries. And that this was part of a wider initiative regarding digital reporting of incidents such as anti-social behaviour that may fall between organisations, with the aim to improve and streamline public engagement with both the Police and Councils through a dedicated case management software.

In response to a question regarding the enforcement of speed restrictions within the County, and the increase in fixed camera offences contrasted by the reduction in mobile enforcement actions leading to the potential for reduced enforcement overall, the Police and Crime Commissioner explained that the enforcement of speed restrictions was an operational matter for the Police, and that enforcement took a multiple approach strategy that incorporated a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

An update on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme.

Recommendation

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves: 

1.1       To consider and agree the Scrutiny Work Programme update.

Resolved     

(1)          That, subject to the inclusion of an item relating to lessons learned from the illegal landfill at Kidlington, the Work Programme 2025 – 2026 be approved.

The Committee considered the indicative work programme for the remainder of the 2025-2026 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Rogers and seconded by Councillor Broad and agreed that an item relating to lessons learned from the illegal landfill at Kidlington, be included in the Work Programme 2025 – 2026.

Resolved     

(1)          That, subject to the inclusion of an item relating to lessons learned from the illegal landfill at Kidlington, the Work Programme 2025 – 2026 be approved.