The Delegated Decisions by Leader of the Council meeting on Thursday 21 May 2026 saw decisions made regarding flood risk funding allocation and proposed active travel measures in Kidlington. Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of the Council, made these decisions on behalf of the Leader.

Flood Risk Funding Allocation

The council has approved the proposed allocation of £1.39 million in rolled-over flood risk management funding. This decision includes noting the use of multi-year flood prevention funding agreed in the 2025/26 financial year, approving the continuation of community grants for 2026/27, and adopting a discretionary grant and direct works scheme for flood investigations. Decisions on individual business cases and funding allocations will be delegated to the Director of Economy and Place.

This funding is a response to significant flood events experienced in Oxfordshire in recent years, with 2024 seeing widespread impacts. The council, acting as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), has completed 55 formal flood investigations under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010¹, identifying causes and recommending measures to reduce future risk and improve community resilience. A £2 million allocation was approved by Full Council in 2025/26 for proactive flood resilience measures, supplementing existing activities such as community flood resilience grants and small-scale flood mitigation works. The report notes that £620,000 has been spent on community grants in 2025/2026, with 56 grants issued for projects including natural flood management, culvert replacement, and community flood storage. The new discretionary grant and direct works scheme aims to support the implementation of Section 19 recommendations that require collaborative working and financial contributions beyond the scope of the current community grant scheme.

Land at Bicester Road, Kidlington - Proposed Active Travel Measures

The council has approved proposals for traffic and highway improvements on Bicester Road in Kidlington. These include the installation of a new Toucan crossing² north of its roundabout junction with Oxford Road, the conversion of an existing section of footway on the eastern side to a 3-metre shared footway/cycleway, and the creation of two new bus stop Clearways with 'No stopping except local buses' restrictions, also north of the Oxford Road roundabout.

These proposals are part of Section 278 works³ related to the development of adjacent land and are intended to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety. The improvements aim to help current and future residents safely access existing and proposed footways/cycleways and local amenities. The decision supports the council's Corporate Strategy, specifically the priorities of Greener Oxfordshire and Healthier Oxfordshire, by promoting sustainable ways to travel and improving safety. Funding for the consultation and implementation of these measures will be provided by the developer.

During the formal consultation period, which ran from 26 March to 24 April 2026, 12 responses were received. While there was overall support for the proposals, several objections and concerns were raised. These included suggestions for segregated cycleways instead of shared paths, extending the shared path further south, and improving the responsiveness of signal timings at crossings. Concerns were also raised about the condition of existing shared paths and the design of the junction with the new access road. Officers responded to these objections, explaining that segregated cycleways were not feasible due to highway boundary constraints and that the proposed highway improvements were agreed at the planning stage. They also confirmed that the Toucan crossing would be 4 metres wide and that the signal timings would be reviewed.