The Oxfordshire County Council was scheduled to meet on 8 July 2025 to discuss several reports and motions, including the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s annual report, a proposed parental leave policy for councillors, and a number of motions concerning special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) funding and transport. The agenda also included a presentation of a scroll to a former councillor.

Here's a breakdown of the key items:

Motions

Several motions were put forward for consideration:

• Councillor Jane Hanna OBE proposed a motion regarding the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. The motion noted the increasing pressures on SEND services and called on the leader to write to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, urging the government to address high needs deficits and deliver a functional SEND system.
• Councillor Liz Brighouse OBE proposed a motion to establish a Cabinet Advisory Group to explore a scheme providing free or reduced bus travel for young people up to 18, potentially funded by ANPR enforcement fines. An amendment from Councillor Dan Levy suggested that such a scheme would require substantial funding from central government, in addition to Oxfordshire making a contribution were a Workplace Parking Levy to be introduced.
• Councillor Liam Walker proposed a motion to reinstate the Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement, arguing for a dedicated champion for children and young people with SEND at the highest political level.
• Councillor Ian Middleton proposed a motion to review the constitution and allowances scheme concerning opposition groups, particularly in situations where groups have equal numbers, and to consider financial and operational support for all significant opposition groups.

Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2024/25

The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) annual report for 2024/25 was scheduled to be received and noted. The report detailed the committee's work over the past year, including:

• Supporting Oxfordshire Place in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) restructure. The committee requested a call-in from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regarding the Integrated Care Board's proposed restructure.
• Securing additional primary care estate on the Didcot Great Western Park[^1]. [^1]: Didcot Great Western Park is a large housing development on the outskirts of Didcot.
• Promoting healthy weight policies in Oxford and Cherwell, urging both authorities to implement policies that promote healthier advertising and restrict the opening of hot food takeaway outlets near schools in areas with high childhood obesity.
• Securing further resources for epilepsy services, with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and NHS England South-East Region committing to seeking additional funding.
• Securing additional Community Infrastructure Levy funding for redeveloping Wantage Community Hospital.

The annual report from Councillor Jane Hanna OBE, Chair of the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, noted that the committee issued 53 recommendations in the previous year, revolving around key themes relating to medicine shortages, NHS workforce recruitment and retention, cancer services wait times and treatments, healthy weight promotion, and the support for patients discharged from hospital.

The report also included details of the Oxfordshire Community Health Hubs Project, which aims to integrate primary, community, and dental care services within Oxford City into three hubs.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/25

The Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report was also scheduled to be received. The report provided an overview of the work of the overview and scrutiny committees, highlighting their impact on the council's operations and the community.

The report noted that the scrutiny function at the council has six committees:

• Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• People Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Horton Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Parental Leave Policy

The council was scheduled to consider a report recommending the approval of a parental leave policy for councillors. The policy outlines councillors' entitlements to parental leave, including maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption leave. It aims to support new parents and promote equality and diversity among elected officials.

The report stated that:

Whilst currently, there is no legal right to parental leave of any kind for elected members, this policy is considered best practice, and will contribute towards enhancing the diversity of experience, age, and background among local authority councillors. Furthermore, it will assist in retaining experienced councillors and making public office more accessible to individuals who might otherwise feel excluded from it.

The policy proposes that members entitled to a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) shall continue to receive their allowance in full during maternity, paternity, shared parental, or adoption leave.

Presentation of Scroll to Alderman Bob Johnston

The agenda included the presentation of a scroll to former Councillor Bob Johnston, who was conferred the title of Honorary Alderman at the Extraordinary Council meeting on 20 May 2025. The presentation was deferred to this meeting as Alderman Johnston was unable to attend the previous meeting.

Bob Johnston was first elected in 1993 and served a total of 28 years as a councillor.

Other Items

• The agenda also included the report of the Cabinet, summarising decisions from Cabinet meetings between 20 March 2025, and 17 June 2025.
• The appointment of independent members of the Audit & Governance Committee was also scheduled to be discussed.
• The attendees were scheduled to discuss appointments to and formation of the Independent Remuneration Panel.
• The council was scheduled to note appointments to various committees, including the Corporate Parenting Panel, Oxfordshire County Council and Employees Joint Consultative Committee, Oxfordshire County Council and Teachers Joint Committee, and Oxfordshire County Council Joint Consultative Committee for Uniformed Members of the Fire Service.