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Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 9 September 2025 6.30 pm

September 9, 2025 View on council website

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Summary

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss the council's performance, its work programme, and an update on the Graven Hill Village Development Company. The meeting was also scheduled to include a review of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Performance Monitoring Report

The committee was scheduled to review the council's performance against its priorities for the first quarter of 2025-26. The report, prepared by Shona Ware, Assistant Director – Customer Focus, was intended to present how the council performed against its Outcomes Framework.

The report pack included a summary of performance, noting that of 23 Annual Delivery Plan actions, 20 were achieved or within the agreed tolerance. Three were slightly behind target:

  • Strengthening community cohesion
  • Delivering Planning Service Improvement
  • Creating vibrant economic centres and thriving rural villages

Of the nine targeted corporate key performance indicators, five achieved their Q1 target or reported within the agreed tolerance, and four reported slightly behind target:

  • Number of Homeless Households living in nightly charge (Hotel) Temporary accommodation (TA)
  • Percentage of Homelessness cases successfully prevented rather than relief/main duty being applied
  • Percentage of Major Applications overturned at appeal
  • Percentage of Climate Actions Plan delivering to target

The report pack included commentary on these exceptions. For example, regarding the Climate Action Plan, it was noted that:

In Q1, of the 120 Climate Actions, 102 were Ongoing, 11 On-hold, and 7 Completed. RAG ratings showed 71 actions in Green, 39 in Amber, and 10 in Red.

The report pack also included details of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Targets for 2025-26, explaining how these targets are set, and whether they are nationally mandated or internally set.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was to consider the contents of the report and agree comments to the Executive for consideration.

Work Programme Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the Principal Officer – Scrutiny and Democratic Lead on the work programme. The committee was to consider and comment on the work programme.

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2025-26 included items allocated to specific meeting dates, such as the Quarter Two Performance Monitoring Report, the Safeguarding Annual Return, and Service Levels. It also included items to be allocated, such as Graven Hill, and a follow-up on recommendations relating to the Cherwell Safer Communities Partnership Plan.

Graven Hill Village Development Company Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an exempt report of the Corporate Director – Resources and Transformation, regarding an update on the Graven Hill Village Development Company1.


  1. Graven Hill is a large self-build development site in Bicester. 

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Amanda Watkins
Councillor Amanda Watkins  Leader of the Labour Group •  Labour •  Banbury Ruscote
Profile image for Councillor Lynne Parsons
Councillor Lynne Parsons  Labour •  Banbury Calthorpe and Easington
Profile image for CouncillorPhil Chapman
Councillor Phil Chapman  Conservative •  Cropredy, Sibfords and Wroxton
Profile image for CouncillorGordon Blakeway
Councillor Gordon Blakeway  Liberal Democrat •  Adderbury, Bloxham and Bodicote
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Broad
Councillor John Broad  Independent •  Bicester West
Profile image for CouncillorGemma Coton
Councillor Gemma Coton  Liberal Democrat •  Launton and Otmoor
Profile image for CouncillorDr Isabel Creed
Councillor Dr Isabel Creed  Labour •  Banbury Ruscote
Profile image for CouncillorFrank Ideh
Councillor Frank Ideh  Liberal Democrat •  Bicester South and Ambrosden
Profile image for Councillor Harry Knight
Councillor Harry Knight  Independent •  Bicester West
Profile image for CouncillorSimon Lytton
Councillor Simon Lytton  Liberal Democrat •  Bicester North and Caversfield
Profile image for CouncillorZoe McLernon
Councillor Zoe McLernon  Conservative •  Deddington
Profile image for CouncillorDr Chukwudi Okeke
Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke  Conservative •  Banbury Cross and Neithrop
Profile image for Councillor Barry Wood
Councillor Barry Wood  Conservative •  Fringford and Heyfords
Profile image for CouncillorDavid Rogers
Councillor David Rogers  Deputy Leader of the Cherwell Conservative and Independent Alliance •  Conservative •  Deddington

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Agenda frontsheet Tuesday 09-Sep-2025 18.30 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf

Reports Pack

Public reports pack Tuesday 09-Sep-2025 18.30 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf

Additional Documents

Committee Report.pdf
Appendix 3.pdf
Appendix 1.pdf
Appendix 2.pdf
Work Programme Update.pdf
Scrutiny Guide and Appendices - May 2025.pdf
Minutes of Previous Meeting.pdf