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Summary
Oxfordshire County Council is scheduled to meet on 9 December 2025 to discuss a number of issues, including a proposal to submit an Expression of Interest for a Mayoral Strategic Authority, the gender and ethnicity pay gap reports, and a review of member champions. Councillors will also consider recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel regarding member allowances. Motions concerning the Abingdon reservoir, community cohesion, mental health services, men's health, and pavement weed clearance are also scheduled to be discussed.
Devolution for Oxfordshire
The council is scheduled to consider a report regarding devolution for Oxfordshire. The report seeks the council's endorsement for the Cabinet to approve the submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the government for a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA). The EOI is described as an early-stage invitation to the government to engage in discussions, and is different from the Local Government Reorganisation proposal.
The report states that the EOI represents a joint proposal agreed by leaders across Oxfordshire and the wider region, and reflects a shared ambition for greater local control and improved outcomes for residents. It notes that devolution could bring enhanced powers and resources for local leaders around transport, housing, skills and economic development, and that an MSA would provide a formal governance structure to deliver these benefits collaboratively.
The Cabinet report attached as Annex A identifies that Cabinet are asked to:
- Confirm commitment to devolution as a strategic approach for Oxfordshire.
- Agree that a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) offers potential benefits for the region, including stronger regional collaboration and access to additional powers and funding.
- Support further engagement with Government to explore what an MCA could achieve for Oxfordshire and the wider region.
The Thames Valley EOI highlights:
- Economic rationale: The region has national excellence and/or international excellence in at least 5 of the 8 key business sectors highlighted in the Modern Industrial Strategy. The Strategic Authority would provide the framework that allows businesses to leverage those sectors across a wider geography and create jobs. Our intent is to restore growth to pre-Covid levels of prosperity.
- Collaborative governance: There is a commitment to partnership working across constituent councils, with clear terms of reference and for the EOI to mark the start of wider stakeholder engagement across the region.
- Strategic powers and funding: Powers over transport, skills, housing, and economic development and the ability to provide these within a business eco-system will lead to greater investment.
- Place-based leadership: Greater local control to deliver national policy objectives at local level has been shown to be successful in other established Strategic Authority areas. Adapting powers and functions to meet local needs strengthens local identity, accountability, and the ability to deliver tailored solutions for residents.
Scheme of Members' Allowances 2026/27
The council is scheduled to consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) regarding a scheme of members' allowances for the financial year 2026/27. The council is required to adopt a scheme of members' allowances each year, which must set the amount of a basic allowance payable to all members and may make payments for special responsibility and co-opted members' allowances.
The IRP has recommended an increase to the basic allowance payable to all councillors from £14,268 to £15,420 per annum, and an increase to special responsibility allowances. The IRP Draft Report 2025 sets out their recommendations in full, with rationale given at each stage. The main changes are:
a. That the Basic Allowance payable to all councillors increase from £14,268 to £15,420 per annum; and b. That, in addition to the Basic Allowance, a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) be paid as follows:-
| SRA Position | Multiplier (of basic allowance of £15,420) | New Allowance | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leader of the Council | x 3 | £46,260 | |
| Deputy Leader of the Council | x 2 | £30,840 | |
| Cabinet Member | x 1.6 | £24,672 | |
| Leader of the Opposition | x 1 | £15,420 | |
| Shadow Cabinet Member | x 0.25 | £3,852 | |
| Chair of the Council | x 0.85 | £13,104 | |
| Vice-Chair of the Council | x 0.25 | £3,276 | This is 0.25 of the Chair's SRA not the BA |
| Scrutiny Chairs | x 0.6 | £9,252 | Education & Young People Health Performance & Corporate Services Place |
| Chair of Oxfordshire Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee | x 0.6 | £9,252 | |
| Chair of Horton Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee | x 0 | £0 | IRP suggest this is deleted |
| Chair of Planning & Regulation Committee | x 0.6 | £9,252 | |
| Chair of Audit & Governance Committee | x 0.6 | £9,252 | |
| Chair of the Audit Working Group when a Co-opted Member | X 0.6 | £9,252 | |
| Chair of Pension Fund Committee | x 0.6 | £9,252 | |
| Locality Meeting Chair | x 0.1 | £1,548 | |
| Adoption & Fostering Panel Members | £120 for each attendance; capped at £1,500 per annum | ||
| Police & Crime Panel Chair | x 0.6 | £9,252 |
The council is also scheduled to consider whether to adopt an annual index for a four-year period, whereby members' allowances may increase in relation to the annual pay award for local government staff.
Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gap Reports 2024/25
The council is scheduled to note Oxfordshire County Council's statutory Gender Pay Gap report of 2025 and approve it for onward submission to the Gender Pay Gap Service by 31 March 2026, note the council's voluntary Ethnicity Pay Gap report of 2025, and agree to the publishing of both reports on the council's website by 31 March 2026.
According to the Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gap Covering Report, the council's mean gender pay gap was 1.89% as at 31 March 2025, a reduction since 2024. The council's mean ethnicity pay gap was 2.11% as at 31 March 2025, also a reduction since 2024.
Review of Member Champions
The council is scheduled to consider a report proposing some changes to the role and function of Member Champions and clarifies the appointment process for future Member Champions. The council is recommended to amend the Council's Constitution to replace part 8.5, Member Champion Role with the text in Appendix 2 - Member Champions - New.
Oxfordshire County Council currently has a set of Member Champion roles in the following areas:
- Active Travel and Cycling - Councillor Emily Kerr
- Public Transport - Councillor Chris Brant
- Future Generations - Councillor Gareth Epps
- Water Resources - Councillor Andy Graham and Councillor Peter Stevens
- Military - Councillor Liz Leffman
- Marmot - Councillor Bethia Thomas
- Mental Health and Wellbeing - Councillor Robin Jones
- Youth Justice - Vacancy
Motion from Councillor Gavin McLauchlan
Councillor Gavin McLauchlan has submitted a motion regarding the proposed Thames Water Resources Management Plan, which includes the South East Strategic Reservoir Option in Abingdon. The motion expresses deep concern that the council could be made responsible by default for safely managing an emergency discharge from the reservoir, and calls on the Leader to write to the Secretary of State to request clarity on how such an emergency discharge would be managed and to provide a commitment that the council will be provided with the resources to do so before any Development Consent Order is considered.
Motion from Councillor Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Councillor Maggie Filipova-Rivers has submitted a motion regarding community cohesion. The motion recognises the risks to communities if disinformation, suspicion and intolerance go unchallenged, and commits to addressing them wherever they occur. It requests that Cabinet supports the co-production of a community cohesion action plan with key stakeholders in consultation with councillors, including actions to support community-led dialogue and ensure appropriate resourcing is considered during budget setting.
Motion from Councillor Liz Brighouse
Councillor Liz Brighouse has submitted a motion regarding mental health services. The motion asks the Health and Wellbeing Board to request the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate and report back to them and to the County Council on how Mental Health services provided by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and other organisations are tackling this issue.
Motion from Councillor James Plumb
Councillor James Plumb has submitted a motion regarding men's health. The motion requests Cabinet to recognise November each year as Men's Health Month in Oxfordshire
, working with NHS partners, veteran groups, charities and community organisations to promote awareness, early intervention and personal responsibility for health and wellbeing. It also requests Cabinet to seek a standalone report from the Director of Public Health on men's health outcomes in Oxfordshire, and asks the Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care giving the council's support for the introduction of the government's National Men's Health Strategy.
Cross-party Motion from Councillor Nathan Ley, seconded by Councillor James Barlow
Councillor Nathan Ley, seconded by Councillor James Barlow, has submitted a cross-party motion regarding pavement weed clearance. The motion requests Cabinet to seek an officer report with options for re-establishing pavement weed clearance and scheduled maintenance, including alternatives to glyphosate1, and how the council can support towns and parishes to reduce reliance on chemical spraying. It also requests that the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation give due consideration to the findings of this report as part of the next round of budget setting.
Other items
The agenda includes the following items:
- Approval of the Minutes of Previous Meeting
- Report of the Cabinet for Council
- Amendment to Calendar of meetings 2026-27
- Treasury Management Mid-term Review
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Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses that compete with crops. It was patented in 1974 by the Monsanto Company, and its patent expired in 2000. ↩
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