The Cabinet of Oxfordshire Council met on Tuesday 19 May 2026, approving plans for the Oxford Congestion Charge Investment Plan and a new Quiet Lanes Policy. The meeting also saw the endorsement of the Best Start in Life Plan, which outlines strategies to support young children and families across the county.

Oxford Congestion Charge Investment Plan

Cabinet approved the Oxford Congestion Charge Investment Plan, which will utilise surplus income generated by the temporary congestion charge. A key decision was the introduction of a £3 combined parking and bus ticket to replace the current free park and ride offer, to be implemented as soon as practically possible after 1 June 2026. Amendments to the council's Fees and Charges for 2026/27 were also approved. Authority was delegated to the Cabinet Member for Transport Management for the allocation of any remaining unallocated surplus and the apportionment of funds for Active travel and additional public transport schemes .

Councillor James Fry, a County Councillor, expressed delight at the proposed investments for city residents, particularly improvements to pedestrian safety at several junctions. However, he raised concerns about the exclusion of the Rose Hill/Henley Avenue/Church Way junction from upgrades and sought clarification on the intended beneficiaries of the free or discounted NHS and Schools bus travel, questioning if agency workers and staff from non-school educational establishments would be included. Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, explained that funding was limited and that improvements to the Rose Hill junction could be considered when funding becomes available, potentially influenced by forthcoming traffic filter trials. She further clarified that the NHS and school travel offers are designed to support a shift from car to bus at car-dependent employment sites, and that eligibility criteria would be determined in consultation with NHS and schools colleagues.

Councillor Emma Garnett, another County Councillor, was pleased that the congestion charge investment plan had been referred back for more ambitious schemes, but expressed concern that the largest share of revenue was subsidising park and ride users, potentially incentivising car use for most of a journey. She questioned whether more revenue could be redirected to public transport schemes not reliant on car ownership, such as free bus travel for NHS staff and active travel funding. Councillor Fletcher responded that the investment plan was designed to maximise traffic reduction benefits and that while making travel cheaper for those without cars could provide socio-economic benefits, the transport benefits might be limited. She noted that the congestion charge had already improved bus journey times and reliability, and that the free park and ride offer indirectly benefited those without cars by supporting traffic reduction and bus service improvements.

Councillor Susanna Pressel questioned why the reports on the Congestion Charge Investment Plan and the Quiet Lanes Policy had not been scrutinised by the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee prior to coming to Cabinet, deeming it poor governance. Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, stated that it was for the Scrutiny Committee to determine its own work programme. Councillor Pressel also proposed spending some of the congestion charge money on improving the entrance to the Westgate car park to alleviate tailbacks, which she argued currently paralysed city centre streets and would worsen when Botley Road reopened. Councillor Fletcher explained that widening the bridge and approach road would cost between £5m and £10m, take years to implement, and compromise aims for active travel and development in the Oxpens area. She added that additional road capacity could encourage more driving, making the investment short-lived. The proposed congestion charge investment plan includes funding for discounted park and ride travel, which she stated would continue to undercut Westgate parking costs.

Best Start in Life Plan

Cabinet noted the release of the Best Start in Life Plan and was invited to share feedback. This plan is Oxfordshire's local strategy for supporting babies and young children from pre-birth to school entry, aligning with the government's Giving every child the best start in life strategy. It aims to ensure every child in Oxfordshire has the best possible start, with families receiving the right support at the right time and place. The plan focuses on four key priorities: Healthy Beginnings, Strong Foundations, High-Quality Early Years Learning, and Strengthening the Best Start in Life Offer. It emphasises a collaborative approach, working with partners across health, early years, education, early help, and the voluntary and community sector, with a focus on prevention and reducing inequalities. The plan sets ambitious local revised targets to improve outcomes, particularly for children eligible for free school meals, aiming for 79.8% of all eligible children to achieve a Good Level of Development by 2028, and 59.8% for free school meal eligible children.

Quiet Lanes Policy & Pilot Programme

Cabinet approved the county council's Quiet Lanes Policy statement, assessment criteria, and implementation toolkit. The decision endorsed the proposed approach to implementing and testing the policy through a programme of pilot schemes in 2026/27. Authority was delegated to the Director of Environment & Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport Management, to implement Traffic Regulation Orders for these pilot schemes.

The policy aims to improve the safety and usability of rural roads for walking, cycling, wheeling, and equestrian travel by reducing traffic dominance, speeds, and through-traffic. It acknowledges lessons learned from previous initiatives, highlighting that signage alone has little impact on traffic volumes or speeds. Therefore, the policy prioritises traffic restrictions, such as modal filters, supported by speed limit reductions to 20mph. Schemes will be progressed where supported by local parish or town councils and county councillors, and will be assessed using a consistent framework. A pilot programme, with a £250,000 capital allocation, will test the policy and delivery framework before wider rollout.

Councillor James Fry raised concerns about the policy needing to include low-traffic routes in urban areas and questioned if a physical barrier was an absolute requirement, fearing opposition from residents living on the wrong side of a barrier. He also asked if traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, could be considered as an alternative to physical barriers. Councillor Rebekah Fletcher explained that while the policy initially focused on rural areas, it was designed to be applicable to all areas, and that evidence suggested sign-only schemes were ineffective. She confirmed that physical barriers would be explored for pilot schemes, with locations determined in close consultation with local communities, and that suitable alternative routes would be assessed. She also noted that if physical closures were not workable, alternative approaches like traffic calming would be sought.

Reports from Scrutiny Committees

Cabinet received a report from the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Domestic Abuse - Safe Accommodation Provision. Cabinet will respond to the committee's recommendations in due course.

Appointments 2026/27

The item regarding appointments for the civic year 2026/27 was deferred to the next appropriate meeting.

Forward Plan and Future Business

Cabinet noted the items currently identified for forthcoming meetings.

The meeting also included questions from County Councillors on agenda items, which were addressed by Cabinet Members. These questions covered aspects of the Oxford Congestion Charge Investment Plan and the Quiet Lanes Policy & Pilot Programme.