Progress in creating a greener, fairer and healthier county in 2023/24
Good progress has been made in 2023/24 against nine strategic priorities set for Oxfordshire County Council by its cabinet, with particular success achieved in the council’s work to address climate change.
Achievements have been reported to the 18 June meeting of the cabinet in an annual report alongside a summary of the awards and nominations the authority received for work during 2023/24.
Councilllor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We have nine priorities that guide our work across all our services, from highways to social care, with the overall aim of making Oxfordshire a greener, fairer and healthier county.
“Our officers have worked hard to deliver against these priorities in partnership with many other organisations and I am delighted with the progress that has been made in supporting our communities and protecting our environment.
“These achievements have been delivered in the context of ongoing resource constraints and high, complex demand on our services as we continue work with our communities to support those who are most vulnerable.”
Action to tackle climate change lies at the heart of the council’s work and 2023/24 has seen the authority being ranked as the top performing waste disposal authority in England for the tenth year running as well as being rated the top county council for action on climate change by Climate Emergency UK.
The council’s ambitious LED streetlighting conversion programme is close to completion, which will cut costs and emissions by almost 70 per cent. While a £83.8 million project in partnership with bus operators is delivering 159 new fully electric buses onto the roads of Oxford – one of the biggest UK fleets of electric buses outside London.
The year also saw significant financial support provided to vulnerable households to help them through the cost of living crisis.
A new residents’ support scheme provided 3,620 vulnerable households with emergency financial support to cover food, energy and essential household costs. £21 million was put towards reducing council tax bills and providing additional housing support for those on low incomes.
Meanwhile £3.5m enabled families of children entitled to free school meals to receive support with food costs during the school holidays.
The annual report also details more than 20 awards won by the county council and its officers, including the best climate action and decarbonisation initiative in the 2023 Association for Public Service Excellence Awards.
During 2023/24, the county council’s children’s services teams also received a “good” rating following an inspection by Ofsted.
Cllr Leffman added: “The report provides a snapshot of the range of activity and support that the council provides to residents across the county on a day to day basis. It’s a great place for people to spend a few minutes learning what their council tax contributions went towards during 2023/24.”
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