LIBERAL DEMOCRAT/GREEN ADMINISTRATION’S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

The Liberal Democrat/Green administration that runs OCC has claimed good progress has been made in 2023/24 against its nine strategic priorities, with particular success achieved in the council’s work to address climate change. These achievements were reported to the 18 June meeting of the Cabinet. Critics observe that by far and away the most-complained about issue by residents is the state of the roads and drains, yet these are not mentioned in the list of priorities. The latest ‘Residents Survey’ shows that ‘Maintenance of roads’ was rated by 67% of residents as one of their four most important council services, but just 19% were very or fairly satisfied. The overall satisfaction with the council is just 39%.

OCC PAYS OUT £95K IN DATA BREACH CLAIMS

The Oxford Mail has reported that OCC has paid out £95,350 in compensation for data breach claims since 2021 amid a “worrying” rise in security attacks. OCC had the second-highest figure of all county councils in the UK according to new Freedom of Information data which revealed an increase in attacks across councils nationally. The figures showed OCC confirmed a total of 1,709 personal data breach incidents since 2021. Councils are expected to collect, store, use, share and dispose of personal information or data about individuals, in line with General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act.

OCC HEADCOUNT CONTINUES TO RISE

2018-19 4959, 2019-20 5079, 2020-21 5087, 2021-22 5116, 2022-23 5310, 2023-24 5378. Agency workers are in addition to these figures. There were 446 for 2023-24.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES OVERSPEND

The Children’s Services budget of £172.3m for 2023-24 was overspent by £7.7m, taking the figure to £180.0m. The total number of children in care was 768 as at March 2024.

DEMENTIA SUPPORT DESIGNED BY PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

Oxfordshire residents who receive a dementia diagnosis now have the opportunity to attend support sessions that have been created with the help of people who are living with the condition themselves. Dementia Oxfordshire, a service provided by Age UK Oxfordshire with funding support from OCC, has worked with a group of experts by experience who are living with the condition, to devise post-diagnostic education sessions for people who have recently had a diagnosis of dementia. The sessions are taking place at various venues across the county and also online. Full details can be found on the Dementia Oxfordshire website, Education sessions – Dementia Oxfordshire.

WORKING WITH BUSINESSES TO PREVENT UNDERAGE BOTOX AND FILLERS

Businesses that administer botox and fillers for cosmetic purposes in Oxfordshire have been the focus of an ongoing project by OCC’s trading standards team with the aim of protecting young people. Overall, 27 businesses were visited by trading standards, who found that most of them were aware of the legal and ethical requirements to not inject anyone under 18. However, few of them asked for proof of age or recorded refusals