Social Value Ideas for Cherwell District Council

Mileage rate increased to 55p

The travel and subsistence policy increased the business mileage rate from 45 pence to 55 pence per mile, aligned to HMRC rates. This is a direct payroll and expense reimbursement cost increase for st…

“The Travel and Subsistence Policy has had examples added on the deduction of home to work mileage to ensure clarity for users of the policy and the mi…”

Planning apprenticeships lose levy funding

The committee was told that apprenticeship reforms will defund several qualifications, including level 7 planning apprenticeships, which directly affects the council's ability to fund planner training…

“So courses being defunded that will impact the council include level 3 team leader, level 5 operations manager, a level four lead practitioner in adul…”

Six HR policies updated and approved

The committee reviewed and approved six revised HR policies. Changes included shortening the probation period in line with the Employment Rights Act 2025, updating mileage rates to reflect HMRC, revis…

“So this evening we've got six policies presented to you and these have been reviewed to ensure they remain legally compliant and up to I will walk you…”

Apprenticeship levy heavily committed

The council said it has committed £304,790 of apprenticeship levy funding on existing apprenticeships, with just over £153,000 still in the levy account. Most apprenticeships are being used to develop…

“You'll remember when we bought our learning, some of you will remember we bought our learning and development policy last year I believe for a refresh…”

Affordable housing cut to 10%

The committee agreed a modification to the Northwest Bicester Himley Village section 106 agreement reducing affordable housing from 30% to 10%, while adding a one-way review mechanism in favour of the…

“The modification is seeking to reduce the amount of affordable housing from the policy compliant 30 % to 10%. That would therefore be giving us 170 af…”

Housing Land Supply Crisis - Tilted Balance Application

Cherwell Council can only demonstrate 2.3-year housing land supply against the 5-year minimum requirement. This critically low supply triggers the 'tilted balance' in National Planning Policy Framewor…

“The council cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, and as such, a tilted balance assessment must be applied.”

Site A asylum proposal

The council discussed the Home Office proposal to use Site A at Bicester Garrison for asylum accommodation under an urgent Crown development order. Members raised concerns about the site transfer from…

“Speaker 2: On the June 25, Chirwa was notified by the Home Office that Site A In Vista in Vista at Vista Garrison was the subject of a proposal for an…”

Eco-town viability under strain

Officers explained that the Himley Village eco-town scheme faces viability pressure from abnormal site costs, construction inflation, finance costs and broader macroeconomic changes. The case was benc…

“The applicant's initial financial viability appraisal showed that the scheme was unviable and would only be able to provide zero affordable housing. I…”

Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) - National Infrastructure Project

Major nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) consultation response for strategic rail freight interchange on 461.5 hectares adjacent to Chiltern Main Line near M40 Junction 10. Includes …

“The proposal includes up to 6 .5 million square feet of B8 logistics warehousing and ancillary buildings, each of around 25 .5 metres in height, plus …”

SRFI Consultation Response Submission

Joint consultation response from Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council prepared for formal submission to Oxfordshire Rail Freight Interchange Limited (applicant). Response already s…

“Oxfordshire County Council and Chard District Council officers were prepared a joint response to the stage two consultation...Agreement is now sought …”

SRFI Environmental Impact Concerns

Significant environmental and sustainability concerns identified in joint council response regarding SRFI proposal: landscape impact on high-value designation areas, mineral safeguarding (crushed rock…

“There are nonetheless concerns of the scale of proposals and the resulting environmental impacts. These concerns principally surround landscape flood …”

SRFI Rail Infrastructure Connectivity Risk

Critical concern that applicant proposes building approximately 2 million sq ft of warehousing BEFORE connecting to Chiltern Main Line rail infrastructure. This presents risk that development becomes …

“Changes to the DCO include changes to a gramping condition to make it explicit that the connexion to the Chilson mainline is included in the associate…”