A constant and steady presence
Annual Review 2024
-JL
OXFORD

Our aims
An influential voice for Oxford
Aim l.. Influence policy
makers on the development
Our Chairman, lan Green, sum5 UP the year
of Oxford as a city region
where people enjoy living,
2024 was a year of new national, local and organi-
working and visiting.
sational challenges but we maintained a clear focus
on our aim5, our actions and responses demonstrating
Aim 2.. Engage members and both versatility and vigour at all levels.
others about the Oxford city
region... with constructive...
The Society continued to influence policy makers and
proposals for its further
key stakeholders to ensure that development respects
improvement.
the city's past, benefits the city'5 present and contrib-
Aim 3.. Cckoperate with the
utes to a vision of the city's future. Our technical
region's residents, associa-
working groups- Planning, Transport, Community
tions and civic societies
nationally.. to campaign for
Impact and Oxfordshire Future5- worked hard on this
communityied solutions to
as the following pages show.
shared problems, including
We continued to engage our members and others in
engaging with our diverse
discussion about the city and the wider city region,
communities.
helping us to develop our proposals for further
Aim 4.. Learn from other
improvement. A new suk>group, City Visions, was set
cities, both in the UK and
up and is contributing to our evaluation of the pros
abroad, where creative strate- and cons of current local government reorganisation
gies might be helpful to the
Oxford city region.
and devolution options for the city region.
A5 ever, the Programme Group organised many very
popular visits, talks and discussions on a variety of
topics, a5 Set out later in this review.
Oxclean is by far our most rewarding contact with
local communities and hundreds of people came
together in March for the annual Spring Clean. Each
year the amount of rubbish collected on these litter-
picks reduces. Behind the scenes we continued to
campaign for more bins and more responsible atti-
tudes to litter.
Blue plaques
We conlinued to support
the Oxfordshire Blue
Plaques Board which
placed six new plaques in
2024. Read more in the
March 2025 issue of
Visions.
The Communications team continued to engage with
members and reached out to the community via our
websites and shop window on Broad Street.
We continued to strengthen our cooperation with the
Oxford city region's residents, associations and with
civic societies in other parts of the country. The
oxcivicsoc.org.uk

creative strategies of other citie5, both in the UK and
abroad, are often helpful here and we continued to
learn from them.
All change
A new national government
was elected in July 2024,
bringing a rah of new
measures relating to
planning, local government
reform and devolution. The
Society has seen much
change over the last 55 years
but continues to be a constant
and steady presence with a
lon*term view.
National challenges included the introduction of
change5 to planning policy and we responded vigor-
ously to national consultations on this.
At the end of the year, we also responded to the Gov-
ernment's White Paper on local government reform
and devolution, which could have significant impact
on the governance of the city and city region. We are
concerned about the lack of public engagement in
these i5sue5 and are seeking ways to establish a con-
structive dialogue between the governors and the gov-
erned. Major decisions need to be made in 2025.
We took a particular interest in the overall investment
in infrastructure strategy and will continue to keep a
close eye on this critical issue.
Locally, the way in which transport policies have been
developed and implemented (or prepared for impl
mentation} has proved unnecessarily divisive. We tried The old part of County Hall,
to influence this, encouraging collaboration with com-
symbolic ofthe County's
munities. For example, we continue to try to ensure
power. Might the County shortly
that monitoring and evaluation of the planned traffic
swallow up all the other local
councils?
filters is as sensitive and perceptive as it needs to be.
Organisationally, we made major changes to how we
Our volunteers
operate and these will be formally announced at our
We have over l 00 volunteer5
AGM. You can read a brief summary on the back
involved in our various work-
page. This more effective governance arrangement
ing groups and no paid staff.
We have room for morel
was much needed and is possible because we are
Do join one of our groups
privileged to have very capable trustees, supported by or even start a new one.
equally capable active members.
We cannot thank our trustees and other active
volunteers enough but everyone's support matters
individuals, families, local associations and
corporate members. Thank you all.
lan Green, Chairman
oxcivicsoc.org.uk

Planning in numbers
Planning applications
decreased slightly fto1,109
Gillian Coates sums up the Planning Group's work
in 2024 of which 85/
Throughout the year we engaged with repre5entative5
were approved. We scruti-
from the Council and the University to stress the im-
nised over a third of the
portance of well-sited new homes. We believe that if
total (c.370J and submitted the city is to function effectively then people should
comments on 137 {conF
pared with 90 in 2023).
live in or close to it and not need to commute from the
There was little movement
far reaches of the county.
across the caftegories of
Economic growth was the byword and the sheer num-
applications, Wlth the
ber of research institutions, innovation centres and
exception of those for listed laboratories that came before the planner5 wa5 eye-
buildings consent where
watering. Sadly, we lost the battle for the Odeon site
applications in 2024
increased by 18Y - I I I
(destined to be an aparthotel} and the Debenhams/
compared with 94 in 2023.
Oxenford building {destined to become lab space
and student accommodation).
A measure of our success is the regular involvement
with developers at the Pr￿Pplication stage and we
were delighted to be consulted on the exciting pro-
posals for the Warneford site and the redevelopment
of the Wayneflete building. We continued to engage
with Nuffield College on their plans for the island site,
the central gateway to the city.
Keeping in touch, making news
Thelma Martin on the Communications Team
Using all the mean5 available to us, we regularly up-
dated members on our work and kept the Society's
aims, initiatives and events in the public eye.
Our four websites and X (formerly Twitter) are tools
we have used for some time, as is print media. We
achieved front page and editorial coverage from the
Oxford Times for our views on the Schwarzman
Centre. We resolved to make better use of social
media to engage additional audiences and recently
set up a new Instagram account. Our shop window
display on Broad Street continued to attract attention
from the thousands of passers-by.
Going for growth
Iiii
The proposed new
Warneford Hospital (above)
and the Oxford North devel-
opment {belowJ where much
of the ground was laid this
year. We argued For more
housing on this site.
oxcivicsoc.org.uk

Travel and transport matters
Andrew Pritchard reports on the Transport Group
Throughout the year we worked to reduce the impact
of tourists on travel in Oxford, in particular of their
coaches in the city centre. We were pleased to talk
with Mosaic, an independent consultancy advising the
City Council on tourism, who also considered the
coach problem important. They aim to set up a com-
mercial group to finance a five-year business plan for
tourism, concentrating on place management.
We supported the introduction of a Rapid Transit sys-
tem in the county's LTP4 report, so we set up a meeting
with Coventry City's director about their novel pr(>
posals for a Very Light Rail system, which promises
cheaper and faster introduction of trams. We looked
at how such a system might be introduced in Oxford.
Along with everyone else, we have found the delays
to the Botley Road railway bridge and station works
incredible. The road closure is now predicted by some
to last until August 2026. We are promoting a review
to identify lessons learned and the scope for compen-
sation of the many who have been affected.
We have consistently urged that East West Rail 15 elec-
trifled from the start and ha5 full provision for freight
services. The Government now appear5 to agree,
though partial electrification has been suggested,
using battery power along some stretches,
discouraging the use of electric traction for freight.
Through our membership of Oxfordshire for Buses, we
urged that upto-the-minute information about bu5
departures be available at Oxford station, as at the
Seacourt Park & Ride, and understand that this is likely
to be installed in 2025.
What Coventry's light rail
vehicle might look like. The
service is due to start in 2025.
Botley Road bridge works
Slowly does it!
One of our mosl successful
campaigns was to persuade
Ihe County Council lo intro-
duce 20 mph speed limits on
suburban roads. Oxford thus
became the second UK cily to
do so, in 2009. Other author-
ities were clearly taking note
os more and more places
have adopled the policy.
What we had not foreseen
was that car insurance premi-
ums would go down as a
result of the reduction in
claims for collision damagel
We continue to campaign for
better traffic management.
oxcivicsoc.org.uk

Parent Power
As members of the OIEP
Educational Attainment
working group, we're
supporting Parent Power, a
project in Blackbird Leys.
This aims to improve parent
wellbeing and support
nelworks, so that parents
and their children can
thrive together.
Tackling inequality
Gillian Coates on the Community Impact Group
We continued our work with the Oxfordshire Inclusive
Economy Partnership with members of the Society
serving on the Steering Group and the subject work-
ing groups. The aims of the Partnership are both wide
and ambitious, addressing the knotty issues that im-
pact on inclusivity
educational attainment, inclusive
employment, social value and procurement, and
plac&shaping.
Much work has been undertaken, primarily focusing
on engaging organisations across Oxfordshire to sign
up to a new Charter to make the county'5 economy
fairer for everyone. We see this initiative as an oppor-
tunity for the Society to engage with residents, associ-
ations and community group5, reaching those parts of
the city where we have no representation and few
member5. See www.oie
.or
Talks for all and members, tours
lan Salusbury reports on the Programme Group
This year our programme of events included nine talks
on a wide range of subjects which attracted over 470
attendees. These are free of charge and open to the
public. We hosted a talk at Florence Park Community
Centre for the first time to broaden our audience
reach. The most popular talks were by Simon Bradley
on the Pevsner Guide to Oxfordand Simon Wenham
on James Murray and the Oxford English Dictionary.
We also arranged nine visits and guided tours for
members only. Several events, such as the tour of the
Life and Mind Building, proved so popular that
they were fully booked within an hour of being
announced. We successfully set up a second vislt to
Rhodes House to meet the demand for places. In
total, 193 members attended our events in 2024.
ery many thanks for organ-
ising another brilliant visit. I
learned a lotl A comment
from a member taking part in
a guided tour of new build-
ings at Oxford Brookes.
oxcivicsoc.org.uk

In context- the city region
lan Green on the Oxfordshire Futures Group
Our underlying commitment has been to encourage
an Oxford5hire-wide consensus on the distribution of
employment and housing growth along with associat-
ed transport and other infrastructure provision. We still
lament the cancellation of the Oxfordshire 2050 Plan
but are encouraged by the new national Govern-
ment's re-introduction of mandatory strategic planning
and the beginning of a new stage of the Oxfordshire
Infrastructure Strategy. Early in 2025 progress Wlth
strategic spatial planning should be possible.
We also investigated options for local government
reorganisation and devolution, pending national initia-
tive5 in 2025. The main aim here needs to be high-
quality growth that is inclusive, responsive to climate
change and with optimal economic benefits.
The group will be drawing together a report on how
smart growth and development can help tackle the
obstacles we face and meet national targets.
oAroRD
VISIONS
oehrng the lo￿ndat￿n5 rghi
In a special themed issue of our
newsletter, Visions, we focused
on several aspects of strategic
infrastructure planning. In our
view, the whole city region
needs to work jointly to over-
come some serious challenges,
from a shortage of water to
climat&proofing new and
existing buildings.
Engaging the community
Rosanne Bostock sums up for Oxclean
In partnership with Oxford Direct Services we organ-
ised our 17th Oxclean Spring Clean in March, when
about 60 groups collected over five tons of litter and
recyclables. We hope the new website we developed
will encourage people to undertake any-time litter
picks, for which we can Supply equipment.
We Supported the clean-up of St Mary Magdalen
graveyard in the centre of Oxford which had become
very overgrown and a magnet for litter.
Oxclean acts as a55essor for the Duke OF Edinburgh
Award volunteering section. We supported around a
dozen pupils clearing litter from car parks in the John
Radcliffe, Nuffield and Churchill Hospitals.
Litter picking brings the
community together as here,
on Horspath Road.
With thanks lo our members and
ofthers for the use of their photos..
Beauliful Barton, Clive Booth, Coven-
ty Telegraph, Roger Gr05venor,
Stephanie Jenkins, Oliver Sandall,
Oxford Cenftre for Oneness, OIEP,
lan Salusbury
oxcivicsoc.org.uk

Figures at a glance
Income- £26,082
(£16,797 in 2023)
Subscriptions/donations
£11,120
- Visits/guided tours £ 1,449
- Gift Aid £1,552
- Legacy £8,941
- Investment income £3,020
Money matters in 2024
Richard Dodd. Hon Treasurer, summarises our finances
Income from membership subscriptions was similar to 2023,
while interest on reserves held in our CCLA account was
significantly higher. Gift Aid brought in over £1,500.
We received a legacy of just under £9,000 during 2024.
Planned expenditure OF the remaining £17,500 of the legacy
received in 2020, earmarked for provision OF benches, is now
imminent. The funds are considered to be restricted.
Expenditure - £13,699
(£11,542 in 2023}
- Newsletter £3,628
- Visits/tours £953
-Talks £2,783
- Room hire £1,264
IT/website £1,993
- Oxclean £812
Blue Plaques £516
Donations and subscriptions
An extensive programme of visits and talks ran throughout
2024. Expenditure on the frefrofiharge talks was similar to
2023, resulting in a net cost of £2,287. Other items of ex-
penditure, including our support for Blue Plaques,
Oxclean and our administrative costs, were broadly in line
with 2023, resulting in a year end surplus of £12,383.
The full accounts are available on the website, or on request
from treasurer@oxcivicsoc.or
£530
- Computer purchase £620
- Other £600
Surplus £12,383
(£4,097 in 2023)
Streamlining our governance
lan Green, Chair, explains recent changes
An analysis of what we do and how has led us to group the
Society into three main sectors: Operations, Engagement and
Communications, and Technical Working Groups. Each group
now has a trustee to coordinate activities within and
between the groups. The Executive Committee will meet less
frequently with more decisiorFmaking delegated to the sectors
and individual groups. We hope this will spread the work
more equitably and improve our effectiveness.
General Fund Assets
£59,915
(£47,532 in 2023)
Restricted Fund Assets
£17,500
(£17,500 in 2023)
Reserves policy
We hold sufficient to cover
our liabilities and to enable us
to take professional advice
as needs arise.
OCS is a society for people who care about Oxford,
want to enjoy it more fully and help shape its future.
New members are always welcome.
President.. Sir Tim Sievenson
Chairman.. lan Green Vice Chair.. Gillian Coates
Hon Secrelary.. Vernon Porter Hon Treasurer.. Richard Dodd
Oxford Civic Society, 67 Cunliffe Close, Oxford OX2 7BJ
inf
oxcivicsoc.org.uk l oxclean.org.uk
oxfordfutures.org.uk l oxfordwalks.org.uk
Registered charity no. l 116739
Printed by Porchmenls Print ol OxFord. H445 Kin9slon Bv%n8$5 Pa￿. Kin9Ston Bogpviz&. OXI 3 5FB l Td.. 01865 747 5471 Emoil-. Prin￿ParchMenbJk.ctrM

OXFORD CIVIC SOCIETY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 DECEMBER 2024
These Accounts were apwoved by the Trustees on
Chairman of Trustees
Hon Treasu

THE TrUSTEES OF OXFORD CIVIC SOCIETY
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
Report on the accounts of the trust for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on the
succeeding pages.
Respective r•sponsibilities of the Trustws and examin•r
As the trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. you cOns￿eT that the audit
requirement of sects.on 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my
responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Direcb'ons given by the
Charity Commissioners under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. whether particular matters have come to
my attention.
Basls of the independent examiners report
My examination vtas carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commission. The examinatK)n includes a review of the accounting records kept by
the trustees and comparison of the Accounts with those records. It also includes consideration
of any unusual items or dtsclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees
concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence which
would be required in an audit and. consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Ind•pondent examiner4 ststement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
which gives me Teasonable cause to believe that in any mateT?al respect the
requirements
- to keep proper accounts'ng records in accordance with section 130 of the Ac(.
and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to compty
wrth the requirements of the Act have not been me( or
to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Brian Causby CPFA
6 January 2025

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