Issue - meetings

Report of Corporate Director Communities

Purpose of report

The concluding stages of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal require adjustments to the working arrangements of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership for 2025 and a change of name for the Future Oxfordshire Partnership. This report proposes corresponding amendments to the Terms of Reference and the Memorandum of Understanding between Cherwell District Council and the other five Oxfordshire councils party to the Partnership.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1     To approve the revised Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding. These will take effect following approval by each of the six Oxfordshire councils.

Resolved

(1)          That the revised Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding be approved and it be noted that these will take effect following approval by each of the six Oxfordshire councils.

The Corporate Director Communities submitted a report detailing that the concluding stages of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal required adjustments to the working arrangements of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership (FOP) for 2025 and a change of name for the Future Oxfordshire Partnership. The report proposed corresponding amendments to the Terms of Reference (TOR) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Cherwell District Council and the other five Oxfordshire councils party to the Partnership.

In response to Executive comments regarding the scrutiny arrangements under the revised TOR and MOU, the Leader advised that at Cherwell, he would ensure meeting papers were forwarded to all councillors for their information and there was a mechanism for scrutiny. The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee confirmed that she was happy to work with the Leader and Executive to ensure scrutiny of items if needed.

Resolved

(1)          That the revised Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding be approved and it be noted that these will take effect following approval by each of the six Oxfordshire councils.

Reasons

The proposed changes to governance documents arise from the principles agreed by FOP members at its meeting on 26 November 2024. The changes have been discussed by the Oxfordshire Councils’ Monitoring Officers.

Alternative options

Option 1: Do not endorse the revised TOR or MOU

Not endorsing the new TOR or MOU will exclude Cherwell District Council from the Leaders Joint Committee and thereby disadvantage it from the collaborative joint working that it facilitates.