Issue - meetings

Report of Executive Director Place and Regeneration

Purpose of report

To advise the Executive of the interim governance and working arrangements for the preparation of a Thames Valley Spatial Development Strategy (SDS).

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To note the interim governance arrangements for the Thames Valley Spatial Development Strategy explained in this report and at Appendix 1.

1.2         To instruct officers to request that the Council be formally co-opted as a ‘partner authority’ with Leader representation on the Spatial Development Strategy Partnership Board until such time that a ‘Strategic Planning Board’ is formally established.

1.3         To note that Executor Director Place and Regeneration will advise the Executive if the Council is not confirmed as a co-opted ‘Partner Authority’.

1.4         To delegate to the Executive Director Place and Regeneration the authority to agree detailed working arrangements for the pre-inception development of the Spatial Development Strategy in consultation with the Assistant Director Law and Governance.

Resolved

(1)          That the interim governance arrangements for the Thames Valley Spatial Development Strategy be noted.

(2)          That officers be instructed to request that the Council be formally co-opted as a ‘partner authority’ with Leader representation on the Spatial Development Strategy Partnership Board until such time that a ‘Strategic Planning Board’ is formally established.

(3)          That it be noted that the Executor Director Place and Regeneration will advise the Executive if the Council is not confirmed as a co-opted ‘Partner Authority’.

(4)          That authority be delegated to the Executive Director Place and Regeneration to agree detailed working arrangements for the pre-inception development of the Spatial Development Strategy in consultation with the Assistant Director Law and Governance.

The Executive Director Place and Regeneration submitted a report to advise the Executive of the interim governance and working arrangements for the preparation of a Thames Valley Spatial Development Strategy (SDS).

Resolved

(1)          That the interim governance arrangements for the Thames Valley Spatial Development Strategy be noted.

(2)          That officers be instructed to request that the Council be formally co-opted as a ‘partner authority’ with Leader representation on the Spatial Development Strategy Partnership Board until such time that a ‘Strategic Planning Board’ is formally established.

(3)          That it be noted that the Executor Director Place and Regeneration will advise the Executive if the Council is not confirmed as a co-opted ‘Partner Authority’.

(4)          That authority be delegated to the Executive Director Place and Regeneration to agree detailed working arrangements for the pre-inception development of the Spatial Development Strategy in consultation with the Assistant Director Law and Governance.

Reasons

Completing an SDS for the Thames Valley by mid-2029 will be challenging.  Progressing early preparatory and informative work ahead of secondary legislation is sensible and the governance and working arrangements proposed in the County Council’s report will support the process.  However, there remains some uncertainty about the co-opting of district councils and whether the Leader will have a seat on the Partnership Board. It is therefore recommended that the Council seeks confirmation of its co-opted partnership status and representation.

Alternative options

The Executive could decide not to seek formal co-opting as a ‘partner authority’ ahead of the establishment of a statutory Strategic Planning Board.  However, it is considered to be in the best interests of Cherwell’s communities to be as embedded as possible in the SDS process.