Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy

Purpose of report

To consider the 2016 refresh of the OxLEP Strategic Economic Plan.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To endorse the refreshed Strategic Economic Plan in principle.

Resolved

(1)          That the refreshed Strategic Economic Plan be endorsed in principle.

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy submitted a report to consider the 2016 refresh of the OxLEP Strategic Economic Plan.

Resolved

(1)          That the refreshed Strategic Economic Plan be endorsed in principle.

Reasons

The SEP is an important strategy affecting the District. It will influence decisions made on infrastructure funding and local authorities are required to give it due consideration in preparing their Local Plans.

The refresh of the SEP is timely and has provided an opportunity to more closely align the SEP with the economic needs of Cherwell as set out in the adopted Cherwell Local Plan. A key issue is to secure the continuing level of economic activity we are seeing in Cherwell with major new investors at allocated employment sites alongside the planned housing growth at Banbury, Bicester and Upper Heyford.

The refreshed SEP has an important role to play in supporting the delivery of the economic objectives identified in the Cherwell Local Plan, to help fund the necessary infrastructure identified in the Cherwell Infrastructure Delivery Plan and maintain support the partnership provision of business support measures that already exists between OxLEP and the Cherwell District Council.

Alternative options

Option 1: Reject the OxLEP SEP

This is not proposed given the level of engagement to secure a refreshed SEP that is aligned with the Cherwell Local Plan.

Option 2: Seek further amendments

This is not recommended as all substantive issues have been addressed through the process of refreshing the SEP such that it is now aligned with the Cherwell Local Plan.

Option 3: Endorse the OxLEP SEP in principle.

This is recommended given the close alignment with the Cherwell Local Plan that has been secured. It is also clear that the SEP stands to support the ambition of the Cherwell Local Plan to growth the economy of the Cherwell District.