Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director – Growth and Economy

Purpose of report

This report introduces a first draft of a Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire (attached as Appendix One).  It explains the purpose of this unique approach, the scope and content of the Vision and the timeline for the current engagement and finalising the Vision which the Oxfordshire Growth Board is undertaking. 

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1      Provide views on the (Draft) Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire.

1.2      Take account of the views expressed at Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

1.3      Delegate responsibility to the Assistant Director – Growth and Economy to develop a response to the Strategic Vision engagement exercise, in consultation with the Leader, reflecting the views expressed at the meeting and at Scrutiny.

Resolved

(1)           That, having given due consideration, the (Draft) Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire be supported and endorsed.

(2)           That the views expressed at Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

(3)           That responsibility be delegated to the Assistant Director – Growth and Economy to develop a response to the Strategic Vision engagement exercise, in consultation with the Leader, reflecting the views expressed at the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings

The Assistant Director – Growth and Economy submitted a report which introduced a first draft of a Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire.  It explained the purpose of this unique approach, the scope and content of the Vision and the timeline for the current engagement and finalising the Vision which the Oxfordshire Growth Board is undertaking. 

The Assistant Director – Growth and Economy advised Executive of the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, who had considered the report at their 1 December 2020 meeting. The Committee had supported the overall approach and vision and made the following comments: the vision statement should be more succinct and accessible; an action plan and milestones would need to be drafted in order to monitor progress of the vision; for regular reviews/refresh of the vision due to the long timescale; and, to ensure the vision is embedded in future relevant future plans and strategies.

Resolved

(1)           That, having given due consideration, the (Draft) Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire be supported and endorsed.

(2)           That the views expressed at Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

(3)           That responsibility be delegated to the Assistant Director – Growth and Economy to develop a response to the Strategic Vision engagement exercise, in consultation with the Leader, reflecting the views expressed at the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings

Reasons

The development of a Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire, which encompasses the shared ambitions of local councils and key organisations, provides a unique opportunity to bring together a clear and unambiguous statement about what it is we want to achieve in Oxfordshire. This bold and striving approach is being developed as part of a wider engagement process with Growth Board partners, councillors and residents. The recommendation is for the Executive to provide  feedback on the draft Strategic Vision, and delegate responsibility to agree the final wording of a response to Assistant Director for Growth and Economy in consultation with the Leader before 3 January 2021.

Alternative options

Option 1: Do nothing

This was rejected as the Draft Strategic Vision is a unique opportunity to respond to the emerging strategic direction of the District and the Council is actively engaged in the Strategic Vision preparation. By not responding to the offer to comment on the Draft Strategic Vision, it could limit the impact of the partnership approach.