Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director – Growth and Economy

Purpose of report

This report introduces a final version of the Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire (hereafter referred to as “the Vision”).  A copy of the final version of the Vision is attached as Appendix 1. 

This report updates the Executive on the consultation process, the response to the consultation and briefly summarises the main changes to the Vision, with the detail provided in Appendix 3.  Appendix 2 is the report that was considered by Growth Board on 22 March 2021. 

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1       Agree the Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire.

1.2       Ask that officers delegate responsibility to the Assistant Director – Growth and Economy to consider how to embed the Vision’s aspirations for Oxfordshire in future plans and strategies of the Council.

Resolved

(1)          That the Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire be agreed.

(2)          That responsibility be delegated to the Assistant Director – Growth and Economy to consider how to embed the Vision’s aspirations for Oxfordshire in future plans and strategies of the Council.

The Assistant Director – Growth and Economy submitted a report which  introduced a final version of the Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire. The report also updated the Executive on the consultation process, the response to the consultation and briefly summarised the main changes to the Vision.

Resolved

(1)          That the Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire be agreed.

(2)          That responsibility be delegated to the Assistant Director – Growth and Economy to consider how to embed the Vision’s aspirations for Oxfordshire in future plans and strategies of the Council.

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 the Growth Board wants to achieve in Oxfordshire.

Following the consultation exercise, both officers and members who have reflected upon the consultation and revised the Vision believe that the Vision has improved because of the consultation. The document now has a bolder more ambitious narrative that articulates in a balanced way the collective ambitions for what Oxfordshire should be in 2050, both societally, economically and as a place to live work and to thrive.

The Growth Board endorsed the revised Vision at its meeting on 22 March and asked that each partner consider agreeing to the Vision. Accordingly, the Executive is requested to consider and agree the Vision.

Alternative options

Option 1: Do nothing

This was rejected as the Strategic Vision is a unique opportunity to agree the strategic direction of the District and the Council has been engaged in the Vision. By not agreeing the Draft Strategic Vision, it could limit the impact of the partnership approach.