Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director - Growth and Economy

Purpose of report

To consider Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership’s (OxLEP’s) Strategic Economic Plan for Oxfordshire (SEP) 2023 – 2033, providing an update on the progress to date in drafting the document. The report will also outline the SEP’s forward trajectory, explaining the path it will follow both through Cherwell District Council’s democratic processes and through other organisations involved. This includes, for example, the OxLEP Board; other local authorities (reporting through their respective democratic processes) and the Future Oxfordshire Partnership (FOP).  

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To endorse OxLEP’s Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) 2023 – 2033.

1.2         To delegate to the Corporate Director – Communities, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to engage in the development of the detail of the SEP, including any future action plans which might emerge.

Resolved

(1)          That the Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership’s (OxLEP’s) Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) 2023 – 2033 be endorsed.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director – Communities, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to engage in the development of the detail of the SEP, including any future action plans which might emerge.

The Assistant Director - Growth and Economy submitted a report to consider the Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership’s (OxLEP’s) Strategic Economic Plan for Oxfordshire (SEP) 2023 – 2033 and provided an update on the progress to date in drafting the document. The report also outlined the SEP’s forward trajectory in relation the path it would follow both through Cherwell District Council’s democratic processes and through other organisations involved. This included, for example, the OxLEP Board, other local authorities (reporting through their respective democratic processes) and the Future Oxfordshire Partnership (FOP).  

Resolved

(1)          That the Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership’s (OxLEP’s) Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) 2023 – 2033 be endorsed.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director – Communities, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to engage in the development of the detail of the SEP, including any future action plans which might emerge.

Reasons

The SEP will contribute to the delivery of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership’s Strategic Vision. It provides a ten-year framework to maintain the conditions for growth, regeneration, attracting new inward investment and enabling opportunities for jobs to be created for local residents.

In proposing a collective vision for the future of the County’s economy, the SEP is currently in draft form. The Council’s officers have been engaged as a consultee during its development.

Alternative options

Option 1: To adopt the emerging Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan. This was rejected, because it would be premature at this stage and it is possible, despite officers’ best efforts, that the final version of the Plan might not sufficiently address issues and opportunities relating specifically to Cherwell district.

Option 2: Not to endorse the emerging Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan. This was rejected because it would contradict the Council’s interests to support the broad partnership framework proposed by the Plan.