Issue - meetings

Report of Corporate Director Communities

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to seek authority from the Executive to adopt an area-based approach with the objective to strengthen community and stakeholder engagement into major growth sites across the District in support of delivering more holistic and sustainably planned developments, aligned to Council priorities.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To authorise the adoption of the establishment of Area Oversight Groups (AOGs) for Bicester, Banbury and Kidlington as non-decision-making advisory groups.

Resolved

(1)          That the establishment of Area Oversight Groups (AOGs) for Bicester, Banbury and Kidlington as non-decision-making advisory groups be agreed.

The Corporate Director Communities submitted a report to seek authority from the Executive to adopt an area-based approach with the objective to strengthen community and stakeholder engagement into major growth sites across the District in support of delivering more holistic and sustainably planned developments, aligned to Council priorities.

In response to a question from the Leader of the Opposition regarding cross-party district councillor representation on the Area Oversight Groups(AOGs), the Chairman explained that officers were working on the Terms of Reference for the AOGs, which would include district councillor representatives irrespective of political group.

Resolved

(1)            That the establishment of Area Oversight Groups (AOGs) for Bicester, Banbury and Kidlington as non-decision-making advisory groups be agreed.

Reasons

Although not part of any formal decision-making process, setting up an Area Oversight Group (AOG) for each area (Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington) would provide the Council with a significant conduit to and from the local communities. It will help to manage increasing development and housing growth within some urban centres in Cherwell and help deliver an enabling and co-ordinated approach towards achieving Council priorities.

Alternative options

Option 1: Do nothing (keep current arrangements in place) – this was rejected because there is a lack of consistency in each of the three areas and only Bicester has suitable arrangements in place and it is important that the other two urban centres, subjected to growth and development also benefit for local area based arrangements, aligned to local needs and aspirations.