Issue - meetings

Report of Corporate Director Communities

Purpose of report

This report provides an update on the work in progress in relation to the Banbury area following the publication of the Banbury 2050 report; and includes the emerging Banbury Area Priority Plan (APP) as part of the developing Area Oversight Framework. 

The Banbury APP is a compilation of the Banbury 2050 vision engagement findings and recommendations, whilst also including the priority plans currently under development at Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), with the aim to share one APP for the area.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1     To note the update.

Resolved

(1)            That the update be noted.

The Corporate Director Communities submitted a report which provided an update on the work in progress in relation to the Banbury area following the publication of the Banbury 2050 report; and included the emerging Banbury Area Priority Plan (APP) as part of the developing Area Oversight Framework. 

The Banbury APP was a compilation of the Banbury 2050 vision engagement findings and recommendations, whilst also included the priority plans currently under development at Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), with the aim to share one APP for the area.

In response to Executive member comments regarding community engagement and similar plans for Bicester Kidlington, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration explained dates for community engagement would be shared with Members in due course. Plans for Bicester and Kidlington were at a draft stage whilst Banbury was ahead as OCC had secured £300k of funding in its capital programme to deliver a Banbury masterplan in 2025/26. OCC had also secured funding for active travel projects focussing on design feasibility work for two active travel corridors in Banbury. Other funded projects included the installation of new seating and planting in Market Place and a Banbury Wayfinding project to be scoped.

Resolved

(1)            That the update be noted.

Reasons

The Banbury Area Priority Plan contains the projects currently identified from a variety of community engagement events and project action plans. The aim is for CDC and OCC to have one Banbury APP and to work jointly to enable and deliver projects. The APP is an important tool for enabling the delivery of projects within Banbury and it will be reviewed and monitored by the Banbury Area Oversight Group as part of the CDC Area Framework approach.

Alternative options

This report is submitted for information only.