The Director of Development has submitted a report for noting which  sets out a recent proposal which was agreed by the Growth Board on 22 March 2021 to establish an Environment Advisory Group, together with a set of Terms of Reference. Wider information is also provided concerning the establishment of a Local Nature Partnership for Oxfordshire, and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Environment Principles. 

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Support the establishment of a Growth Board Environment Advisory group;

2.    Endorse the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Environment Principles as set out at Appendix 3, recognising that this statement of ambition applies to a diverse range of urban and rural communities, and that further evidentiary work will be required at a local level to understand their longer-term implications; and  

3.    Support the development of an Arc Environment Strategy which will provide for how the principles can be delivered

The Executive Director, Development had submitted a report for noting which  set out a proposal which had been agreed by the Growth Board on 22 March 2021 to establish an Environment Advisory Group, together with a set of Terms of Reference. Wider information was also provided concerning the establishment of a Local Nature Partnership for Oxfordshire, and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Environment Principles. 

The Chair introduced the report by paying tribute to the contribution of Councillor Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, which had laid much of the groundwork for this area of Growth Board activity.

Councillor Hayes said that this workstrand followed naturally from the previous item, illustrating the Council’s influence in contributing to the wider Oxfordshire picture, through the promotion of its priorities, while working with partners, not all of whom might share the same values. He also noted the importance, reflected in the report, of ‘good growth’ which took proper account of the need to address the challenges of climate change. The Chair concluded by noting the continued need for housing, particularly affordable housing,  another important area of activity in relation to which  environmental considerations needed to be taken into account.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Support the establishment of a Growth Board Environment Advisory group;

2.    Endorse the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Environment Principles as set out at Appendix 3, recognising that this statement of ambition applies to a diverse range of urban and rural communities, and that further evidentiary work will be required at a local level to understand their longer-term implications; and  

3.    Support the development of an Arc Environment Strategy which will provide for how the principles can be delivered