The report provides an update on the progress for the development of the Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan, and outlines the timetable for its submission to Government along with any commitments being asked of the City Council.

The Board is asked to:-

(1)  Formally support the overarching focus of the Oxfordshire     Strategic Economic Plan;

(2)  Delegate authority to the Executive Director, City Regeneration and Housing, in consultation with the Council Leader, to make any necessary editorial changes and to endorse the final Strategic Economic Plan prior to its submission to Government;

(3)  Delegate authority to the Executive Director, City Regeneration and Housing, in consultation with the Council Leader, to lead on negotiations with partners and Government on any invitation to enter into a Local Growth Deal.

The Executive Director, City Regeneration and Housing, submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) that provided an update on the progress of the Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan. Councillor Bob Price, Board Member for Corporate Governance, Strategic Partnerships and Economic Development, and Leader of the Council, introduced the report and explained the background to it.

Councillor Price indicated that timescales were tight, as bids for the Local Growth Deal had to be submitted by the end of March. Thanks were due to Mr Nigel Tipple, the Chief Executive of the Local Enterprise Partnership, for his work; and also to the University of Oxford which was now working much more closely with the City Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Resolved to:-

(1)  Formally support the overarching focus of the Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan;

(2)  Delegate to the Executive Director, City Regeneration and Housing, in consultation with the Council Leader, authority to make any necessary editorial changes, and to endorse the final Strategic Economic Plan prior to its submission to Government;

(3)  Delegate to the Executive Director, City Regeneration and Housing, in consultation with the Council Leader, authority to lead on negotiations with partners and Government on any invitation to enter into a Local Growth Deal;

(4)  Thank Councillor Price and David Edwards (Executive Director, City Regeneration) for all their hard work on this issue;

(5)  Agree the recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee as follows:-

(a)  For all members to see the finalised Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan as submitted to Government and kept in touch with the outcomes from this bid;

(b)  To provide a “governance structure” below the Board Member representative on the Local Strategic Partnership that can deliver on the aim of keeping all members of Council informed and engaged in the detail of  progress against selected projects and the likely outcomes for the City and its residents;

(c)  The Board Member and Officers to do all they can to reflect the City’s ambition of reducing inequality in strategic planning for all themes; 

(d)  The Board member and Officers to do all they can within the Innovative Place theme to produce excellent links to schools at a very early stage to support good quality advice on educational choices and career planning;