Cllrs Pressel and Azad left the meeting

Cllr Price, Board Member for Corporate Strategy and Economic Development presented the report. He outlined the four themes of people, place, enterprise and connectivity outlined in the plan and explained that the SEP provided a framework for how local plans are developed and a basis for funding bids.

The Chair asked how the devolution proposals and the scrutiny function fitted into the work of the LEP. Cllr Price said that if there was a restructure of local authorities in Oxfordshire then there would be a requirement for a new agreement between the LEP and any new authority.

The draft plan has been publically consulted on and it now required approval from each authority, which required it going through the scrutiny process.

The Committee made the following comments on the SEP:

Cllr Simmons was concerned with the measure identifying climate change as a risk to sustainable development but not providing any conclusions for how climate change could be addressed.

Cllr Wilkinson asked why there had been such a low response from businesses during the consultation. Cllr Price said that there were several well attended workshops for businesses had taken place, but they hadn’t necessarily resulted in business owners making a submission. The LEP had also consulted business organisations such as the chamber of commerce and had incorporated their ideas into the plan.

Cllr Hayes asked that the report be amended to say that businesses have been consulted and their views have been captured through workshops and that business owners preferred the workshops approach.

Cllr Tidball asked about the connectivity theme, in particular how intercity bus connectivity could be improved. She felt there was a gap in investing in connecting the city’s bus routes and the use of the ring road and maximising the use of the Park and Ride system.

The Committee discussed the demands of growth and the pressures it causes on housing and infrastructure. Unaffordable housing affected businesses ability to expand, as they struggle to attract employees who can afford to live in the city.

There is an on-going need for councils to work together within the planning parameters to encourage housing developments whenever possible.

At the same time it is equally important for councils to encourage people to learn skills which are in demand by city businesses.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED the following recommendations to the City Executive Board:

1. The report sets a clear goal on page 19 to deliver sustainable growth in line with the Brundtland Commission definition.  The SWOT analysis (p29) identifies the risk that, as it stands, this will not be achieved with regard to climate change targets - a key indicator of sustainable development. Nowhere are the conclusions of this aspect of the swot analysis addressed. Where is the detail of how the climate change targets are to be met?

2. The report and framework should make it clear that whilst the formal response from the business community was low this does not mean that views were not given and captured as part of this exercise.  Businesses engaged through workshops and other informal channels with representatives of OxLEP

3. The poor connectivity of buses across the City is identified as a threat but not closed off.  This position has been made worse by the reduction in subsidised bus services.  The document should include actions and solutions in this area including better use of trips around the ring road and additional stops along established routes

Cllr Price suggested the Committee review the LEP’s revised Skilled Strategy due out in November and the

Local Growth fund report.