Decision details

Cabinet considered the report of the interim head of development, regeneration and housing.  This proposed Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils together spending £183,000 on a campaign to market the Science Vale UK and Enterprise Zone in 2017/18.  The funding had been provided by a government grant for this purpose.  The main aim was to secure inward investment.  In turn, this would also generate additional business rates, which would help pay for additional infrastructure projects. 

Councillor Debby Hallett asked how the success of the marketing campaign would be monitored.  In response, it was reported that Cabinet at both the Vale and South Oxfordshire, as well as the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, would all monitor this.  Cabinet suggested that Scrutiny Committee might wish to call for a regular monitoring report, possibly annually. 

Cabinet supported the marketing plan and the proposed spend, noting that the £183,000 would be shared between the Vale and South Oxfordshire, equating to £91,500 for each council. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       agree to spend £91,500 for the Enterprise Zone 2017/18 marketing campaign production and advertising placement, from the previously approved Department for Communities and Local Government grant funds budget, to implement the Science Vale and Enterprise Zone marketing plan; and

(b)       submit the marketing plan to the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Department for Communities and Local Government, in accordance with the Enterprise Zone Implementation Plan previously agreed by all Enterprise Zone partners.