Agenda item

For action: To consider a report which seeks endorsement for a proposed Work Programme for the Future Oxfordshire Partnership, details the process by which projects were selected and might subsequently be prioritised, and where able offers an indication of timeline and resource requirements. Finally, it also offers recommendations as to which projects should be included in the Programme.

The Partnership considered a report which sought endorsement of a proposed work programme for the Future Oxfordshire Partnership and which set out the process by which projects were endorsed and might subsequently be prioritised. Where possible, indicative information was given about timelines and resource requirements. In introducing the report, Paul Staines, Head of Programme highlighted that:

·           The report set out an update on progress in working up the Partnership’s work programme following the Partnership Focus and Delivery Workshop held on 26 September 2023.

·           Within the report, projects had been ordered to reflect the degree to which they had been worked up and developed. Some projects and schemes were already underway whereas some were at initial, in principle stage and consideration of issues such as collective added value through collaboration was yet to be fully considered and project milestones, resources, governance etc were yet to undertaken.

·           The Partnership was asked to take stock of the updated proposed projects and to remove any projects it did not wish to pursue further.

·           The Partnership was asked to reconfirm whether or not it wished to progress research around First Homes.

·           The report set out how projects might be progressed further and indicative governance arrangements via the Partnership’s advisory groups.

The Chair indicated that on the basis of discussions to date, it was not intended to take out any of the proposed projects at the current stage.

In discussion, a number of members of the Partnership spoke to the importance of avoiding duplication both within the Partnership’s own structures and with other existing arrangements, at individual council level or other non-Partnership mechanisms for cross county co-operation.

Work around Net Zero and Local Area Energy Planning were identified as being potential examples where there was a risk of duplication between Partnership advisory groups. It was also suggested that other projects might more efficiently be considered directly by the Partnership itself rather than via the advisory groups.

The Chair commented that she agreed there was a need to be as streamlined as possible, for example that reports would only be presented to the advisory groups when necessary and would be as minimal as possible so as to minimise the burden on officers whilst still enabling appropriate discussions to take place. However, there could be value in joint work between groups depending on the nature of the issue. 

In response to these points, Andrew Down, Future Oxfordshire Partnership Director commented that officers were also keen to avoid unnecessary duplication and as the work programme was worked up to the next level of detail thought would be given as to the appropriate governance forum for each project.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the report and its conclusions be noted.

2.     That all the projects in the suggested programme set out in the report be agreed to be taken forward for further development.

3.     For those projects approved for the Work Programme, the advisory groups, as project sponsors be asked to task officers in the working groups with the preparation of detailed project plans for their approval.