Future Oxfordshire Partnership response to recommendations of the Partnership Scrutiny Panel made on

14 September 2023

The Future Oxfordshire Partnership is requested to provide a response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Panel for decision at its meeting on 26 September 2023.

FOP response in red type

OxLEP response in blue type

Recommendation	Comment
Housing and Growth Deal: Update at the end of Quarter 1 2023/2024 The Panel noted that as of Quarter 1, the Housing from Infrastructure programme was over profiled by £2.650m compared to available funding. Whilst acknowledging that a bid for additional funding to Homes England had been in respect of the Lodge Hill scheme, the Panel was concerned about the possible negative effect to the overall programme if this bid was not successful. Schemes at Lodge Hill, Banbury Road roundabout in Bicester, and Former RAF Upper Heyford M40 Junction 10 improvements were specifically raised as potentially at risk in this eventuality. The Panel felt that it was important that there be constant communication and discussion between Oxfordshire County Council as the authority responsible for the delivery of the Housing from Infrastructure Programme and the districts, about the status of the programme and any potential changes to individual schemes, noting that the County Council had agreed to undertake this as part of the revisions to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership Terms of Reference. It was also felt that a ‘lessons learnt’ exercise should be completed at the conclusion of the programme. 1. That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership reiterate the continued importance of on-going discussions and communications between Oxfordshire County Council (the responsible authority for the Housing from Infrastructure Programme) and the districts about the status of the programme and any potential amendments as agreed in the Partnership’s Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding. 2. That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership commit to undertake a full ‘lessons learnt’ review of the Homes from Infrastructure Programme on its conclusion.	Agreed. As highlighted by the Panel, this is the expectation as set out in the Partnership’s Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Association and good communication and discussion processes are in place. These will be diligently maintained through out the lifespan of the Housing from Infrastructure programme. Agreed. Whether the review would most appropriately sit within the Partnership’s governance structures, potentially through the Infrastructure Advisory Group, or through those of the County Council as the responsible authority will need to be carefully considered in due course.
Refreshing the Oxfordshire Strategic Economic plan The Panel welcomed the opportunity to comment on the Strategic Economic Plan, (SEP) draft v2. However, whilst acknowledging the timetabling constraints faced by OxLEP, the panel was disappointed to have received the draft only approximately two days before the meeting. 3. That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership be recommended to not endorse or note the Strategic Economic Plan document, recognising that it is an OxLEP document not one with local authority ownership. 4. That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership include the following feedback to OxLEP if it is minded to note the draft Strategic Economic Plan: a. Measurements metrics and key performance indicators, (KPIs) within the document need to be linked to and be consistent with the delivery of the nine Oxfordshire Strategic Vision objectives and defined within a range of possible outcomes to achieve truly system wide effects. There is also the need for the collection of disaggregated data where relevant based on gender, ethnicity, age and disability status, to ensure inclusion of different groups of people. b. That the Strategic Economic Plan should prioritise sustainable growth, the environment and the health and wellbeing of residents. The metrics and measures the SEP uses to determine its own success should broadly reflect these areas.  In practice, this lends itself to a wider set of measurements than are represented in the current draft. c. That the document needs to strike a balance between job creation and provision of homes in a way that is environmentally sustainable. d. That communication about the plan needs to be framed in the context of economic growth that is sustainable. This could be linked to an approach based on the principles of Doughnut Economics. e. That the language within the document be double checked to ensure that it is consistent, (use of ‘we’ defined etc) and to ensure it does not give the impression that the Plan was encroaching on matters within the purview of the democratically determined Local Plan process or matters within the scope of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership.	Noted, the paper and draft SEP is shared for information and comment by FOP, not endorsement. The FOP noted the comments from the Scrutiny Panel and forwarded recommendations 4a to 4e to OxLEP for it to respond to the Panel directly. OxLEP response: As we (OXLEP) reflected on the panel discussion, we are developing a range of indicators to support the monitoring and evaluation of the SEP. It should be noted that the FOP does not have metrics or indicators identified to monitor the Vision, the 9 Objectives and guiding principles and reports more generally on progress. As such we will work with the FOP Executive to identify common metrics to avoid inconsistency. OxLEP response: Noted, OXLEP believe the SEP draft Version 2 does address all of these issues and we are developing out monitoring metrics, noting the response to item “a.” above. OxLEP response: The plan responds to and sits within the Local Authority led Local Plan process and as such its ambitions and scale is framed by the respective employment and housing growth parameters set. OxLEP response: Noted, the plan is framed within the current national policy landscape, has sustainability embedded and recognises that economic growth must be framed within Local Plan ambitions. We (OXLEP) have acknowledged that many of the principles of Doughnut Economics are consistent with for instance our productivity focus, improving resource efficiency and output rather than focusing upon increased employment numbers. OxLEP response: Noted, we will review, but as made clear in the presentation and discussion, all local authorities have been actively involved in the development, evidence gathering and drafting of the SEP. The “we” in respect of the endorsement/approval process refers to the OXLEP Board.