Decision details

The Executive considered report 20/10 of the Strategic Director.  It summarised the outcome of partnership work with the Homes and Communities Agency on the Oxfordshire Local Investment Plan and recommended that the council entered into a local investment agreement. 

The report set out a new approach for distributing government funds.  A pilot scheme from the Homes and Communities Agency included a “single conversation” where the agency worked with councils and other bodies to ensure effective and co-ordinated investment decisions across a county.  Oxfordshire was part of the pilot.  Oxfordshire would receive funds in line with its housing needs assessments.  The partnership would determine where funding would go, and would be able to retain funds for Oxfordshire if there was a delay in any scheme.  The single conversation went further, tying together all housing, infrastructure, transport, regeneration, and economic development priorities.  This was set out in a document called the Local Investment Plan. 

The Executive noted that the Oxfordshire Partnership had set up a sub-group, the Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Partnership (SPIP).  This would act for the Oxfordshire councils; the Leader of the Council was a member.  The partnership had drafted a local investment agreement to commit parties to the plan.  Although not legally binding, the agreement was a statement of intent and commitment to work in partnership to deliver the objectives of the single conversation.  The partnership agreed that this was the best way to secure government funding. 

The Executive considered the signing of this partnership agreement important, given the future economic climate and likely public spending restraints.  Councillors noted that the Homes and Communities Agency was impressed with the Oxfordshire Partnership’s work and used it as an example to others.  The Vale had pushed this forward in Oxfordshire.  Councillors congratulated the staff involved in this work. 

RESOLVED

(a)       To agree that the council enters into the proposed Oxfordshire Local Investment Agreement; and

(b)       To delegate authority to the Strategic Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to finalise the Local Investment Agreement wording.