Issue - meetings

To consider the head of policy and programmes’ report. 

To update Cabinet members on progress against the approved Didcot Garden Town Delivery Plan attached as appendix 1. To seek approval of the proposed Didcot Wayfinding Strategy, attached at appendix 2. To seek approval of the proposed Didcot Green Infrastructure Strategy, attached at appendix 3.

Recommendations:

1.       That Cabinet notes progress against the approved Didcot Garden Town Delivery Plan attached at appendix 1.

2.       That Cabinet approve the Didcot Wayfinding Strategy attached at appendix 2.

3.       That Cabinet approve the Didcot Green Infrastructure Strategy attached at appendix 3.

Cabinet received the Didcot Garden Town Delivery Plan update and next steps report from the head of policy and programmes. This report updated cabinet on the progress of the delivery plan, sought approval for the Didcot Wayfinding Strategy and its budget allocation for signage, as well as seeking approval for the Didcot Green Infrastructure Strategy and its budget allocation for short-term green infrastructure enhancements.

The cabinet member for affordable housing, infrastructure, development and governance presented the report. Officers supporting the item were the Didcot garden town programme manager and the Didcot garden town team leader.

Members were pleased to see the item being brought forward and that the project had been revisited so that it was moving forward with practical and achievable steps, without making unrealistic commitments. Members felt confidence in the approach and that it was much more balanced than previously. They also considered the comments by the Joint Scrutiny Committee and welcomed their feedback, which officers confirmed had been integrated into the report and will be considered going forward.

Members noted that South Oxfordshire’s Cabinet had approved funding to allow for the wayfinding and green infrastructure strategies to be implemented. 

Members discussed the risks of needing to seek external funding – how was the council prioritising if it could not obtain added funding? It was confirmed that prioritisation was based on the resources available and would be flexible and part of the ongoing work. As part of the National Garden Communities Programme, officers can bid for specific funding to advance priorities, and officers will be looking for other sources of funding throughout the project, including through collecting CIL and S106 funds, as Didcot was an expanding community. Members were grateful for signage improvements. A member expressed that we should emphasise importance of green spaces to the public. 

Cabinet were satisfied with the plan, noting that the wayfinding and green infrastructure would make a physical difference to the residents of Didcot with a practical delivery plan. They added that officers should be proud of their work.

RESOLVED: to

(a)  note the progress against the approved Didcot Garden Town Delivery Plan, as set out in appendix 1 to the head of policy and programmes’ report to Cabinet on 19 April 2024;

(b)  approve the Didcot Wayfinding Strategy set out at appendix 2 to the report;

(c)  approve the Didcot Green Infrastructure Strategy set out at appendix 3 to the report