Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted from Councillor David Hingley, (substituted by Councillor Lesley McLean).

There were no declarations of interest. 

Following the decision at the prior meeting to refocus the membership of the Partnership to the Leaders of the constituent councils only, the Chair thanked all the representatives of stakeholder organisations previously represented on the Oxfordshire Growth Board and Future Oxfordshire Partnership for their valuable contributions over the years.

To adopt as a correct record the minutes of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership meeting held on 26 November 2024. 

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Asking a question and addressing the Partnership
Questions or requests to make an address (in full and in writing) must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 22 January 2024, three clear working days before the Future Oxfordshire Partnership meeting.

Questions and addresses should be no longer than one side of A4 paper in Arial 12 font. The address or question will be circulated to the Partnership and public speakers will be invited to speak at the meeting. Written submissions may also be read out by the Chair or Democratic Services Officer where requested or if the person making the request for public speaking is not able to attend the meeting. A response may be given at the meeting or a written answer supplied. The Chair will have discretion to manage the public participation procedure as they see appropriate. Questions and notice of addresses must be submitted to futureoxfordshirepartnership@southandvale.gov.uk

Note: This meeting may be recorded for live broadcast. At the start of the meeting the Chair will confirm the meeting is being filmed. By registering to speak you are consenting to being recorded and to the use of those video and audio recordings for webcasting.

It was noted that no requests for public speaking had been received on this occasion.

Action: To endorse the name, terms of reference and memorandum of understanding of the joint committee to replace the Future Oxfordshire Partnership.

Members considered a covering report and attached proposed revised Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding to replace the Future Oxfordshire Partnership with an Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee.

In discussion, Councillor Andy Graham suggested that paragraph 9.5 of the draft Terms of Reference should be amended to reflect that a public participation protocol was already in existence and also sought assurance that it was intended to carry forward the current arrangements of funding the Future Oxfordshire Partnership by the councils into the new joint committee.

Andrew Down, Future Oxfordshire Partnership Director responded that he was happy for the wording of paragraph 9.5 of the terms of reference to be updated and that it was likely that opportunity would also be taken to review the current public participation protocol in due course.

There were no plans to change the current arrangements whereby each council contributed £100,000 per annum to fund the Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership, Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership and Future Oxfordshire Partnership. This provided for a manager of each partnership and a shared secretariat supporting all three partnerships. It was estimated that the cost of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership element was circa £200,000 per annum.

The Chair commented that subject to the formal agreement by the individual councils, the revised Terms of Reference, Memorandum of Understanding and change of title to the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee would come into immediate effect.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the revised Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding be endorsed subject to the amendment of paragraph 9.5 of the Terms of Reference to refer to management of public participation according to a separate protocol as agreed by the Joint Committee.

2.     These will take effect following approval by each local authority Cabinet.

Action: To consider and endorse the adoption of the Oxfordshire Climate Adaption Route Map.

The Partnership considered a covering report and attached Oxfordshire Climate Adaptation Route Map. Ariane Crampton, Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership and Programme Manager, Tom Layzell, Climate Adaptation Project Lead and Sarah Gilbert, Head of Climate Action gave a presentation summarising the key points of the report.

In discussion, members of the Partnership thanked officers for the report and strongly welcomed the Route Map. Members spoke to the importance of delivery of the 15 priority actions and crucially the need for a strategic communications plan to raise awareness of the urgent need for climate adaptation amongst the population and to demonstrate visibility of ownership of the actions.

A robust monitoring and reporting regime was required as concern was expressed that unless a firm implementation and monitoring plan was developed and there was coordination, the Route Map might not lead to real outcomes and remain a ‘paper’ strategy only. Officers pointed to the role of the new Climate Adaptation Working Group in helping to make implementation of the Route Map actions easier through catalysis and coordination.

In response to another question, Officers acknowledged that there were gaps in policy that made climate adaptation implementation challenging, for instance around planning and the National Planning Policy Framework that local authorities were not able to change individually. However, the Route Map did set out where important activity could be undertaken in other areas such as biodiversity, nature infrastructure and adaptation.

The importance of linking Route Map activity with emergency planning was stressed given that it was clear that local authorities and communities would need to prepare themselves for adverse climate events rather than simply relying on disaster recovery. Officers responded that work alongside the University of Exeter to test climate adaptation community resilience toolkits was being undertaken and community resilience colleagues were seeking to encourage communities and businesses to develop their own resilience plans.

The Chair commented that it was clear that funding would be a significant challenge given that implementation of the actions was reliant upon it. As a result, there was a need for the members of the Partnership, as the Leaders of their councils to consider what actions could potentially be taken forward jointly, and collaboration with town and parish councils would also be important.

Councillor Graham stated that in his view there was a need for the Leaders to take back the Route Map and its priority actions to their individual councils based on engagement and increasing visibility, but with a view to being able to support commitments to specific key areas.  This would require some additional input from officers around engagement, key priority areas, funding requirements and potential funding sources.   

The Chair supported this approach and put it to the meeting that consideration should also be given to what priorities might be tackled by the councils collectively and the areas where it would be necessary to work with other stakeholders and organisations. Leaders should also explore what their own council could do individually and feed that into future discussions. If possible,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Information: To consider and note the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership Annual Report 2023/2024.

The Partnership considered the annual report of the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership, (OIEP) for 2023/2024.

Emma Coles, OIEP Manager introduced the report and highlighted key activities and events since the previous report. The role of the OIEP was to create a more equal and inclusive economy within Oxfordshire. It did this largely through its convening power to connect individuals and organisations rather than directly providing services.

During 2023/2024 progress had been made across the priority areas of social value and procurement, employment, place shaping and education. In addition, over 100 organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors had now become OIEP Charter signatories and OIEP had secured over £90,000 of research opportunities.

Members of the Partnership paid tribute to the important work of the OIEP as positive and inspirational. In response to a question about next steps it was confirmed that it was intended to continue to build on current tranches of work to further build on the partnership’s existing base of engagement with businesses and organisations through the Charter. Secondly, it was intended to further build its HR network.

RESOVED:

1.     That the progress described in the annual report be noted.

2.     That the importance of continuing to support the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership which helps support several outcomes of the Oxfordshire Strategic Vision be noted.

For information: To note and comment on the Future Oxfordshire Partnership’s Forward Plan. 

The Partnership considered its current forward programme as set out in the agenda.

The Chair informed the meeting that this would be reformatted in future as the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee forward programme. Suggestions for future items were invited from Leaders, with the Chair commenting that it seemed likely that items on local government reorganisation and devolution would be needed, notwithstanding that that the situation on these issues was currently unclear. In addition, regular updates on climate adaptation work had already been put forward.

In discussion, Councillor Thomas suggested that given the current uncertainties, it would not be prudent to plan too far ahead and there should be a pause, except for areas of work already in progress.

It was agreed that the forward programme should be reviewed again at the next meeting, but that a potential update on climate adaptation should be added to the March meeting, along with an item on local government reorganisation and devolution if appropriate.

RESOLVED: That the forward programme be noted, subject to the addition of items on climate adaptation and local government reorganisation/devolution. 

Future Oxfordshire Partnership members and officers may verbally update the Board on progress on matters previously before the Partnership for consideration, listed in the forward plan, or relevant to the Partnership’s future decisions.  This is for the sharing of information and no decisions will be taken. 

Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy

Paul Staines, Future Oxfordshire Partnership Programme Manager provided an update on the progress of the latest Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy, (OxIS).

It was highlighted to the meeting that following a successful procurement and tender process AECOM had been appointed as a consultant. AECOM had delivered the first iteration of the OxIS, were experienced in the county and expected to produce a quality outcome.

The project plan was being finalised with a goal to complete work by the end of November 2025, following appropriate governance. Partners were being asked to assess their resources and the timing of consultation, with feedback expected by the end of the week commencing 27 January.  It was expected that a draft strategy would be ready for consideration by the joint committee by May-June 2025, and the final strategy would be ready for endorsement in November 2025.

In discussion members stressed the importance of a joined-up approach across both hard and soft forms of infrastructure, which would be inclusive of green infrastructure needs and muti sector, for instance, inclusive of health infrastructure needs. It was also queried how consideration of strategic infrastructure needs in the county might be affected by HM Government proposals around Mayoral Strategic Authorities.

In response, the Partnership was informed it was considered likely that OxIS would have a wider connection to strategic conversations around a Mayoral Combined Authority and could form one of the data sets to inform those discussions. Previous iterations of OxIS were considered to have usefully and productively provided a uniformvoice for Oxfordshire in its conversations with HM Government and other funding organisations.

Regarding scope, it was not intended to replicate the Infrastructure Delivery Plans of individual councils, but it was intended to examine only ‘big ticket’ strategic infrastructure. All the iterations of OxIS had sought to capture the full range of infrastructure requirements, but consideration of green and blue infrastructure, energy, water and health and the need for a joined-up approach, were very much embedded in the current project.

The Chair commented that the OxIS work was important to develop an Oxfordshire picture of infrastructure needs, but also one that could be widened to the Mayoral Combined Authority when it was established.

HM Government English Devolution White Paper

The Chair referred to the formal response by the Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet as an upper tier local authority on 9 January to the HM Government’s invitation for the submission of proposals regarding devolution and local government reorganisation. It was currently expected that the government’s response would be received at the end of January 2025.

For information: To receive updates from other partnerships supporting the delivery of the Oxfordshire Strategic Vision.

England’s Economic Heartland

Councillor David Rouane provided an update on the meetings of EEH held in December 2024 and January 2025.Highlights included:

·           Rail network enquires related to the east of the EEH area

·           Consideration of the National Transport Strategy and bus symposium

·           Adoption of the Oxford to Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership Environmental Programme.

·           A presentation on the National Wealth Fund, accessible to local authorities as loans for capital projects.

Oxford to Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership

Councillor Andy Graham provided an update on the Oxford to Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership, (PRP).

·           The all-partner conference held on 29 November 2024 which had brought together representatives form local authorities, business, universities, agencies and national government.

·           Support for the work already undertaken by the PRP and that this work is not lost give the region’s position as major engine for economic growth if HM Government took the decision to withdraw from the PRP. At the present time this was uncertain.

The dates of confirmed Future Oxfordshire Partnership meetings are below. Please refer to the list of meetings  for the most up to date information on times and locations.

·           Thursday Tuesday 18 March 2025

·           Tuesday 24 June 2025

In addition, the following draft dates for meetings of the revised Joint Committee are proposed:

·           24/06/25 - 14:00

·           29/07/25 - 14:00

·           02/10/25 - 12:00

·           25/11/25 - 14:00

·           20/01/26 - 14:00

·           16/03/26 - 14:00

·           23/06/26 - 14:00

Recommendation: That the draft meeting dates be noted subject to the further development of the revised joint committee’s governance and meeting arrangements.

The dates of future meetings as set out in the agenda up to June 2024 were noted.

RESOLVED: The following draft 2025/2026 dates for meetings of the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee were noted subject to further development of the joint committee’s governance and meeting arrangements.

·           29/07/25 - 14:00

·           02/10/25 - 12:00

·           25/11/25 - 14:00

·           20/01/26 - 14:00

·           16/03/26 - 14:00

·           23/06/26 - 14:00