Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the acting deputy chief executive – partnerships. 

Cabinet considered the report of the acting deputy chief executive – partnerships.  This set out a proposal for an Oxfordshire Growth Board Environment Advisory Sub Group. 

The Growth Board’s review of its own operating arrangements in 2020 had concluded that its work would benefit from a greater consideration of environmental issues.  This could be done by strengthening the Board’s structure and networks through an environmental work stream.  The establishment of an environment advisory sub group was recommended to all principal councils in Oxfordshire.  The proposal also supported many Growth Board partners’ declaration of climate and ecological emergencies and supported the environmental aims of the Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire. 

Cabinet supported this move.  This aligned with the council’s declaration of climate and ecological emergencies, and with its corporate plan objectives. Also, the consultation on the Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire had identified the environment as top priority amongst young respondents.  This proposal was a step in the right direction.  The aim should be to promote environmental ambition, not just mitigation to reduce the impact upon the environment. 

There would need to be a Growth Board environment work stream and delivery strategy.  The establishment of a local nature partnership was one element of this, upon which some progress had already been made. 

Cabinet suggested that the leader, Councillor Sue Cooper, should put herself forward to chair this sub group, as the Growth Board’s other sub-groups were chaired by other councils’ representatives. 

Cabinet also endorsed the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Environment Principles, set out in appendix 3 to the report, and supported the development of an Arc environment strategy. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)      support the establishment of a Growth Board environment advisory group; 

(b)      endorse the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Environment Principles, as set out at Appendix 3 of the acting deputy chief executive’s report to Cabinet on 8 April 2021, recognising that this statement of ambition applies to a diverse range of urban and rural communities, and that further evidentiary work will be required at a local level to understand their longer-term implications; and

(c)       support the development of an Arc environment strategy, which will provide for how the principles can be delivered.