Agenda item

Scrutiny Panel’s recommendation

Growth Board Chairman’s reply

1: That the Chair of the Growth Board be invited to attend the 30 May 2019 meeting of the Scrutiny Panel.

Agreed in principle subject to the Chair’s other diary commitments.

2: That the Growth Board reflect on the inability of the Consultation on Issues (Scale of growth and broad locations - Reg 18 Part 2) to be effective as it precedes HM government’s decision on Oxford – Cambridge Expressway route.

Agree. The Growth Board shares the views of the Scrutiny Panel that there could be added value from the alignment of the consultation on the Oxford – Cambridge Expressway route and the Oxfordshire Plan 2050.  However, the timetable for the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 is fixed in the housing and growth deal delivery plan, while the Expressway is a matter for Highways England.  Officers have raised this issue with civil servants.

3: That the Growth Board emphasise the continued protection of not only the Green Belt but also AONB and Rural Oxfordshire by adding it to the principles of the Oxon Plan 2050 Vision and by including it as a part of the Green Belt review reinforcing the existing policies in the NPPF. In addition, the existing allocation of development sites within the Green Belt by local authorities is factored in to the Oxon Plan 2050 Green Belt review.

Agree. The Board is clear that it does not support growth at any cost. We want good growth that’s planned and managed at a sustainable level and that protects and enhances the environment, including areas of outstanding natural beauty and other designations. The City and District Councils, as the Local Planning Authorities who are responsible for the Oxfordshire Plan 2050, intend that it will provide such a framework to protect and enhance the environment and ensure that it reflects the NPPF policies on Green Belt, and the need to protect the AONB and the wider countryside.

4: That the Growth Board take a holistic view in mitigating climate change and preservation of the Green Belt by adding carbon sequestration, zero carbon strategies and reforestation as part of the environmental infrastructure in local plans and the Oxon Plan 2050.

Agree. The Growth Board recognises that the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 will also provide an appropriate framework to plan for both resilience to climate change and help us move to an ultra-low-carbon economy.

The City and District Councils, as the Local Planning Authorities, intend that climate change issues will be considered as part of responses to the consultation on the Oxfordshire Plan 2050.

5: That the Growth Board have a clear work programme. In addition, items on the Growth Board agenda should be concise, substantial and be supported by reports/information on all items – these should be published alongside the agenda. This includes update notes from the three advisory Sub-Groups ensuring that the reports are produced well in advance of the Scrutiny Panel meeting and that the Growth Board minutes including any written responses to public questions.

Agree. The Scrutiny Panel will have noted from previous agendas that the Growth Board has a Forward Plan that sets out the key considerations and decisions of future meetings. The Board does agree, however, that this could be further developed into a more comprehensive work programme and will ask officers to produce a report for consideration.

The Panel’s comments on the format of the agenda are noted and broadly agreed.  Presentations and verbal updates will sometimes be appropriate, but the Board will seek to provide more information about the item on the agenda papers where it can and notes from the sub groups will be produced in advance of the Scrutiny Panel wherever possible.

6: That the Growth Board outline the rationale of the process/protocol being followed for the appointment of Chairman and Vice-Chairman to the Growth Board for 2019/2020

Agree. The Board anticipates that the information being sought by the Scrutiny Panel will emerge as part of the discussions at the meeting.

7: That the Growth Board provide background information on Ox-Cam Arc Executive Committee and the role of the representative, including the basis of the appointment.

Agree. The Board anticipates that the information being sought by the Scrutiny Panel will be clarified before an appointment is made.

8: That the Growth Board revisit the recommendation on structured communication between the Growth Board and council’s members considering member reports of having received incorrect and incomplete information.

Unable to agree. This is a matter for each leader within their own authority.