Councillors to finalise first stage of Oxfordshire Plan 2050 so public can have their say

Councillors across the county are set to finalise the first stage of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 ahead of a key public consultation.

The Oxfordshire Plan is a statutory spatial plan, being formed by all Oxfordshire’s authorities.

It aims to listen to residents about their aspirations for the county’s future and set out how best to deliver projects such as affordable housing and infrastructure to achieve these for a better quality of life for all.

The first draft document for the Plan will be published today (January 15) and over the next few weeks will go before the executives/cabinets of all four districts, the city and the county council.

They will be recommended to approve the document so that it can then go to public consultation, a major step in the Plan’s formation.

It means people will be able to have their say at the very start of the plan-making process and get involved in shaping the county’s future.

Consultation events will be taking place across all corners of the county to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to get their voice heard during the six-week period. These events will be well-publicised in advance to maximise attendance.

The document will also be available for download via the Oxfordshire Plan website, with people able to submit their comments online too.

Councillor James Mills, Chair of the Oxfordshire Plan Member Sub-Group and Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council added: “Public accountability is at the heart of the Oxfordshire Plan. Fellow elected representatives in cabinets and executives across all the authorities will get the chance to view and approve the document before it goes to the public. This is the start of the conversation and we want to ensure people are involved at the earliest opportunity to produce the best possible plan.”

The document will also go before the Oxfordshire Growth Board Scrutiny Panel on Thursday 24 January to ensure good governance.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Chair of the Oxfordshire Growth Board Scrutiny Panel, said: “The scrutiny panel is made up of three democratically elected councillors appointed from each of the six partner authorities.

“By having the draft Oxfordshire Plan consultation document come before the public meeting, members of the public will be able to submit questions to the panel and councillors will be able to scrutinise the plan and make recommendations to the Growth Board.”