Future Oxfordshire Partnership to reset structure and priorities

The Future Oxfordshire Partnership (FOP) is undergoing a reset to align with emerging national and regional priorities. This shift is prompted by the need to be prepared to engage with the UK government's evolving stance on devolution, proposed reforms to economic planning and industrial strategy, and the conclusion of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal around which much of FOP's activity has been focussed.

The aim is to redefine FOP’s purpose and priorities, building on the progress FOP has already made collaborating on issues where partnership working has demonstrably added value. The partnership will focus on delivering the Oxfordshire Strategic Vision, engaging with government on devolution, and coordinating efforts to address infrastructure needs, economic inequality and the climate and nature crises. Existing and proposed workstreams —like the Net Zero Route Map and Action Plan, Local Area Energy Plans, and strategic infrastructure projects—will continue under a refined work programme.

At the FOP meeting on Tuesday 26 November the members of the FOP agreed in principle to the proposed changes, informed by recent discussions between the members of the FOP. These include:

•       re-establishing FOP as a formal joint committee of council leaders, potentially with delegated decision-making powers

•       updating its governance structure to reflect the updated priorities

•       replacing the standing advisory groups that oversaw the Housing and Growth deal delivery with project specific task and finish groups.

•       a new name for the partnership will be agreed upon to clarify the committee's role.

•       revising terms of reference to describe the new arrangements (including overview and scrutiny) and role of the committee

The FOP has benefitted greatly from the rich input from non-local authority members. Consideration will be given to maintaining this contribution while ensuring clarity and alignment with formal local authority decision-making processes. The FOP will also continue to work closely with other partnerships that contribute to the delivery of its priorities, including the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership, Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership and the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership.

Officers will now draft revised terms of reference which will be brought to the next meeting of the committee for discussion in January 2025.