Memorandum submitted by Oxford City Council
(SE 10)
1. The role, responsibilities and accountability
of SEEDA
The City Council has had a good working partnership
with SEEDA on West End Renaissance project. The West End Partnership
is Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council and SEEDA as
equal partners in this project. In this role SEEDA are both a
revenue funder, and input officer time and knowledge.
SEEDA have been working collaborative with the City
Council as Oxford (and Central Oxfordshire) is identified in the
RES as a Diamond for Growth and Investment. They have also funded
a project manager to help coordinate the work of the Diamonds
Board.
SEEDA have been growing and strengthening their involvement
in Oxfordshire Economic Partnership (OEP).
SEEDA sit on the Oxford Strategic Partnership
(OSP).
2. The process by which the RES was drawn
up and the level of involvement of regional stakeholders
I think it is fair to say that there was limited
involvement with stakeholders in the production of the RES. This
initself is not a critisism. The production of the RES was a quick
and suscint process which then provided an adopted document which
we could then use to guide and shape the economic and regeneration
policy of our area.
In comparison, the production of the South East Plan
(regional spatial strategy) has been a long drawn out process
which has been highly political. This has left a "vacuum"
in terms of regional guidance and an excuse for some councils
to do nothing.
3. The effectiveness of the RES for the South
East in delivering against its targets including the degree to
which the regeneration of areas of deprivation and the former
coalfield areas has been successful
The RES is an effective tool for the development
of our policies and approaches. As Oxford (and central Oxfordshire)
is identified as a Diamond for Growth and Investement it has assisited
in focusing resources on the needs of Oxford, and assisted in
the support for further allocations of land for additional economic
developent.
4. The effect of the financial and economic
situation on businesses in the region including the effect on
different sectors such as manufacturing, service industries etc
As is the case nationally the current economic climate
is affecting businesses across the board locally. So far it has
been most evident in terms of impact on retail businesses, as
covered by the local press, and the release of almost 800 workers
at BMW.
5. The changes to regional policy proposed
in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction
Bill and the potential effect on the work of SEEDA
This Bill features three key areas with an impact
upon economic development—a new duty for Local Authorities
to assess economic conditions, a joint duty on RDAs and Local
Authorities to produce a single regional strategy, and, powers
for Local Authorities to cooperate in promoting economic development.
In all three cases close working arrangements with SEEDA will
be important, and, whilst this is welcome, SEEDA needs to properly
acknowledge what Local Authorities both do and are capable of.
6. The role of other Government agencies
such as the Government Office for the South East, and of partnerships
between Government agencies, local government and the private
sector, in delivering the aims of the RES
At the local level, Goodmans (formally Arlington
Business Parks) have been keen to promote a new site for a business
park in line with the City's designation as a diamond in the RES.
This would be for upto 1,000,000 sq.ft of economic floorspace.
This is supported by the City Council's emerging Core Strategy,
and is expected to be supported in the South East Plan. However,
there is still a issue with the Highways Agency and their arroach
to major economic development near the trunk road network. This
could be a major issue in the delivery of the RES locally.
7. How effective initiatives such as Business
Link are being in assisting businesses in the current climate,
including helping them to gain access to funding both from Government
funding streams and through the banking system
Business Link working locally have been very good
and have been running regular clinics from our Offices in the
City centre to provide advice to locals businesses.
Business Link have also been an active partner in
the Oxfordshite Task Force. This is a group, chaired by SEEDA
to look at what is happening as a resultof firms downsizing their
staff, and prroviding advice and support for individuals.
It seems that there are still major blockages
to accessing finance through the banking system. This is a national
issue, which calls for a national response. Business Link working
with business at the local level are unlikely to bypass the blockages
which have their roots in the national and even global financial
systems.
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