The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) has this week published its Report on Responses to the public consultation on the draft Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) Refresh – the document responsible for driving much of the county’s economic growth strategy over the next 15 years.

The Need not Greed Oxon coalition is concerned that the OxLEP Report does not adequately address the concerns expressed by the majority of respondents to the consultation over the scale of planned growth for Oxfordshire.

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Thank you to everyone who responded to the online consultation on the SEP Refresh!

As yet, we have no idea how many people responded or how many people objected to the overall growth forecasts in the SEP.

So, what happens now?

According to the SEP Refresh Timetable (see link below), the preparation period for the consultation LEP responses document was 27 May to 10 June and the SEP Steering Group is due to meet next week on 13 June.

On 20 June, OxLEP is due to publish the LEP responses to the consultation and on 25 June the second draft SEP Refresh is to be submitted.

We eagerly await sight of the LEP responses document so we can see to what extent OxLEP will take on board our concerns.

We are particularly concerned about appropriate scrutiny of how OxLEP handles and reports back on all the responses. With a local Council consultation, all of these would be visible online so you could see how many there had been, what was said and by whom. In this consultation, we are completely in the dark. We are doing all we can behind the scenes to ensure appropriate and accurate reporting.

Going forward, the SEP Steering Group are scheduled to discuss the second draft on 29 July, with the final SEP Refresh, including branding, to be completed sometime in August.

The final draft is to be agreed and ratified by the LEP Board in September, with the SEP 2016 to be launched in September/October.

As soon as it is published, we will post the LEP responses document on our website.

See the SEP Refresh Timetable.

The Need not Greed Oxon coalition has today submitted its response to the OxLEP public consultation on the SEP Refresh.

Have you?

You have until 27th May to do so!

Read the NNGO response to OxLEP public consultation on SEP Refresh May 2016 (PDF).

If you don’t have much time and just want to make a quick response, see our (shorter) suggested responses: Need not Greed Oxon A4 Leaflet April 2016.

REMEMBER: If you have difficulty using the OxLEP online response form, you can simply email your response to: info@oxfordshirelep.com

This may be your last opportunity to make your voice heard on the future growth of Oxfordshire!

NNGO is encouraging people to engage in the OxLEP online public consultation on the SEP Refresh and to express their own views to OxLEP.

*Deadline has been extended to: 27 May 2016*

OxLEP state that they seek that Oxfordshire’s economy is recognised to be inclusive, “a place in which all residents – irrespective of age, gender, or ethnicity – have a real stake in determining the county’s future economic narrative and contributing fully to it.” (SEP consultation draft p.9)

This is your opportunity to make your views known!

NNGO has produced some notes to outline specific areas of concern that you might find useful in drafting your own responses.

See ‘NNGO – Public Consultation SEP Refresh May 2016‘ (PDF).

If you have limited time, we suggest you respond to Question 7, and simply call for:

1. A proper assessment of the impacts of this proposed Strategic Economic Plan,

2. The introduction of more realistic & sustainable targets,

3. Followed by a full consultation,

4. All led by a democratically elected and accountable body.

*PLEASE NOTE*

The website will not accept a response to Question 7, unless you respond to all the other questions! You can however answer Questions 1 – 6 with a full stop (the system seems to be happy with this!).

DON’T FORGET – if you have any problems using the online response form, you can email your responses to: info@oxfordshirelep.com

Help us to shape the future of Oxfordshire!