Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Growth & Infrastructure

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/171

Contact: Daniel Round, Principal Transport Planner Tel (01865) 815623, Chris Cousins, Sustainable Development Tel (01865) 815459

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (CA9).

The Eco Bicester One Shared Vision, prepared by the Eco Bicester Project team with input from partners on behalf of the Strategic Delivery Board (SDB), sets out the aims, aspirations and ambitions for the town over the next 20 to 30 years. It sits alongside other planning policies and strategies for Bicester and will be used to guide the SDB in the delivery of proposals for Eco Bicester.

Following a public consultation, the Vision has now been revised by the Project team.  The purpose of this report is to obtain approval of the Cabinet of the revised Vision, so that it can:

•            provide a shared vision for the whole of Bicester supported by partners

•          guide the local delivery of the eco-town of national, if not international,      significance with the private sector

•          articulate key infrastructure needs to support the eco town

•           inform engagement between the local authority partners, Government departments and agencies on where they can help deliver the project.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the vision document contained in Annex 1 as informal county council policy, noting that the district council has also approved it as informal planning guidance for development control purposes.

Cabinet considered a revised Vision following public consultation. Councillor Hudspeth in introducing the report expressed the views of a local member that Bicester has a lack of road infrastructure. Councillor Waine, as  a local member indicated that he was supportive of the Vision document but that there was a query over the infrastructure it would bring.

RESOLVED:             to approve the vision document contained in Annex 1 as informal county council policy, noting that the district council has also approved it as informal planning guidance for development control purposes.