Oxfordshire County Council sets out ambitious plan to improve opportunities and quality of life for residents
The council’s plan to lead positive change by working in partnership to make Oxfordshire a greener, fairer and healthier county has been published.
The plan details nine key priorities the council aims to address in the period of 2022 to 2025, including tackling inequalities in the county, the climate emergency and creating more opportunities for children and young people.
The plan also lays out a clear course of action for how the council will aim to achieve each priority, and ways it will work with partners to create a more joined-up approach to delivering services.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We want to make sure that everyone in Oxfordshire can take advantage of the opportunities that our vibrant, diverse and innovative county has to offer.
“To achieve this ambition we are focused on: tackling inequality and disadvantage; working with our partners locally and nationally; investing in people; using our resources wisely; speaking up for Oxfordshire; and being inclusive and open.
“Including everyone lies at the heart of our ambitions. This means providing inclusive services with equal access for all, working with communities to tackle disadvantage and providing an inclusive workplace with equality of opportunity. We also want to ensure that our decision-making process is inclusive and open to scrutiny.
“To deliver our vision and these commitments, our strategic plan sets out nine cross-cutting priorities. Tackling climate change underpins all we do. With our plans for climate action and tackling inequality, change is inevitable, which will mean doing things differently. That is why we need to build the foundations for positive change and action together with strong partnerships – not only to protect the Oxfordshire that we all love but to provide the greatest opportunities possible for every resident to live their best life.”
The priorities were identified last year by the new administration following local government elections in May. The plan formalises a roadmap by which the priorities can be achieved and will be used to benchmark progress over the next three years.
Councillor Liz Brighouse, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We will be evaluated by how we support those in our communities who are vulnerable or facing adversity, our efforts in the climate emergency and the infrastructure we put in place for future generations.
“This is about mobilising positive change for everyone – not just those who call Oxfordshire their home now, but for anyone who chooses to live in the county in the future. In particular we want to give all of our children and young people a fair chance to grow as fulfilled citizens.”
Working with partners plays a key role in delivering the council’s vision. The council remains committed to finding new ways to improve services and reduce costs, exploring partnership opportunities across all sectors within Oxfordshire and beyond. In partnership, the council is addressing long-term challenges – from childhood obesity to supporting an ageing population.
Performance in delivering the overall strategy, including progress towards targets, supporting performance measures and budget, will be reviewed regularly and communicated through the county council’s business management and monitoring reports. The reports are then reviewed by the council’s Cabinet, senior management team and by the Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
You can read the strategic plan on our separate webpage.
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