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Working towards a thriving future for South Oxfordshire

Released on July 16, 2020

If you had a say in what’s most important for your council to focus on what would you say? Would it be tackling the climate emergency, helping local businesses to thrive, or supporting healthy communities? These are all subjects that councillors at South Oxfordshire District Council regularly have to debate and plan for local residents.

Councillors have now proposed a set of priority themes for the council over the next few years and are calling upon those that live and work in the district to let them know what they think through an online consultation.

The survey, which is launched today and will run until Thursday 13 August, doesn’t just want residents to focus on the here and now but is looking for feedback on the council’s priorities over the next four years, particularly in the context of the climate emergency and the post-COVID-19 recovery process. 

The responses gathered will help councillors finalise their mission statement, known as a Corporate Plan, which will enable them to focus the council’s work on what they and those living and working in South Oxfordshire believe will make the district a better place for businesses, for families and for future generations.

Councillors have identified six main themes for what they feel are the most important areas they need to focus on. They would like to know how residents feel about these themes. The main areas that residents will be asked to comment on are:

  • Theme 1: Homes and infrastructure that meet local needs
  • Theme 2: Improved economic and community wellbeing
  • Theme 3: Action on the Climate Emergency
  • Theme 4: Protect and restore our natural world
  • Theme 5: Investment and innovation that rebuilds our financial viability
  • Theme 6: Openness and accountability

Cllr Andrea Powell, Cabinet Member for corporate services said: “We have thought hard about these themes and how they will help us to work on tackling the biggest challenges and seizing the greatest opportunities ahead of us in South Oxfordshire. What matters to our residents matters to us and so we are listening to them and doing everything we can to ensure the district remains a great place to live for years to come.”

Cllr Sue Cooper, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council said: “Covid-19 has changed the way many of us view things and our priorities for ourselves and those around us. Given this opportunity to adapt and change, we want to know what our residents think about our plans for the future, to make sure South Oxfordshire is the district our residents want it to be.”

Notes for Editors: Details of the consultation can be found here and you can see a video of the councillors talking about the main themes in the Corporate Plan here