URL: https://meetings.westoxon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=445

Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: Councillor Hugo Ashton, Executive Member for Planning, introduced the item, the purpose of which was to seek approval to proceed to Phase 2 of the Oxfordshire Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) programme and complete a districtwide local area energy plan.   Councillor Ashton stated that:   Local area energy planning was a process that set out the pathway to a zero-carbon future. The Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee was supporting six Oxfordshire councils to work together to develop LAEPs. Some of the benefits of having a LAEP were that clear plans and projects to transition to zero-carbon could be set-out and local supply chain capacity and capability for projects could be created. Phase 1 of LAEP was ending and had identified where upgrades and flexibility solutions were needed to ensure homes, businesses and essential services had affordable and secure energy. Phase 2 would commence on approval by the Executive and would translate this analysis into district-level actions plans that would help councils prioritise projects. The LAEP was critical in delivering the West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041 and would dovetail with the Infrastructure Delivery Strategy to help to identify constraints in the grid. The Executive were required to agree that acceptance criteria had been met in terms of key deliverables in Phase 1 and agree that there was sufficient officer resource to proceed to Phase 2. The report outlined the officer resource required to proceed to Phase 2, and could be seen in annexe B. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had made three further recommendations to be included in the report. These recommendations had all been agreed by the Executive and would be included in a third recommendation.   Councillor Ashton proposed accepting the recommendations of the report, subject to the addition of a third recommendation that accepted the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as set out in the supplement to the agenda.   Councillor Graham seconded the proposal.   This was voted on and approved unanimously.   RESOLVED: That the Executive: Delegate authority to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, to approve the remaining Phase 1 key deliverables of the Oxfordshire local area energy planning project programme. Subject to the completion of Phase 1, agree to proceed to Phase 2 of the Oxfordshire local area energy planning project programme and the completion of a districtwide local area energy plan. Agree the response to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees recommendations as set out in the supplement to the agenda.

Date of Decision: September 10, 2025