Cherwell Leader Frustrated After County Blocks Investment Zone Bid

LocalGov

Cherwell DC has expressed frustration after its county council blocked a bid to create an investment zone in the county.

Leader of the district council, Barry Wood, said the ‘bizarre’ decision by Oxfordshire CC to refuse to submit an expression of interest to the Government was ‘both deeply disappointing and a missed opportunity to bring the right jobs and growth to Oxfordshire’.

The MJ previously reported that some county councils were failing to engage their districts in talks about new investment zones despite ministerial pressure.

Local government secretary Simon Clarke only invited upper-tier local authorities and mayoral combined authorities in England to submit expressions of interest.

Cllr Wood said: ‘A great deal of work has gone in to preparing our submission, which makes today’s decision by Oxfordshire even more frustrating.’

Oxfordshire made the decision that it would not be applying for any investment zones just two days before the Government’s deadline on Friday.

The late notification means Cherwell and other districts have put in huge efforts that could now be wasted.

Cllr Wood added: ‘We believe in bringing the right jobs and economic growth to our district, and will make every effort to do so despite today’s unhelpful and unnecessary decision.’