The Partnership – Membership

The Partnership – Steering Group Membership

The Steering Group is comprised of key local service providers, stakeholders and local representatives to provide strategic guidance and input for the Sustainable Community Strategy and to champion the development and implementation of action plans. Core members will be drawn from statutory services (Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, National Health Service, Thames Valley Police) and regional representatives (Government Office for the South East, South East England Development Agency). Further members are invited representatives of key organisations and partnerships who have a significant contribution to make in delivering the Sustainable Community Strategy. Each member of the Steering Group is responsible for representing their organisation and the other partnerships and networks of which they are members. They are also expected to take forward the work of the Oxford Strategic Partnership in their own organisations and other partnerships and networks.

• Jackie Wilderspin (Chair)
  Assistant Director of Public Health, NHS Oxfordshire
• Alison Baxter (Vice Chair)
  Chief Executive, Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action
• Joe Barclay
  Regional Liaison Director, University of Oxford
• Mel Barrett
  Executive Director, City Regeneration, Oxford City Council
• Debbie Dance
  Director, Oxford Preservation Trust
• David Doughty
  CEO, Oxfordshire Economic Partnership
• Sally Dicketts
  Principal, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
• Chris Farthing
  Locality Manager, Government Office for the South East
• Anne Gwinnett
  Director of Corporate Affairs, Oxford Brookes University
• Robert Kirtland
  Managing Partner, Critchleys
• Cllr Keith Mitchell
  Leader, Oxfordshire County Council
• Amanda Pearson
  Oxford Area Commander, Thames Valley Police
• Cllr Bob Price
  Leader, Oxford City Council
• Warren Ralls
  Area Director, South East England Development Agency
• Kathelene Weiss
  Interim Chief Executive, Oxford Inspires

Partnership Manager

• Sebastian Johnson
  Strategic Policy and Partnerships Manager, Oxford City Council

The Steering Group may also co-opt other individuals from time to time to fill identified gaps. The Oxford Strategic Partnership will review Steering Group membership on an ongoing basis, which may alter according to specific priorities. Any changes will be based on the principle that the group is focused on the agreed strategic intention rather than aiming for representation of particular groups or interests.

Frequency of meetings will be agreed by the group and is currently 6 weekly. The Chair of the partnership will be elected from the members of the Steering Group and the position will be reviewed annually. The total number of members is to be agreed by the group – the current agreement is to fix the number at 15.

Role of Steering Group Members:

• To act as champions for each of the priority themes set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy;
• To provide senior level representation of their organisation on the Partnership and to ensure implementation of partnership priorities within their organization;
• To develop open and accountable partnership working with a city-wide perspective and link to county wide thematic partnerships and other groups;
• To have an inclusive outlook for all citizens, residents, and workers especially those experiencing inequalities of access or outcomes;
• To apply the principles of sustainability, and the need to balance environmental, social and economic concerns to achieve long-term improvements in quality of life;
• To represent and promote the wider interests of the city at a county, regional, national, and international level;
• To exert influence across a range of organisations and sectors to shape resource planning and deliver agreed outcomes in partnership with the community;
• To provide a co-ordinated route for channelling new funding and development opportunities into the city.