More than 50 organisations took part in a major conference to discuss future economic growth in Oxford.

The talks are part of the city council's work to plan for the continued success of the Oxford economy.

The city council is determined to drive economic growth, despite the county council's Structure Plan policy of restricting new employment, in a bid to prevent pollution and congestion in the historic centre.

Representatives from key organisations attended the event at the town hall, on Tuesday including BMW, Newsquest Oxfordshire - publisher of the Oxford Mail, Oxford Science Park, traders group Rox (Rescue Oxford) and the county council.

City council leader Alex Hollingsworth said: "The event was the first in a series of discussions between the councils and the business community.

"We need to work together to ensure that Oxford has a successful economy - with thriving retail, service, manufacturing and hi-tech industries."

The consensus from this first meeting was that:

Oxford has to continue to be successful

A thriving business environment would benefit the whole economy

Better links could be made between business, university and disadvantaged communities

Oxford must take advantage of its hidden pool of talent to improve skill levels. Steering group chairman Bill McCardle, chief executive of OX1, the city centre management company, added: "The workshop enabled a variety of stakeholders to discuss economic growth possibilities for Oxford.

"It was encouraging to find that participants were willing to take a balanced approach and share positive ideas."

The city council is working with Capital Shopping Centres on a new £220m plan to increase the size of the Westgate Centre, after a previous application failed. The county council is backing the proposal but wants to ensure that there are enough parking spaces provided for shoppers.

The steering group contains representatives from the city council, Oxfordshire Business Enterprises Ltd, Oxford Trust, South East England Development Agency, Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Oxford Brookes University and Oxford University.

The next workshop in early May, at a date to be fixed, will consider three possible scenarios: economic contraction, maintaining the status quo, and balanced economic growth.