Cabinet on 10 November 2021 resolved to:

Give project approval to the proposals to purchase and develop accommodation, as set out in the report, and within the allocated capital budgets, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford.

Council on 29 November 2021 resolved to:

Approve a capital budget in the General Fund for £1,650,000 of expenditure in 2021/22, subsidised using £660,000 of Retained Right to Buy Receipts, to enable the acquisition and refurbishment of Roken House.

To increase the Roken House approved project budget by £200,000 in order to complete additional fire safety works and replace an existing traditional gas boiler system with a low carbon sustainable Air-Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) system.  The increased expenditure is to be funded by virements from underspends in the capital programme.

The budget increase will enable delivery of sustainable green improvements by replacing an existing gas boiler system with Air-Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) which will provide well insulated homes that have well managed and significantly reduced carbon emissions. The new ASHP system will produce no emissions and will operate efficiently even at low ambient temperatures.

Not to increase the project budget.  This option was rejected as it would not allow the required fire safety works and sustainable green improvements to be made.

Decision taken by Tom Bridgman, Executive Director(Development) in consultation with Susan Sale, Head of Law and Governance; Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services; Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory) – Finance & Asset Management; and Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing.