Cabinet, on 9 September 2020 (‘Land Acquisition, Project Approvals and Budget for the Development of Homes in the Housing Revenue Account’) resolved to:

1.    Give project approval to the proposals to purchase land, enter into build contracts  and any other necessary agreements or contracts and incur associated development cost spends, as set out in the report, and within the allocated HRA capital budgets and business plan for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford; and

4.    Delegate authority to the Director of Housing*, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer, to enter into agreements for the purchase of land, and any other necessary agreements or contracts and/or spend within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing.

*This delegation is now within the remit of the Executive Director (Communities and People).

To enter into a minor works contract for the sum of £466,555 to demolish the buildings at Northfield Hostel.

This is part of the major works to demolish and rebuild Northfield Hostel as affordable housing and is within the budget allocated to the work. The tender was awarded via the Sustainable Homes Framework. 

The implementation of the decision has been delayed due to delays in negotiating the content of the contract, which is now acceptable.

The purpose of this decision is to enable the demolition works to proceed while the main development contract is finalised.

Equans was selected as the preferred bidder via a framework tender process.  The contractor has concluded RIBA Stage 4 design work and is ready to demolish the buildings.

The work could have been included in the main build contract, but this would have delayed the project.

Decision taken by Peter Matthew, Interim Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services; Emma Jackman, Head of Law and Governance; and Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing.