Cabinet, at its meeting on 22 January 2020, resolved to:

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 agreement for the award of grant, contractual arrangement and/or spend, for the provision of additional affordable housing in perpetuity, using Retained Right to Buy Receipts or Recycled Capital Grant funding.

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

Purchase of 4 x one-bedroom flats (Flats 15 a, b, c and d at Herschel Crescent, Littlemore) for a total sum of £800,000 for the purpose of adding to the Council’s HRA stock in order to let as affordable housing properties.  Oxford City Council will acquire the freehold upon completion of the purchases of all four flats.

To purchase the units into the HRA, using Retained Right to Buy Receipts, as social rent to provide an affordable housing opportunity.

To not complete the purchases.  This option was rejected as it would not allow the affordable housing to be delivered.

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