Deputy Chief Executive - Citizen and City Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery; the Cabinet Member for Housing; the Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer) and the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy (Monitoring Officer) to enter into agreements and contracts with Oxford City Housing Development Limited to facilitate the purchase by the Council of 12 affordable homes (social rent and shared ownership) and any associated land at Goose Green, Wolvercote.

The cost of the contract is restricted as per section 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

1.    Approve, and agree to finalise the scheme design and financial appraisals and enter into agreements and contracts to facilitate the purchase by the Council of the social rent and shared ownership homes (to be held in the HRA) and any associated land, within the identified budget and within this project approval for Goose Green, Wolvercote (12 affordable homes);

The decision to enter into a Development Agreement with OCHL to undertake all development services in relation to the affordable housing at the Goose Green, Wolvercote enables the delivery of 12 affordable new homes – which supports the Council's strategy and priority of providing more affordable housing. This initiative contributes to the Council's affordable homes delivery programme.

The decision will allow sealing of the Development Agreement between the Council and OCHL. This engages OCHL as the development manager on behalf of the Council to undertake the direct development of this site in the HRA.

If OCHL does not act as the development manager for the scheme, the Council would be unable to deliver it directly as outlined in the affordable housing supply programme and the OCHL and HRA Business Plans.