Cllr Price, Board Member for Corporate Strategy and Economic Development updated the Board on the contributions received for the scheme.

The Executive Director for Sustainable City has submitted a report which requests approval to increase Oxford City Council’s project contribution towards Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme by up to £1,000,000 funded from in-kind contributions in terms of land disposal and compensation values foregone.

Recommendations: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1.    Approve the increase of Oxford City Council’s project contribution towards Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme by up to £1,000,000 funded from in-kind contributions from land disposal and compensation foregone; and

2.    Delegated authority to Executive Director for Community Services, in consultation with the Heads of Financial Services and Law and Governance, to be able to enter a funding agreement with Environment Agency.

3.    Note that a detailed report on proposed disposals to facilitate the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme and discounts proposed will be made to the City Executive Board in due course.

The Executive Director for Sustainable City submitted a report which requested approval to increase Oxford City Council’s project contribution towards Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme by up to £1,000,000 funded from in-kind contributions in terms of land disposal and compensation values foregone.

Cllr Price, Board Member for Corporate Strategy and Economic Development presented the report. He explained that the proposed in-kind land contribution to the Environment Agency would bring the scheme closer to completion. The land doesn’t have a huge value for other purposes, it is mostly grazing land and there are small parts of the Redbridge and (extension of the) Seacourt Park n Rides included in the land contribution.  He said the scheme would reduce the flood risk to 1,500 properties.

Cllr Smith asked if there was a guarantee from the Environment Agency that the scheme would enhance the wildlife of the area. The Executive Director for Sustainable City said whilst the design would improve the wildlife of the area, the design no longer includes a cycling or public walkway as surrounding landowners had expressed concerns about allowing public access.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Approve the increase of Oxford City Council’s project contribution towards Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme by up to £1,000,000 funded from in-kind contributions from land disposal and compensation foregone; and

2.    Delegate authority to Executive Director for Sustainable City, in consultation with the Heads of Financial Services and Law and Governance, to be able to enter a funding agreement with Environment Agency.

3.    Note that a detailed report on proposed disposals to facilitate the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme and discounts proposed will be made to the City Executive Board in due course.

Councillor Bob Price, Board Member for Corporate Strategy and Economic Development presented the report. He explained that the Environment Agency has a funding gap which they are attempting to fill by asking involved organisations to donate land to the scheme. The benefits to the west of the city of developing the scheme are significant as Botley and Abingdon Roads have been closed on several occasions due to flooding. This has severely affected businesses and had meant the scheme has progressed faster than usual.

It is expected a planning application for the scheme will be submitted later this year, at the same time as the request for Treasury approval.

The Committee discussed the following:

The land will be committed to the Environment Agency on approval that the scheme goes ahead. The sale will be on condition that the public has access to the land, there will be walking and cycling access and improvement to the water based environment.

The cost benefit ratio was worked out by the Environment Agency. It’s based on what might be the damage to the local economy divided by the cost of the whole scheme.

The current scheme only covers the future maintenance cost for the next 25 years. There is an idea of forming a trust in the future which would raise money to pay for the future maintenance of the site.   It will include an ecological site that will need to be maintained.

Compensation will be negotiated between the tenants and the Environmental Agency. Although Council is the owner of the land, compensation is discussed between the developer and the tenant.

The Project Manager explained how the contribution will be shown in the council accounts. The land values need to be approved by CEB and also require approval from the secretary of state to sell the land at a below market value price.

Compensation can be sought for loss of income from the development, eg if 3 car park spaces at the Redbridge Park and Ride are used as a storage space, the average income of those 3 spaces from the previous 4 years will be paid in compensation.

The proposal will go out for public consultation from 5 May – 6 June.

The Scrutiny Committee noted the report.

The Committee asked to be emailed the map of the scheme before consultation begins.

The Executive Director Community Services has submitted a report which seeks authority to enter into an agreement with the Environment Agency in regard to funding the above scheme, and to seek project approval for the scheme.

Recommendations: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1.    Authorise the Council’s entry into the proposed agreement with the Environment Agency, as described in this report, under which the Council would play an active role in the establishment of the business case of the Oxford and Abingdon flood alleviation scheme, and provide funding to a capped sum.

2.    Grant Project Approval for the Council’s involvement in the Oxford and Abingdon flood alleviation scheme, as described in this report.

The Executive Director Community Services submitted a report which sought authority to enter into an agreement with the Environment Agency in regard to funding the Oxford and Abingdon Flood Alleviation Scheme, and to seek project approval for the scheme.

The Executive Board Member, Corporate Strategy and Economic Development presented the report.  He confirmed that there was already budget provision; that the scheme was due to start in 2018, subject to further evaluation by the Treasury and DEFRA; and that it was hoped that the preferred route would be identified by June 2016 and that this would then be subject to public consultation.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.           Authorise the Council’s entry into the proposed agreement with the Environment Agency, as described in this report, under which the Council would play an active role in the establishment of the business case of the Oxford and Abingdon flood alleviation scheme, and provide funding to a capped sum.

2.                 Grant project approval for the Council’s involvement in the Oxford and Abingdon flood alleviation scheme, as described in this report.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report outlining the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (“the Scheme”) and seeking approval for the delegation to the Oxfordshire County Council of any planning responsibilities that would otherwise be exercised by the Oxford City Council in relation to the Scheme.

The Board Member for Planning, Transport and Regulatory Service will move the recommendations and the Head of Law and Governance will be available to answer questions.

Recommendations: Council is recommended to:

1.    delegate the discharge of the District Planning Authority functions of the Oxford City Council to the Oxfordshire County Council, in connection with the processing and determination of the expected planning application for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, under section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972;

2.    authorise the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Head of Law of Governance, to negotiate and agree a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oxfordshire County Council to determine the operational arrangements of the delegation of the Oxford City Council’s planning functions in relation to the Scheme;

3.    agree that a long stop date be placed on the delegation such that the delegation will be revoked if any Scheme application is not determined by the 18th February 2019.

Council considered a report outlining the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (“the Scheme”) and seeking approval for the delegation to the Oxfordshire County Council of any planning responsibilities that would otherwise be exercised by the Oxford City Council in relation to the Scheme.

Council resolved to:

1.    delegate the discharge of the District Planning Authority functions of the Oxford City Council to the Oxfordshire County Council, in connection with the processing and determination of the expected planning application for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, under section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972;

2.    authorise the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Head of Law of Governance, to negotiate and agree a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oxfordshire County Council to determine the operational arrangements of the delegation of the Oxford City Council’s planning functions in relation to the Scheme;

3.    agree that a long stop date be placed on the delegation such that the delegation will be revoked if any Scheme application is not determined by the 18th February 2019.