The Executive Director Development has submitted a report to provide an update on the use of the Housing Infrastructure Funding (HIF) that has been secured for Osney Mead (OMHIF).The report seeks approval to agree changes to the milestones for the delivery of the infrastructure in the funding agreement with Homes England and agreements needed to facilitate the drawdown and implementation of the funding.

Recommendations:That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Agree the proposed changes to the HIF agreement with Homes England to facilitate the securing of the HIF funding, the delivery of the infrastructure and the recouping of funding;

2.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, and the Head of Law and Governance, to agree the final amendments to the contract, in line with the proposed changes, and any other changes that are considered necessary to facilitate effective delivery of the funding agreement with Homes England;

3.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, and the Head of Law and Governance, to enter into a legal agreement with the Environment Agency to enable HIF funding for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme to be transferred to the Environment Agency, in accordance with the terms of the Homes England Agreement;

4.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, and the Head of Law and Governance, to enter into a legal agreement with the University of Oxford, if necessary, regarding the delivery of the residential development identified in the HIF agreement;

5.    Undertake the works necessary to implement the HIF funding agreement including the drawdown of funding, monitoring and reporting, minor variations agreed with Homes England;and

6.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and the Head of Law and Governance, to enter into contracts, following agreement of the Development Board and an appropriate procurement process, for the walking and cycling infrastructure works covered by the HIF Agreement with Homes England.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to provide an update on the use of the Housing Infrastructure Funding (HIF) that had been secured for Osney Mead (OMHIF).The report sought approval to agree changes to the milestones for the delivery of the infrastructure in the funding agreement with Homes England and agreements needed to facilitate the drawdown and implementation of the funding.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, introduced the report. Osney Mead had the potential to be a significant development site but required a considerable amount of work to improve the infrastructure beforehand, not least the successful delivery of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Agree the proposed changes to the HIF agreement with Homes England to facilitate the securing of the HIF funding, the delivery of the infrastructure and the recouping of funding;

2.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, and the Head of Law and Governance, to agree the final amendments to the contract, in line with the proposed changes, and any other changes that are considered necessary to facilitate effective delivery of the funding agreement with Homes England;

3.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, and the Head of Law and Governance, to enter into a legal agreement with the Environment Agency to enable HIF funding for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme to be transferred to the Environment Agency, in accordance with the terms of the Homes England Agreement;

4.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, and the Head of Law and Governance, to enter into a legal agreement with the University of Oxford, if necessary, regarding the delivery of the residential development identified in the HIF agreement;

5.    Undertake the works necessary to implement the HIF funding agreement including the drawdown of funding, monitoring and reporting, minor variations agreed with Homes England;and

6.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and the Head of Law and Governance, to enter into contracts, following agreement of the Development Board and an appropriate procurement process, for the walking and cycling infrastructure works covered by the HIF Agreement with Homes England.