The Executive Director for Development submitted a report to Cabinet on 9 February 2022 seeking agreement for the Council to enter into a joint venture Limited Liability Partnership with Thames Water and Magdalen College, as the three land owners of the land allocated for redevelopment off Grenoble Road known as the South Oxford Science Village site, and in doing so, to commit the land for development.

The Cabinet minutes are available at item 15b.

Councillor Ed Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management or Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery will present the report and present Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendation: Cabinet recommends that Council resolves to:

1.    Approve the establishment of a revenue budget of £556k to enable the work to bring the site forward for development, and for internal and external resources its business. Where appropriate and agreed with the Head of Financial Services the costs will be capitalised and the appropriate budget vired from revenue to capital in line with the capitalisation;

2.    Approve a loan of up to £500k to be made to the LLP to cover the council’s share of running the LLP (% share based on % land ownership within the allocation) to be repaid with interest on terms agreed with the Head of Financial Services. The appropriate capital and revenue budgets to be established, to be agreed with the Head of Financial Services, based on the LLP Business Plan and Budget.

Council considered the report from the Executive Director for Development seeking agreement for the Council to enter into a joint venture Limited Liability Partnership with Thames Water and Magdalen College, as the three land owners of the land allocated for redevelopment off Grenoble Road known as the South Oxford Science Village site, and in doing so, to commit the land for development.

Cllr Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Development introduced the report, proposed the recommendations; Cllr Hollingsworth and Cllr Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management answered questions.

The recommendations were agreed on being seconded by Cllr Turner and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

approve the establishment of a revenue budget of £556k to enable the work to bring the site forward for development, and for internal and external resources its business.  Where appropriate and agreed with the Head of Financial Services the costs will be capitalised and the appropriate budget vired from revenue to capital in line with the capitalisation;

approve a loan of up to £500k to be made to the LLP to cover the council’s share of running the LLP (% share based on % land ownership within the allocation) to be repaid with interest on terms agreed with the Head of Financial Services.  The appropriate capital and revenue budgets to be established, to be agreed with the Head of Financial Services, based on the LLP Business Plan and Budget.

The Executive Director Development has submitted a report which seeks agreement for the Council to enter into a joint venture Limited Liability Partnership with Thames Water and Magdalen College, as the three land owners of the land allocated for redevelopment off Grenoble Road known as the South Oxford Science Village site, and in doing so, to commit the land for development.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.       Delegate to the Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Asset Management and Planning and Housing Delivery, the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Financial Services, the agreement to create a limited liability partnership with Magdalen College, Oxford, and Thames Water, its incorporation, and the agreement of the detailed drafting of the LLP agreement and any ancillary documents, and entering into it and any ancillary documents on behalf of the Council;

2.       Delegate to the Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Asset Management and Planning and Housing Delivery, the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Financial Services, the decision, following the receipt of advice, whether to pursue an option or conditional contract, the final drafting of any such option or contract, the  granting of any such option or contract, or the entering into agreement on any such option or contract which commits the Council’s land, within the SOSV allocation, to be available to be drawn down by the LLP when the land is needed for development. This will include ensuring the requirements of S123 of the Local Government Act 1972 are met and that any disposal is for the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained or otherwise in compliance with the requirements of section 123;

3.       Recommend to Council the establishment of a revenue budget of £556k to enable the work to bring the site forward for development, and for internal and external resources its business. Where appropriate and agreed with the Head of Financial Services the costs will be capitalised and the appropriate budget vired from revenue to capital in line with the capitalisation;

4.       Recommend to Council a loan of up to £500k to be made to the LLP to cover the council’s share of running the LLP (% share based on % land ownership within the allocation) to be repaid with interest on terms agreed with the Head of Financial Services. The appropriate capital and revenue budgets to be established, to be agreed with the Head of Financial Services, based on the LLP Business Plan and Budget.

The Executive Director for Development had submitted a report which sought agreement for the Council to enter into a joint venture Limited Liability Partnership with Thames Water and Magdalen College, as the three land owners of the land allocated for redevelopment off Grenoble Road known as the South Oxford Science Village site, and in doing so, to commit the land for development.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, presented the report.

The Leader expressed support for the proposal, which is the next step towards enabling the delivery of homes adjacent to the city where they were both needed and wanted.  Through the provision of housing it would help to support those currently in housing need, as well as those who had had to leave the city for economic reasons but wished to return.

Councillor Shaista Aziz, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities, also expressed support for the proposal and gave examples of residents within her ward who were currently in housing need and had been on the council house waiting list for a significant period of time.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Delegate to the Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Asset Management and Planning and Housing Delivery, the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Financial Services, the agreement to create a limited liability partnership with Magdalen College, Oxford, and Thames Water, its incorporation, and the agreement of the detailed drafting of the LLP agreement and any ancillary documents, and entering into it and any ancillary documents on behalf of the Council;

2.       Delegate to the Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Asset Management and Planning and Housing Delivery, the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Financial Services, the decision, following the receipt of advice, whether to pursue an option or conditional contract, the final drafting of any such option or contract, the  granting of any such option or contract, or the entering into agreement on any such option or contract which commits the Council’s land, within the SOSV allocation, to be available to be drawn down by the LLP when the land is needed for development. This will include ensuring the requirements of S123 of the Local Government Act 1972 are met and that any disposal is for the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained or otherwise in compliance with the requirements of section 123;

3.       Recommend to Council the establishment of a revenue budget of £556k to enable the work to bring the site forward for development, and for internal and external resources its business. Where appropriate and agreed with the Head of Financial Services the costs will be capitalised and the appropriate budget vired from revenue to capital in line with the capitalisation;

4.       Recommend to Council a loan of up to £500k to be made to the LLP to cover the council’s share of running the LLP (% share based on % land ownership within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112

The Executive Director Development has submitted a report to set out the progress to date on the South Oxfordshire Science Village (SOSV) proposals and seeks agreement to the next stages of work to progress towards delivery of the proposed development. The report covers the proposed delivery approach for the site; consideration of the key principles for collaboration with the other land owners within the site allocation; and the procurement of consultants, to support the landowners to secure a development partner, and entering funding agreements to secure the sharing of costs of advisor appointments with the other landowners.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Delegate to the Director for Development in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance and Head of Finance the final wording of the key principles of collaboration and the entering into a formal collaboration agreement if the partners so wish;

2.    Delegate to the Director for Development in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance and Head of Finance, working in collaboration with the other land owners,  the procuring of a development partner to bring forward the site for development (although the entering into an agreement with the proposed development partner would be subject to a further decision);

3.    Delegate to the Director for Development in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance and Head of Finance the appointment of consultants on behalf of the partnership, with sharing of costs secured through an agreement, to provide legal advice for the procurement of a development partner;

4.    Note the spend to date and approve the continued use of the allocated budget to enable the project to move forward, including for procuring specialist advice, progressing issues impacting the site, the setting up of a delivery vehicle and procurement of a development partner. Delegate to the Director for Development, in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance and Head of Finance, the agreement of works and spend within the allocated budget.

The Executive Director Development had submitted a report to set out the progress to date on the South Oxfordshire Science Village (SOSV) proposals and seek agreement to the next stages of work to progress towards delivery of the proposed development.

Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery, introduced the report which represented a significant milestone in a scheme which sought to address a 20 year old aspiration to develop the land in question for housing in partnership with the two other land owners, Thames Water and Magdalen College. It was important to note that the land was subject to the South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) Local Plan and final planning decisions would therefore be made by it and not the City Council. It was also important to recognise that the partners would not, necessarily, support City Council proposals for conditions which went further than those in the SODC Local Plan.

The report outlined a number of disposal/delivery options, setting out a range from those with  lower risk and  reward to those  with higher risk and reward. The outliers had been rejected and the recommended option (Promotion & Master Developer Agreement) was seen to provide the best balance of risk and reward, leaving the Council with a degree of control and influence.

Cllr Ed Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Asset Management, said the project had the potential to offer life changing opportunities for many families through the establishment of a new community of affordable housing. He was clear that the recommended option represented the best way to proceed. He applauded officers for their technical skills, wisdom and diplomacy in getting the proposal to this point,

Cabinet members were unequivocal in their support and enthusiasm for the scheme noting, among other things, its ideal location.

The contribution that good quality affordable and appropriate housing made to the quality of individual/family lives and wellbeing could not be underestimated. The absence of sufficient affordable housing in the city remained one of its greatest challenges; the provision of housing through the scheme would make a significant difference and would be one of the greatest gifts to those who, in time, would make their homes in this new community.

Cllr Hollingsworth noted the need to add to the recommendations as published with the agenda a reference to delegations to be in consultation, also, with the Cabinet Members for Planning & Housing Delivery and Finance & Asset Management.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Delegate to the Director for Development in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance; Head of Finance;  and Cabinet Members for Planning & Housing Delivery and Finance & Asset Management,  the final wording of the key principles of collaboration and the entering into a formal collaboration agreement if the partners so wish;

2.    Delegate to the Director for Development in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance; Head of Finance; and Cabinet Members for Planning & Housing Delivery and Finance & Asset Management, working in collaboration with the other land owners,  the procuring of a development partner to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 October , will consider a report on the Development of land at South Oxford Science Village. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations thereon.

Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery; Cllr Ed Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Asset Management; Carolyn Ploszynski, Head of Regeneration & Economy; and Jenny Barker, Regeneration Manager,  have been invited to attend for this item. 

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery, introduced the report which provided an update on proposals for the development of land in partnership with Magdalen College and Thames Water. The report set out options for delivery of the scheme and the rationale for the preferred option. 

The Committee then passed a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of the rest of the item on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.