The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to provide an update on revised implementation arrangements for the use of Housing Infrastructure Funding (HIF) to support delivery of development at Osney Mead, and to seek delegated authority to enter into legal agreements to support the arrangements.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.       Note the proposed revisions to the Housing Infrastructure Fund agreement with Homes England, noting that Cabinet, on 20 January 2021, delegated authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and the Head of Law and Governance, to make any changes necessary to facilitate effective delivery of the funding agreement with Homes England; and

2.       Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and the Head of Law and Governance, to enter into legal agreements with:

(i)       Oxfordshire County Council, to provide them with a proportion of the HIF funding secured by the City Council to enable County to deliver the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme enabling works as part of the Kennington Bridge works; and

(ii)     a tripartite agreement with the County Council and the Environment Agency (EA) regarding the delivery of the HIF milestones, monitoring, and clawback arrangements as necessary.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to provide an update on revised implementation arrangements for the use of Housing Infrastructure Funding (HIF) to support delivery of development at Osney Mead, and to seek delegated authority to enter into legal agreements to support the arrangements.

In introducing the report Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, reported that some years ago Cabinet had granted approval to use HIF funding from the Government (via Homes England) to support the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (OFAS) as well as proposed improvements to the path alongside the Thames.  The latter would allow connection to the new Oxpens River Bridge and support future development, including residential development, at Osney Mead.  Delegations had also been sought, and granted by Cabinet, to achieve this. 

The OFAS scheme had subsequently been delayed for a number of reasons, including the need for urgent repair / replacement work to the A423 Southern Bypass Bridge at Kennington.

The report before Cabinet therefore sought to update and extend the delegations previously given by Cabinet, and also to revise the scope of the HIF pathworks to focus on path improvements linked to the Growth Deal funded bridge over the river, as the latter was likely to be necessary for future residential development at Osney Mead.  Further pathworks improvements were likely to come forward in the future, and be funded as part of wider Osney Mead development proposals.

Councillor Hollingsworth highlighted that a minor amendment was required to the recommendation shown at 2(ii) of the report to read: ‘an agreement with the Environment Agency (EA), and if necessary including the County Council, regarding the delivery of the HIF milestones, monitoring and clawback arrangements as necessary.’  This amendment was required to allow sufficient flexibility to cover any changes in the arrangement and avoid the need for further delegation to be sought.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Note the proposed revisions to the Housing Infrastructure Fund agreement with Homes England noting that Cabinet, on 20 January 2021, delegated authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and the Head of Law and Governance, to make any changes necessary to facilitate effective delivery of the funding agreement with Homes England; and

2.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and the Head of Law and Governance to enter into legal agreements with:

(i)     Oxfordshire County Council, to provide them with a proportion of the HIF funding secured by the City Council to enable County to deliver the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme enabling works as part of the Kennington Bridge works; and

(ii)    an agreement with the Environment Agency (EA), and if necessary including the County Council, regarding the delivery of the HIF milestones, monitoring and clawback arrangements as necessary.