Appendices 2, 4 and 6 to this item include exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If Council wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendices 2, 4 and 6 to the report, it will be necessary for the Council to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting (as set out at agenda item 21).

The Executive Director (Development) submitted a report to Cabinet on 13 September 2023 seeking approval for delivery of a new publicly accessible greenspace and burial meadow on land owned by the Council off Oxford Road towards Horspath including approval of the scheme, submission of planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council, Phase 1 delivery budget, and required property and legal procedures to deliver the scheme.

The Cabinet minutes are available at Item 16b.

Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks, will present the report and present Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendation: Cabinet recommends that Council resolves to:

1.    Approve a capital budget of £2.4M for delivery of this scheme.

Council considered the report from the Executive Director (Development) seeking approval for delivery of a new publicly accessible greenspace and burial meadow on land owned by the Council off Oxford Road towards Horspath including approval of the scheme, submission of planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council, Phase 1 delivery budget, and required property and legal procedures to deliver the scheme.

Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks, introduced the report, proposed the recommendation and answered questions.

The recommendation was agreed on by being seconded by Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities, and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

1. Approve a capital budget of £2.4M for delivery of this scheme.

The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to seek approval for delivery of a new publicly accessible green space and burial meadow on land owned by the Council off Oxford Road towards Horspath including approval of the scheme, submission of planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council, Phase 1 delivery budget, and required property and legal procedures to deliver the scheme.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.      Grant project approvalfor thedelivery of a new publicly accessible greenspace and burial meadow on land owned by the Council off Oxford Road towards Horspath; including approval of the scheme, submission of a planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council, Phase 1 delivery budget, and required property and legal procedures to deliver the scheme and delegated authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks to approve changes to the scheme;

2.      Recommend to Councilapproval of acapital budget of £2.4M for delivery of this scheme;

3.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development), in consultation with the Head of Financial Services / Section 151 Officer and the Head of Law and Governance to enter into any related agreements and contracts to facilitate the scheme in terms of construction and operation; works details; and budget changes for this Council owned land,including agreeing the fees and charges as detailed in Appendix 6; and

4.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development), in consultation with the Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer, Head of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management to agree the final heads of terms and enter into the necessary transactions set out in Appendix 4 together with any other ancillary agreements, contracts and notices that may be required to facilitate the scheme.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to seek approval for delivery of a new publicly accessible green space and burial meadow on land owned by the Council off Oxford Road towards Horspath including approval of the scheme, submission of planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council, Phase 1 delivery budget, and required property and legal procedures to deliver the scheme.

Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks highlighted that the proposal had taken a number of years to reach the current stage, and much work remained to be done.  The proposal had been widely welcomed amongst the groups and organisations which had been consulted. 

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Grant project approvalfor thedelivery of a new publicly accessible greenspace and burial meadow on land owned by the Council off Oxford Road towards Horspath; including approval of the scheme, submission of a planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council, Phase 1 delivery budget, and required property and legal procedures to deliver the scheme and delegated authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks to approve changes to the scheme;

2.      Recommend to Councilapproval of acapital budget of £2.4M for delivery of this scheme;

3.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development), in consultation with the Head of Financial Services / Section 151 Officer and the Head of Law and Governance to enter into any related agreements and contracts to facilitate the scheme in terms of construction and operation; works details; and budget changes for this Council owned land,including agreeing the fees and charges as detailed in Appendix 6; and

4.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development), in consultation with the Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer, Head of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management to agree the final heads of terms and enter into the necessary transactions set out in Appendix 4 together with any other ancillary agreements, contracts and notices that may be required to facilitate the scheme.