Appendix 1 to this item includes 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 Appendix 1 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 9 August 2023 seeking project approval and delegations to deliver a development of a further 10 affordable homes at the Northfield Hostel site.

The Cabinet minutes are available at Item 16a.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, will present the report and present Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendation: Cabinet recommends that Council resolves to:

1.    Approve a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs. The virement will be from the Oxford City Housing Limited (“OCHL”) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the three years from 2023/24 to 2025/26.

Council considered the report from the Executive Director (Development) seeking project approval and delegations to deliver a development of a further 10 affordable homes at the Northfield Hostel site.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, introduced the report and proposed the recommendation.

The recommendation was agreed on by being seconded by Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

1. Approve a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs. The virement will be from the Oxford City Housing Limited (“OCHL”) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the three years from 2023/24 to 2025/26.

The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to seek project approval and delegations to deliver a development of a further 10 affordable homes at the Northfield Hostel site.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.     Grant project approval to the proposals to purchase land; enter into build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts and incur associated development cost spends, as set out in this report, and within the allocated Housing Revenue Account (“HRA”) capital budget and business plan, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford at the Northfield Hostel site;

2.     Recommend to Council that it approves a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs. The virement will be from the Oxford City Housing Limited (“OCHL”) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the three years from 2023/24 to 2025/26;

3.     Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer to enter into agreements for the purchase of land; build contracts; and any other necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the development (including a Development Services Agreement with OCHL) within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to seek project approvals and delegations to deliver a development of a further 10 affordable homes at the Northfield Hostel site.

The Affordable Housing Supply Corporate Lead reported that a decision by the County Council to sell a secondary site, adjacent to the main site, would enable the delivery of a further all-affordable scheme of 10 new homes.  This would be in addition to the delivery of 51 all-affordable homes at the main Northfield Hostel site which had been approved by Cabinet in September 2020.  The housing mix at the additional site would comprise 6 x 3- and 4 x 4-bedroom houses, providing 6 homes at social rent and 4 at shared ownership.  This would help to meet the acute need for 4-bedroomed properties for those on the housing register.

Outline planning consent for the proposal had already been secured, and it was hoped that a full application could be taken to the planning committee in the autumn, with a start on site as soon as possible thereafter in order that the development could be moved forward in line with the development of the flats at the main site and with the aim of achieving completion at both sites at the same time in late 2025/early 2026.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.     Grant project approval to the proposals to purchase land; enter into build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts and incur associated development cost spends, as set out in this report, and within the allocated Housing Revenue Account (“HRA”) capital budget and business plan, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford at the Northfield Hostel site;

2.     Recommend to Council that it approves a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs. The virement will be from the Oxford City Housing Limited (“OCHL”) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the three years from 2023/24 to 2025/26;

3.     Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer to enter into agreements for the purchase of land; build contracts; and any other necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the development (including a Development Services Agreement with OCHL) within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing.