The Executive Director (Communities and People) has submitted a report to seek Cabinet approval for HRA energy efficiency projects in 2023/24 and delegated authority to award the necessary contracts.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.       Grant project approval for Oxford City Council to proceed with Energy Efficiency projects on HRA properties; and

2.       Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer and the Head of Law and Governance, to spend the previously approved HRA 2023/24 budget of £1.585m, as agreed by full Council in 2021/22, for the purposes of HRA Energy Efficiency projects, including awarding contracts to contractors and consultants to manage and deliver the projects following the procurement process outlined in the Constitution.

The Executive Director (Communities and People) had submitted a report to seek Cabinet approval for HRA energy efficiency projects in 2023/24 and delegated authority to award the necessary contracts.

Councillor Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Climate Justice and Zero Carbon Oxford, reported that the proposal involved spending the remaining 2023/24 energy efficiency budget, not used for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, on other HRA energy efficiency programmes in order to enable the Council to work towards achieving EPC C, gas boiler phase out and net zero targets.  Councillor Railton highlighted that the proposal demonstrated the Council’s commitment to provide good social housing in the city and deliver decarbonisation projects.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Grant project approval for Oxford City Council to proceed with Energy Efficiency projects on HRA properties; and

2.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer and the Head of Law and Governance, to spend the previously approved HRA 2023/24 budget of £1.585m, as agreed by full Council in 2021/22, for the purposes of HRA Energy Efficiency projects, including awarding contracts to contractors and consultants to manage and deliver the projects following the procurement process outlined in the Constitution.