The Head of Corporate Strategy has submitted a report to seek project approval for Oxford City Council’s involvement in the FutureFit Oxford(shire) Project (FOx Project), and delegated authority for the facilitation and delivery of the project.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.       Grant project approval for the FOx project to proceed, including approval of Oxford City Council’s role as overall project lead;

2.       Recommend to Council to establish a revenue budget for £1.56 million funded by a government grant to enable the necessary resources to be employed and the work undertaken;

3.       Delegate authority to the Head of Corporate Strategy, in consultation with the Head of Financial Services / Section 151 Officer and the Head of Law and Governance to enter into a grant agreement with Innovate UK for the sum of £1.56 million as well as any related agreements, contracts and transactions to facilitate the project and its delivery in terms of accepting grant offer letters, partnership agreements, retrofit seed funding payments, subcontracting and subscriptions;

4.       Delegate authority to the Head of Corporate Strategy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice, to deliver the grant funded consortium project, and to comply with Innovate UK’s project monitoring and grant payment processes (and project change processes, if required); and

5.       Note that this is a multi-partner collaborative project with a total value of £5.28m.  A decision from the funder to award the bid and at time of writing a decision from the funder on whether the bid has been successful has not been received (expected to be on 8^th November).

The Head of Corporate Strategy had submitted a report to seek project approval for Oxford City Council’s involvement in the FutureFit Oxford(shire) Project (FOx Project), and delegated authority for the facilitation and delivery of the project.

Councillor Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice, highlighted that the project included key strands of centering retrofitting on a whole building approach using smart technology; and innovative work on carbon in-setting to provide local community benefits.

The Head of Corporate Strategy highlighted that the Council was part of a consortium which included both universities, the County Council and the district councils as well as other public sector organisations.  Corporate expressions of interest in carbon in-setting had already been received in discussions at the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership.

Cabinet was informed that subsequent to the production of the report, a decision from the funder on whether the Council’s bid had been successful had been delayed.  It was now expected to be received later this month.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Grant project approval for the FOx project to proceed, including approval of Oxford City Council’s role as overall project lead;

2.       Recommend to Council to establish a revenue budget for £1.56 million funded by a government grant to enable the necessary resources to be employed and the work undertaken;

3.       Delegate authority to the Head of Corporate Strategy, in consultation with the Head of Financial Services / Section 151 Officer and the Head of Law and Governance to enter into a grant agreement with Innovate UK for the sum of £1.56 million as well as any related agreements, contracts and transactions to facilitate the project and its delivery in terms of accepting grant offer letters, partnership agreements, retrofit seed funding payments, subcontracting and subscriptions;

4.       Delegate authority to the Head of Corporate Strategy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice, to deliver the grant funded consortium project, and to comply with Innovate UK’s project monitoring and grant payment processes (and project change processes, if required); and

5.       Note that this is a multi-partner collaborative project with a total value of £5.28m.  At time of writing a decision from the funder on whether the bid has been successful has not been received (expected later in November).