The Director of Economy, Regeneration and Sustainability has submitted a report to Cabinet that requests for project approval and delegations to progress the development of affordable homes at Elsfield Hall. This includes delegated authority to enter into build contracts and other necessary agreements and associated development costs, virement of HRA capital funds and the approval to commence the process regarding the appropriation of land from the General Fund (“GF”) to the Housing Revenue Account (“HRA”) (changing the statutory basis on which it is held by the Council).

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Grant project approval to finalise the scheme design, to the proposals to 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 HRA capital budgets and business plan, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford;

2.    Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer, to enter into build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the development within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing;

3.    Grant approval for a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs of £11.7 million. The virement will be from the “Properties purchased from OCHL” (Oxford City Housing Limited) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the four years from 2025/26 to 2028/29;

4.    Recommend to Council the appropriation of the land owned by Oxford City Council (OCC) at Elsfield Hall from the General Fund (GF) into the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Grant project approval to finalise the scheme design, to the proposals to 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 HRA capital budgets and business plan, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford;
2. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer, to enter into build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the development within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing;
3. Grant approval for a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs of £11.7 million. The virement will be from the “Properties purchased from OCHL” (Oxford City Housing Limited) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the four years from 2025/26 to 2028/29;
4. Recommend to Council the appropriation of the land owned by Oxford City Council (OCC) at Elsfield Hall from the General Fund (GF) into the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

The Director of Economy, Regeneration and Sustainability had submitted a report to Cabinet that requests for project approval and delegations to progress the development of affordable homes at Elsfield Hall. This includes delegated authority to enter into build contracts and other necessary agreements and associated development costs, virement of HRA capital funds and the approval to commence the process regarding the appropriation of land from the General Fund (“GF”) to the Housing Revenue Account (“HRA”) (changing the statutory basis on which it is held by the Council).

Councillor Arshad joined the meeting.

Councillor Linda Smith introduced the report. She noted that this site was an empty office block already owned by the City Council with potential for development. The proposals involved demolishing the existing building to make way for a new structure. It is hoped that at least 30 new homes would be constructed in the site, subject to viability and planning. The councillor expressed delight in being able to bring this to Cabinet as part of the council’s commitment to building more affordable homes in Oxford. 

Nick Kowalski, Housing Development Manager, noted that the current proposal of 30 homes mirrors the adjacent Cannon Court site, a development built by OCHL for the Council. He stated that the target was to deliver more homes on the site, though this is subject to detailed design work and planning risks as explained by Councillor Smith. 

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Grant project approval to finalise the scheme design, to the proposals to 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 HRA capital budgets and business plan, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford;
2. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer, to enter into build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the development within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing;
3. Grant approval for a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs of £11.7 million. The virement will be from the “Properties purchased from OCHL” (Oxford City Housing Limited) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the four years from 2025/26 to 2028/29;
4. Recommend to Council the appropriation of the land owned by Oxford City Council (OCC) at Elsfield Hall from the General Fund (GF) into the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).