Relevant Dispensations: The Standards Committee on 11 September 2018 recommended and Council on 1 October 2018 agreed a set of general dispensations for a 4 year period for all councillors including:

·       Determining an allowance (including special responsibility allowances), travelling expense, payment or indemnity given to Members

·       Housing: where the Member (or spouse or partner) holds a tenancy or lease with the Council as long as the matter does not relate to the particular tenancy or lease of the Member (their spouse or partner);

·       Housing Benefit: where the Councillor (or spouse or partner) receives housing benefit;

·       Any Ceremonial Honours given to Members;

·       Setting the Council Tax or a precept under the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 (or any subsequent legislation); and

·       Setting a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme or Local scheme for the payment of business rates (including eligibility for rebates and reductions) for the purposes of the Local Government Finance Act 2012 (or any subsequent legislation)

·       including a dispensation for recipients of Universal Credit

Cllr Malik declared that the decisions at Minute 78 affected his declared disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) and he would leave the meeting and take no part in the debate on this item.

Announcements by:

1.    The Lord Mayor

2.    The Sheriff

3.    The Leader of the Council (who may with the permission of the Lord Mayor invite other councillors to make announcements)

4.    The Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer

The Lord Mayor noted that this meeting was held on ‘random acts of kindness’ day.

He reported the death of former councillor David Penwarden, who represented Iffley from 2000 to 2002, and Cllr Goddard and Cllr Turner paid tribute.

The Leader of the Council announced:

• at the next Council meeting she had invited the new Chief Executive to give a presentation on constraints on the workforce arising from new tasks and duties and different ways of working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• this was the outgoing Chief Executive’s last Council meeting. The Leader of the Council and other Group Leaders thanked him and paid tribute to his enthusiasm and hard work in taking forward the Council’s strategic vision and work since May 2017.

The procedure for this meeting including timings for the debate on the Council’s budget, capital programme and medium term financial strategy as recommended by the Cabinet is set out in the Council’s Constitution at 11.4.

Any amendments to the procedure must be agreed by majority vote and will only apply to this meeting.

Recommendation: Council is recommended to agree that the times permitted for each stage in the budget debate (Item 10 on the agenda) are as detailed in the Council’s Constitution.

Council noted the procedure and the timings for debate on the budget at Minute 81

Public addresses, and questions of under 200 words, to the Leader or other Cabinet member received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 11.4, 11.12, 11.13, and 11.14 relating to matters for decision on this agenda.

The request to speak accompanied by the full text of the address or question must be received by the Head of Law and Governance on Thursday 11 February 2021.

The briefing note will contain the text of addresses and questions submitted by the deadline, and written responses where available.

A total of 30 minutes is available for this item. Responses are included in this time. Up to five minutes is available for each public address and up to three minutes for each question.

There were no addresses or questions.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report recommending changes to the Council’s Constitution following an annual review of the Constitution overseen by a Cross-Party Constitution Group.

Cllr Chapman, Cabinet Member for Customer Focused Services, will present the report and move the recommendations.

Recommendations: That Council resolves to:

1.    Approve the list of proposed amendments to the Constitution detailed in Appendix 1 and highlighted in the draft Constitution at Appendix 2 of the report;

2.    Adopt the revised Oxford City Council Constitution attached at Appendix 2;

3.    Delegate authority to the Head of Law & Governance to amend the Constitution with effect from May 2021 to reflect the changes to the planning committees.

4.    Delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to amend any further wording and/or numbering that is identified as being inconsistent with the changes approved by Council.

Council considered the report of the Head of Law and Governance recommending changes to the Council’s Constitution following an annual review of the Constitution overseen by a cross-party group, and the text of the revised Constitution.

Council noted that the changes would be introduced at two points:

·       changes relating to the planning committees – for the start of the new council year in May

·       all other changes – immediately

Cllr Chapman, Cabinet Member for Customer Focused Services, introduced the report, answered questions, and proposed the recommendations.

After debate the recommendations were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

1.     Approve the list of proposed amendments to the Constitution detailed in Appendix 1 and highlighted in the draft Constitution at Appendix 2 of the report;

2.     Adopt the revised Oxford City Council Constitution attached at Appendix 2 of the report;

3.     Delegate authority to the Head of Law & Governance to amend the Constitution with effect from May 2021 to reflect the changes to the planning committees.

4.     Delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to amend any further wording and/or numbering that is identified as being inconsistent with the changes approved by Council.

The Licensing and Gambling Acts and General Purposes Licensing Committees considered at their meetings on 4 February 2021 reports on fees and charges for the licensing functions falling within their remits.

The draft minutes of the Committee are available here and here. Cllrs Cook and Clarkson, the Committee Chairs, will propose the recommendations.

The fees and charges are also included in the budget papers at Item 10 Appendix 7. One late change to the fees agreed by the General Purposes Licensing Committee is included in the addendum to that item.

Recommendations: the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee and the General Purposes Committee recommend that Council agree the relevant licence fees and charges for 2021/22 as set out in Items 7a, 7b and 7c (and repeated in the relevant sections of Item 10 Appendix 7) and in the addendum to Item 10.

Cllr Malik having declared this item related to his disclosable pecuniary interest, left the virtual meeting for the duration of this item and returned to the meeting at the start of the next item.

Council considered the Licensing and Gambling Acts and General Purposes Licensing Committees’ recommendation to approve fees and charges for the licensing functions falling within their remits, included in the budget papers at Item 10 Appendix 7 (Regulatory & Community Safety Fees and Charges), with the correction to the fees for a Street Café Licence (to £815pa) and for an annual Pavement Licence (Temporary) (to £100).

Cllr Cook and Cllr Clarkson, Chairs of the Licensing & Gambling Acts Committee and the General Purposes Licensing Committee, moved and seconded the recommendations from the two committees.

On being put to the vote these were agreed.

Council resolved to approve the fees and charges included in the budget papers at Item 10 Appendix 7 (Regulatory & Community Safety Fees and Charges), with the correction to the fees for a Street Café Licence (to £815pa) and for an annual Pavement Licence (Temporary) (to £100).

Under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 there is a requirement for the Council’s Chief Financial Officer to report to Council on:

a)         the robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the calculations of the budget; and

b)         the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves.

The Head of Financial Services may present the report and recommendations.

Council in considering its Budget should have regard to this advice.

Recommendation: That Council notes this report in setting its budget for 2020/21 and the indicative budgets for 2022/23 – 2024/25.

Council considered a report from the Head of Financial Services on the robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the calculations of the budget; and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves. The Head of Financial Services drew attention to the challenging financial position of the council as a result of the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the council experiencing significant losses of income and increased expenditure resulting in a budget deficit of around £29 million against the original 2020/21 budget forecast. He highlighted the impact on the levels of the Council’s reserves and balances and contingencies.

Council noted the report and its implications in setting its budget for 2020/21and the indicative budgets for 2021 to 2024.

Report of the Scrutiny Budget Review Group on the proposed budget.

Cabinet’s responses are attached at Appendix 1. The Chairs of the Budget Review Group and Scrutiny Committee will present the report and recommendations.

Recommendation: Council is asked to note the findings and recommendations of the Budget Review Group and note Cabinet’s responses.

Council considered the report and recommendations of the Budget Review Group of the Scrutiny Committee to the Cabinet meeting on 10 February and the Cabinet’s response.

Cllr Fry, Chair of the Budget Review Group, outlined the key findings and recommendations in the report and Cllr Turner outlined Cabinet’s responses. Both thanked all the officers involved in the budget scrutiny process.

Council resolved to note the report and Cabinet’s responses to the recommendations.

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to Cabinet on 10 February 2021 to present the outcome of the budget consultation and agree the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2022-23 to 2024-25 and 2021-22 Budget for recommendation to Council.

The Cabinet decisions and any further proposed amendments to the budget will be reported in the briefing note.

Cllr Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, will present the report and propose Cabinet’s recommendations.

Amendments to the budget proposed by opposition groups or individual councillors must be received by Committee Services before 1.00pm on Tuesday 16 February 2021 and will be circulated with the briefing note published that day.

The procedure for this item is set out in Part 11.4 of the Council’s Constitution.

A recorded vote must be taken when voting to agree the final budget and medium term financial strategy.

Council is recommended to:

a.    consider Cabinet’s recommendations to Council, including the budget published as part of the agenda for this meeting along with any amendments resulting from the Cabinet meeting of 10 February;

b.    consider the substantive amendments proposed by the opposition groups; and published with the briefing note;

c.    consider any individual amendments; and

d.    agree the recommendations from the Cabinet as presented to Council, or with further amendments as decided by Council.

Recommendations: Cabinet recommends subject to decisions at their meeting on 10 February that Council resolves to:

Approve the 2021-22 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Plan as set out in Appendices 1-10, noting:

a)    the Council’s General Fund Budget Requirement of £23.648 million for 2021/22 and an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 1.99% or £6.25 per annum representing a Band D Council Tax of £320.17 per annum;

b)    the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2021/22 of £46.649 million and an increase of 1.50% (£1.57 per week) in social dwelling rents from 1 April 2021 giving a revised weekly average social rent of £105.32 as set out in Appendix 5;

c)    the intention to consult Council house tenants on the setting of the initial rent on all new social housing at 5% above the formula rent whilst applying formula rent to any new builds let prior to the end of the consultation period as indicated in paragraph (paragraphs 38- 45);

d)    the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as shown in Appendix 6;

e)    the changes to fees and charges shown in Appendix 7;

f)     the delegation to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member  for Finance and Assets the decision to determine whether it is financially advantageous for the Council to enter into a Business Rates Distribution Agreement as referred to in paragraphs 13-15 below;

g)    the payment into the County Council Pension Fund of £5 million as referred to in the Consultation Budget and paragraph 20 of the report;

h)   the inclusion of an additional loan facility of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 81.

Cllr Arshad joined the meeting and Cllr Iley-Williamson left the meeting during the first part of the debate on this item.

Council had before it and considered:

·       The report of the Head of Finance to Cabinet on 10 February 2021 setting out the outcome of the budget consultation and seeking agreement of the Council’s Budget for 2021/22 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the following three years;

·       Cabinet’s recommendations as set out in the minutes of their meeting on 10 February 2021;

·       The Liberal Democrat group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note;

·       The Green group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note;

·       The Head of Finance’s comments on the amendments published with the briefing note;

·       Three individual amendments submitted and circulated at the meeting

Councillor Turner, seconded by Councillor Brown, proposed agreement of the Budget and the Medium Term Financial Strategy and the eight recommendations from Cabinet.

a)    Liberal Democrat group amendments to the budget

Councillor Roz Smith, seconded by Councillor Wade, moved the Liberal Democrat group amendments.

After debate and immediately before the vote, a named vote was requested by more than 10 councillors.

For the amendments:

Councillors Altaf-Khan, Gant, Garden, Goddard, Gotch, Landell Mills, Roz Smith, Wade (8)

Against the amendments:

Councillors Arshad, Azad, Aziz, Bely-Summers, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Cook, Corais, Curran, Fry, Hayes, Henwood, Hollingsworth, Howlett, Humberstone, Kennedy, Lloyd-Shogbesan, Lygo, McManners, Malik, Munkonge, Pressel, Rowley, Simm,  Linda Smith, Tanner, Tarver, Taylor, Tidball, Turner, Upton (32)

Abstentions: Councillors Simmons, Wolff (2)

With more councillors voting against than for, the Liberal Democrat amendments were not carried.

b)    Green group amendments to the budget

Cllr Simmons, seconded by Cllr Wolff, moved the Green group amendments. 

After debate and immediately before the vote, a named vote was requested by more than 10 councillors.

For the amendments:

Councillors Altaf-Khan, Gant, Garden, Goddard, Gotch, Henwood, Landell Mills, Simmons, Roz Smith, Wade, Wolff (11)

Against the amendments:

Councillors Arshad, Azad, Aziz, Bely-Summers, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Cook, Corais, Curran, Fry, Hayes, Hollingsworth, Howlett, Humberstone, Kennedy, Lloyd-Shogbesan, Lygo, McManners, Malik, Munkonge, Pressel, Rowley, Simm,  Linda Smith, Tanner, Tarver, Taylor, Tidball, Turner, Upton (31)

Abstentions: (0)

With more councillors voting against than for, the Green group amendments were not carried.

c)    Individual amendment to the budget

Three individual amendments were then submitted to Council for consideration.

(1) Reinstatement of the cut to Green Flag accreditation.

Cllr Wade, seconded by Cllr Landell Mills, proposed the amendment. The S151 officer confirmed the proposals were arithmetically correct.

After debate the amendment was put to the vote.

With more councillors voting against than for, the amendment was not carried.

(2) Delete payment to non-statutory second deputy leader and return funds to General Fund/reserves

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that this was covered by a general dispensation and related to future and not current recipients of special responsibility allowances. Nevertheless Cllr Hayes left the virtual meeting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

If Cabinet agrees changes to the recommendations, or changes or corrections to the published report or appendices, these will be reported to the meeting.

Liberal Democrat Group’s amendments to the revenue and capital budgets, including explanation, for debate.

These will be published in the Briefing Note.

Green Group’s amendments to the revenue and capital budgets, including explanation, for debate.

These will be published in the Briefing Note.

Individual amendments to the revenue and capital budgets, including explanation, for debate.

These will be published in the Briefing Note or individual items from (b) or (c) above may be tabled at the appropriate point in the debate.

A recorded vote must be taken when voting to agree the Council Tax and associated resolutions.

The Head of Financial Services has submitted a report setting out the necessary calculations to enable Council to set the 2021/22 Council Tax for Oxford City

Cllr Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, will propose the recommendations and the Head of Financial Services will be available to answer questions.

Recommendations: subject to the decisions at Item 10 above, that Council resolves to approve for the financial year 2021/22 recommendations 1 to 5 and to note points 6 to 8 below:

1.               The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £14,911,465 including Parish precepts and £14,633,631 excluding Parish precepts.

2.               The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £320.17 a 1.99% increase on the 2020/2021 figure of £313.92. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £326.25, a 2.0% increase (see paragraphs 2 to 6 of the report).

3.               A contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery (see paragraphs 9 and 10 of the report).

4.               The amount of £632,859 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 13 of the report).

5.               The Band D Council Taxes for the various areas of the City (excluding the Police and County Council’s precepts) as follows:

Littlemore                                            £364.84

Old Marston                                         £354.03

Risinghurst and Sandhills                      £343.15

Blackbird Leys                                     £325.38

Unparished Area                                  £322.86

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £306.33.

The Council is also asked to note:

6.               Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 17 of the report

7.               The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 18 of the report, and

8.               The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £2,130.64 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner).

Cllr Tidball left the meeting at the start of this item.

Council considered the report of the Head of Financial Services setting out the necessary calculations to enable Council to set the 2021/22 Council Tax for Oxford City.

Cllr Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, proposed and Cllr Kennedy seconded the recommendations in the report.

In accordance with legislative requirements, a recorded vote was then taken:

For the resolution set out below:

Councillors Arshad, Azad, Aziz, Bely-Summers, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Cook, Corais, Curran, Fry, Gant, Garden, Goddard, Gotch, Hayes, Henwood, Hollingsworth, Howlett, Humberstone, Kennedy, Landell Mills, Lloyd-Shogbesan, Lygo, McManners, Malik, Munkonge, Pressel, Rowley, Simm, Simmons,  Linda Smith, Tanner, Tarver, Taylor, Turner, Upton, Wade, Wolff (39).

Against the resolution: None (0)

Abstentions: Councillors Altaf Khan, Roz Smith (2)

With more councillors voting for than against, the resolution was carried.

Council resolved in accordance with the recorded vote to approve for the financial year 2021/22 recommendations 1 to 5 and to note points 6 to 8:

1.               The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £14,911,465 including Parish precepts and £14,633,631 excluding Parish precepts.

2.               The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £320.17 a 1.99% increase on the 2020/2021 figure of £313.92. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £326.25, a 2.0% increase (see paragraphs 2 to 6 of the report).

3.               A contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery (see paragraphs 9 and 10 of the report).

4.               The amount of £632,859 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 13 of the report).

5.               The Band D Council Taxes for the various areas of the City (excluding the Police and County Council’s precepts) as follows:

Littlemore                                            £364.84

Old Marston                                         £354.03

Risinghurst and Sandhills                      £343.15

Blackbird Leys                                     £325.38

Unparished Area                                  £322.86

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £306.33.

and to note:

6.               Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 17 of the report

7.               The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 18 of the report, and

8.               The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £2,130.64 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner).

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to Cabinet on 10 February 2021 to consider the feedback from the recent consultation on the proposed changes to the 2021/22 Council Tax Reduction Scheme and to agree the principles of the new scheme to be drawn up for approval by Council.

The current scheme documents are here.

The Cabinet decisions will be reported in the briefing note. Cllr Tidball, the Cabinet Member for Supporting Communities, will present the report and propose Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendations: Cabinet recommends subject to decisions at their meeting on 10 February that Council resolves to adopt the new Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2021/22 taking into account the changes to the income bandings as highlighted in paragraphs 11-16 of the report, and moving to an Income banded scheme for all Council Tax Reduction claimants.

Council considered the report of the Head of Financial Services seeking agreement for the principles of the new scheme.

Cllr Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, introduced the report and proposed the recommendations.

The recommendations were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to: adopt the new Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2021/22 taking into account the changes to the income bandings as highlighted in paragraphs 11-16 of the report, and moving to an Income banded scheme for all Council Tax Reduction claimants.

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to Cabinet on 10 February 2021 to present the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22 together with the Prudential Indicators for 2021/22 to 2024/25.

The Cabinet decisions will be reported in the briefing note. Cllr Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, will present the report and propose Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendations: Cabinet recommends subject to decisions at their meeting on 10 February that Council resolves to approve:

1.     The Treasury Management Strategy 2021/22 as set out in paragraphs 19 to 62 and the Prudential Indicators for 2021/22 – 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

2.     The Borrowing Strategy at paragraphs 27 to 38 of the report;

3.     The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at paragraphs 39 to 41 of the report which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account; and

4.     The Investment Strategy for 2021/22 and investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 42 to 62 and Appendix 1 of the report.

Council considered the report of the Head of Financial Services presenting the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22 together with the Prudential Indicators for 2021/22 to 2024/25.

Cllr Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, introduced the report, proposed the recommendations and answered questions.

The recommendations were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to approve:

1.     The Treasury Management Strategy 2021/22 as set out in paragraphs 19 to 62 and the Prudential Indicators for 2021/22 – 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

2.     The Borrowing Strategy at paragraphs 27 to 38 of the report;

3.     The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at paragraphs 39 to 41 of the report which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account; and

4.     The Investment Strategy for 2021/22 and investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 42 to 62 and Appendix 1 of the report.

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report to Cabinet on 10 February 2021to present the Capital Strategy for approval.

The Cabinet decisions will be reported in the briefing note. Cllr Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, will present the report and propose Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendations: Cabinet recommends subject to decisions at their meeting on 10 February that Council resolves to approve the Capital Strategy attached at Appendix A of the report.

Council considered the report of the Head of Financial Services presenting the Capital Strategy for approval.

Cllr Turner, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, presented the report, answered questions and proposed the recommendations.

Cllr Simmons proposed and Cllr Turner accepted an amendment to also delegate authority to the Head of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, to make changes to the target in para 6.3.3 to align the capital strategy to those in the Council’s net zero carbon strategy. Cllr Turner made a further amendment to include delegation of other minor amendments as may be necessary to amend the targets in the strategy to align with those agreed by the Council.

The recommendations as amended were agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to approve the Capital Strategy 2021/22 to 2024/25 attached at Appendix A of the report and to delegate authority to the Head of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, to make changes to the target in para 6.3.3 to align the capital strategy to those in the Council’s net zero carbon strategy and to make any other minor amendments that may be necessary.

The Head of Regulatory Services & Community Safety submitted the updated Statement of Licensing Policy to the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee on 4 February 2021.

The draft minutes of the Committee are available here. Cllr Cook, the Committee Chair, will propose the recommendations

Recommendation: the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee recommends that Council resolves to adopt the updated Statement of Licensing Policy to take effect in February 2021.

Council considered the report of the Head of Regulatory Services & Community Safety and the proposed updated Statement of Licensing Policy

Cllr Cook, the Chair of the Licensing & Gambling Acts Committee, proposed the recommendation without comment.

The recommendation was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to adopt the updated Statement of Licensing Policy to take effect in February 2021.

The Transition Director submitted a report to Cabinet on 10 February 2021 toseek programme approval and delegations to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding for provision of heat pumps, thermal storage and battery storage at Oxford City Council sites and development of renewable energy to power to reduce council carbon emissions. 

The Cabinet decisions will be reported in the briefing note. Cllr Hayes, the Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, will present the report and propose Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendations: subject to the decision of Cabinet, Council is recommended to resolve to allocate a capital budget of £10.923 million to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding.

Council considered the  report of the Transition Director seeking programme approval and delegations to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding for provision of heat pumps, thermal storage and battery storage at Oxford City Council sites and development of renewable energy to power to reduce council carbon emissions.

Cllr Hayes, the Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, introduced the report, proposed the recommendation and answered questions.

The recommendation was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

allocate a capital budget of £10.923 million to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding.

The Head of Housing Services and Head of Financial Services submitted a report to Cabinet on 10 February 2021 to present the current status of the Housing and Asset Management System, to describe the plan for completion, and to seek additional funds to achieve project go-live.

The Cabinet decisions will be reported in the briefing note. Cllrs Chapman and Rowley, the Cabinet Members, will present the report and propose the recommendations.

Recommendations: subject to the decision of Cabinet, Council is recommended to approve a capital budget for the additional expenditure of £264,296 required to complete the Housing and Asset Management System project.

Council considered the report of the Head of Housing Services and Head of Financial Services presenting the current status of the Housing and Asset Management System, to describe the plan for completion, and seeking additional funds to achieve project go-live.

Cllr Rowley, the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing, introduced the report, proposed the recommendation and answered questions about the plan for the full system implementation.

The recommendation was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to approve a capital budget for the additional expenditure of £264,296 required to complete the Housing and Asset Management System project.

The confidential appendix was noted but not discussed.