None.

None.

None.

None.

None.

Scrutiny Committee meets on 18 January.  Any recommendations from that meeting will be published as a supplement to this agenda.

None.

The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to seek approval to delegate to officers the process and selection of a preferred commercial partner for the potential redevelopment of Council owned land in the city centre. This will enable the Council to make an informed choice about its next moves.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.   Delegate authority to the Executive Director Development, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer, the Head of Law and Governance, and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, to agree the terms, route to market, and then select a preferred commercial partner for the potential redevelopment of council owned land in the city centre; and

2.   Note that any decision to enter into contract with the preferred commercial partner for the redevelopment of the land would require a separate Cabinet decision. This would be taken in the round with consideration of other options, including the potential to renew the lease with existing lease holder.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to seek approval to delegate to officers the process and selection of a preferred commercial partner for the potential redevelopment of Council-owned land in the city centre. This would enable the Council to make an informed choice about its next moves.

Cllr Ed Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, highlighted that the Council owned a number of assets in the City centre.  The approach outlined in the report formed part of a pro-active, medium term land-management plan for one of these sites and would involve an options evaluation, including possible redevelopment.  It was noted that a further Cabinet decision would be required in the event that redevelopment was determined as the best option.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.   Delegate authority to the Executive Director Development, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer, the Head of Law and Governance, and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, to agree the terms, route to market, and then select a preferred commercial partner for the potential redevelopment of council owned land in the city centre; and

2.   Note that any decision to enter into contract with the preferred commercial partner for the redevelopment of the land would require a separate Cabinet decision. This would be taken in the round with consideration of other options, including the potential to renew the lease with existing lease holder.

The Head of Financial Services has submitted a report to consider the feedback from the recent consultation on the proposed changes to the 2022/23 Council Tax Reduction Scheme and to agree the principles of the new scheme to be drawn up for approval by Council.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Note the outcome of the consultation on the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme; and

2.    Delegate authority to the Head of Financial Services  to draft the details of the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23 in accordance with paragraphs 8 to 11 of this report which sets out the proposed implementation and changes to the Scheme; and

3.    Recommend to Council to resolve to adopt the new Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23 taking into account the following:

•   To increase the Income Bands in line with paragraph 8 Table 1 using CPI for the Benefit Cap uprating;

•   To continue to support a 100% CTR entitlement;

•   To continue with a Banded Scheme based on Income rather than family composition;

•   To leave non dependant deductions as they are currently.

The Head of Financial Services had submitted a report enabling Cabinet to consider the feedback from the recent consultation on the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTR) for 2022/23 and to agree the principles of the new scheme to be drawn up for approval by Council.

Councillor Shaista Aziz, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities, reported that the proposal before Cabinet included a recommendation to continue to support a 100% Council Tax Reduction entitlement.  This was an approach which had been managed by only a few local authorities in the country, and was to be welcomed given the inflation pressures, particularly in relation to energy costs, which households were facing.  The response to the consultation had been good, and it was considered that the proposal also addressed concerns which had been raised about keeping the scheme simple to navigate so that those who needed help could easily find it.

Cabinet Members spoke in support of the proposal and commented that it would support those who had been most adversely affected by the pandemic, helping communities to recover and promoting equal participation.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Note the outcome of the consultation on the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme; and

2.    Delegate authority to the Head of Financial Services  to draft the details of the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23 in accordance with paragraphs 8 to 11 of this report which sets out the proposed implementation and changes to the Scheme; and

3.    Recommend to Council to resolve to adopt the new Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23 taking into account the following:

•   To increase the Income Bands in line with paragraph 8 Table 1 using CPI for the Benefit Cap uprating;

•   To continue to support a 100% CTR entitlement;

•   To continue with a Banded Scheme based on Income rather than family composition;

•   To leave non dependant deductions as they are currently.

The Executive Director for Development has submitted a report to seek approval to remove and dispose of car park decking at Oxpens Car Park.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Grant project approval for the removal of the car park decking located at Oxpens car park and sold for recoverable steel rather than stored for potential reuse; and

2.    Delegate to the Director of Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and the Head of Law and Governance and Head of Financial Services the authority to procure, and enter into all appropriate contracts to implement the recommended option.

The Executive Director for Development had submitted a report to seek approval to remove and dispose of car park decking at Oxpens Car Park.

Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, highlighted that the decking had been installed as a temporary fixture whilst the older, larger, Westgate Car Park was being demolished and prior to the opening of the new, smaller, car park.  Planning permission for the decking had now expired, and the site on which it was located was due to be transferred to OxWED LLP to enable development.  Whilst the option of relocating the decking elsewhere had been investigated, no viable option had been identified.  It was therefore proposed that the decking should be dismantled and disposed of.

The Leader commented that the proposal before Cabinet represented a sustainable solution in that it involved recovering as much steel as possible for re-sale. 

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Grant project approval for the removal of the car park decking located at Oxpens car park and sold for recoverable steel rather than stored for potential reuse; and

2.    Delegate to the Director of Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and the Head of Law and Governance and Head of Financial Services the authority to procure, and enter into all appropriate contracts to implement the recommended option.

Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2021as a true and accurate record.

Cabinet resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2021as a true and accurate record.

The Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) has submitted a report asking Cabinet to note a decision taken by the Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) using the urgency powers delegated in Part 9.3(b) of the Constitution.

Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to note the decision taken as set out in the report and recommend to Council to note the decision.

The Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) had submitted a report asking Cabinet to note a decision taken by the Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) using the urgency powers delegated in Part 9.3(b) of the Constitution for the reasons set out in the report.

The decision had involved increasing the budget for the purchase of shares in the OxWED Limited Liability Partnership from £360,000 (agreed by Council on 29 November 2021) to £750,000, 

Cabinet resolved to note the decision taken as set out in the report and recommend to Council to note the decision.

Meetings are scheduled for the following dates:

9 February 2022

16 March 2022

13 April 2022

15 June 2022

13 July 2022

All meetings start at 6.00

Meetings are scheduled for the following dates:

9 February 2022

16 March 2022

13 April 2022

15 June 2022

13 July 2022

All meetings start at 6.00pm.