Agenda and draft minutes
To improve accessibility individual documents published after 1 May 2020 are available as HTML pages where their original format supports this
Speaking at a Council or Committee meeting
Venue: Long Room - Oxford Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Dr Brenda McCollum, Committee and Member Services Officer Tel: 01865 252784 email: DemocraticServices@oxford.gov.uk
No. | Item | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Declarations of Interest Minutes: Councillor Chapman asked if the community grants paper was awarding grants, because he was chair of an organization which would be a recipient of a grant. It was clarified that the paper was setting criteria, not awarding grants, so Councillor Chapman did not have an interest to declare. |
|||||||||||
Addresses and Questions by Members of the Public Minutes: None received. |
|||||||||||
Councillor Addresses on any item for decision on the Cabinet agenda Minutes: None.
|
|||||||||||
Councillor Addresses on Neighbourhood Issues Minutes: None received. |
|||||||||||
Items raised by Cabinet Members Minutes: None. |
|||||||||||
The Scrutiny Committee will meet on 29 January 2025. The following reports and any recommendations from that meeting will be published as supplement:
Additional documents:
Minutes: It was agreed that the Report of the Budget Review Group 2025/26 could be presented first, prior to the Scrutiny papers. The Budget Review Group had met on four occasions during January 2025. Councillor James Fry, Chair of the Group, presented its report and summarised its twenty-three recommendations. Councillor Fry highlighted the central points from the Budget Review Group report. Councillor Fry noted that they had proposed setting aside an amount in the budget to prepare for the forthcoming reorganization of local government. Councillor Fry said that The Group had also discussed optimism bias to some length as they reviewed the budget. These discussions shaped their recommendations regarding capital spending. Separately, Councillor Fry stated that The Group had discussed the projection of rents from commercial properties. The Group suggested that they should allow for 20% optimism bias in their projections of these rents. Councillor Fry presented The Group’s discussions and recommendations regarding uplifts in fees in the budget. The Group had considered an innovation in the law this year, which provides councils the scope to pursue commercial property landlords whose property had been vacant for more than twelve months in a twenty-four-month period, to auction the properties for rent. Councillor Fry stated that The Group would like to explore the scope of this possibility. Councillor Fry stated that the Group asked the Council to work with other councils to lobby central government to adapt the housing benefits system to remove the anomaly whereby 800,000 pounds of additional housing costs arise where registered providers are not used. The Group also asked for a business case to be prepared for enhanced links with registered providers as an invest and save initiative. Councillor Fry presented The Group’s concerns with HRA Housing, where the tenants are on social rents, and where the properties are being invested into to lower energy costs. The Group suggested that the Council should work with a company, or establish such a company, to finance investments into sustainable energy installations on these properties. This would make the financial case for improved energy savings in council housing. In light of the legacy of Brexit, Councillor Fry noted that he was surprised at the lack of support for funding for twinning, which helps to demonstrate the links between Oxford and the EU. Councillor Turner thanked Councillor Fry and the Budget Review Group for their work on this process. Councillor Turner noted that responses had been provided to each recommendation and that these would inform the debate at the Budget Council meeting in the following week. Councillor Brown arrived at the meeting and took on the role of Chair from this point in the meeting. The Scrutiny Committee had met on the 29th of January 2025 and the following reports had been considered: · Grant Allocations to Community & Voluntary Organisations 2025/26
Eleven recommendations had been made on the first two of the four reports. Councillor Miles presented the ... view the full minutes text for item 115. |
|||||||||||
The Head of Financial Services had submitted a report to Cabinet to present the outcome of the budget consultation and agree the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2026-27 to 2028-29 and 2025-26 Budget for recommendation to Council. Cabinet is asked to consider the outcome of the public consultation, agree the amendments to the Consultation Budget and recommend that Council resolves to: · Note the approval by Cabinet on 22 January 2025 and subsequently agreed by the Council on 27 January of an increase of 2.7% for 2025/26 (subject to any subsequent cap on increases imposed by central government) in social dwelling rents from 1st April 2025 giving an average weekly increase of £3.51 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £133.68 as set out in Appendix 5 based on a HRA budget as set out in Appendix 4, together with the comments in paragraphs 36-39; · Approve the budget in 2024-25 for the acquisition of Barton properties in the amount of £39,732,791 as referred to in paragraph 42 of this report, · Approve the 2025-26 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Strategy as set out in Appendices 1-9, noting: o a) the Council’s General Fund Budget Requirement of £30.542 million for 2025/26 and an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 2.99% or £10.36 per annum representing a Band D Council Tax of £356.72 per annum; and o b) the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as shown in Appendix 6; · Agree the fees and charges shown in Appendix 7; · Delegate to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Leader (Statutory) – Finance and Asset Management, 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 21-23 of the report; and · Note the changes to council tax charges in respect of second homes premiums to be implemented on 1st April 2025, already approved by Council, as referred to in paragraphs 25-27.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Group Finance Director had submitted a report to Cabinet to present the outcome of the budget consultation and agree the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2026-27 to 2028-29 and 2025-26 Budget for recommendation to Council. Councillor Turner said that they would brief, to not pre-empt the budget debate. He noted that they had given careful considerations to the financial settlement which the Council received and made some amendments accordingly. Councillor Turner said that they are sure all look forward to the further debate on this report at full council in just over a weeks’ time. Councillor Brown reminded Cabinet that they do tend to keep debates short at Cabinet and take full debates to the meeting of full council, which was scheduled for just over a weeks’ time. Nigel Kennedy, The Group Finance Director, said that with the financial settlement, regarding core spending power, the Council had received slightly less than expected. He said that all district councils were facing a similar situation. The Group Finance Director added that they had received confirmation on compensation for national insurance increases and they had received slightly more than had been assumed in the consultation budget. The Group Finance Director said that there are some changes in the budget and in capital, but there are no changes in HRA. The report also includes details from the budget consultation process as well. Councillor Brown thanked the Group Finance Director for his and his team’s work on this paper. She noted that the she welcomed the prospect of a longer-term financial settlement in future. Cabinet agreed to consider the outcome of the public consultation, agreed the amendments to the Consultation Budget and recommended that Council resolves to: · Note the approval by Cabinet on 22 January 2025 and subsequently agreed by the Council on 27 January of an increase of 2.7% for 2025/26 (subject to any subsequent cap on increases imposed by central government) in social dwelling rents from 1st April 2025 giving an average weekly increase of £3.51 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £133.68 as set out in Appendix 5 based on a HRA budget as set out in Appendix 4, together with the comments in paragraphs 36-39; · Approve the budget in 2024-25 for the acquisition of Barton properties in the amount of £39,732,791 as referred to in paragraph 42 of this report, · Approve the 2025-26 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Strategy as set out in Appendices 1-9, noting: o a) the Council’s General Fund Budget Requirement of £30.542 million for 2025/26 and an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 2.99% or £10.36 per annum representing a Band D Council Tax of £356.72 per annum; and o b) the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as shown in Appendix 6; · Agree the fees and charges shown in Appendix 7; · Delegate to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Leader ... view the full minutes text for item 116. |
|||||||||||
The Group Finance Director submitted a report to Cabinet to present the Capital Strategy for approval. Cabinet is recommended to: Recommend that Council approves: The Capital Strategy attached at Appendix A. Additional documents: Minutes: The Group Finance Director had submitted a report to Cabinet topresent the Capital Strategy for approval. Councillor Turner presented the report and noted that it is important for the Council to have a strategy to manage their capital. He noted that this strategy was similar to ones agreed in previous years, with some necessary updates. Councillor Turner noted that they had gotten better at how they include things in the capital program when they are ready to go into it. Cabinet agreed to: Recommend that Council approves: The Capital Strategy attached at Appendix A.
|
|||||||||||
Treasury Management Strategy The Group Finance Director had submitted a report to Cabinet to present the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2025/26 together with the Prudential Indicators for 2025/26 to 2028/29. Cabinet is recommended to recommend that Council approves: · The Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 as set out in paragraphs 10 to 61 of this report and the Prudential Indicators for 2025/26 – 2028/29 as set out in Appendix 2; · The Borrowing Strategy 2025/26 at paragraphs 31 to 32 of this report; · The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at Appendix 3 which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account; · The Investment Strategy for 2025/26 and the investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 35 to 53 of this report and in Appendix 1; · The Treasury Management Scheme of Delegation at Appendix 4 Additional documents:
Minutes: The Group Finance Director had submitted a report to Cabinet topresent the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2025/26 together with the Prudential Indicators for 2025/26 to 2028/29. Councillor Turner presented the report. Councillor Turner stated that the core is similar to reports from previous years, but the report additionally includes their Environmental, Social, and Governance policy. Councillor Turner expressed confidence that this is a good strategy which balances risk and reward and does the best that it can for taxpayers in the city. The Group Finance Director said that the Treasury Strategy is required to be approved by council annually, and there are no significant changes from the previous year. He noted that the report includes implications around borrowing and investments. The Group Finance Director discussed the highlights of the report including external debt and its relation to the HRA. Councillor Hollingsworth said that central government was announcing a lot of changes, including one regarding the investment strategy for local government pension funds. Councillor Hollingsworth asked if there would be any impacts on how they should look at their treasury management system, due to these changes. The Group Finance Director responded and said that there would not be any direct impacts, as the Council are not a pensions authority. In terms of the investment strategy, he said that the Council did not currently have that many investments and that they had gone done substantially in the last year. The Group Finance Director said that they use investments in place of borrowing, and they do not have a lot of spare cash to invest. He said that the Council primarily use banks and money market funds, because they do not have a lot of cash. If the changes impact the pension fund, that could impact the employer’s contributions. He noted that there is a tri-annual review of the pension fund undertaken by the actuaries. The Group Finance Director said that they are currently in discussions with the actuaries to see if there will be any changes in the pension fund going forward. Councillor Brown thanked the Group Finance Director for his work on this report. Cabinet agreed to recommend that Council approves: · The Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 as set out in paragraphs 10 to 61 of this report and the Prudential Indicators for 2025/26 – 2028/29 as set out in Appendix 2; · The Borrowing Strategy 2025/26 at paragraphs 31 to 32 of this report; · The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at Appendix 3 which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account; · The Investment Strategy for 2025/26 and the investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 35 to 53 of this report and in Appendix 1; · The Treasury Management Scheme of Delegation at Appendix 4
|
|||||||||||
Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2025/26 The Head of Financial Services had submitted a report to Cabinet to note the questions for the Council Tax Reduction Public Consultation. Cabinet is recommended to: · Delegate authority to the Head of Financial Services (Section 151 Officer) to draft the details of the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2025/26 · To agree the change to the existing scheme income bandings in paragraph 30
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Group Finance Director had submitted a report to Cabinet to note the questions for the Council Tax Reduction Public Consultation. Councillor Brown noted that the recommendations for this report needed to be adjusted. Alison Daly, Legal Services, said that the current recommendations do not achieve what they need to at the moment and although the report did go to legal, the required changes were not made. Emma Jackman, Director Law, Governance and Strategy, said that the amendments to the recommendations were needed to make it explicit what Cabinet were approving in the meeting. She clarified that these amendments would not change the overall report. Instead of what was in the agenda, the recommendations should read instead: • To agree the change to the existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme to adopt the amended income bandings set out at paragraph 30. • Delegate authority to the Head of Financial Services (Section 151 Officer) to draft the details of the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2025/26 to reflect the revised income bandings agreed by the Cabinet. Councillor Turner noted that it would have been helpful if he had received an email with the revised recommendations. Councillor Turner presented the report, he said that council tax reduction scheme is important due to the high cost of living in Oxford and to provide assistance to low-income households. Councillor Turner said that he was pleased they were keeping with the principle of making full council tax reduction for lower income families possible. Councillor Turner noted that in this iteration of the scheme, they had addressed an anomaly in the universal credit scheme, which helps to raise money to be reinvested in the council tax reduction scheme. Councillor Brown thanked Laura Bessell, Local Tax and Benefits Service Delivery Manager, and her team for their work on the report. Cabinet agreed to: • To agree the change to the existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme to adopt the amended income bandings set out at paragraph 30. • Delegate authority to the Head of Financial Services (Section 151 Officer) to draft the details of the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2025/26 to reflect the revised income bandings agreed by the Cabinet.
|
|||||||||||
Grant Allocations to Community & Voluntary Organisations 2025-26 The Deputy Chief Executive – Citizen and City Services presented a report to Cabinet: · To highlight to Cabinet the positive impact of Oxford Community Impact Fund 2023-24. · To seek Cabinet approval to the criteria and weighting for assessing Oxford Community Impact Fund grant applications for delivery from 2025-26 set out at paragraphs 47-58. · To seek Cabinet approval to administer a new bidding round for Big Ideas grants maintaining grant agreements for 3 years from 2025-26 financial year – 31 March 2028. · To seek Cabinet approval to administer two bidding rounds per year for Small grants for the next 3 years with activity being delivered in year. · To seek Cabinet approval to maintain the current levels of core funding for Advice Centres for 3 years from 2025-26 financial year – 31 March 2028. · To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive – Citizen and City Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities to make grant awards in line with the assessment process and criteria.
Cabinet is recommended to: · Note the social value and economic impact of the fund – see appendices 1-4 · Agree the criteria and weighting for assessing Oxford Community Impact Fund grant applications for delivery from 2025-26 as recommended in paragraphs 50-61 of this report. · Agree to maintain the current levels of core funding for Advice Centres for 1st April 2025-31st March 2028 · Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive – Citizen and City Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities to take decisions as to the grants to be made by the Council against the approved criteria and in line with the assessment process. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Deputy Chief Executive – Citizen and City Services had presented a report to Cabinet: · To highlight to Cabinet the positive impact of Oxford Community Impact Fund 2023-24. · To seek Cabinet approval to the criteria and weighting for assessing Oxford Community Impact Fund grant applications for delivery from 2025-26 set out at paragraphs 47-58. · To seek Cabinet approval to administer a new bidding round for Big Ideas grants maintaining grant agreements for 3 years from 2025-26 financial year – 31 March 2028. · To seek Cabinet approval to administer two bidding rounds per year for Small grants for the next 3 years with activity being delivered in year. · To seek Cabinet approval to maintain the current levels of core funding for Advice Centres for 3 years from 2025-26 financial year – 31 March 2028. · To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive – Citizen and City Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities to make grant awards in line with the assessment process and criteria.
Councillor Smith presented the report. She said that the report sets out some of the ways that community grants had been put to use and it sets out their approach to the distribution of these grants. Councillor Smith said she was pleased that they were streamlining the process and simplifying the process for applicants and for the Council. She was also pleased that from now on, they will have a focus on the use of these grants for reducing inequality in Oxford. Councillor Smith said that when assessing grants, they will be assessed in part on how the project helps to tackle inequality in Oxford. Councillor Arshad noted that the information on page 416 appeared to be cut off. She asked a query regarding the groups listed on the report. She stated that there were several groups which were not included in the report, and she asked why those groups where not included in the report. In response to a question from Councillor Brown, Councillor Arshad noted that the graphic on page 416 was cut off and not fully included in the page in the report. Councillor Brown agreed and noted that this issue should be addressed so that the information is displayed on the website properly. Councillor Arshad noted some of the groups that she had worked with and asked if they were not in the report because they had not applied, or if they were not included because they had not been shortlisted for funding. Councillor Smith clarified that the report did not contain information about unsuccessful applicants. She said that if there were any particular groups Councillor Arshad was interested in, they could speak about this in more depth offline, about the contact they have had with other groups. Councillor Arshad thanked Councillor Smith for her response. She also asked if it were the same groups that received the grants each year, or if there was an opening up to new applicants that they had seen. Councillor Arshad thanked ... view the full minutes text for item 120. |
|||||||||||
Revised Masterplan and Business Case for the Covered Market Masterplan The Deputy Chief Executive – Place had submitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval to the revised masterplan and business case and additional funding to deliver the Covered Market Masterplan. Cabinet is recommended to: · Subject to Full Council approval of the proposed increase of £1.086m in the capital budget for the project (in addition to the capital budget of £6.87m approved in 2023) as part of the Budget setting in February 2025, Approve the revised masterplan and business case. · Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive Place, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Director Law, Governance & Strategy, and the Cabinet members for Finance and Asset Management and Business, Culture and an Inclusive Economy to finalise the scope of works, undertake the necessary procurements, and enter into all contracts necessary for the detailed design and constructions work and all associated professional services to deliver the regeneration of the Covered Market within the agreed budget, where powers are not already delegated within the constitution. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Deputy Chief Executive – Place had submitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval to the revised masterplan and business case and additional funding to deliver the Covered Market Masterplan. Councillor Hollingsworth said that this was the masterplan which Cabinet had already approved. The masterplan was based on the initial look and now they have had a more detailed look which revealed more information, which led to a small increase in the funding. Councillor Hollingsworth noted that they are trying to refresh the building and keep it at the centre of the city’s life as a social, community, economic, and business hub. Andrew Humpherson, Regeneration Manager, said that the increased budget was targeting an increase in sustainability in the covered market. He added that the enhancements were also bringing forward work that might otherwise have been done later in the future. He noted that this will minimise disruption to the covered market. Additionally, the budget was also meant to support traders during the work and disruption. Councillor Brown asked Cabinet if they wanted to consider the two exempt appendices of this report. No questions were raised on those appendices. Councillor Brown welcomed the report and thanked the team for their work on this matter. Cabinet agreed to: · Subject to Full Council approval of the proposed increase of £1.086m in the capital budget for the project (in addition to the capital budget of £6.87m approved in 2023) as part of the Budget setting in February 2025, Approve the revised masterplan and business case. · Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive Place, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Director Law, Governance & Strategy, and the Cabinet members for Finance and Asset Management and Business, Culture and an Inclusive Economy to finalise the scope of works, undertake the necessary procurements, and enter into all contracts necessary for the detailed design and constructions work and all associated professional services to deliver the regeneration of the Covered Market within the agreed budget, where powers are not already delegated within the constitution.
|
|||||||||||
Update to Housing Assistance and Disabled Adaptations Policy The Director of Planning & Regulatory Services submitted a report to update Cabinet on the existing Housing Assistance and Disabled Adaptation Policy. Cabinet is recommended to: · Approve the proposed changes to the current Housing Assistance and Disabled Adaptation Policy attached at Appendix 2. · Delegate to the Director of Planning & Regulatory Services, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder, to approve any minor amends to the Policy in future years. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Director of Planning & Regulatory Services had submitted a report toupdate Cabinet on the existing Housing Assistance and Disabled Adaptation Policy. Councillor Smith presented the report. She said that this was important work to help people stay in their homes. Councillor Smith noted that this is an area where they do well as a council, were their officers go around the country sharing best practice and teaching other authorities from what they do. Councillor Smith thanked the team of officers for their work and noted that updates to the policy were set out clearly on page 492. Councillor Brown noted that the Council had even had a parliamentary select committee come and look at the work of this team. She thanked Councillor Smith and the officers for their work on this matter. Councillor Arshad thanked the team for the report and welcomed the changes which were being introduced. She asked if the officers could provide more information on the dementia home grant, outlined in the report. Becky Walker, Home Improvement Agency Manager, responded that they had reduced the grant. She noted that the Safe and Secure Grant and the Safe Home Grant had been in the policy already, but they had set these up as separate and specific grants to better define what they are. The Home Improvement Agency Manager said that working in conjunction with Dementia Oxfordshire, they had set a limit of 500 pounds per year for this grant. The implemented this limit because there were a few people who came back multiple times in the year for funds and were using up a substantial amount of the budget. The Home Improvement Agency Manager said that they put in a limit so that they could help more people get support. She noted that they do have the discretion to go above this limit in exceptional circumstances. Councillor Arshad asked about the holding clearance in the clearing service about clutter and support. She said that was part of the discretionary disabled facilities grant, so would it have to be under that threshold. The Home Improvement Agency Manager confirmed that this was the case and that had always been the policy. She said that they wanted to provide more clarity on this and the limit for the discretionary grant is 10k. She noted that covered in home work as well. Councillor Arshad asked about the line where it said, “the director of their team makes any additional that might not be covered in your criteria”. She asked if they could discuss what was meant by this. The Home Improvement Agency Manager said that there are occasions when someone could fall outside the policy. She said that this line allows them to take cases outside of the criteria forward so that they can help them. She noted that this is rare, but it allows them to offer support to more people. Councillor Brown remarked on the importance of this work and how it helps support hospitals and reduce waiting lists. ... view the full minutes text for item 122. |
|||||||||||
The Head of Business Improvement submitted a report to Cabinet to present and seek approval for the publication of the annual Workforce Equality Report 2024, the Gender Pay Gap Report, Ethnicity Pay Gap Report and Disability Pay Gap Report. Cabinet is recommended to: · Approve the contents of the Workforce Equality Report 2024; · Delegate authority to the Head of People to publish the Workforce Equality Report and to make any changes as may be required before publication following Cabinet discussion; · Approve the contents of the Gender Pay Gap, Ethnicity Pay Gap and Disability Pay Gap reports for this year; and · Delegate authority to the Head of People to publish the Gender Pay Gap table at paragraph 14 before 30 March 2025, the Ethnicity Pay Gap table at paragraph 23 and the Disability Pay Gap table at paragraph 29 on the Council website.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Head of Business Improvement had submitted a report to Cabinet to present and seek approval for the publication of the annual Workforce Equality Report 2024, the Gender Pay Gap Report, Ethnicity Pay Gap Report and Disability Pay Gap Report. Councillor Chapman presented the report. He noted that this update was in two parts. He said that it is the publication of the annual equality report for 23/24 and the different pay gap reports. Starting with the workplace equality report, Councillor Chapman noted that he was pleased with the progress that had been made. This related to the increase of women in senior roles, the increased percentage of minority ethnic group employees, and the number of applications received from women and minority groups. Councillor Chapman noted the importance of retaining and developing their staff and they are progressing on this. Finally, on the gaps, Councillor Chapman remarked that one key indicator was what staff thought about the organization. He noted that 94% feel they are respected and 84% feel like they belong. Councillor Chapman said that the gender pay gap had gone down slightly and that the ethnic pay gap had gone up. He noted to executives that they could close the gaps if they had more female and/or minority staff in higher graded roles working full time. He stated that these numbers are the product of where people sit in the organization, and this could be addressed. Councillor Brown agreed that there had been progress over the last few years. She said that this was difficult, slow-moving work, but that many of the indicators were moving in the right direction. She emphasised that the staff survey was especially important. She thanked the team for their work on this area. Cabinet agreed to: · Approve the contents of the Workforce Equality Report 2024; · Delegate authority to the Head of People to publish the Workforce Equality Report and to make any changes as may be required before publication following Cabinet discussion; · Approve the contents of the Gender Pay Gap, Ethnicity Pay Gap and Disability Pay Gap reports for this year; and · Delegate authority to the Head of People to publish the Gender Pay Gap table at paragraph 14 before 30 March 2025, the Ethnicity Pay Gap table at paragraph 23 and the Disability Pay Gap table at paragraph 29 on the Council website.
|
|||||||||||
Disposal of City Centre Commercial Property The Director of Property & Assets submitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval for the disposal of Northgate Hall, a commercial property owned by the City Council. Cabinet is recommended to: · Approve the disposal of the property as set out in the report · Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive Place in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Asset Management and the Director Law, Governance & Strategy and Group Finance Director the agreement of the detailed terms for the sale and to enter into all necessary documentation to effect the disposal on the basis that the terms comply with s.123 of the Local Government Act 1972, where powers are not already delegated within the constitution.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Director of Property & Assets had submitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval for the disposal of Northgate Hall, a commercial property owned by the City Council. Councillor Turner presented the report and noted the confidential appendix for Councillors’ knowledge. Councillor Turner noted that they need to keep their assets under review to make sure they manage their assets in a way that does the best possible for taxpayers. Councillor Turner remarked on the history of the building and noted that the buildings plaque will remain. He noted that they need to use their assets in the best possible way and that is why disposal was sometimes appropriate. Cllr Hollingsworth said that he was very pleased to see the preservation of the building’s plaque and the reflection of the history of the building. He expressed his happiness to support the report and thanked the team for reflecting the history in a sensitive manner. Councillor Brown concurred and agreed that the building had an important history in the city. She noted that it was good to see that reflected. Cabinet agreed to: · Approve the disposal of the property as set out in the report · Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive Place in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Asset Management and the Director Law, Governance & Strategy and Group Finance Director the agreement of the detailed terms for the sale and to enter into all necessary documentation to effect the disposal on the basis that the terms comply with s.123 of the Local Government Act 1972, where powers are not already delegated within the constitution.
|
|||||||||||
Cowley Branch Line delivery stage funding The Deputy Chief Executive Placesubmitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval for a City Council contribution towards funding of the delivery stage of the project to reopen the Cowley Branch Line for passenger services. Cabinet is recommended to: · Subject to Council approval of the Budget, to authorise the City Council to commit up to £2.5m of future Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) income to support funding the delivery stage of the project to reopen the Cowley Branch Line for passenger services (CBL); · Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive Place, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer, the Director Law and Governance, and the Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Finance & Asset Management to agree the terms and enter into all relevant funding agreements and contracts that facilitate the delivery of the CBL project, where powers are not already delegated within the constitution. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Deputy Chief Executive Place hadsubmitted a report to Cabinet to seek approval for a City Council contribution towards funding of the delivery stage of the project to reopen the Cowley Branch Line for passenger services. Councillor Upton presented the report and said remarked on the popularity of the project. She noted that opening the rail line back up as a passenger service, could benefit the city in many ways. Councillor Upton reflected on the lack of comments from Scrutiny on this report and said that this demonstrated the strength of this project. She noted that they now have to work up a full business case, which would be due in March. She clarified that this paper was about the delivery phase of the project. She said that they need to show that they can give a local contribution to the project. Councillor Upton noted that they could do this from the CIL revenue they are likely to get and by having the branch line there they are predicted to have an increase in CIL revenue. To be clear, Councillor Upton stated that they are asking Cabinet and then Council, but that they would only be taking this forward, if they get the necessary money from central government for the project. She emphasised the priority this project represented for the city. Ted Maxwell, Economy, City Centre and Green Transport Lead, added that the money would only come forward if the scheme is committed. He clarified that it would not be the City Council delivering the project, it would the be the City Council and others giving the money to the central government for them to deliver the scheme. Councillor Brown echoed the importance of the project and the infrastructure for the city. She expressed her support for the project. Councillor Hollingworth noted that as well as the rail and commercial benefits, this project represented a shift away from the sporadic way in which the country deals with big investments in infrastructure. He noted that an equivalent of this project was based on TFL projects, such as the Elizabeth line. In 2017, the costs were going to be 36 billion, but the land uplift went much above that amount. Councillor Hollingsworth noted that on a much smaller scale, that was what they were looking at here. He emphasised that they should not spend ten years debating these matters and that they should take this forward. Cabinet agreed to: · Subject to Council approval of the Budget, to authorise the City Council to commit up to £2.5m of future Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) income to support funding the delivery stage of the project to reopen the Cowley Branch Line for passenger services (CBL); · Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive Place, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer, the Director Law and Governance, and the Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Finance & Asset Management to agree the terms and enter into all relevant funding agreements and contracts that facilitate the delivery ... view the full minutes text for item 125. |
|||||||||||
Oxwed LLP Funding Arrangements The Group Finance Director has submitted a report to Cabinet to agree delegated authority to put in place a follow-on loan agreement for existing and future loans to Oxwed LLP. Cabinet is recommended: · Delegate to the Group Finance Director in consultation with the Director Law, Governance & Strategy authority to enter into a new loan agreement with Oxwed LLP with terms in line with the contents of this report.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Group Finance Director had submitted a report to Cabinet to agree delegated authority to put in place a follow-on loan agreement for existing and future loans to Oxwed LLP. Councillor Turner presented the report. He noted that this was a straightforward report, which detailed a need for funding to move forward for development, which will benefit the city and Council. Councillor Brown expressed her support for the report and its recommendations. Cabinet agreed to: · Delegate to the Group Finance Director in consultation with the Director Law, Governance & Strategy authority to enter into a new loan agreement with Oxwed LLP with terms in line with the contents of this report.
|
|||||||||||
Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Area Designation The Director of Planning and Regulatory Services has submitted a report to Cabinet to designate the Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Area for the purposes of preparing a neighbourhood plan. Cabinet is recommended to: · Designate the proposed Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Area. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Director of Planning and Regulatory Services had submitted a report to Cabinet todesignate the Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Area for the purposes of preparing a neighbourhood plan. Councillor Upton presented the report. She noted that this was a way that residents could get more involved in the planning policy in their areas. Councillor Upton said that because the residents had done the needed work, they should wish them well in their movement forward. Councillor Smith noted that this is a tick box exercise in terms of making sure the parish council has done what it needs to under the legislation so that they can move forward, which they had done. Councillor Smith noted that there are important questions which the parish council needed to answer, and that the local people in Blackbird Leys would want to know what the point of this process was and why the money was being spent in this way. She said that she would continue to ask those questions on behalf of residents. Councillor Hollingworth said that they have various neighbourhood plans in the city, and they might be interested in getting in touch with Blackbird Leys parish council to speak to them. He noted that Thame were a really good planning authority and there could be positive things that could come from that type of conversation. Will Sparling, Team Leader (Planning Policy), said that officers in his team were ready to support the parish councils in their plans and that the policy team had lots of experience in neighbourhood plans. Cabinet agreed to: · Designate the proposed Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Area.
|
|||||||||||
Recommendation: That Cabinet resolves to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2025 as a true and accurate record. Minutes: Cabinet resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2025 as a true and accurate record.
|
|||||||||||
Dates of Future Meetings Meetings are scheduled for the following dates:
All meetings start at 6.00 pm.
Minutes: Cabinet noted the dates of future meetings.
|
|||||||||||
Matters Exempt from Publication If Cabinet wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any of the items on the exempt from publication part of the agenda, it will be necessary for Cabinet to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
Cabinet may maintain the exemption if and so long as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
|