If the SJVG 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 the SJVG 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.

The SJVG 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.

The Group is asked to consider any comments or recommendations submitted by the Finance and Performance Working Group (of the Scrutiny Committee) in relation to the substantive items on the agenda or in respect of other issues the Working Group considers appropriate to raise.

The Director of Law, Governance, and Strategy and the Group Finance Director submitted commentaries on reports relating to OX Place.

The reports from the Director of Law, Governance, and Strategy and the Group Finance Director to follow the publication of the agenda, as a supplement.

A report of the OX Place Chair to update the Shareholder on the day-to-day actions and progress since the previous OX Place Shareholder Joint Venture meeting. 

The Shareholder and Joint Venture Group is recommended to:

1.    To note the updates in the report.

2.    To make the appointment of the Manging Director, Roger Thompson, to the OX Place board.

The Shareholder and Joint Venture Group resolved:

1. To note the updates in the report.
2. To make the appointment of the Manging Director, Roger Thompson, to the OX Place board.

A report from the Strategic Finance Manager David Watt to present the audited financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2025. Despite a slowdown in development activity compared to previous years the company has continued to deliver on its mandate to provide affordable, high-quality housing while maintaining financial sustainability. The company discontinued its management of properties held within its investment company mid-year through selling its portfolio to Oxford City Council’s HRA. 

The Shareholder and Joint Venture Group is recommended to:

1.    To note the exemplary Audit Completion Report received by OX Place from Mazars

2.    To note the strategic priorities for 2025/26.

3.    To note that the company Board following completion of the 2024/25 year-end audit and given the level of retained earnings held within the housing group, were able to declare a Shareholder dividend in line with OCC’s MTFP for the third year in a row.

The Shareholder and Joint Venture Group resolved:

1. To note the exemplary Audit Completion Report received by OX Place from Mazars
2. To note the strategic priorities for 2025/26.
3. To note that the company Board following completion of the 2024/25 year-end audit and given the level of retained earnings held within the housing group, were able to declare a Shareholder dividend in line with OCC’s MTFP for the third year in a row.

Recommendation: to approve the public and private minutes of the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group meetings on 25 June 2025 as a true and correct record.