Cabinet, at its meeting on 5 February 2025, will consider a report from the Deputy Chief Executive – Place, seeking approval for Reopening the Cowley Branch Line.

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory), Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, Tom Bridgman, Deputy Chief Executive – Place, and Rui Marcelino, Regeneration Manager – Green Transport have been invited to present the report and answer questions.

The Committee resumed.  

The Chair welcomed Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Ed Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, and Rui Marcelino, Regeneration Manager for Green Transport, who were present to answer questions. 

Councillor Upton introduced the report and explained the contextual background, noting delays due to stalling by Network Rail. She explained that in response, Oxford City Council has drawn together £4m along with Oxford County Council and private developers, and a report is due in March 2025. She informed that the cost benefit analysis is expected to be positive, and the report presented to the Committee focuses on the delivery phase with a cost of £100m, and outlines that a proposed percentage contribution from Oxford city Council of £20m is made from CIL. Councillor Upton explained that this request will be against future CIL receipts and clarified that the money will only be spent if the whole project were to go ahead.  

Councillor Regisford rejoined the meeting. 

Councillor Turner directed the Committee to paragraph 3 of the report, noting that the case could be made for investment on future CIL money due to the benefits the Cowley Branch Line would bring about for tackling local congestion. He further commented that the project could drive development within the area and generate extra CIL in the future. As such, he explained to the Committee that the case is easy to make, and proceeding would be wise.  

Councillor Latif noted that, as a Cowley resident, the benefits to the Cowley Ward would be significant and therefore he supported the approach. He raised several points for clarification: 

• In relation to paragraph 3, whether there is a total net financial benefit and whether there is an estimate of what this may be. 

• Whether Oxford City Council’s proposed contribution is at the lower end of the recommended amount and whether this could entail future risk. 

• Whether there is information on the size of contributions from other local authorities.  

• Where it is expected that housing growth will come from. 

Councillor Altaf-Khan queried whether the project is too ambitious and whether the proposal's suggestions exceed the amount of money available to the Council. He suggested the government be contacted for financial support.  

Finally, the Chair sought clarity on the effects devolution may have on the plans. 

In response to questions, Councillor Turner outlined to the Committee that information on the net financial benefit is provided in paragraph 20 which demonstrates that £3.9m of income is estimated, with further information available in the confidential appendix. In regards the effects of devolution, he assured that rail development is not dependent on mayoral combined authority structures, and therefore it is likely that should change occur, the project would still be supported for the economic growth it will provide.  

Councillor Upton responded to concerns regarding the 15% financial contribution and noted that the Council could not be expected to do more and assured the Committee that there is minimal financial risk as the money would only be spent if the project goes ahead. The Regeneration Manager for Green Transport explained that a 15% contribution is reasonable and strong within the context.  

On housing growth, the Regeneration Manager for Green Transport assured the Committee that rail links encourage housing densification and ensure populations are less reliant on parking facilities. In turn, local employers will be less pressured to provide staff parking; the plans are also effective for employment.  

The Committee supported the Cabinet recommendations for the delivery of the Cowley Branch Line, recognising the net financial benefits to the city and its role in providing strategic infrastructure that would unlock housing growth and address traffic-related issues through the Council’s investment in mass transport. 

There were no other recommendations agreed. 

Councillor Louise Upton, Councillor Ed Turner, and the Regeneration Manager for Green Transport left the meeting.