To enter into the funding agreement enabling Oxford City Council to draw down the £600,000 allocated to them from the OxLEP Local Growth Fund 1 fund.

The funding agreement will be listed on our contracts register and accessible via this link once signed:- https://www.oxford.gov.uk/downloads/file/405/contracts_register

Note: Oxfordshire County Council acting as the Accountable Body.

Authority was delegated to Executive Director- Community Services at the CEB meeting held 12 November 2015 to be able to enter into any necessary funding agreements to secure the external funding for the scheme.

The funding will enable Oxford City Council to deliver a flood alleviation project in the East of Oxford which will reduce the flood risk to 110 properties with 91 properties being completely removed from the known risk of flooding.

Awarding the design services contract for the Northway and Marston Flood Alleviation Scheme

The Executive Director, Community Services submitted a report which sought project approval for the Northway and Marston Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Cllr Tanner, Executive Board Member for Climate Change and Cleaner Greener Oxford presented the report and commended the scheme to the Board as it would reduce the risk of flash flooding in Northway and Marston.

The Board expressed their appreciation to Cllr Roy Darke and the members of the Waste Water Flooding Scrutiny Panel for their commitment to investigating the problems in Northway and Marston and pursuing a solution with the relevant agencies.  The Board also thanked the Northway and Marston Flood Scheme Manager for her contribution to the development of the scheme and the successful grant application.

The Executive Director, Community Services reminded the Board that the Council carried all of the risk associated with the completion of the scheme and although there was a reasonable contingency built into the budget it was a material consideration in determining whether to approve the scheme.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.     grant project approval for the scheme;

2.     note the reduction in the need for Oxford City Council capital funding provision to deliver this project (a release of £1,268,000);

3.     grant delegated authority to Executive Director, Community Services, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and s151 Officer, to be able to enter into any necessary funding agreements to secure the external funding for the scheme; and

4.     recommend Council to resolve to include the additional budget of £928,000 for the Northway and Marston Flood Alleviation Scheme in the Capital Programme (£2,196,000 financed from external funding, £400,000 financed from Council capital).