The Executive Director, Sustainable City had submitted a report which presented for approval the proposed land disposals and discounts in relation to the Council's commitment of up to £1,000,000 in-kind contributions from land disposal and compensation foregone to facilitate the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Cllr Price, Cllr Price, Board Member for Corporate Strategy and Economic Development,  introduced the report noting that it was the ‘last bit of the jigsaw’ to facilitate the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.

It was noted that the funding gap recorded in the report had now been met.

Cllr Hollingsworth noted the desirability of ensuring that when land was disposed of for the scheme , every effort should be made to secure access for cyclists. It was recognised that while this could be easily achieved in relation to land owned by the Council it could not necessarily be achieved in relation to land in private ownership. It was agreed that this aspiration should be embedded in the scheme as it proceeds.

Cllr Tanner asked for thanks to be recorded for the work of Cllr Price and officers in bringing the project to this important stage.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.     Approve the disposal of land (as identified in Appendix 1) to the Environment Agency for the purposes of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.  Such disposal to be below market value but subject to receipt of appropriate consents and the inclusion of appropriate restrictive covenants; with the Council also foregoing any land compensation in relation to the severance to the retained land. The values of the land identified in Appendix 1 being set out in Appendix 2;

2.     Approve the total net in-kind contribution to be made by the Council to the Environment Agency of £450,500;

3.     Approve the use of the Council’s powers under the Local Government Act 1972 and General Disposal Consent 2003 to dispose of the land identified in Appendix 1 below market value; and

4.     Grant delegated authority to the Executive Director - Sustainable City, in consultation with the Heads of Finance and Law and Governance, to enter into appropriate legal agreements with Environment Agency to give effect to the above matters.