Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance, Property and Transformation

Forward Plan Ref: 2026/149

Key decision

Contact: Ian Dyson, Director of Finance and Commercial Services (Ian.Dyson@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director of Finance and Commercial Services (CAB22)

The information contained in this report is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed categories

Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider proposals for a potential investment in renewable energy infrastructure, including approval to progress acquisition subject to undertaking further investigation and due diligence.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    Agree to the acquisition of the solar farm, on the terms set out in exempt Annex 1.

b)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation to negotiate and agree the final acquisition terms which will be substantially in accordance with the details set out in exempt Annex 1.

c)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Director of Property & Assets and the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, to conclude negotiations and complete all necessary legal documentation (subject to the completion of all due diligence exercises) to implement the acquisition.

d)    Note that the outcome of the due diligence and contract terms will be shared with Performance Scrutiny and Cabinet ahead of confirming the contract terms.

Councillor Bearder moved and Councillor Fawcett seconded the following resolution and it was approved.

RESOLVED: that the public be excluded for the duration of this item since it is likely that if they were present during the item there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and specified below in relation to this item and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Cabinet had before it proposals for a potential investment in renewable energy infrastructure, including approval to progress acquisition subject to undertaking further investigation and due diligence.

Councillor Laura Gordon (Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy) introduced the report.

Councillor Gordon moved and Councillor Levy seconded the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:

a)    Agree to the acquisition of the solar farm, on the terms set out in exempt Annex 1.

b)   Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation to negotiate and agree the final acquisition terms which will be substantially in accordance with the details set out in exempt Annex 1.

c)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Director of Property & Assets and the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, to conclude negotiations and complete all necessary legal documentation (subject to the completion of all due diligence exercises) to implement the acquisition.

d)   Note that the outcome of the due diligence and contract terms will be shared with Performance Scrutiny and Cabinet ahead of confirming the contract terms.