Decision details

To seek approval of the amendment to grant determination agreement (GDA) with Homes England and delegation to officers and to note:

-          progress made and changes to the scheme programme; and

-          requirement for CPO process to follow GDA changes

Recommendations were amended and agreed as follows:

RESOLVED to

a)            Authorise the Corporate Director Environment and Place, in consultation with the Director of Law & Governance, Director of Finance, Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy and Cabinet Member for Finance to negotiate an amended Grant Determination Agreement (GDA) with Homes England. The amended GDA will need to include: 

·                     an extension to the availability period to 31st March 2026 and assurance that risks to the delivery timeframe caused by exceptional circumstances outside the Council's direct control will be mitigated 

·                     confirmation of an increase in funding to £239,816,437 

·                     confirmation that the Council has flexibility, subject to timescale and costs, to design and deliver infrastructure that will reduce the carbon impact and reduce the need to travel by car

b)            The draft of any amended GDA should be presented to Cabinet for consideration and potential approval. 

c)            Establish a Cabinet Advisory Group (CAG) to oversee the detailed design and development of HIF1. 

d)            Instruct officers immediately to commence the development of designs for the scheme consistent with this Council's strategic priorities. 

e)            Authorise the development of a new Didcot area transport strategy and masterplan to meet the corporate priorities and agree to provide appropriate resources to support the development of the plan.