Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/106

Contact: Karen Lister, Head of Estates & Strategy Tel: 07875 441940/Steve Jorden, Corporate Director – Commercial Development, Assets and Investment Tel: 07881 588887

Report by Corporate Director – Commercial Development, Assets and Investment (CA9).

The information contained in the annex is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

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, in that a negotiation is ongoing and would prejudice the position of the authority in the process of that negotiation and the Council’s standing generally in relation to such matters in future, to the detriment of the Council’s ability properly to discharge its fiduciary and other duties as a public authority.

The City Council are actively seeking new sites in order to deliver additional affordable housing to meet Growth Deal pipeline numbers.  In addition, the City are seeking to bring forward their regeneration of Blackbird Leys. The County Council owns development sites in Oxford and also the Blackbird Leys Former Pool. Consequently, this has resulted in discussions between the two Councils on a subject to contract basis.

The negotiations are now complete, and this report details the provisionally agreed terms of the transactions. The report seeks approval for the disposal of three sites to the City Council as a named purchaser.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)         Agree the principle of off-market sales to the City Council, as a named purchaser, of the following properties:

·                     Part of Northfield Hostel for delivery of 100% affordable housing 

·                     Former Depot Site at Lanham Way for delivery of 100% affordable housing 

·                     Former Blackbird Leys Swimming Pool for incorporation into the regeneration scheme

(b)         To declare the Former Blackbird Leys Swimming Pool surplus to requirements.

(c)         Delegate authority to the Director for Property, Investment and Facilities Management and the Director of Law and Governance to agree appropriate terms.

Recommendations agreed

It was agreed that there was no necessity to go into private session on this item.

Councillor David Bartholomew summarised the report.  It was proposed to agree a transaction with Oxford City Council regarding surplus properties owned by the County Council which could be used for affordable housing.  Also, included was the old swimming pool at Blackbird Leys which will be transferred to become part of a regeneration plan.

Councillor Laurie Stratford described the proposal as a win-win situation for both councils and a good example of partnership working.  He congratulated all involved.

The Chairman agreed that the Council should do everything in its power to provide for better housing.

RESOLVED: to

a)            Agree the principle of off-market sales to the City Council, as a named purchaser, of the following properties:

·                Part of Northfield Hostel for delivery of 100% affordable housing 

·                Former Depot Site at Lanham Way for delivery of 100% affordable housing 

·                Former Blackbird Leys Swimming Pool for incorporation into the regeneration scheme

b)            To declare the Former Blackbird Leys Swimming Pool surplus to requirements.

c)            Delegate authority to the Director for Property, Investment and Facilities Management and the Director of Law and Governance to agree appropriate terms.