Venue: Rooms 1&2 - County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND. View directions
Contact: Sue Whitehead Tel: 07393 001213; E-Mail: sue.whitehead@oxfordshire.gov.uk
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Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2018 were approved and signed as a correct record. |
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Questions from County Councillors Any
county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working
days before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the
Cabinet’s delegated powers. The
number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is
limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the
meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As
with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of
this item will receive a written response. Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time. Minutes: Councillor Howson had given
written notice of the following question to Councillor Constance: - “Leaving aside East West Rail and the GWR electrification
project, what progress on other rail projects has there been in
Oxfordshire during 2018?” Councillor Constance replied: - “Network Rail has completed the £97
million Oxford area signalling scheme, replacing the 1960s signalling with a
state-of-the-art system controlled from the Thames Valley Signalling Centre in
Didcot. Signals have been replaced and extra signals provided to increase
capacity. Network Rail has completed Oxford Corridor Phase 1, a £163 million scheme to upgrade and remodel the track layout around Oxford station to remove conflicting movements, provide greater operational flexibility, improve train speeds and increase capacity. Network Rail is finalising the business case for Oxford Corridor Phase 2, and this is due to be submitted to Government in spring 2019. This phase of work comprises a new northbound island platform, replacement of the Botley Road bridge, realignment of Roger Dudman Way and Cripley Road, level crossing closures north of Oxford and upgraded track to and from East West Rail. It is estimated at around £160 million and will be delivered by 2023. Officers are working with Network Rail to define our future highway requirements. The North Cotswold Line Taskforce has met regularly throughout the year and is developing a Strategic Outline Business Case for investing in extra capacity between Oxford and Hanborough to enable a more frequent train service that can support new housing and employment in West Oxfordshire. Platform extension work is underway at stations on the North Cotswold Line to enable longer InterCity Express Trains to be introduced in 2019. A new £20 million multi-storey car park has opened at Didcot Parkway partly funded from the Local Growth Fund. This has provided an extra 910 spaces, and increases car parking to 1800 spaces. Network Rail has built a step-free pedestrian link between the new car park and the station building. Electrification of the Great Western Mainline through Oxfordshire is complete and electric trains can now operate between London Paddington and Swindon (and from next year, Cardiff), albeit not through Steventon, where the ongoing objection to replacing the bridge means trains cannot use electric power and have to use their on-board diesel engines. We have agreed that Network Rail will review the economic and operating case for completing electrification between Didcot and Oxford. If it were to go ahead, it would be designed with passive provision for future four-tracking. The County Council jointly commissioned initial site assessment work for the proposed Wantage & Grove station with Vale of White Horse District Council to ensure appropriate land is safeguarded in their Local Plan. As a result, two potential sites have been identified. Informal discussions have been held with Oxford University about a proposal for a new station near Begbroke. This will serve the expanding Science Park and the strategic housing site being proposed in the Cherwell Local Plan. We await further information from the University. Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study – this ... view the full minutes text for item 122/18 |
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Petitions and Public Address Minutes:
The Leader of the Council had agreed the following requests to address the meeting: |
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Financial Monitoring and Medium Term Financial Plan Delivery Report - October 2018 Cabinet Member: Finance Forward Plan Ref: 2018/116 Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Strategic Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518 Report by Director of Finance (CA6). The report sets out the forecast position of the revenue budget as at
the end of October 2018. The report also
includes an update on the delivery of savings, plus forecast reserves and
balances. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to: (a) note the report; (b) approve the virements set out in Annex 2a
and note the virements set out in Annex 2b; and (c) approve the bad debt
write-offs as set out in paragraphs 67 and 68. Additional documents: Minutes: The report set out the forecast position of the revenue budget as at the
end of October 2018. The report also
included an update on the delivery of savings, plus forecast reserves and
balances. Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance spoke to
the report highlighting the continuing issues in CEF and commented on those
issues that were underfunded by central government such as, unaccompanied young
asylum seekers. Councillor Phillips welcomed the winter pressure funding but felt
the requirements around it were unreasonable. Councillor Phillips commented
that in the Communities directorate the Carillion issue was a future risk. Overall she commented that the position was unsustainable
and that results were needed from the Transformation Programme to avoid cuts in
future years. Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, responded to
the comments made, noting that the CEF matters raised were national issues. The
Directorate was developing an action plan in response. He added that the Council would deliver a
balanced budget and thanked the diligent work of the Finance Team. Councillor Bartholomew introduced the contents of the report. RESOLVED:
to: (a)
note
the report; (b)
approve
the virements set out in Annex 2a and note the virements set out in Annex 2b;
and (c) approve the bad debt write-offs as set out in paragraphs 67 and 68. |
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Capital Programme Monitoring Report - October 2018 Cabinet Member: Finance Forward Plan Ref: 2018/116 Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Strategic Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518 Report by Director of Finance (CA7). The report is the third separate capital programme update and monitoring
report and focuses on the delivery of the 2018/19 capital programme based on
projections at the end of October 2018 and new inclusions within the overall
ten-year capital programme. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to: (a)
note
the report; (b)
approve
the updated Capital Programme at Annex 2 and the associated changes to the
programme in Annex 1c; and (c)
approve
the budget requirement of £6.3m towards the extension of Broadband for Business
in Rural Oxfordshire. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered the third separate capital programme update and
monitoring report that focussed on the delivery of the 2018/19 capital
programme based on projections at the end of October 2018 and new inclusions within
the overall ten-year capital programme. Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance drew
attention to discussion at the Performance and Scrutiny Committee that had
queried the capacity of the Council to manage the large number and scale of
projects to be undertaken; she also referred to the large amount of capital
funding. She commented that additional staff would be required and referred to
the need for a transparent process. Monitoring would be important, and she
hoped that the Council was up to the task. She welcomed the option of borrowing
to build to bring out of county placements for children back in county and
supported selling on any additional places. This needed to be pursued alongside
a long-term strategy to deal with increased demand. On paragraph 17 Councillor Phillips sought
clarification on whether the £17.4m referred to was additional spend. Councillor
Phillips referred to the money allocated to look at a safe pedestrian crossing
on Risinghurst Road. A child had been run over in a
recent incident and she asked whether it was included. Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, agreed that it
was an ambitious programme requiring sufficient capacity and added that an
awareness of the need to monitor and manage it was high on the agenda. Councillor
Ian Hudspeth, Leader of the Council, commented that capacity was a crucial
issue but that residents would question the Council if it did not put in
ambitious bids to central government. He referred to the HIF bid, which if
accepted would take the capital programme to over £1b. Councillor Bartholomew referring to building children’s homes was
supportive of the possibility of selling on spare places although there were
obstacles to be overcome. Councillor Bartholomew clarified that there was £10m
already identified for spend on roads and there was an additional £7.4m. Councillor Constance, Cabinet member for
Environment added that in recent discussions with Skanska she had raised with
them their ability to step up in the light of increased investment. Councillor Bartholomew, introduced the
contents of the report. He drew attention to the recommendation to approve £6.3m
towards the extension of Broadband for Business in Rural Oxfordshire which was
a formality and the project would be fully funded by a grant from DEFRA. RESOLVED: to: (a)
note
the report; (b)
approve
the updated Capital Programme at Annex 2 and the associated changes to the
programme in Annex 1c; and (c)
approve
the budget requirement of £6.3m towards the extension of Broadband for Business
in Rural Oxfordshire. |
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Service & Resource Planning Report - 2019/20 - December 2018 Cabinet Member: Finance Forward Plan Ref: 2018/115 Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Strategic Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518 Report by Director of Finance (CA8). The report is the second in the series on the Service & Resource
Planning process for 2019/20 and sets out the latest identified pressures and
proposed savings for 2019/20 and the medium term as well as key points arising
from the Autumn Budget announced on 29 October 2018. Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to take
the issues set out in the report into consideration in forming their proposed
budget for 2019/20, Medium Term Financial Plan to 2022/23 and Capital Programme
to 2028/29. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet had before them the second in the series of reports on the
Service & Resource Planning process for 2019/20 and it set out the latest
identified pressures and proposed savings for 2019/20 and the medium term as well
as key points arising from the Autumn Budget announced on 29 October 2018. Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, expressed
disappointment at the budget settlement, commented that the underlying
situation gave cause for concern and highlighted a number of
specific areas of concern including that relating to learning disability, older
people and mental health. In particular she urged
Cabinet to reject reductions in the budget relating to mental health services. Councillor Brighouse, Chairman of Performance Scrutiny Committee
commented, following that Committee’s consideration of the proposals. In
particular the Committee: was keen to undertake further work to scrutinise the
impact of the transformation programme, noting that its impact was unclear and it was not included in the proposals; was keen
to see an emphasis on prevention to manage demand, expressed significant
concerns over the proposals for mental health services and expressed concern
over the purchase of care home beds on block. The Committee also highlighted
areas where they would continue to keep a watching brief including daytime
support, Carillion and the Growth agenda.
Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance responded to
the comments made. He indicated that transformation was coming out temporarily
to allow for greater clarity. There had been something of a pause and reset on
transformation but the numbers, both the savings and the cost of achieving them
would be going back in before decisions were taken. It would be an ongoing and
iterative process. Councillor Brighouse asked that any new numbers come to
Scrutiny. Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Leader of the Council, highlighted the role
of the Transformation Sub-Committee that was a joint meeting of Performance
Scrutiny Committee and Audit & Governance Committee members. The figures
referred to would go to that Sub-Committee before February Council. Councillor Jamila Begum Azad, local councillor for St Clement's & Cowley Marsh, referred to a new sign on the
St Clements community building identifying it as Blackbird Leys Family
Solutions service. She queried why it
had been named Blackbird Leys and highlighted the needs of young people and
vulnerable people in the wider East Oxford area. Councillor Gray, Cabinet
Member for Local Communities replied that he had recently visited the centre
and would take up the comments made. Referring to the comments made on adult social care Councillor
Stratford, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, stated that the changes to
mental health were still proposals and the Council was still in discussion with
Oxford Health. The Daytime Support changes were going well but there would be a
review and some changes could be expected. Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, in moving the recommendations, thanked officers for their work. Lorna Baxter, Director of Finance, introduced the contents of the addenda setting out details of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2019/20 and ... view the full minutes text for item 126/18 |
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Compulsory Purchase Powers for Acquisition of Land Required for Delivery of Schemes Cabinet Member: Environment Forward Plan Ref: 2018/177 Contact: Hugo Terry, Group Manager – Project Sponsorship Tel: 07785 453288 Report by Director for Capital Investment & Delivery (CA9). The Council is proposing to
deliver a programme of major transport infrastructure projects, to support and
enable housing and economic growth in Oxfordshire. The transport network needs
to operate safely and be fit for purpose, delivering the Transport Strategy set
out within the Council’s Local Transport Plan. In order to
progress with the delivery of proposed major transport infrastructure schemes,
the use of Compulsory Purchase Powers may have to be used for the acquisition
of land required for the construction work. This report details the schemes which may require CPOs in order to proceed, as well as schemes identified as likely to require CPO in future, but are still in early feasibility stages where exact parcels of land have not yet been identified. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED
to: (a)
Approve delegation of the exercising of
Compulsory Purchase Powers to the Director of Capital Investment and Delivery,
in consultation with the Cabinet Member responsible for Transport, for the
purchase of land required for the delivery of the major infrastructure schemes
outlined in paragraphs 7 and 9 of this report, in the event
that the land cannot be acquired by negotiation; and (b)
Note that should the whole or any part of
lands required are not acquired by negotiation, the making of a Compulsory
Purchase Order under provisions contained in Part XII of the Highways Act 1980
for the acquisition of the land, will be progressed. This could include
providing the necessary attendance, expert witness provision, etc. at a Public
Enquiry if required. Minutes: The Council is proposing to deliver a programme of major transport infrastructure projects, to support and enable housing and economic growth in Oxfordshire. In order to progress with the delivery of proposed major transport infrastructure schemes, the use of Compulsory Purchase Powers may have to be used for the acquisition of land required for the construction work. Cabinet had before them a report that detailed the schemes which may require CPOs to proceed, as well as schemes identified as likely to require CPO in future, but which are still in early feasibility stages where exact parcels of land have not yet been identified. Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment was supportive of the proposals but noted that their use could be controversial and cause a reputational risk to the Council. He therefore expressed concern that the report was not detailed. He asked Cabinet to consider asking officers to come back to Cabinet to identify each site, with Cabinet making the decision unless it was time critical. During discussion Cabinet supported the proposals, and the ability to move quickly where necessary. The decision would aid future negotiation and gave clarity to the Council’s strength of purpose. A Cabinet Member suggested that in the event of a particularly controversial decision it could in any event be brought before Cabinet RESOLVED: to: (a) approve delegation of the exercising of Compulsory Purchase Powers to the Director of Capital Investment and Delivery, in consultation with the Cabinet Member responsible for Transport, for the purchase of land required for the delivery of the major infrastructure schemes outlined in paragraphs 7 and 9 of this report, in the event that the land cannot be acquired by negotiation; and (b)
note that should the whole or any part of lands
required are not acquired by negotiation, the making of a Compulsory Purchase
Order under provisions contained in Part XII of the Highways Act 1980 for the acquisition
of the land, will be progressed. This could include providing the necessary
attendance, expert witness provision, etc. at a Public Enquiry if required. |
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SEND Sufficiency Strategy and Northfield School Cabinet Member: Education & Cultural Services Forward Plan Ref: 2018/151 Contact: David Clarke, Deputy Director for Education Tel: 07741 607594 To agree the principles of the Strategy and consider
recommendations as part of this for the future of Northfield School. Minutes: Recommendations agreed. |
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Special Educational Needs & Disability Sufficiency of Places Strategy Report by Director of Children’s Services (CA10a). Oxfordshire’s school age population
is growing, both because of the rise in births experienced between 2002-2011
and due to the large-scale housing growth planned for the county between now
and 2027. However, the growth in demand for Special School and Resource Base
provision has increased rapidly. Currently, as a result, there are
insufficient school places to meet this demand which impacts on the ability for
the Council to: - • Effectively
and in the 20-week timescale complete an Education, and Health Care Plan for a
child. • Fulfil
the choice and expectations of parents for the best possible education
provision for their child • Require
increasing number of places into independent non-maintained special schools
resulting in the overspend of the High Needs Block • Utilise
the High Needs Block resource to support early intervention in mainstream
schools The strategy was written to
detail how the Council plans to address the current lack of special educational
needs school places. The strategy identifies options to meet the increase in
demand on places for children particularly, though not exclusively, with social
and emotional mental health needs/Autism to: - • expand
and develop current education provision across mainstream schools •review resource base and special
school sector •the building of new special
school provision The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note and approve the special educational needs sufficiency of places strategy. Minutes: Oxfordshire’s
school age population is growing, both because of the rise in births
experienced between 2002-2011 and due to the large-scale housing growth planned
for the county between now and 2027. However, the growth in demand for Special
School and Resource Base provision has increased rapidly. Currently, as a
result, there are insufficient school places to meet this demand and the
strategy was written to detail how the Council plans to address the current
lack of special educational needs school places. Cabinet had before them a
report and strategy that identified options to meet the increase in demand on
places. Councillor Damian
Haywood, speaking as a local councillor for Iffley
Fields & St Mary's and as a governor of Mabel Pritchard Special School
stated that whilst welcoming the Strategy as an excellent piece of work he did
have a number of concerns. Councillor Haywood: · Queried whether the number of places to be provided was sufficient. · Whether the annual saving targets were achievable. · Whether there was sufficient capital for the number of places to be provided and whether funding would be included in the budget. Councillor Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services in moving the recommendations, thanked Councillor Haywood for his comments and hoped that he would be involved in the work going forward. Lucy Butler, Director of Children’s Services, referred to the context of a huge increase in demand and suggested that the Strategy be reviewed annually. The emphasis was on local first and she detailed for Cabinet Members the four strands of the Strategy. The fourth strand was to build new schools including the re-build of Northfield School. RESOLVED: to note and approve the special educational needs sufficiency of places strategy. |
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Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA10b) The report proposes the re-build of Northfield School in-line with the SEND Education Sufficiency Strategy 2018-2027 for circa 100 students. The report seeks approval for the admission of Year 7 pupils for the academic year 2019/20 in to Northfield Special school and for in year transfers from January 2018. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to: (a)
Note the outcome of the informal
consultation and capacity reviews and agree not to issue a statutory notice for
closure. (b)
Approve the proposed re-build of Northfield
School in-line with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Education
Sufficiency Strategy 2018-2027 for circa 100 students. (c)
Support allocation of £9.52m capital budget
within the capital programme for the delivery of re-provision of Northfield
Special School, the funding for which will be agreed through the annual service
and resource planning process and the Capital Programme to be approved by
Council in February 2019; and (d)
Approve admission of Year 7 pupils for the
academic year 2019/20 in to Northfield Special school and for in year transfers
from January 2019. Minutes: Cabinet considered a report that proposed the re-build of Northfield School in-line with the SEND Education Sufficiency Strategy 2018-2027 for circa 100 students. The report seeks approval for the admission of Year 7 pupils for the academic year 2019/20 in to Northfield Special school and for in year transfers from January 2018. Councillor Jamila Begum Azad, local councillor for St Clement's &
Cowley Marsh asked that she receive the recent Ofsted Inspection report for
Northfield School. Commenting on the proposals Councillor Begum Azad queried
whether they were deliverable and what consultation there would be. Councillor
Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services replied that
it had been received only recently and Councillor Begum Azad would receive a
copy. It was disappointing but not unexpected that the School was in Special
Measures. Parents and governors would have been notified. Lucy Butler, Director for Children’s Services, explained the context to
the current proposal to re-build referring to the report to Cabinet in July. At
that point the children were on a split site but now all children were back at
the Northfield School site and the best outcome was seen to be the re-build of
the school. A Cabinet Member in commending the report, encouraged and supported
mainstream schools to be as inclusive as possible. This provided benefits for
mainstream pupils but as an additional challenge for schools needed to be
funded. Councillor Lindsay-Gale moved the recommendations. RESOLVED: to: (a) Note the outcome of the informal consultation and capacity reviews and agree not to issue a statutory notice for closure. (b) Approve the proposed re-build of Northfield School in-line with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Education Sufficiency Strategy 2018-2027 for circa 100 students. (c) Support allocation of £9.52m capital budget within the capital programme for the delivery of re-provision of Northfield Special School, the funding for which will be agreed through the annual service and resource planning process and the Capital Programme to be approved by Council in February 2019; and (d) Approve admission of Year 7 pupils for the academic year 2019/20 in to Northfield Special school and for in year transfers from January 2019. |
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Daytime Support Sustainability Grant Awards Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care & Public Health Forward Plan Ref: 2018/155 Contact: Rebecca Lanchbury, Commissioning Officer Tel: 07584 481255 Report by Deputy Director – Joint Commissioning (CA11). There are grant funds available to support the continuation
and development of community and voluntary sector daytime support opportunities
in Oxfordshire; these funds include the Innovation Fund to support new
initiatives and the sustainability fund to support existing services. This paper relates to the
Sustainability Grant Fund for 2019/20, to support community and voluntary
sector daytime support services to continue and flourish. There is £250,000 available in this fund. As per the agreed cross-party
panel decision making process, the cross-party panel reviewed the applications
and assessed them against the grant criteria as set out in the guidance. The report sets out the
cross-party panel's final recommendations for allocation of the Sustainability
Fund in 2019-20, for decision by Cabinet.
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to: (a)
Congratulate the voluntary sector for its dedication and
commitment to continuing to provide much valued services, and their work
towards self-sustainability (b)
Approve
for funding the bids listed under 31 (a) above. (c)
Approve the recommendations for funding the bids listed under 31
(b) above. (d)
Approve
the recommendations for funding the bids listed under 31 (c) above, subject to
conditions as set out in the cross-party panel recommendations (Annex 2). (e)
Approve
for funding the combined bids listed under 31 (d) above. (f)
Approve
the recommendation to reject the bids listed under 31 (e) above. (g)
Approve
transferring the remaining amount, as set out under 31 (f) above, to the
Innovation Fund 2018 (h)
Approve
the recommendations set out under 37 (1-5) above. Minutes: There are grant funds available to support the continuation and development of community and voluntary sector daytime support opportunities in Oxfordshire; these funds include the Innovation Fund to support new initiatives and the sustainability fund to support existing services. Cabinet considered a report relating to the Sustainability Grant Fund for 2019/20, to support community and voluntary sector daytime support services to continue and flourish. There is £250,000 available in this fund. As per the agreed cross-party panel decision making process, the report set out the panel's final recommendations for allocation of the Sustainability Fund in 2019-20, for decision by Cabinet. Councillor Stratford moved the recommendations. Councillor Mark Gray, Cabinet Member for Local Communities, thanked the cross party working group and service users for their involvement. Councillor Gray explained the approach taken by the Working Group in making their recommendations and noted that almost all recommendations had unanimous support of the Working Group members. RESO LVED: to: (a)
Congratulate the voluntary sector for its dedication and
commitment to continuing to provide much valued services, and their work
towards self-sustainability (b)
Approve
for funding the bids listed under 31 (a) above. (c)
Approve the recommendations for funding the bids listed under 31
(b) above. (d)
Approve
the recommendations for funding the bids listed under 31 (c) above, subject to
conditions as set out in the cross-party panel recommendations (Annex 2). (e)
Approve
for funding the combined bids listed under 31 (d) above. (f)
Approve
the recommendation to reject the bids listed under 31 (e) above. (g)
Approve
transferring the remaining amount, as set out under 31 (f) above, to the
Innovation Fund 2018 (h)
Approve
the recommendations set out under 37 (1-5) above. |
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The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury Cabinet Member: Transformation Forward Plan Ref: 2018/175 Contact: Claire Phillips, Asset & Investment Team Manager Tel: 07785 453260 Report by Director for Capital & Investment Delivery (CA12). The purpose of the paper is to improve the long term sustainability of the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury by declaring the property surplus to council requirements and transferring to Cherwell District Council as a named purchaser for less than best consideration. Cabinet are asked to delegate authority to Directors to agree appropriate terms and facilitate the transfer as soon as possible. The Cabinet
is RECOMMENDED to, (a)
To declare The Mill surplus to the county
council’s requirements. (b)
To approve the principle of transferring The
Mill to Cherwell District Council, as a named purchaser for £1 which is less
than best consideration subject to the necessary legal safeguards being in
place. (c)
To delegate to the Director of Law &
Governance in conjunction with the Director of Capital Investment and Delivery
to conclude the necessary legal agreement; and (d) To request that officers review the procedure for the disposal of surplus land at less than market value and bring an updated approach back to Cabinet at the appropriate time (once the current government consultation on this issue has concluded). Minutes: Cabinet had before them a report seeking approval to a proposal to improve the long-term sustainability of the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury by declaring the property surplus to council requirements and transferring to Cherwell District Council as a named purchaser for less than best consideration. Councillor Mark Lygo, Shadow Cabinet Member for Transformation, supported the proposal and thanked officers for their efforts in bringing it forward. Councillor Eddie Reeves, Cabinet Member for Transformation, in moving the recommendations emphasised that the proposal would allow the Arts Centre to access heritage funding, with Cherwell District Council taking a lead through their cultural planning and vision. Responding to a question from a Cabinet Member, Bev Hindle, Strategic Director of Communities confirmed that the review referred to as recommendation (d) would come back to Cabinet for approval. Nick Graham, Director of Law & Governance, responding to a question confirmed that the agreement would include specific reference to buy back and overage to protect the Council’s position. Cabinet was advised that Cherwell District Council had agreed the proposals at their meeting on 17 December and they sdaw it as vital to that Council’s regeneration plans for Banbury. RESOLVED: to: (a)
declare The Mill surplus to the county council’s
requirements. (b)
approve the principle of transferring The Mill
to Cherwell District Council, as a named purchaser for £1 which is less than
best consideration subject to the necessary legal safeguards being in place. (c) delegate to the Director of Law & Governance in conjunction with the Director of Capital Investment and Delivery to conclude the necessary legal agreement; and (d) request that officers review the procedure for the disposal of surplus land at less than market value and bring an updated approach back to Cabinet at the appropriate time (once the current government consultation on this issue has concluded). |
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Forward Plan and Future Business Cabinet Member: All Contact Officer: Sue Whitehead, Committee Services
Manager Tel: 07393 001213 The Cabinet Procedure
Rules provide that the business of each
meeting at the Cabinet is to include “updating of the Forward Plan and
proposals for business to be conducted at the following meeting”. Items from the Forward Plan for the
immediately forthcoming meetings of the Cabinet appear in the Schedule at CA13. This includes any updated information
relating to the business for those meetings that has already been identified
for inclusion in the next Forward Plan
update. The
Schedule is for noting, but Cabinet Members
may also wish to take this opportunity to identify any further changes they
would wish to be incorporated in the next Forward Plan update. The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the items currently identified for
forthcoming meetings. Minutes: The Cabinet considered a
list of items for the immediately forthcoming
meetings of the Cabinet. RESOLVED: to note the items currently identified for
forthcoming meetings. |