Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Infrastructure and Development Strategy

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/198

Contact: Timothy Mann, Programme Lead

Timothy.mann@oxfordshire.gov,uk

Report by Director of Environment and Highways (CA8)

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to;

a)    Approve the proposed changes to the Grant Determination Agreement (GDA) as set out in paragraphs 13 and 14 of the report; and

b)    Authorise the Director of Environment and Highways, in consultation with the Director of Law & Governance, Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 officer, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy and Cabinet Member for Finance to finalise the terms of, and enter into, the amended Grant Determination Agreement.

Cabinet had before it a report regarding amendments to the grant determination agreement with Homes England for the Didcot Garden Town Housing Infrastructure Fund project (HIF1).  The project had been widely publicised and the details published in previous Cabinet reports.

Following consideration by the Council’s Planning and Regulation Committee in July 2023, the HIF1 planning application was ‘called in’ by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 25 July 2023, and a decision was now awaited following the conclusion of conjoined planning and Orders Public Inquiries, which closed in May 2024.

After extensive negotiation, Homes England had agreed to contribute further funding to the programme of £36,400,000, potentially extending to £116,000,000, and to extend the funding window to 31 March 2028.  The remaining required funding would be met by the previously approved contributions from OxLEP, Section 106 income, and the allowance in the Council’s budget through capital borrowing.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, presented the report.

During discussion, a member made the following points in opposition to the to the proposals in the report:-

·   They argued that the project would not solve the problems of congestion, pollution, and climate change, but rather worsen them.

·   They questioned the carbon impact assessment of the project. They considered that the appendix to the report understated the significance of the CO2 emissions from the construction.

·   They advocated for alternative solutions to the transport and housing issuesarising from the project. They cited the Pathway to Zero Carbon Oxfordshire report, which recommended reducing travel demand and shifting to local and active travel modes, instead of building more roads. They suggested that the council should negotiate with the government to use the £400m for cycle ways and other sustainable infrastructure.

·   They also expressed concern about the cost and risk of the project. They noted that the project's cost has doubled in three years, and that there were still huge financial risks associated with building a bridge over a railway line and wetlands. They could not support the council's decision tounderwrite any over-spend, especially when there were considerable financial pressures in other areas including Adult Social Services.

Another member expressed concern that the Cabinet was being requested to decide on the issues in the report before the outcome of the planning inquiry was known.

Councillor Roberts responded to the comments and said that the issues both for and against the project had been explored by the Planning Committee.

The Monitoring Officer reminded members that the planning application associated with this project would be determined by the Secretary of State following the report by the planning inspector.

The Chair reiterated the point that the outcome of the planning inquiry was awaited and that, should the Secretary of State determine that the HIF1 scheme should proceed, it was important that the Council has access to the grant funding outlined in the report to support the implementation of the project.

Councillor Roberts proposed and Councillor Leffman seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED, 7 voting in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention to:-

a)    approve the proposed changes to the Grant Determination Agreement (GDA) as set out in paragraphs 13 and 14 of the report; and

b)    authorise the Director of Environment and Highways, in consultation with the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer, Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 officer, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy and Cabinet Member for Finance to finalise the terms of, and enter into, the amended Grant Determination Agreement.