Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members declared interests in the following agenda items:

4. Build! Housing Development Programme.

Councillor Nigel Randall, Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, as Custodian Trustee Cherwell Community Land Trust and would withdraw from the Council Chamber and take no part in the discussions or voting on this item.

Welcome

The Chairman welcomed all newly elected and re-elected Members and advised Council that this was a special meeting called due to the need for a decision relating to the Build! Programme before 31 May 2014 and this was the only item of business on the agenda. All matters relating to the appointment of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Committees will be dealt with at the scheduled Annual Council meeting on Monday 16 June 2014.

Post

The Chairman reminded Members to collect any post from pigeon holes.

** Please note that this report will follow as discussions with external parties are currently underway **

** Please note the appendices to this report are exempt **

Report of Head of Regeneration and Housing

Purpose of report

To seek Full Council’s support and approval to the delivery of the Build! Programme as identified within this report at an additional capital cost to the Council of £9.5m.

To inform Full Council that the Build! Programme must be completed to the relevant qualifying standard for each property subject to grant by no later than 31 March 2015 to ensure the allocated Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) grant is paid.  The grant element under particular scrutiny is identified in appendix 2 within the summary Build! Programme chart under the affordable Housing Programme.

To inform Full Council that one element of grant relating to specialist housing totalling £880K can be claimed up to 31 March 2016.  This grant funding comes from a different HCA grant source given the specialist nature of the housing to be provided.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To note the financial due diligence report at exempt Appendix 1.

1.2      To support the full delivery of the Build! Programme as identified under the Build! Housing Summary Chart in exempt Appendix 2.

1.3      To approve the necessary capital resources of £9.5m to be funded from the Council’s own capital reserves to enable the delivery of the schemes identified.

1.4      To require officers to submit a further report to the Council at the completion of the development programme to further identify and conclude the financial position.

The Head of Regeneration and Housing submitted a report which sought support and approval to the delivery of the Build! Programme as set out in the report (annex to the minutes as set out in the minute book) at an additional capital cost to the Council of £9.5m.

The report informed Council that the Build! Programme must be completed to the relevant qualifying standard for each property subject to grant by no later than 31 March 2015 to ensure the allocated Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) grant was paid. The grant element under particular scrutiny was identified in the exempt appendix 2 within the summary Build! Programme chart under the affordable Housing Programme.

The report further informed Council that one element of grant relating to specialist housing totalling £880K could be claimed up to 31 March 2016. This grant funding came from a different HCA grant source given the specialist nature of the housing to be provided.

Members were supportive of the proposals, acknowledging the numerous benefits accruing from the redevelopment and regeneration of the various sites identified. The successful delivery of the programme would establish the Council as leaders in this innovative field, and demonstrate a track record which would benefit the Council when bidding for future grant monies from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Resolved:

(1)       That the financial due diligence report at exempt Appendix 1 (exempt annex to the minutes as set out in the minute book) be noted.

(2)       That the full delivery of the Build! Programme as identified under the Build! Housing Summary Chart in exempt Appendix 2 (exempt annex to the minutes as set out in the minute book) be supported.

(3)       That the necessary capital resources of £9.5m, to be funded from the Council’s own capital reserves to enable the delivery of the schemes identified be approved

(4)       That officers be requested to submit a further report to the Council at the completion of the development programme to further identify and conclude the financial position.

(The motion was passed unanimously).

The following item contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraph of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

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

Members are reminded that whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Resolved

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Council considered the exempt appendices to the Build! Housing Development Programme.The Lead Member for Financial Management, Councillor Atack, confirmed he was happy with the consideration given by Officers to the financial implications, and subsequently responded to a number of questions from Members on financial aspects.