Agenda and decisions

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2024.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To seek approval to consult on a new Housing Allocations Scheme

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To approve the commencement of public consultation on the reviewed and amended Housing Allocations Scheme.

1.2         To approve the changes to the previously agreed approach, of allocating properties that are delivered through Oxford's Unmet Housing Need. This will enable discussions and a potential agreement with Oxford City Council to progress. The approach outlined in this report is reflected in the new draft policy.

Resolved

(1)            That the commencement of public consultation on the reviewed and amended Housing Allocations Scheme be approved.

(2)            That changes to the previously agreed approach of allocating properties that are delivered through Oxford's Unmet Housing Need, whereby Cherwell District Council would allocate properties and administer the applications, be approved to enable discussions and a potential agreement with Oxford City Council to progress and it be noted that the revised approach is reflected in the new draft policy.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance & Section 151 Officer

Purpose of report

To inform Executive of the reviewed policy for Council Tax Section 13a (S13a) and proposed updates.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To note the contents of the reviewed policy for Section 13a Council Tax.

1.2         To approve the policy for Council Tax Section 13a.

Resolved

(1)            That the contents of the reviewed policy for Section 13a Council Tax be noted.

(2)            That the policy for Council Tax Section 13a be approved.

Report of Assistant Director for Finance & Section 151 Officer

Purpose of report

To inform Executive of the reviewed policy for Non-Domestic Rate Discretionary Rate Relief policy and proposed updates and seek approval of the updated policy,

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To note the contents of the reviewed policy for Non-Domestic Rate Discretionary Rate Relief.

1.2         To approve the policy for Non-Domestic Rate Discretionary Rate Relief.

Resolved

(1)            That the contents of the reviewed policy for Non-Domestic Rate Discretionary Rate Relief be noted.

(2)            That the policy for Non-Domestic Rate Discretionary Rate Relief be approved.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance & Section 151 Officer

Purpose of report

On 16 April 2024 the Minister for Local Government, Simon Hoare, wrote to all councils explaining that they were required to prepare a Productivity Plan to submit to Government by 19 July 2024.  This report presents a draft Productivity Plan for the Executive to consider for submission to the Government.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1       To approve the Productivity Plan for submission to the Government.

Resolved

(1)          That the Productivity Plan be approved for submission to the Government.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance & Section 151 Officer

Purpose of report

The council’s Service Level Agreement with Oxfordshire County Council to provide internal audit and counter fraud Services came to an end on 30 April 2024.  The council has entered into a temporary contract with Veritau Limited from 1 May 2024 to provide internal audit and counter fraud services for a period of 6 months.  This report proposes an approach for the long-term provision of internal audit and counter fraud services by entering into a teckal company arrangement with Veritau Public Sector Limited.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To agree for the council to pay a £20k fee to join Veritau Public Sector Limited and become a member in the company and delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) to sign the members’ agreement and service contract with Veritau Public Sector Limited and any subsequent paperwork required to become a member.

1.2         To appoint the Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) to the board of Veritau Public Sector Limited as a director of the company.

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed the council pay a £20k fee to join Veritau Public Sector Limited and become a member in the company and delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) to sign the members’ agreement and service contract with Veritau Public Sector Limited and any subsequent paperwork required to become a member.

(2)          That  the Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) be appointed to the board of Veritau Public Sector Limited as a director of the company.

Report of Assistant Director Finance & Section 151 Officer

Purpose of report

To update Executive on financial positions at the end of the May 2024.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To consider and note the contents of the council’s financial management report as at May 2024.

1.2         To approve the use of reserve requests set out in Appendix 5.

1.3         To approve the write offs totalling £398,796.89 set out in exempt Appendix 6.

1.4         To approve the reprofile of the following capital project beyond the 2024/25 financial year, this has already been assumed in Appendix 1:

40296 – S106 Ambrosden Outdoor Sports - £0.130m

1.5         To approve the consolidation of the three projects relating to North Oxfordshire Academy (40309 – S106 NOA Improvements - £0.678m, 40010 – North Oxfordshire Academy Astroturf - £0.134m and 40323 – NOA 3G Pitch Development - £1.600m), note the total project cost is now expected to be £1.600m, and approve the reprofile of the project beyond the 2024/25 financial year. This has already been assumed in Appendix 1.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the council’s financial management report as at the end of May 2024 be noted.

(2)          That the use of reserve requests as set out in Appendix 5 of the report be approved.

(3)          That the write offs totalling £398,796.89 as set out in exempt Appendix 6 be approved.

(4)          That the reprofile of the following capital project beyond the 2024/25 financial year (already been assumed in Appendix 1 to the report) be

approved:

·         40296 – S106 Ambrosden Outdoor Sports - £0.130m

(5)          That the consolidation of the three projects relating to North Oxfordshire Academy (40309 – S106 NOA Improvements - £0.678m, 40010 – North Oxfordshire Academy Astroturf - £0.134m and 40323 – NOA 3G Pitch Development - £1.600m) be approved and it be noted the total project cost was now expected to be £1.600m, and the reprofile of the project beyond the 2024/25 financial year (already assumed in Appendix 1 to the report) be approved.

The following items contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

1 – Information relating to any individual

2 – Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

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 items have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider 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.

No representations have been received from the public requesting that this item be considered in public.

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

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Agreed under item 12

** This report will follow **

Exempt report of Corporate Director Resources

Resolved

(1)          That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Property, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, Monitoring Officer and S151 Officer, to award the contract to undertake the strip-out and refurbishment works required to create the new office facilities at Castle Quay once the evaluation of tender submissions has been concluded.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Law and Governance to enter into the call off contract and associated agreements in this connection.