Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

Resolved

(1)          That the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be given delegated authority to respond to the County Council consultation for a single county unitary on behalf of the Council and its key stakeholders, following feedback from this meeting.

(2)          That the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service with the Leader of the Council continue to work in collaboration with West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxford City Council to present the opposing case for local government reform in Oxfordshire.

(3)          That the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service with the Leader of the Council continue to work in collaboration with the Leaders of the other five Councils in Oxfordshire to pursue a devolution deal that will facilitate the continuation of economic growth and prosperity of our district and the county as a whole, through devolved powers and additional funding from Government.

(4)          That the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service with the Leader of the Council engages with the Secretary of State/his officials regarding local government reform and/or a devolution deal on behalf of the Council.

(5)          That the provision of up to £150,000 from reserves (as agreed in the budget and policy framework), to be used only if considered necessary by the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Leader and Lead Member with responsibility for Financial Management to enable the Council to respond to the proposals for a single county unitary and other related activity to protect the interests of Cherwell district residents, or to pursue a devolution deal in whatever form is necessary, be agreed.

(6)          That  following agreement of (5) above, the Executive be kept informed of actual spend against this emergency fund to enable monitoring, the effective management of risk and ensure transparency.

The Chairman advised that he had agreed to add one urgent item of business to the agenda: Update on proposals for local government reform in Oxfordshire and the development of a county wide devolution deal with Government. The matter had arisen arose after agenda publication and a decision could not wait until the next meeting.

The Head of Transformation submitted a report which provided an update on the potential reform of local government within Oxfordshire; sought  agreement for the urgent funding of communications, engagement and other related activity to protect the interests of Cherwell district residents, business and other key stakeholders arising from the possibility of local government reform; sought agreement for the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the Leader, to respond to the County Council consultation in respect of its One Oxfordshire proposal on behalf of the council; sought authority for the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service with the Leader to engage with the Secretary of State regarding local government reform and/or a devolution deal with Government on behalf of the council; and, sought agreement for the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service with the Leader to work collaboratively with the other councils across Oxfordshire in pursuit of a county wide devolution deal with Government.

Resolved

(1)          That the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be given delegated authority to respond to the County Council consultation for a single county unitary on behalf of the Council and its key stakeholders, following feedback from this meeting.

(2)          That the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service with the Leader of the Council continue to work in collaboration with West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxford City Council to present the opposing case for local government reform in Oxfordshire.

(3)          That the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service with the Leader of the Council continue to work in collaboration with the Leaders of the other five Councils in Oxfordshire to pursue a devolution deal that will facilitate the continuation of economic growth and prosperity of our district and the county as a whole, through devolved powers and additional funding from Government.

(4)          That the Joint Chief Executive or the acting Head of Paid Service with the Leader of the Council engages with the Secretary of State/his officials regarding local government reform and/or a devolution deal on behalf of the Council.

(5)          That the provision of up to £150,000 from reserves (as agreed in the budget and policy framework), to be used only if considered necessary by the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Leader and Lead Member with responsibility for Financial Management to enable the Council to respond to the proposals for a single county unitary and other related activity to protect the interests of Cherwell district residents, or to pursue a devolution deal in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 130.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Report of Head of Regeneration and Housing

Purpose of report

To consider the award of a Construction Contract for the Superstructure works at Hope Close, Banbury, a new build housing development consisting of 11 dwellings being delivered by Cherwell District Council, Regeneration and Housing.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To approve the acceptance of the recommended tender for the Superstructure Contract at The Fairway, Hope Close, Banbury.

Resolved

(1)          That the tender for the Superstructure Contract at The Fairway, Hope Close, Banbury totalling £1.444m to Edgar Taylor (Buckingham) Limited be approved.

The Head of Regeneration and Housing submitted a report to consider the award of a Construction Contract for the Superstructure works at Hope Close, Banbury, a new build housing development consisting of 11 dwellings being delivered by Cherwell District Council, Regeneration and Housing.

Resolved

(1)          That the tender for the Superstructure Contract at The Fairway, Hope Close, Banbury totalling £1.444m to Edgar Taylor (Buckingham) Limited be approved.

Reasons

Cherwell District Council is developing land acquired from the Trustees of the Methodist Church, Hope Close, Banbury for the purpose of developing 11 new homes as part of an agreement to complete this scheme.

Phase two, for which approval is ought, includes the superstructure and overall completion of the development.

Following a ‘best practice’ procurement exercise Edgar Taylor (Buckingham) Limited has submitted the highest scoring tender offer. It is recommended the Contract is awarded to Edgar Taylor (Buckingham) Limited for the lump sum fixed price of £1,443,098.22.

Alternative options

The Council has completed a tender exercise in compliance with the Councils contract procedure rules and has considered carefully using the appropriate scoring criteria for selection of a preferred bidder to complete the infrastructure project. As an open tender process was completed, considerations of alternative options were not progressed. Officers are satisfied that the best fixed priced bid has been received against the tender evaluation process.

The following report 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).

5 – Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings

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 it 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 a decision 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 item of business on the grounds 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 3 and 5 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.”

Resolved

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds 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 3 and 5 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.

** Please note that appendix 3 to this report will follow as the information is currently awaited **

Exempt report of Chief Finance Officer

Resolved

(1)          As set out in the exempt decisions

(2)          As set out in the exempt decisions

(3)          As set out in the exempt decisions

(4)          As set out in the exempt decisions

(5)          As set out in the exempt decisions

(6)          As set out in the exempt decisions

The Chief Finance Officer submitted an exempt report relating to the Castle Quay Phase Two redevelopment.

Resolved

(1)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

(2)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

(3)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

(4)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

(5)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

(6)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

Reasons

As set out in the exempt minutes

Alternative options

Option 1: To reject the recommendations. This is not recommended for the reasons set put in the report.