Agenda item

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To consider the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal (the Deal) announced by Government in the November Budget, which provides £215 million of additional government funding for Oxfordshire, along with a package of planning freedoms and flexibilities for the Oxfordshire authorities.

The outline agreement makes it clear that full agreement of the Deal is subject to agreement by each local authority and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Board (OxLEP) board (referred to collectively as the “Oxfordshire Partners”). 

The deal also requires a detailed delivery plan to be agreed by Oxfordshire Partners, Homes England and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 31 January 2018.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to recommend that Full Council:

1.1.      Agree to the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal (the Deal)

1.2.       Agree the Delivery Plan (attached as Appendix 2 to this report) as the basis for the Deal; noting that elements will be updated as detailed work programmes develop.

1.3.      Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and the Growth Board, to make minor changes to the Delivery Plan that may be required to secure agreement with Government.

1.4.      Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with Leader and the Growth Board, to agree the Year 1 affordable housing delivery programme, phasing and processes specified in the Delivery Plan.

1.5.      Appoint Oxfordshire County Council as the accountable body in respect of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

1.6.      Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and the Growth Board, to review the terms of reference of the Growth Board and agree any amendments and any appropriate inter-authority agreements required to support the Delivery of the Housing and Growth Deal.

1.7.      Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to take any other decisions arising from agreement to the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal, until the revised terms of reference of the Growth Board are in place.

1.8.      Agree to participate in the preparation of a Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) for Oxfordshire in accordance with the timescales set out in the Delivery Plan and in accordance with Section 28 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Districts only). The milestones for progressing the JSSP being contingent on Government delivering the Planning Freedoms and Flexibilities as described in the Delivery Plan.

Resolved

(1)          That Full Council be recommended to agree to the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal (the Deal).

(2)          That Full Council be recommended to agree the Delivery Plan as the basis for the Deal; noting that elements will be updated as detailed work programmes develop.

(3)          That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and the Growth Board, to make minor changes to the Delivery Plan that may be required to secure agreement with Government.

(4)          That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with Leader and the Growth Board, to agree the Year 1 affordable housing delivery programme, phasing and processes specified in the Delivery Plan.

(5)          That Full Council be recommended to agree to appoint Oxfordshire County Council as the accountable body in respect of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

(6)          That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and the Growth Board, to review the terms of reference of the Growth Board and agree any amendments and any appropriate inter-authority agreements required to support the Delivery of the Housing and Growth Deal.

(7)          That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to take any other decisions arising from agreement to the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal, until the revised terms of reference of the Growth Board are in place.

(8)          That Full Council be recommended to agree to participate in the preparation of a Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) for Oxfordshire in accordance with the timescales set out in the Delivery Plan and in accordance with Section 28 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Districts only) with the milestones for progressing the JSSP being contingent on Government delivering the Planning Freedoms and Flexibilities as described in the Delivery Plan.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to consider the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal (the Deal) announced by Government in the November Budget, which provides £215 million of additional government funding for Oxfordshire, along with a package of planning freedoms and flexibilities for the Oxfordshire authorities.

The outline agreement made it clear that full agreement of the Deal was subject to agreement by each local authority and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Board (OxLEP) board (referred to collectively as the “Oxfordshire Partners”). 

The deal also required a detailed delivery plan to be agreed by Oxfordshire Partners, Homes England and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 31 January 2018.

In presenting the report, the Lead Member for Planning confirmed that all other local authorities in Oxfordshire had approved the Deal.

Resolved

(1)          That Full Council be recommended to agree to the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal (the Deal).

(2)          That Full Council be recommended to agree the Delivery Plan as the basis for the Deal; noting that elements will be updated as detailed work programmes develop.

(3)          That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and the Growth Board, to make minor changes to the Delivery Plan that may be required to secure agreement with Government.

(4)          That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with Leader and the Growth Board, to agree the Year 1 affordable housing delivery programme, phasing and processes specified in the Delivery Plan.

(5)          That Full Council be recommended to agree to appoint Oxfordshire County Council as the accountable body in respect of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

(6)          That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and the Growth Board, to review the terms of reference of the Growth Board and agree any amendments and any appropriate inter-authority agreements required to support the Delivery of the Housing and Growth Deal.

(7)          That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to take any other decisions arising from agreement to the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal, until the revised terms of reference of the Growth Board are in place.

(8)          That Full Council be recommended to agree to participate in the preparation of a Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) for Oxfordshire in accordance with the timescales set out in the Delivery Plan and in accordance with Section 28 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Districts only) with the milestones for progressing the JSSP being contingent on Government delivering the Planning Freedoms and Flexibilities as described in the Delivery Plan.

Reasons

This Deal is the only one of its kind in the UK, so far. It provides a significant level of additional level of additional resources for infrastructure and affordable housing to support the planned growth of Oxfordshire. Growth which in Cherwell is directed by the adopted Local Plan (itself based on the 2014 SHMA).

The protection offered by the bespoke planning freedoms will be significant allied with the strategic direction which a Countywide Spatial Plan will provide for shaping the growth which the development of the Oxford to Cambridge corridor will bring.

Alternative options

No alternative options are identified.