Agenda and draft minutes

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Council minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2024. 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2024 as a correct record and agree that the Chair sign them as such.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Pieter-Paul Barker,

Tim Bearder, Sam Casey-Rerhaye, Peter Dragonetti, Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Alexandrine Kantor, James Norman, Andrea Powell, Ed Sadler and

Freddie van Mierlo.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and non-registrable interests or any conflicts of interest in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting. 

To receive notification of any matters which the chair determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chair. 

There were no items of urgent business. The Chair noted what a privilege it was to represent the district council at such a varied number of events across the district.

The Chair congratulated those councillors who had stood as candidates at the recent parliamentary elections held on 4 July 2024 and particularly Freddie van Mierlo who was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Henley and Thame Constituency.

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

None.

To receive any petitions from the public. 

None.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 27 June 2024, considered a report on the additional grant funding made available under Local Authority Housing Fund 3 (LAHF 3) to support the provision of housing for the council’s refugee accommodation programme and for accommodation for general homelessness use.

The Cabinet report is attached.

Cabinet resolved to accept the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ grant of £840,500 (indicative Local Authority Housing Fund 3 allocation) to deliver four homes that meet the eligibility criteria outlined within the Local Authority Housing Fund 3 prospectus, and to authorise the deputy chief executive – transformation and operations to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which sets out the understanding between both parties for the use of funding. 

CABINET RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL:

To add £1.864 million to the approved capital programme, part funded by Local Authority Housing Fund 3 funding of £840,500 to purchase four homes under this scheme. 

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendation, made at its meeting on 27 June 2024, to add additional funding to the approved capital programme to purchase homes under Local Authority Housing Fund 3 (LAHF 3).

Council was advised that Cabinet had resolved toaccept the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ grant of £840,500 (indicative Local Authority Housing Fund 3 allocation) to deliver four homes that meet the eligibility criteria outlined within the Local Authority Housing Fund 3 prospectus.  The remaining funds would come from the council’s capital programme.

RESOLVED: to add £1.864 million to the approved capital programme, part funded by Local Authority Housing Fund 3 funding of £840,500, to purchase four homes under this scheme.

To receive the report of the leader of the council.

Councillor Roane, Leader of the council, provided his update report. He thanked all staff who he assisted with the delivery of the parliamentary election. He noted that South Oxfordshire District Council were the top recycling area in England.     

No questions submitted from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 35.   

None.

No motions submitted from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 39. 

None.

To consider whether to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended on the grounds that:

(i)     It is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A, and

(ii)    the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED: to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business under Part 1 of Schedule 12A Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 on the grounds that:

i.      they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and

ii.     the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 27 June 2024, considered the confidential

report ofthe head of environment and housing on the provision of grant

funding using commuted sums held by the council, towards an affordable

housing project being delivered by a registered provider of

affordable housing on a site in Thame.

Cabinet’s recommendations are attached.

Council considered and agreed Cabinet’s recommendation, made at its meeting on 27 June 2024, on the provision of grant funding using S106 commuted sums held by the council, towards an affordable housing project being delivered by Soha Ltd in Thame.

See confidential minute.

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive: Partnerships – report attached.

Council considered a confidential report on the decisions taken by Cabinet at its meeting on 27 June 2024 regarding the end of the initial period of the Capita contract in September 2025 and the provision of services in the future.

Council noted the decisions taken by Cabinet and agreed to the cost of the proposed service arrangements set out in the report.

See confidential minute.