Decision
Analysis
outcome: The recommendations of the report were approved unanimously by the Executive.
summary: The decision involves noting the West Oxfordshire Infrastructure Funding Statement for 2024/25 and how developer contributions are reported and used.
topline: The Executive has decided to approve the recommendations of the West Oxfordshire Infrastructure Funding Statement for 2024/25.
reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves the allocation and use of significant funds for infrastructure projects, which could impact various stakeholders and communities.
affected_stakeholders: ["Local residents", "Developers", "Council members"]
contentiousness_score: 6
political_party_relevance: There are no explicit mentions of political parties or political influence on the decision.
URL: https://meetings.westoxon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=453
Decision Maker: Executive
Outcome: Recommendations Approved
Is Key Decision?: No
Is Callable In?: No
Purpose:
Content: Councillor Hugo Ashton, Executive Member for Planning, presented the item, the purpose of which was to note the West Oxfordshire Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) for 2024/25. In his introduction Councillor Ashton noted that Local Authorities were required to report on the receipt and use of developer contributions through the IFS statement. The amounts of s106 and CIL secured, received, spent and held should be reported and these headline figures were contained in section 2.4 of the report. The IFS was required to be published by 31 December 2025. Councillor Ashton drew attention to the mechanisms that the Council could use to secure funding such as working with stakeholders, planning policy requirements, negotiating obligations with developers and reviewing site viability. However, it was noted that funding passed onto third party agents was not reported and the Council had no control over how this was spent. Councillor Ashton stated that £14,377,836.10 of funding was held by the Council. A proportion of this had been allocated for maintenance of open spaces with a further c.£10m of the funds having already been earmarked to specific projects. In addition to the current IFS those in the future would include funds secured through CIL. Finally, Councillor Ashton suggested that the infrastructure funding need that existed in West Oxfordshire was over £140m which was more than could be secured through such funding. In the discussion that followed the following points were raised: · A Member queried the Council’s plan to secure land in central Woodstock. In the response it was noted that the Infrastructure Delivery Plan would set out infrastructure requirements required for growth and development across the district and would include Woodstock. · The report included examples of projects delivered in the last year which brought to life what the plan was intended to accomplish. Councillor Ashton proposed accepting the recommendations of the report. Councillor Alaric Smith seconded the proposal and reiterated that in future CIL would be a further mechanism to secure infrastructure. This was voted on and approved unanimously. RESOLVED: That the Executive: 1. Noted the content of the Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) attached at Annex A, with a view to it being published on the Council’s website by 31 December 2025 in accordance with legislative requirements.
Date of Decision: October 15, 2025