The Shareholder Committee met to discuss business reports and strategic plans for Crown House Banbury Limited and Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC). The committee approved recommendations related to the Quarter One Business Report for Crown House Banbury Limited, as well as the appointment of two new non-executive directors for the Graven Hill companies. They also approved recommendations in response to the GHVDC Quarter One Business Report and the Strategic Business Plan 2025-26 Reforecast Post 2024-25 Year End, all of which are subject to call-in¹.

Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) Business Reports and Strategic Business Plan

The Shareholder Committee approved the recommendations in response to the GHVDC Quarter One Business Report, the GHVDC Quarter One Business Report (Exempt), and the Strategic Business Plan 2025-26 Reforecast Post 2024-25 Year End, all of which are subject to call-in.

The GHVDC Quarter One Business Report provided an overview of the company's performance, key strategic risks, and financial status. The report noted that the second quarter had been focused on:

• securing residential sales
• delivering residential completions
• progressing the new planning application and associated viability
• progressing work on the strategy agreed at the February Strategy Day with the Shareholder Committee
• undertaking a further update to the Strategic Business Plan aligned to a potential site acquisition.

The committee also reviewed the GHVDC Bonus overview for the financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26, as requested at the June committee meeting.

Appendix B of the report included a table of Section 106 payments². The report also detailed updates on a number of specific contributions:

• Primary School Delivery: No costs for school delivery were included within Phase 1 FVA modelled by HLD. The council provided justification on 29 November 2022 setting out why costs should be apportioned between Stage 1 and Stage 2. The school was completed on 7 September 2023.
• Primary Education Direct Delivery Contribution: The council's response on 11 May 2023 stated that this contribution could be reduced to £801,545.
• Temporary Classroom/School Transport: The council's consultation response on 11 May 2023 reduced this contribution to £156,842 (at 4Q11 index date).
• Special Educational Needs (SEN): Recalculated based on 745 dwellings using the Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) matrix, the sum is £91,451 indexed August 2024.
• Secondary Education Contribution: The remaining sum is £750 indexed to 2Q23.
• Social Infrastructure Payments: The remaining sum is £55,615, indexed to 4Q21.
• Public Transport Contribution: Recalculated for 745 dwellings, the contribution is £866,553.
• Highways Works Package 1: £388,184 indexed = £534,568.
• Highway Works Package 2: £39,211 indexed = £53,997.
• Junction 9 Contribution: The council's response on 18 October 2022 requires this payment in full.
• Community Centre: It is now agreed in principle that a combined facility including a combined community centre, changing pavilion and associated sports pitches will be delivered by the council.
• Sports Pitch Delivery: As agreed by the council, using the Sustainable Project Delivery (SPD) 2018 Capital Costs for Sports Pitches.
• Amenity Space Maintenance: Within the viability assessment, it had been assumed 9 transfers with equal payments of £747,007.
• Mature Trees Maintenance: The current contribution of £555,930 is for 200 mature trees across the entire development.
• Woodland Maintenance: The council has sought advice from Woodland management Co & Forestry commission which identifies significant lower management costs.
• Allotments: The provision of allotments is to be dealt with as part of the viability for Stage 2.
• Play Area Maintenance: Total Stage 1 £382,858 (unindexed). Assumed Transfer 2Q25.
• SUDS Maintenance: The SUDS schedule requires redrafting as the SUDS drainage will not be fully installed until completion of Stage 2.
• Waste Bins & Recycling: Houses and Apartments future years to 745 total.
• Public Art: The provision of public art is 3 equal payments @ 450, 900, 1450 occupations.
• Thames Valley Police: The council will make three equal payments @ 450, 900, 1450 occupations.
• Cemeteries: Payment 1 within Stage 1 £9,277 (un-indexed) at 4Q21 £12,670.

Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Directors to Graven Hill Companies

The Shareholder Committee approved the appointment of Rachael Sherratt and Emma Grant as Non-Executive Directors for the Graven Hill companies, subject to appropriate checks being completed. The Graven Hill Board will be notified of the decision for company ratification.

The council partnered with Berwick Partners to undertake the recruitment process, which was a national recruitment exercise. Interviews were held on Monday 14 July, with an interview panel comprising of:

• Councillor David Hingley, Leader of the Council and Leader of Liberal Democrat Group (Chair of the Shareholder Committee)
• Councillor Lesley McLean, Deputy Leader of Liberal Democrat Group (Vice-Chair of the Shareholder Committee)
• Terry Fuller, Independent Chair of Graven Hill Village Development Company Board
• Shiraz Sheikh, Assistant Director Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer
• Michael Furness, Assistant Director Finance & S151 Officer³
• Marek Dobrowolski, Berwick Partners

Crown House Banbury Limited - Quarter One Business Report 2025/26

The Shareholder Committee noted the Crown House Banbury Limited Quarter One 2025/26 Business Report and the impact of CCTV installation at Crown House.

The report set out the in-year key performance and financial update for the Crown House Companies for Quarter One 2025/26. In the last quarter, CCTV has been installed, which has reduced the incidence of vandalism to nil.