Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is requested to consider the recommendations from the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel to instruct professionals to undertake a valuation of the site and to advise on technical and legal matters regarding the compulsory purchase order and, subject to satisfactory approval, to approve consultants to prepare a masterplan for the site and to allocate funding of £100,000 for these matters.

RESOLVED

(1)        That a Registered Valuer be instructed to undertake a valuation of the site prior to further consideration of the potential to use compulsory purchaser powers to facilitate development.

(2)        That a specialist solicitor be instructed to advise on technical and legal matters relating to the compulsory purchaser order process including the transfer of land and procurement of a preferred developer.

(3)        Subject to the outcomes of (1) and (2) above, that consultants be appointed to prepare a masterplan for the site.

(4)        That a sum of up to £100,000 be allocated from the Planning Delivery Grant and General Reserve to fund the matters in (1) and (2) above.

The Cabinet considered the report circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

In response to a question from Mrs Keegan, Mr Allgrove replied that the Council had limited experience of CPO work as it was a rare occurrence hence the requirement to engage a specialist lawyer and valuation advice to include technical advice on the approach to procurement of a developer as part of the CPO process to minimise the risk to the Council.

Mr Finch considered it essential to go ahead with this CPO as important work had been carried out in identifying site allocations in the Local Plan and it was essential that these were capable of being implemented.

RESOLVED

(1)        That a Registered Valuer be instructed to undertake a valuation of the site prior to further consideration of the potential to use compulsory purchaser powers to facilitate development.

(2)        That a specialist solicitor be instructed to advise on technical and legal matters relating to the compulsory purchaser order process including the transfer of land and procurement of a preferred developer.

(3)        Subject to the outcomes of (1) and (2) above, that consultants be appointed to prepare a masterplan for the site.

(4)        That a sum of up to £100,000 be allocated from the Planning Delivery Grant and General Reserve to fund the matters in (1) and (2) above.