Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director of Property and Housing attached.

Decision made (Unanimously):

That:

1.    Cabinet approves the land at Croston Road North (Site W) to be acquired for Community Leisure use value for £77,095 plus VAT.

2.    Cabinet grants delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Property in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Assets to conclude the deal for the site prior to the 1 September deadline.

The Cabinet Member (Finance, Property and Assets), Councillor Matthew Tomlinson presented a report of the Assistant Director of Property and Housing that sought approval to acquire an area of land being offered to the Council by Homes England as part of a Section 106 Agreement for Site W in the Local Plan for a Community Leisure value of £77,095.

It had been initially considered by officers that the land in question was no longer required for leisure/community use and had negotiated a deal with Homes England whereby the Council would accept a sum of money (£295,000) rather than acquire the land. In order to proceed with this option, a variation of the Section 106 agreement was required and a report was presented to Planning Committee for its consideration.

However, at its meeting on 26 June 2019, the Planning Committee took a view not to vary the Section 106 agreement and resolved to ask Cabinet to consider acquiring the land as originally intended as the purchase of this land would be more in line with the Council’s commitment to environmental protection and improving air quality.

The Leader of the Council commented that this was a wonderful initiative and that if purchased, this land would be developed and maintained under the Green Links programme.

It was proposed by Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, seconded by Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder and

Decision made (Unanimously):

That:

1.    Cabinet approves the land at Croston Road North (Site W) to be acquired for Community Leisure use value for £77,095 plus VAT.

2.    Cabinet grants delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Property in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Assets to conclude the deal for the site prior to the 1 September 2019 deadline.

Reason(s) for the decision:

The recommendations provide Cabinet with an opportunity to acquire land for community leisure use and safeguard its use for that purpose over the longer term.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Council could have received a payment of £295,000 had it chose not to acquire the land. It was clear that there was not support for this position and that the acquisition of land for Community Leisure Use is in line with the Council’s commitment to environmental protection and improving air quality.