Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Lelliott

Commissioner:         Kenny (in advisory role)

Recommendations:

1.    That the decision to appoint a development partner for Forge Island and the terms of that appointment be delegated to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy.

2.    That the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment be delegated authority to use the powers available to the Council to agree the purchase and terms of the leaseholds at Riverside Precinct and that funding for these acquisitions be provided from the Town Centre Investment scheme within the approved Capital Programme.

3.    That, subject to an assessment of the financial viability of the proposed final terms of the development agreement, the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services, be delegated authority to commit resources from the Town Centre Investment scheme within the approved Capital Programme to deliver a preferred scheme for the development of Forge Island.

4.    That the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services, be delegated authority to instruct Legal Services or a third party legal provider to negotiate and complete the necessary legal documentation to give effect to the recommendations above.

5.    That approval be given to implement the flood defence works and the funding for implementation is taken from the allocated Town Centre Investment scheme.

6.    That Cabinet receive information on the Town Centre Investment scheme spend profile at appropriate trigger points.

Further to Minute No. 44 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 11^th September, 2017 consideration was given to the report which detailed how the Council was currently out to the market to secure a development partner for Forge Island. Stage 1 of the process had already been completed and the Council had since invited 3 potential development partners to submit detailed development proposals. The deadline for proposals to be received was 29^th June, 2018.

To allow a scheme to progress as quickly as possible it was proposed that the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, and the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services be given the appropriate authority to select a development partner from among the bids submitted in June.

In addition, authority was requested to complete outstanding property purchases at Riverside Precinct and to progress with the flood defence work required for development to take place.

This report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-scrutiny process who were in support of the recommendations, subject to how it would hold decisions makers to account for exercising delegated powers in respect of the Forge Island redevelopment aspects of the Town Centre Masterplan, for quarterly updates to be provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on decision making and the implementation of the project for the flood alleviation programme to be referred to Improving Places as part of its powers to scrutinise flood risk management functions.

The Cabinet welcomed the developments on Forge Island and were advised by the Cabinet Member that she was fully involved in the robust arrangements which would be reported back to Cabinet as a matter of course.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the decision to appoint a development partner for Forge Island and the terms of that appointment be delegated to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy.

(2)  That the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment be delegated authority to use the powers available to the Council to agree the purchase and terms of the leaseholds at Riverside Precinct and that funding for these acquisitions be provided from the Town Centre Investment scheme within the approved Capital Programme.

(3)  That, subject to an assessment of the financial viability of the proposed final terms of the development agreement, the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services, be delegated authority to commit resources from the Town Centre Investment scheme within the approved Capital Programme to deliver a preferred scheme for the development of Forge Island.

(4)  That the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services, be delegated authority to instruct Legal Services or a third party legal provider to negotiate and complete the necessary legal documentation to give effect to the recommendations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the Forge Island Development and sought approval to delegate authority to officers to progress the scheme at pace.

It was reported that the Council was currently out to the market to secure a development partner for Forge Island. Stage 1 of the process had been completed and the Council had invited three potential development partners to submit detailed development proposals. The deadline for proposals to be received was 29 June 2018.

In order to allow a scheme to progress as quickly as possible it was proposed that the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs & the Local Economy and the Strategic Director of Finance & Customer Services, be given the authority to select a development partner from among the bids submitted in June. In addition, it was proposed that the Council complete outstanding property purchases at Riverside Precinct and progress with the flood defence work required for development to take place.

Members sought clarification as to why the decision making for the development had to move at pace. In response, the Strategic Director explained that things moved quickly when projects entered the delivery stage, but there would be a requirement for Member decision making and oversight at various stages and reports would be brought forward at appropriate points.

Assurances were sought in respect of the viability of the development and that the pace of the project was manageable. In response, the Strategic Director acknowledged that circumstances would change quickly and the priority was to remain focused on getting the right offer and branding in place for the town to ensure that private investors bought into that aspiration. Members expressed a clear view that this was a critical decision that would shape the destiny of the town centre for a generation and that it was important that the developers bidding for contracts were clear around what was required.

Members expressed concerns in respect of the proposed delegation of powers to officers and confirmation was provided that the delegation of authority to officers, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, was a legitimate method of decision making and consistent with the Executive Procedure Rules that had been amended by the Council on 23 May 2018.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.

2.    That Cabinet be recommended to confirm how it will hold decisions makers to account for exercising delegated powers in respect of the Forge Island redevelopment aspects of the Town Centre Masterplan.

3.    That the quarterly updates are provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on decision making and the implementation of the project.

4.    That the flood alleviation programme be referred to Improving Places as part of its powers to scrutinise flood risk management functions