Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham.

Contact: Democratic Services Officer  Email: janet.cromack@rotherham.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

84.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 16th January, 2008 pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16th January, 2008.

 

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record.

85.

Any Matters Arising from the Previous Minutes (not covered by the agenda items below).

Minutes:

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

86.

Response to the Department for Communities and Local Government - Local Government Asset Management Strategy pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Arnold Murray, Asset Manager, to report.

-           to report the response on the DCLG – Local Government Asset Management Strategy.

Minutes:

Further to Minute No. 189 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services held on 4th February, 2008, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Asset Manager, detailing the response to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Local Government Asset Management Strategy.

 

Reference was made to the following:-

 

Appendix 1 – letter from the CLG

Appendix 2 - the outline strategy and delivery framework

Appendix 3 – the Council’s Asset Management Services’ response

 

It was reported that the Service welcomed the overall strategy.  However, from the Service point of view it was thought that there were significant omissions and these were detailed in the report submitted.

 

Reference was also made to the following four suggestions:-

 

§               best practice could be fostered, developed and shared more by establishing a national best practice partnership including the beacons

§               as an outstanding Beacon for Asset management, a case study in the York work and major players in the IPF network we have much to offer at Rotherham and can include cases on a variety of issues

§               the emphasis should be on outcomes and enhanced effectiveness with the incorporation of appropriate processes and techniques

§               more readily available in depth practitioner guidance on funding sources and setting up public: public, public: private deals would be very useful

 

Members of the Board commented on:-

 

*      The need to ensure the local M.P.’s were made aware of the Council’s concerns.

*      A variety of concerns about community ownership of assets.

*      The Quirk report.

*      The need for a Council strategy (developed within the Government guidance) and a set of local criteria to ensure that community groups had the necessary capability and accountability to take facilities over.

*      Concerns about the definition of “building” which could include libraries, allotments.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report and response be noted.

 

(2)  That the item be raised at the meeting with the three local M.P.’s and a copy of the report be provided for them.

87.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (information relates to the financial or business affairs).

Minutes:

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Scheduled 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council))

88.

Rotherham Move-on Accommodation Phase 2 - 2006-2008 Affordable Housing Programme

Paul Walsh, Programme Manager HMR, to report.

-           to report detail on the second phase of the Rotherham Move-on Accommodation Development Programme, to be delivered as part of the approved 2006-08 Affordable Housing Programme.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the HMR Team Leader, detailing the second phase of the Rotherham Move-on Accommodation Development Programme, to be delivered as part of the approved 2006-2008 Affordable Housing Programme.

 

It was explained that the proposal was for the delivery of Phase 2 on three sites and these were identified on accompanying plans.

 

The Board considered the proposed disposal of the sites to Arches Housing and discussed the following.

 

  • Market value and discount value
  • Resultant capital receipt to the Council
  • Benefits to the Council
  • Total development value
  • Nomination rights
  • Linking the Oaks Road development to the adjacent accommodation in Oaks Close

 

Resolved:-  That approval be given for the freehold sale of land, as detailed in the report now submitted and identified on the accompanying plans, to Arches Housing, on the basis of discounted sale, and on the basis that the Council receives all of the benefits detailed in the report.

89.

Disposal of Land at Wood Street and School Street, Dalton

Paul Walsh, Programme Manager HMR, to report.

-           provides details of a proposed affordable housing development to be provided by Yorkshire Housing Ltd at the Wood Street and School Street sites.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the HMR Team Leader, detailing a proposed affordable housing development to be provide by Yorkshire Housing Ltd, at the Wood Street and School Street sites in Thrybergh (identified on accompanying plans), to support the delivery of the 2006-2008 Affordable Housing Programme and the on-going Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder regeneration programme at Dalton.

 

Members of the Board noted the following:-

 

  • Market value and discount value
  • Resultant capital receipt to the Council
  • Benefits to the Council
  • Total development value
  • The need to consider the disposal of these sites as a “pump  primer” in conjunction with the other intensive neighbourhood developments in the Dalton and Thrybergh areas.
  • Mixed tenure/shared equity
  • Local mortgage market

 

Resolved:-  That approval be given for the leasehold transfer of the sites identified in the report and on Appendix 1, to Yorkshire Housing Association, on a long term lease and on the basis that the Council receives all of the benefits detailed in the report now submitted.

90.

Commercial Property Update

Andy Russell, Principal Officer/Paul Walsh, Programme Manager (HMR) to report.

-           to provide an update on the current position regarding the disposal of properties in the Commercial Property Account.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the temporary Director of Rotherham Investment and Development Office, updating the Board on the disposal of commercial property and also reviewing the Council owned commercial properties located within neighbourhood settings across the Borough.

 

Reference was made to the on-going review of all commercial properties held within the Neighbourhoods Directorate. It was pointed out that a summary document was being prepared on a ward by ward basis which would look at the overall neighbourhood sustainability and define a series of options.

 

Members of the Board discussed specific sites listed in the report and emphasised the role that some of these site could play in the social and economic regeneration of certain areas.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the contents of the report, and progress to date, be noted

 

(2)  That a further report be submitted to the Board upon the completion of the neighbourhood commercial property review in April, 2008.

91.

Moorgate Crofts Phase III Restrictive Covenant

Tim Devine, Development Surveyor, to report.

-           to consider lifting of Restrictive Covenants.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Temporary Director of Rotherham Investment and Development Office, detailing the completion of the final phase of the Moorgate Crofts Development Phase III “Grow on Space” in March 2008.

 

The Board considered lifting the Restrictive Covenants regarding the letting of the property.  It was explained that following market testing and unsuccessful attempts to find a commercial solution the developer was proposing to relocate its own business into the building, and to let the remainder of the vacant space as managed office suites.

 

The benefits of this proposal were detailed in the report.

 

Resolved:-  That, in view of the current situation, approval be given for the lifting of the Restrictive Covenants.

92.

Rotherham Waterways Strategy

Carolyn Barber, Ecologist, to report.

-           to report the consultants brief on Rotherham Waterways Strategy.

Minutes:

Further to Minute No. 223 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic and Development Services held on 19th February, 2007, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Ecologist, detailing the formulation of a Consultants’ Brief for a 10 year Rotherham Waterways Strategy and Action Plan.

 

It was reported that work had been on-going between Rotherham Waterways partnership and a company of consultants to produce the project development brief and this had now been finalised.

 

The Board considered the full project development brief which was attached to the covering report.

 

The project’s key outputs were noted and reference was made to the value of the Strategy in respect of the Phase II Flood Alleviation Scheme.

 

The Board asked that the consultation on the Strategy also include contact with the ancillary waterways e.g. Barnsley Canal Consortium, the Dearne Valley Steering Group etc, and that consideration be given to gaining more access routes along waterways.

 

Resolved:-   (1)  That the brief for the development of the Rotherham Waterways Strategy be approved by the Regeneration and Asset Board to enable the consultant to be engaged as now reported.

 

(2)  That the report and brief be referred to Regeneration Scrutiny Panel for information.

 

(3)  That progress on this strategy be reported regularly to the Regeneration and Asset Board and to the Environment Agency.

93.

Disposal of 1.38 hectares (approximately) of commercial development land to the south of Manvers Way, Wath

Melvyn Clayton, Development Surveyor, to report.

-           to report a negotiated sale to South Yorkshire Fire Service for a new Fire and Rescue facility.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to dispose of the above property.   It was reported that the site had been previously declared surplus to requirements and was scheduled for regeneration purposes.

 

Resolved:-  That approval be given for the disposal of the subject property, identified in the report and on the plans now submitted, on the terms reported.

94.

Disposal of 1.02 hectares of retail/commercial development land off Undergate Road, Dinnington

Melvyn Clayton, Development Surveyor, to report.

-           to report bids received and recommend disposal.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to dispose of the above property.  It was pointed out that the site had been previously declared surplus to requirements and scheduled for disposal for retail led regeneration purposes.

 

It was also pointed out that the proposals would be subject to obtaining planning permission.

 

The Board urged that special consideration be given to the nearby sheltered bungalow complex.

 

Resolved:-  That approval be given to the disposal of the above property, identified in the report and plans now submitted, on the agreed terms.

95.

Date, time and venue of next meeting

To confirm:  Wednesday, 16th April, 2008 at 10.00 a.m. at the Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham.

Minutes:

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Regeneration and Asset Board be scheduled for Wednesday, 16th April, 2008 at 10.00 a.m. at the Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham.