Agenda and minutes

The following report was submitted:-

Tourism Panel

15th January, 2009

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Members’ Steering Group held on 23^rd January, 2009.

Resolved:-   That the emerging issues and contents of the minutes be noted.

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Clifton Pak Restoration Project Board held on 28^th January, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the progress of the project be noted and the minutes be received.

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Play Pathfinder Project Board held on 28^th January, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the progress of the project be noted and the minutes be received.

Phil Rogers, Director of Culture and Leisure Services and Steve Hallsworth, Leisure Service Manager, to report.

-           to consider wider consultation.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Director of Culture and Leisure Services, relating to the development of a Green Spaces Strategy for the Borough.

Reference was made to the increased national awareness of the value of green space in improving people’s health and quality of life, and environmental sustainability.

A summary was given in the report of the vision, aims and objectives of the Strategy.  Background information detailing the preparation of the Strategy was also provided.

It was explained that following analysis each site had been given a provisional grade using the following system:-

-                      Borough Green Spaces – large sites with intrinsic special interest attracting visitors from across the borough and beyond

-                      Neighbourhood Green Spaces – mostly large sites offering a range of features and used by people from across a settlement

-                      Local Green Spaces – appropriately maintained simple sites providing safe and clean areas for informal recreation for people living in the immediate vicinity

Based on evidence that had been gathered nine major issues had been identified and 31 recommendations formulated.

Consideration was therefore given to a 3 months period of wider consultation as follows

·                Meetings with Area Assembly Co-ordinating Committees

·                Strategy Report made available on Rotherham MBC web-site with feedback instructions

·                Strategy summary and feedback leaflet produced and distributed via libraries and other Council buildings

·               Strategy Report sent to key stakeholders, including relevant statutory organisations, local MPs, Friends Groups and other local special interest groups

·               Pilot study (possibly in one Ward (or part Area Assembly/geographical area) containing a representative range of green space types)

It was pointed out that the Strategy would assist the Service to work in partnership to access all available sources of external funding and developer contributions.  Reference was also made to benefits in terms of income generation to the Capital Programme and to the reprioritisation of maintenance programmes.

Elected Members present commented on the need to revisit the sites listed in the appendices and to clarify ownerships.

Resolved:-  That subject to the verification of the information set out in the Appendices to the report,

(1)  the draft Rotherham Green Space Strategy be received and approved.

(2) approval be given to proceed with wider consultation on the draft strategy.

(3)  a pilot study be undertaken in one Ward during the consultation period to explore methods for site prioritisation and possible change of use.

(4)  the Rotherham Green Spaces Strategy – Consultation Draft be referred to the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel.

Phil Reynders,Ordnance Survey & GIS Development Officer, to report.

-           to consider a strategy for implementing DCLG regulations concerning charges for property searches.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Ordnance Survey & GIS Development Officer, outlining the Local Land Charges Section’s strategy for implementing new regulations published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) concerning charges for Property Searches.

Details of “How to Obtain Property Search Information”, together with the proposed fees, were set out in Appendix 2 to the report. It was pointed out that no charge could be made for information which was already in the public domain.

Resolved:-  That approval be given to the proposed new Search process and the new individual fees based on the principal of cost recovery, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report now submitted.

The following item is 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)(financial/business affairs).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (financial/business affairs).

John Smales, Development Team Manager, to report.

-           to consider Compulsory Purchase.

Consideration was given to a report, jointly presented by the Development Surveyor and the Solicitor, relating to the progress of the comprehensive redevelopment of the Bellows Road Shopping Centre in Rawmarsh.

The report set out justification for the use of Compulsory Purchase Powers (CPO) to facilitate the redevelopment of this site in the public interest.  The exact boundary of the site/property under consideration was illustrated in red on the plan attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Appendix 2 to the report detailed the history of proposed schemes for this site since 1996.  The current impass position, following the most recent negotiations, was also reported.

Reference was made to the Council’s valuation (verified by both the District Valuer and DTZ) and the case for the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order was made.

Details of the cost of the CPO and site acquisition were set out in the submitted report, together with information about support for the scheme from Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder up to March 2011 and allocation from the Council’s Capital Programme.

Reference was made to the risks and uncertainties, and to the complexity and length of the CPO process.

Resolved:-    (1)  That approval is given to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order pursuant to the provisions of  Section 226(1)(a) of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 ("TCPA") (as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004), the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 and Section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (if necessary) and Section 20 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 and having regard to the Human Rights Act 1998.  Such Order to be entitled “Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (Bellows Road Shopping Centre Redevelopment) Compulsory Purchase Order 2009” and to authorise the acquisition of land and interests affecting the land shown edged and shaded red on the plan now submitted as Appendix 1 (the “Order Land”), in order to achieve delivery of this key regeneration scheme for the Rawmarsh area and the wider regeneration objectives of economic, social and environmental benefits which it will deliver to the Borough.

(2)  That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to advertise the making of the Order and to take all relevant action to facilitate the promotion and confirmation of the Order including all necessary evidence in support of the Council’s case at any resulting public inquiry. 

(3)  That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised, upon the Order having been confirmed and become operative, to execute General Vesting Declarations or, at his discretion, to serve Notices to Treat under Section 5 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 and where necessary to serve Notices of Entry under Section 11 of the same Act or Section 20 Notices in respect of the Order Land.

(4)  That the Strategic Director of Environment & Development Services be authorised to negotiate with interested parties with a view to agreeing terms for the purchase by agreement or payment of compensation for any of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 196.