Issue - meetings

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Alan Shuttleworth

(This report contains an exempt appendix. Any discussion of this must take place at item 14 following exclusion of the public.)

(Key decision):

(1) To note the progress of the project including the appropriation of the proposed development site from the General Fund into the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) on 31st March 2021. This is set out at the Exempt Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To authorise entering into a construction contract to bring forward the development of the Southfields Road Car Park site, including formalising the appointments of the project professional team, in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules, subject to ensuring a sound and financially viable business case and to let the homes to new tenants.

(3) To authorise the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to carry out all necessary actions to deliver the project and these recommendations including determining the terms of, and authorising the execution of, all necessary documentation, subject to further legal, finance, and market advice.

(4) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance and Chief Finance Officer, to make an allocation within the Capital Programme of up to £6m and within the tolerances of the HRA Business Plan.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, providing an update on the Southfields Road Car Park redevelopment project and to progress all matters, including matter of contract, towards the construction and delivery phase.

Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on 12 July 2021 considered the report and made the following recommendation.

To request that the Cabinet consider a review of the scheme within the current commercial/supply context, including consideration of the business case for the scheme.

The Cabinet confirmed that they were satisfied that Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation was already met within the existing officer recommendations.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To note the progress of the project including the appropriation of the proposed development site from the General Fund into the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) on 31st March 2021. This is set out at the Exempt Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To authorise entering into a construction contract to bring forward the development of the Southfields Road Car Park site, including formalising the appointments of the project professional team, in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules, subject to ensuring a sound and financially viable business case and to let the homes to new tenants.

(3) To authorise the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to carry out all necessary actions to deliver the project and these recommendations including determining the terms of, and authorising the execution of, all necessary documentation, subject to further legal, finance, and market advice.

(4) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance and Chief Finance Officer, to make an allocation within the Capital Programme of up to £6m and within the tolerances of the HRA Business Plan.

Reason for decisions:

To enable the progress and development of the Southfields Road Car Park site to provide 19 new affordable homes.