Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet members: Councillors Giles and Maskell

(This report contains an exempt appendix. Any discussion of this must take place at item 21 following exclusion of the public.)

(Non-key decision):

(1) To note the revised project on Anchor Field Ringmer.

(2) To agree to proceed with the proposal as outlined as ‘option 1’ in paragraph 6.2 of the report, disposing of Council land holdings at Anchor Field, Ringmer to allow for the delivery of affordable housing. In the event of ‘option 1’ not proving viable or possible for whatever reason, to delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Members for Finance and Housing, to proceed with such other variation on the options set out in this report, as this will secure both the delivery of affordable housing and best consideration, without risk to the Council.

 (3) To give delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to dispose of land and easements at Anchor Field held within either the Council’s General Fund or Housing Revenue Account, subject to appropriate due diligence being completed. This delegation is to include authorisation not to dispose by auction or invitation of tenders following public advertisements as is usually required by the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules (para. 18.1).

(4) To give delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration & Planning in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing to enter a Development Agreement with the developer of the Anchor Field site in Ringmer.

(5) To give delegated authority to The Director of Regeneration and Planning in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing to invest in the development of a small number of additional affordable housing units in addition to those that will be built out by the developer for the Council at no cost.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning, updating them on proposed residential development on the Anchor Field, Ringmer and confirm changes from the details outlined in the report to Cabinet in February 2017.

The Cabinet unanimously agreed to make an addition to officer recommendation two and this was detailed in the resolution below.

Resolved (Non-key decision):

(1) To note the revised project on Anchor Field Ringmer.

(2) To agree to proceed with the proposal as outlined as ‘option 1’ in paragraph 6.2 of the report, disposing of Council land holdings at Anchor Field, Ringmer to allow for the delivery of affordable housing. In the event of ‘option 1’ not proving viable or possible for whatever reason, to delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Members for Finance and Housing, to proceed with such other variation on the options set out in this report, as this will secure both the delivery of affordable housing and best consideration, without risk to the Council.

(3) To give delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to dispose of land and easements at Anchor Field held within either the Council’s General Fund or Housing Revenue Account, subject to appropriate due diligence being completed. This delegation is to include authorisation not to dispose by auction or invitation of tenders following public advertisements as is usually required by the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules (para. 18.1).

(4) To give delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration & Planning in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing to enter a Development Agreement with the developer of the Anchor Field site in Ringmer.

(5) To give delegated authority to The Director of Regeneration and Planning in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing to invest in the development of a small number of additional affordable housing units in addition to those that will be built out by the developer for the Council at no cost.

Reason for decisions:

To allow for changes to the approved project following a reappraisal of the deliverability and benefits realisation of the scheme.