Issue - meetings

A report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment is attached. This seeks approval to the proposed land acquisition as detailed in the report. (Report No.207, agenda part two also refers) (Key decision – reference number 4377)

(Report No.202)

(9.05 – 9.10 pm)

Councillor Alan Sitkin (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.202) seeking approval to the acquisition of a site at Meridian Water, as set out in the report.

NOTED

1.               That Report No.207 also referred as detailed in Minute No.23 below.

2.               The proposals set out in the report for the acquisition of land as part of the Meridian Water Programme.

Alternative Options Considered: NOTED, that the principal alternative option for acquiring this site would be via a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). There were strong financial and strategic reasons why it was preferable to acquire the site now rather than via CPO. The detailed reasons were set out in section 4 of the report.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed to

1.               Approve the sale price for the purchase of a 2.13 acre (0.86ha) site at Meridian Water, as detailed in Report No.207, Minute No.23 below refers.

2.               Approve the terms of the sale as set out in the Contract for Sale, appended to Report No.207, Minute No.23 below refers.

3.               Authorise the Assistant Director Legal and Governance to enter into the Contract for Sale.

4.               Authorise all necessary expenditure associated with the purchase of this land as detailed in Report No.207 (Minute No.23 below refers), noting that it would be contained within the existing approved capital budget.

Reason: The acquisition of the site would enable the Council to exercise control over the land within the Meridian Water Masterplan area, which would help accelerate housing delivery. To provide a greater level of certainty over the timescales associated with the development of Meridian Water and to increase developer and stakeholder confidence in the delivery of the Masterplan. The purchase of the site would underpin the delivery of the Meridian Water Housing Zone and this land could support a mixed use development at a later date.

(Key decision – reference number 4377)