Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 9th May, 2017, 6.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Room, Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, EN1 3XA. View directions

Contact: Jacqui Hurst Tel: 0208 379 4096. E-mail:  jacqui.hurst@enfield.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alev Cazimoglu (Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care), Yasemin Brett (Cabinet Member for Community, Arts and Culture), Bambos Charalambous (Associate Cabinet Member (Enfield West), and Vicki Pite (Associate Cabinet Member (Enfield North); and, Rob Leak (Chief Executive) and Ray James (Executive Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care).

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members of the Cabinet are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non pecuniary interests relevant to items on the agenda.

Minutes:

Councillor Achilleas Georgiou (Deputy Leader) declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Report Nos.263 and 264 – Meridian Water: Land Acquisition (Minute Nos. 6 and 13 below refer) as a member of his family was employed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Councillor Georgiou left the meeting and took no part in the discussion on these reports.

3.

URGENT ITEMS

The Chair will consider the admission of any reports (listed on the agenda but circulated late) which have not been circulated in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution and the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information and Meetings) (England) Regulations 2012.

Note: The above requirements state that agendas and reports should be circulated at least 5 clear working days in advance of meetings.

Minutes:

NOTED, that the reports listed on the agenda had been circulated in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution and the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information and Meetings) (England) Regulations 2012 with the exception of Report Nos. 263 and 264 – Meridian Water: Land Acquisition (Minute Nos. 6 and 13 below refer). These requirements state that agendas and reports should be circulated at least 5 clear working days in advance of meetings.

 

AGREED, that the above reports be considered at this meeting.

4.

DEPUTATIONS

To note, that no requests for deputations have been received for presentation to this Cabinet meeting.

Minutes:

NOTED, that no requests for deputations had been received for presentation to this Cabinet meeting.

5.

ITEMS TO BE REFERRED TO THE COUNCIL

To agree that the following reports be referred to full Council:

 

1.     Report Nos.263 and 264  – Meridian Water: Land Acquisition

Minutes:

AGREED, that the following reports be referred to full Council:

 

1.     Report Nos. 263 and 264 – Meridian Water: Land Acquisition

6.

MERIDIAN WATER: LAND ACQUISITION pdf icon PDF 457 KB

A report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment will be circulated as soon as possible. (Report No.264, agenda part two also refers). (Key decision – reference number 4442)

(Report No.263)

(6.35 – 6.40 pm)

TO FOLLOW

Minutes:

Councillor Doug Taylor (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.263) and invited Peter George (Assistant Director – Regeneration and Environment) to present the report to the Cabinet.

 

NOTED

 

1.               That Report No.264 also referred as detailed in Minute No.13 below.

 

2.               That approval was being sought to the Agreement for Sale and authorisation to exchange contracts and complete purchase of two sites in Meridian Water comprising c.13 hectares (c.32 acres) subject to approval of the overall viability of the Meridian Water scheme. The report set out the reasons for the recommendation and the regeneration benefits of proceeding with the acquisition.

 

3.               The excellent progress that the Council had made to date in land assembly at Meridian Water, as detailed in section 3.2 of the report. The acquisition of the land in question would take the total land holdings in Council ownership up to c.87 acres (c.35 hectares) or c.64% of the developable land in Meridian Water.

 

4.               Peter George outlined in detail the background to the recommendations and the proposed way ahead including the anticipated development on the sites; and, the vision for job creation and employment opportunities, as set out in full in section 3 of the report. Barratt London had previously been approved as the preferred master developer; contracts were due to be concluded in the near future. The proposed development on this part of Meridian Water consisted of two main elements: the e-commerce building and residential-led mixed use development. The proposals would seek significant job creation in the area. The e-commerce centre, as explained within the report, would be the first significant step for Barratt London (with SEGRO) on delivering on its commitment to provide 6,700 jobs, a number of which would be high salaried positions.

 

5.               The detailed overall employment proposals as part of the Meridian Water site as set out in section 3 of the report together with the anticipated timeframe.

 

6.               The valuation processes which had been carried out to date, with two independent valuations having been sought, as set out in the report and explained to Members in detail. The report was seeking approval for exchange and completion of the purchase of both the Stonehill and Hastingwood sites subject to confirmation of the overall viability of the Meridian Water scheme.

 

7.               The status of the land in question and the potential income generation from the sites was noted. The Stonehill site was currently held as Strategic Industrial Land (SIL) with a restrictive planning designation presently in place which did not support residential development. However, Members were advised of ongoing discussions and proposals currently under consideration. Peter George explained to Members the basis on which the Council was proposing to purchase the sites. He outlined the due diligence work which had been undertaken to date and, the further financial due diligence that was being carried out to confirm the overall viability of the proposals, as detailed in recommendation 2.1 of the report. Members were advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

ISSUES ARISING FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

To note that there are no items to be considered at this meeting.

Minutes:

NOTED, that there were no items to be considered at this meeting.

8.

CABINET AGENDA PLANNING - FUTURE ITEMS pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Attached for information is a provisional list of items scheduled for future Cabinet meetings.

Minutes:

NOTED, the provisional list of items scheduled for future Cabinet meetings.

9.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 181 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 26 April 2017, to be circulated as soon as possible.

TO FOLLOW

Minutes:

AGREED, that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 26 April 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

10.

ENFIELD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP UPDATE

To note that there are no written updates to be received.

Minutes:

NOTED, that there were no written updates to be received at this meeting.

11.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is provisionally scheduled to take place on Wednesday 21 June 2017, subject to approval of the Council’s calendar of meetings for 2017/18 at the Annual Council meeting on 10 May 2017.

Minutes:

NOTED, that the next meeting of the Cabinet was provisionally scheduled to take place on Wednesday 21 June 2017, subject to approval of the Council’s calendar of meetings for 2017/18 at the Annual Council meeting on 10 May 2017.

12.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting for the items of business listed on part 2 of the agenda on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006)

(Members are asked to refer to the part 2 agenda)

Minutes:

RESOLVED, in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the item listed on part 2 of the agenda on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

13.

MERIDIAN WATER: LAND ACQUISITION

A report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment will be circulated as soon as possible. This should be read in conjunction with Report No.263, agenda part one refers. (Key decision – reference number 4442)

(Report No.264)

TO FOLLOW

 

(This document contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Doug Taylor (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.264).

 

NOTED

 

1.               That Report No.263 also referred as detailed in Minute No.6 above.

 

2.               Members’ questions were sought on the recommendations set out in the report and a full and detailed discussion followed on all aspects of the proposed land acquisition.

 

3.               The current terms on which the land was to be acquired and the planning restrictions in place with regard to designated Strategic Industrial Land. Members noted the on-going discussions that were currently taking place with regard to the potential future commercial and residential uses of the sites in question, as set out in the report. Members were advised of the terms of the purchase based on existing uses and the valuations which had been carried out in support of the proposed purchase price. The potential future financial implications for the Council were discussed, as set out in the report.

 

4.               The detail of the valuations and purchase report undertaken as set out in section 3.6 of the report. The recommended purchase price reflected the value of existing use as industrial, considering all current planning permissions. Councillor Sitkin emphasised the prudent approach that was being taken and, reiterated the potential implications of the on-going discussions with the GLA in moving forward with the future designated use of the sites in question.

 

5.               Members highlighted the need for a holistic approach to the Meridian Water development to be taken. It was reiterated that the purchase was based on existing designated use and the timeframes for the overall development were outlined. The long-term aspirations were highlighted.

 

6.               The importance of the Council having control over the future potential uses of the sites in question to support the overall aspirations of the Meridian Water development. The financial implications for the Council would be positive in considering the range of potential future uses of the land. Members were advised of the potential future uses of the sites in question by the current Seller should the Council not proceed with the acquisition. This could not only have a negative impact on the overall Meridian Water development proposals but would also potentially have a future financial impact on the value of the land.

 

7.               James Rolfe (Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services) outlined the detailed revenue and capital financial implications for the Council in proceeding with the land acquisition which would be within the Council’s prudential borrowing thresholds. The issue of potential meanwhile income was also addressed. Members discussed the annual revenue income predictions of both sites and the benefits that this could present for the Council. It was anticipated that there would be no adverse impact on the Council’s revenue position, as detailed in the report.

 

8.               That following the previous deferral of the decision from the Cabinet meeting on 26 April 2017, further due diligence work had been undertaken as requested by Members. Financial due diligence was ongoing to confirm the overall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.