Agenda for Cabinet on Monday, 30th October, 2017, 8.00 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 Councillor Krystle Fonyonga (Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health), Gary Barnes, (Acting Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment), Ray James (Executive Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care), and Tony Theodoulou (Executive Director of Children’s Services).

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 non pecuniary interest in Report Nos. 80, 81 and 81A – Meridian Water Update (Minute Nos. 6 and 10 below refer).

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. 80 and 81 – Meridian Water Update (Minute Nos. 6 and 10 below refer). These requirements state that agendas and reports should be circulated as least 5 clear 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 any items to be referred to full Council. 

Minutes:

There were no reports to be referred to full Council.

 

6.

Meridian Water Update pdf icon PDF 150 KB

To receive a report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

 

This report should also be read in conjunction with the report on the part 2 agenda.                                                                   (Key Decision:  4241)

Minutes:

Councillor Alan Sitkin (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.80).

 

NOTED

 

1.               That Report No.81 and 81A also referred as detailed in Minute No.10 below.

 

2.               That the preferred bidder for the Meridian Water Regeneration Scheme, Barratt formally withdrew their bid on 25 October 2017. Members noted the consequent termination of negotiations with Barratt and the requirement to proceed to open negotiations with the Reserve Bidder, PCPD.

 

3.               That a recent meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had received and considered a Meridian Water update and, a number of the issues being discussed this evening had previously been raised at the Scrutiny meeting.

 

4.               Councillor Ahmet Oykener (Cabinet Member for Housing and Housing Regeneration) reminded Members that in 2015 the Council had begun a process to find a partner who could deliver its vision for Meridian Water. A partner who shared the Council’s commitment to: the delivery of over 8,000 mixed tenure homes; over 3,000 high quality jobs; and, the creation of a whole new neighbourhood with all of the essential facilities and parks in a quality setting. In 2016, the Council found a partner whose bid exceeded this – 10,000 homes and 6,700 new jobs. However, in summer 2017 it had become clear that the preferred bidder was no longer prepared to meet their original bid commitments. The Council remained committed to its ambitions for Meridian Water.

 

5.               Councillor Oykener outlined the progress which had been made to date with regard to land purchases; Network Rail; planning permission; and, remediation works. The Council would continue to seek to work with the private sector in order to deliver the required outcomes for the Borough.

 

6.               Councillor Oykener outlined the way forward with regard to the Council’s reserve bidder and the processes that would now be followed in order to seek to deliver the Meridian Water development. The time delay that had been experienced through the negotiations with the preferred bidder was highlighted. Councillor Oykener commended the report and its recommendations to the Cabinet.

 

7.               In conclusion of the discussion on the part one report, Members agreed the recommendations set out in the decisions below and continued their discussion in part two, Minute No.10 below referred.

 

Alternative Options Considered: As detailed in the super part 2 report (Report No.81A), Minute No. 10 below refers.

 

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed to

 

1.               Note that Barratt had formally withdrawn as the preferred bidder for the Meridian Water Regeneration Scheme and that negotiations with Barratt to finalise the terms of the Master Developer Framework Agreement (MDFA) had therefore terminated.

 

2.               Note that in accordance with the recommendations of the Cabinet meeting of 18 May 2016 (KD 4241) which had confirmed the selection of Bidder C (being PCPD) as the Reserve Bidder, PCPD be approached to open negotiations with a view (subject to agreeing terms) to PCPD being appointed as Master Developer.

 

3.               Delegate authority to officers to commence and progress financial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 216 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 18 October 2017.

Minutes:

AGREED, that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 18 October 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

8.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15 November 2017 at 8.15pm.

Minutes:

NOTED, that the next meeting of the Cabinet was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15 November 2017 at 8.15pm.

9.

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 two 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).

10.

MERIDIAN WATER Update

To receive a report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.                                                                     (Key Decision:  4241)

 

This report should also be read in conjunction with the report on the part 1 agenda. 

 

(This item will contain 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).

Minutes:

Councillor Alan Sitkin (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.81).

 

NOTED

 

1.               That Report No.80 also referred as detailed in Minute No.6 above.

 

2.               That a super part two report was circulated at the meeting (No.81A) and collected in again following consideration by the Cabinet.

 

3.               Members noted the detailed content within the super part two report, and Councillor Taylor invited comments and questions from those Members present at the meeting. A discussion followed on various aspects of the process which had taken place to date and the proposed way forward. It was noted that the recommendations within the super part two report were as detailed in the part one report, outlined in Minute No.6 above.

 

4.               The legal requirements with regard to the proposed way forward and negotiations with the reserve bidder were outlined and discussed, as set out in the report.

 

5.               The key issues for the Council were highlighted.

 

6.               The detail of the discussion which had taken place at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

7.               The detail and timescales of the negotiations which had taken place with the preferred bidder.

 

8.               Councillor Laban (Leader of the Conservative Group) was invited to address the Cabinet and raised a number of concerns and points of clarification which were considered at the meeting. Members’ attention was drawn to a number of specific paragraphs within the super part two report including 3.17, 6.1.3 and 6.3.2. The issues raised were discussed and addressed at the meeting. Councillor Laban also acknowledged the need to ensure the successful delivery of much needed new homes within the Borough.

 

9.               Councillor Taylor responded to the points raised and outlined the proposed way forward; the timescales involved and the on-going issues to be addressed. The Council had a legal commitment to go to the reserve bidder. There were a number of challenges that would need to be met in order to agree an acceptable way forward.

 

10.           Officers outlined the current position with regard to the designation of strategic industrial land, the progress of the Mayor’s London Plan and ongoing work with Network Rail.

 

11.           That all Cabinet meetings now received an update on Meridian Water and any required decisions would be brought back to a future Cabinet meeting. Paragraphs 3.23 and 3.24 of the super part two report were highlighted.

 

12.           The legal requirements which needed to be met with regard to the reserve bidder and the timescales, as outlined in detail in the report. Members reiterated the importance of ensuring that the Council achieved the best deal possible for Enfield residents; the Council would continue to act in the best interests of the Borough.

 

13.           Members would reflect on the negotiations which had taken place with the preferred bidder and learn from that experience in moving forward. The legal advisers present at the meeting outlined in detail the changed position of the preferred bidder and gave assurances on the Council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.