Agenda item

A report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment is attached (Report No.258, agenda part two also refers). (Key decision – reference number 4484)

(Report No.256)

(8.35 – 8.45 pm)

Councillor Alan Sitkin (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.256) recommending the making of the London Borough of Enfield (Leeside Road and Willoughby Lane) Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) 2017.

NOTED

1.               That Report No.258 also referred as detailed in Minute No.18 below.

2.               That the Council had conducted extensive investigations into the areas of land required to deliver Zone 1 and had not been able to ascertain any ownership interests or occupiers in the land, which was unregistered. Therefore, the only course available to the Council was to exercise its powers of compulsory purchase, bringing these plots of land into Council ownership and enabling Zone 1 development to go ahead without impediment, as set out in the report.

Alternative Options Considered: To not pursue this CPO at this time. This might result in delays to starting development due to uncertainty on the part of the Developer around land ownership interests on the Order Land. This might result in significant delays to implementing development and delays to the economic and social benefits the scheme would bring.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed

1.               To resolve to make a Compulsory Purchase Order for the acquisition of unregistered land in the Zone 1 development at Meridian Water, entitled “The London Borough of Enfield (Leeside Road and Willoughby Lane) Compulsory Purchase Order 2017.

2.               That there was a compelling case in the public interest to justify the making of a CPO to include specific land interests that must be acquired to facilitate the redevelopment of Zone 1 at Meridian Water for the reasons detailed in the report and the draft Statement of Reasons.

3.               Delegate to the Executive Director – Regeneration and Environment, the power to effect the making, confirming and implementation of the CPO and to take all necessary steps to give effect to the CPO in respect of the land shaded on the plan at Appendix 2 of the report including, but not limited to, the following procedural steps:

(a)  Making such amendments and additions to the draft Statement of Reasons as deemed necessary to properly reflect the Council’s position regarding the proposed CPO so as to properly present the Council’s case.

(b)  Making the CPO, the publication and service of any press, site and individual notices and other correspondence for such making.

(c)  Monitoring of negotiated agreements with land owners or statutory undertakers as applicable, setting out the terms for withdrawal of any objections to the CPO, including where appropriate seeking exclusion of land or new rights from the CPO.

(d)  Seeking confirmation of the CPO by the Secretary of State (or, if permitted, by the Council pursuant to Section 14A of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981), including the preparation and presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry which might be necessary.

(e)  Publication and service of notices of confirmation of the CPO and thereafter to execute and serve any General Vesting Declarations and/or notices to treat and notices of entry, and any other notices or correspondence to acquire those interests within the area; and

(f)    Referral and conduct of disputes, relating to compulsory purchase compensation, at the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).

4.               To note that although no persons had been identified as occupying or having an interest in the land, that the public interest in enabling the Zone 1 development to proceed outweighs any possible interference with convention rights.

Reason: The detailed reasons for the recommendations were set out in section 5 of the report. Acquisition of the Order Lands would enable the Council to exercise control over the land required to implement development of Zone 1 of the Meridian Water regeneration area.

(Key decision – reference number 4484)