Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Jane Scott.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet Capital Assets Committee meeting held on 16 September 2014.

The minutes of the previous meeting, held on the 16 September 2014, were agreed as a correct record for signing.

There were no leaders announcements.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. This meeting is open to the public, who may ask a question or make a statement. Questions can also be asked by members of the Council. Written notice of questions or statements should be given to Will Oulton of Democratic Services by 12.00 noon on Thursday 6 November. Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

It was noted that a statement, circulated as a supplementary paper, had been submitted by TDP properties.

Report to be presented by Alistair Cunningham, Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning.

The purpose of the item is to consider options for the Bridge Centre and Bath Road Car Park Site.

As there no members of the public present, it was agreed to consider the matter further in Part II of the meeting.

Report to be presented by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director.

Members are invited to note the current position and a confidential report will be circulated once the bids have been received and evaluated. It is anticipated that the confidential report will include a recommendation as to which bid should be accepted, if any.

As there no members of the public present, it was agreed to consider the matter further in Part II of the meeting.

There were no urgent items.

This is to give further notice in accordance with paragraph 5 (4) and 5 (5) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 of the intention to take the following item in private.

To consider passing the following resolution:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Items Number 10 and 11, because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in  paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Reason for taking item in private:

Paragraph 3 - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Resolved

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the following items of business because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Reason for taking the item in private:

Paragraph 3 – information relating to the financial information or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

No representations have been received as to why this item should not be held in private.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property, Waste, presented the report (including information exempt from publication) that asked the Committee to consider options for the Bridge Centre & Bath Road Car Park sites.

Resolved

1. To allow the Development Agreement to end on the 18th of November without further extension.

2. To authorise officers to work with local partners and the community to produce a development brief for the site which will meet the needs of the town in the future as outlined in the Chippenham Masterplan.

Reason for decision:

It is now 8 years since the site was allocated and 3 years since the development agreement was signed. No planning application on the development has been made in that time. The earliest the developer has indicated that they could submit a planning application is Spring 2015, once a bat survey has been undertaken.

The original brief for the site was produced before the draft Core Strategy, the

ChippenhamMasterplan and the Conservation Area Management Plan and is

therefore out of alignment with the wider aspirations and plans for the town’s

development, particularly with regard to the town’s future transport and

highways requirements.

The opportunity has arisen to reconsider options for the site as the existing

Development Agreement is due to expire on 18th November 2014

Information to circulated at a later date.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property, Waste, presented the report that informed Members of the current position in respect of the proposed sale of Middlefields, Hungerdown lane, Chippenham. Officers gave the Committee a verbal update on the bids that had been received.

Resolved

To delegate the decision, regarding which bids to accept on the Middlefield site, to the Corporate Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property, Waste, noting the views of the Committee and the local Member in support of care provision on the site.

Reason for decision:

To progress the sale of the site.

Report to be presented by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director.

To update Members on ongoing project programme and the next steps in the process.

Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Skills and Strategic Transport, and Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform, presented the report which:

Provided a brief update on the ongoing dialogue between the council officers and the council’s development partner Stanhope plc and their respective advisers over mechanisms to address the issue of ground conditions and scheme viability within the parameters of the Development Agreement; and

Advised members of the investment opportunity for the purchase of the Maltings Shopping Centre, Salisbury, and to propose that the Council proceeds with the purchase of this interest in line with the bid that the Council has submitted subject to satisfactory due diligence.

Resolved

1.    Note the update; and

2.    To delegate authority to the Associate Director, Finance, Revenues and Benefits, and Pensions in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Economic Development, Skills and Strategic Transport, and Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform, to conclude the purchase of the Harvest interest in the Maltings Shopping Centre which lies within the Central Car Park and Maltings regeneration area, in line with the offer submitted and subject to satisfactory due diligence, should the opportunity arise.

Reason for decision:

To facilitate the regeneration of the centre of Salisbury through the delivery of

the Maltings and Central Car Park scheme while making a sound investment ina well performing secondary shopping centre which will generate a financial

return for the council, should the opportunity arise.