Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet (Capital Assets) Committee meeting held on 24 September 2013.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2013.

There were no Leader’s announcements.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

Report by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director seeking Cabinet approval for a transfer of Lower Wharf depot to Devizes Canoe Club, subject to the agreement of Devizes Area Board in accordance with the Community Asset Transfer policy.

Cllr Sturgis, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste introduced the report which sought committee approval to transfer the Devizes Lower Wharf depot to Devizes Canoe Club in accordance with the Community Asset Transfer policy, subject to the agreement of the Devizes Area Board.

Resolved:

That the Committee

1.    approves the application for the transfer of Lower Wharf, Devizes to the Devizes Canoe Club subject to the agreement of the Devizes Area Board

2.    delegates authority to the Associate Director for Legal and Governance and the Transformation Director to ensure that suitable terms are incorporated into the asset transfer and to complete any legal documentation required to facilitate this

3.    delegates authority to the Associate Director for Finance to remove this property from the list of capital receipts anticipated to be achieved to support the capital programme

Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director seeking Cabinet approval for phase one of a two phase project plan to deliver a 10/12 classroom block.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet member for Children’s Services introduced the report which sought committee approval for phase one of a two phase expansion project plan to deliver a 10/12 classroom block at Wellington Academy.

The Committee heard that there was a need for the project and funding would come from the designated basic need fund.

Resolved:

That the Committee approves phase one of a two phase project plan to deliver a 10/12 classroom block

Reason for decision

Based on the current net capacity of Wellington Academy, an additional 200/250 places will be required by 2015/16.  

Report by Maggie Rae, Corporate Director, seeking Cabinet approval to approve the use of allocated funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and to enter into a contract with a developer to carry out the works to the sites following the conclusions of an appropriate tendering process.

Cllr Sturgis, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste introduced the report which sought committee approval to delegate authority to the Associate Director for Adult Care, Commissioning, Safeguarding and Housing in consultation with the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste to accept the increase in allocated grant agreed under the existing funding agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) from £3.42m to £7.839m, to enter into a contract to deliver the new build works following a competitive tendering exercise and to enter into any associated legal agreements or procurement activities to enable the delivery of the project.

A cabinet member delegated decision would be issued to temporarily close the transit site at Odstock to allow for its use during the refurbishment of other plots. Figures confirmed that the risk of having no transit site for a short period of time would not be surmountable.

Resolved

That the Committee

1.    Delegates authority to the Associate Director for Adult Care, Commissioning, Safeguarding and Housing in consultation with the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste to accept the increase in allocated grant agreed under the existing funding agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) from £3.42m to £7.839m

2.    Delegates authority to the Associate Director for Adult Care, Commissioning, Safeguarding and Housing in consultation with the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste to enter into a contract to deliver the new build works following a competitive tendering exercise

3.      Delegates authority to the Associate Director for Adult Care, Commissioning, Safeguarding and Housing in consultation with the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste to enter into any associated legal agreements or procurement activities to enable the delivery of the project

Report by Maggie Rae, Corporate Director seeking Cabinet approval on extra care provision in Devizes.

Cllr Sturgis, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste introduced the report which sought committee approval to use the Southfields site as the preferred site for the development of an extra care scheme predominantly for older people.

The outcomes of the community working group were reflected in the report presented. Confirmation was sought on the transfer of the final chosen site to the highest bidder possibly at nil value if required and it was noted that this was standard practice. It was agreed that the section 151 officer and the monitoring officer should be consulted on this.

Resolved

That the Committee

1.    Notes the outcome of discussions with the local working group on their preferred site for extra care in Devizes

2.    Approves the use  of the Southfields site as the preferred site for the development of an extra care scheme predominantly for older people

3.    Authorises officers to consider other potential sites in Devizes for extra care if they provide a more suitable location and a better financial return for the Council

4.    Authorises officers to undertake any associated procurement activities required to select a developer and registered housing provider for these facilities

5.    Delegates authority to the Corporate Director for Adult Social Services and Public health in consultation with the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste, the section 151 officer and the monitoring officer to authorise the transference of the final chosen site to the highest scoring bidder to facilitate the development of extra care possibly at nil value if required to make the scheme viable

Reason for proposal:

The Southfields site will provide the necessary land for delivery of the extra care facilities outlined in the Older People’s Accommodation Development Strategy. This has set out the need for an additional 50 units of extra care in Devizes in the next 10 years.

Through the development of the site, the council would benefit from the provision of a new extra care housing to meet the needs of the growing elderly population in Devizes. Additionally, this development would improve choice and control for older people and provide a vital community resource, replacing an existing care home.

This development will protect some of the most vulnerable older people and meets one of the key actions in the business plan, to develop more affordable housing.

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 Item Number 11 and 12 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.

Confidential appendix to the report.

The committee noted the appendix to the report.