Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Carolyn Godfrey.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet (Capital Assets) Committee meeting held on 19 March 2013.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 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.

To reflect the position of the capital programme. Report on final capital expenditure against final budget in 2012/2013.

Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform introduced the report which detailed changes to the budget made since the month 10 monitoring reports and reflected budget transfers into 2013/2014 for committed schemes.

Resolved:

That the Committee:

1.    Notes the budget movements undertaken to the capital programme in Appendix A of the report presented

2.    Notes the budget transfers of £10.389 million into 2013/2014 as shown in Appendix A and B of the report presented

Reason for decision

To inform Cabinet of the final position of the 2012/2013 capital programme, highlight budget changes and note final budget reprogramming into 2013/2014.

Report by Service Director, Transformation

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste introduced the report which described the procurement process followed to establish a framework of providers for the delivery of capital building projects. The framework ensured delivery of an ambitious building programme which was high quality, value for money and procedurally robust.

Resolved:

That the Committee authorises the execution of both the framework contract with those companies and organisations who, following the OJEU competition, are selected for appointment to it, and contracts for professional services following mini competitions to be called off by officers in the Transformation team in the manner described in the covering report.

Reason for decision

To ensure that technical capacity and capability is available to the authority to enable the delivery of the Council’s ambitious Building Programme, including but not limited to the Campus Delivery Programme and requirements for additional new school places to meet demand.

To ensure a robust and rigorous approach to procuring and managing the services of key technical disciplines in the property sector, that is fully compliant with Council procurement regulations and EU procurement law.

To ensure that delivery mechanisms for Building Projects, enable full alignment with other public sector organisations in Wiltshire, to maximise the opportunity for joint delivery of corporate aims over time in line with the emerging 10 year public sector asset strategy.

Report by Service Director, Transformation

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste introduced the report which requested that authority be delegated to the Service Director for Transformation in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste, to dispose of part of the Park and Ride site at London Road, Salisbury, so long as there is no permanent loss of parking spaces.

The Committee heard that further discussions had taken place which suggested the Council acquired additional land, and then sold this with the flying freehold, thereby creating 40 to 50 extra parking spaces at no extra cost to Wiltshire Council.

A question on improving the footpath in front of the proposed building allowing it to be used by pupils and parents from Laverstock School resulted in confirmation of a cycle path being created, which would allow this. Local members had confirmed their agreement with this.

Resolved:

That the Committee delegates authority to the Service Director for Transformation in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste, to dispose of part of the Park and Ride site at London Road, Salisbury, so long as there is no permanent loss of parking spaces.

Reason for decision

The Council will obtain a capital receipt without any permanent loss of amenity.

Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director

Cllr Richard Gamble introduced the report which updated members on the provision of the new  2 Form Entry (420 places) school in Tidworth North East Quadrant and the need for further negotiations with Persimmon Homes to acquire additional land.

Three options were presented for the Committee’s consideration. Option 2 represented the preferred option, which entailed entering into further negotiations with Persimmons Homes about the acquisition of the additional land.

Concern was shown over whether the report figures took into account pupil numbers as a result of rebasing. Although a higher than normal pupil yield from the new housing has been anticipated, there had been no confirmation on the location of further family homes. The 2FE design of the school does not allow for it to become a 3 form entry, expansion options were available in other Tidworth Schools. An education group had been set up to look at the provision of education within the Tidworth area.

There were no urgent items.

Having complied with paragraphs 6(a) and 7 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 in respect of the intention to take the following items 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 s11 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 items in private:

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

Having complied with paragraphs 6(a) and 7 of the Local Authority (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) Regulations 2012 in respect of the intention to take the following items in private,

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 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 items in private:

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

No representations had been received as to why the item should not be held in private.

To receive a confidential verbal update.

The Committee was advised of ongoing negotiations to secure the acquisition of land for the NEQ school at Tidworth.

Resolved:

That the Committee:

1.    Confirms its authority to proceed with further negotiations about the acquisition of land adjacent to the school site on the North East Quadrant in Tidworth; and

2.    Delegates the completion of necessary legal transactions to effect the acquisition to the Service Director for Transformation in consultation with the Service Director for Schools and Learning, the Cabinet members for Children’s Services, Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, property and Waste and the Portfolio holder for Schools, Skills and Youth.

Reason for decision

Delivery of a new school in Tidworth will enable the Council to meet its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places and will comply with the terms of the NEQ Section 106 agreement. The current site will meet minimum statutory requirements. However, the acquisition of additional land adjacent to the new school site will be preferable to facilitate expansion to 2FE (420 places) from 2016/2017. The availability of land will not affect the Academy provider.

Confidential report by Service Director, Economy and Regeneration.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste introduced the report which proposed the purchase of land in Trowbridge as identified in the report presented.

Cllr Ernie Clark spoke in support of the proposal.

Resolved:

That the Committee delegates authority to the Service Director, Economy and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste to enter negotiations for the purchase of land in Trowbridge, and acquire the site subject to title and an acceptable purchase price being agreed.

Reason for decision

To allow Cabinet to consider the purchase of the land in question.