Issue - meetings

Queens Crescent Gardens - Agreement for Lease and Compulsory Purchase (PH)

Meeting: 14/11/2017 - Executive (Item 100)

100 Queens Crescent Gardens - Agreement for Lease and Compulsory Purchase pdf icon PDF 196 KB

To consider the report of the Principal Project Manager, Strategic Infrastructure Planning, City Development.

 

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 November 2017 and its comments will be reported.

 

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

That it is recommended that Council approve the;

 

(1)        £50,000 of unallocated New Homes Bonus receipts be allocated to Exeter St. James Community Trust Ltd as a grant (as a one off payment, and subject to satisfactory confirmation that the monies would be appropriately invested), to address immediate and ongoing liabilities associated with the Trust taking on the lease of Queen’s Crescent Garden; and

 

(2)        £5,000 of unallocated New Homes Bonus receipts be allocated for the purchase and installation (by Exeter City Council Public Realm) of three new rubbish bins outside the Queen’s Crescent Garden walls.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

As set out in the report.

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Strategic Infrastructure Planning) presented the report seeking Members’ approval to allocate £50,000 of unallocated New Homes Bonus receipts towards the costs that the St. James Community Trust would incur in assuming the 125 year lease of Queen’s Crescent Garden from the City Council, subsequent to the impending completion of the compulsory purchase of the Garden by the Council. The report also sought £5,000 of unallocated New Homes Bonus for the purchase and installation for three new rubbish bins outside of Queens Crescent Gardens.

 

Members were circulated with a revised recommendation which stated that the monies to Exeter St. James Community Trust Ltd would be a one off payment and subject to satisfactory confirmation that the monies would be appropriately invested.

 

Councillor Owen, having given notice under Standing Order no.44, spoke on this item. He stated that it was important that the Council used New Homes Bonus and Community Infrastructure Levy to support local communities to improve their areas and that revitalising Queen’s Crescent Garden was a priority in the St. James Neighbourhood Plan. The Council should look at developing a policy to support communities to take forward similar projects. Councillor Owen thanked all the officers involved in supporting this proposal.

 

In response to the Leader, Councillor Owen updated Members on the history behind establishing the ownership of Queens Crescent, the compulsory purchase order and the work of the local community to revitalise the garden.

 

Members thanked officers for taking this project forward and welcomed supporting residents to improve their communities and accessing funding.

 

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 November 2017 and its comments were reported with the amended recommendation.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the:-

 

(1)        £50,000 of unallocated New Homes Bonus receipts being allocated to Exeter St. James Community Trust Ltd as a grant (as a one off payment, and subject to satisfactory confirmation that the monies would be appropriately invested), to address immediate and ongoing liabilities associated with the Trust taking on the lease of Queen’s Crescent Garden; and

 

(2)        £5,000 of unallocated New Homes Bonus receipts being allocated for the purchase and installation (by Exeter City Council Public Realm) of three new rubbish bins outside the Queen’s Crescent Garden walls.

 

 

 

 


Meeting: 09/11/2017 - Place Scrutiny Committee (Item 53)

53 Queen's Crescent Gardens - Agreement for Lease and Compulsory Purchase pdf icon PDF 196 KB

To consider the report of the Principal Project Manager Strategic Infrastructure.

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Strategic Infrastructure Planning) presented the report onseeking Members’ approval to allocate a relatively modest amount of unallocated New Homes Bonus receipts towards the (primarily waste management related) costs that the St. James Community Trust Ltd would incur. The Trust would assume the 125 year lease of Queen’s Crescent Garden from the City Council, subsequent to the impending completion of the compulsory purchase of the Garden by the Council. The Garden had been neglected for decades, but had the potential to become a valued local resource. The grant would also allow initial work to deal with a number of urgent tree works as a priority task. Improving Queen’s Crescent Garden was also identified as a priority in the St. James Neighbourhood Plan. The approach by the Trust had the potential to offer a future model for other communities who wished to manage their own open spaces. 

 

Following further clarification by the City Solicitor and Head of Human Resources, a revised recommendation was presented which reiterated that the grant was to be a one off payment, and investment evidence would be required before any finance was released to the Trust. The Principal Project Manager (Strategic Infrastructure Planning) stated that the process included a thorough check of the documentation, and he would continue to ensure that the right procedures were in place.  The investment was likely to be implemented through the Church, Charities and Local Authorities (CCLA), which was a dedicated financial institution used by those sectors. 

 

One of the Ward Members for Duryard and St James was pleased that the Trust had pursued the commitment to take on the space.  He confirmed that he was not a trustee of the St James Community Trust and was able to speak at City Council meetings on this issue. He was grateful to the Principal Project Manager (Strategic Infrastructure Planning) who had facilitated this work and helped the project to come to fruition. A Member championing community development also wished to support the project, but mentioned the need for a holistic approach to any transfer of community assets going forward.  He hoped that the project would continue to be well thought through, including support for the governance and financial arrangements, whilst still allowing for an element of initiative. He noted that the New Homes Bonus funding would be used as intended to enhance the city and was not taken from service delivery budgets.

 

Place Scrutiny Committee supported the report and requested Executive to recommend approval by Council of the following:-

 

(1)        £50,000 of unallocated New Homes Bonus receipts be allocated to Exeter St. James Community Trust Ltd as a grant, (as a one-off payment, and subject to satisfactory confirmation that the monies would be appropriately invested) to address immediate and ongoing liabilities associated with the Trust taking on the lease of Queen’s Crescent Garden, and

 

(2)        £5,000 of unallocated New Homes Bonus receipts be allocated for the purchase and installation (by Exeter City Council’s Public Realm) of three new rubbish  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53