Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Finance.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1) the allocation of a £2.5million capital budget to cover the costs of acquiring and developing an alternative Green Space depot site and the preparation of the Belle Isle site for disposal;

(2) the unrestricted disposal of land at Belle Isle, as shown on the site boundary plan in Appendix 1 of the report;

(3) that delegated authority be granted to the City Surveyor, in consultation with the Leader and the Director Finance to:

·         approve the final terms associated with the acquisition of an alternative depot site;

·         approve the final terms associated with the disposal; and

·         in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 Section 122 to appropriate the existing Belle Isle site (shown on the plan at Appendix 1), for planning purposes to facilitate the carrying out of development, re-development or improvement on or in relation to that land.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report and as amended at the meeting.

The Executive received the report on the disposal of the Green Space team depot at Belle Isle and to relocate the Green Space team to a new depot. The depot site had been identified for redevelopment by Exeter City Living (ECL). The report also sought authority for short-term capital expenditure required to facilitate the disposal of Belle Isle site.

The City Surveyor outlined the details in the report.

The Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded an amendment to the recommendations to read as follows:-

·         2.3 delegate authority to the City Surveyor, in consultation with the Leader and the Director Finance to:

i) approve the final terms associated with the acquisition of an alternative depot site;

ii) approve the final terms associated with the disposal; and

iii) in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 Section 122 to appropriate the existing Belle Isle site (shown on the plan at Appendix 1), for planning purposes to facilitate the carrying out of development, re-development, or improvement on or in relation to that land.

Opposition group leaders spoke on the item and made the following points:-

·         Cllr Mitchell – enquired on whether the site was sold first before a new site was purchased and would the purchase be coming from reserves or from borrowing in the short term?

·         Cllr Moore – enquired on the whether maximising capital receipts would compromise the integrity of the site and was there consideration for affordable housing in this area?

During the discussion, the following points were made:

·         the recommendations would support making best use of the Council owned brownfield sites;

·         did ECL receive the funding for the initial investigation onto the site and had the investigation been completed?

·         was the Council able to sell the land provided that planning permission was granted?

In response to questions raised, the City Surveyor advised

·         the Council would seek the best offer with conditional contracts subject to planning permission for acceptable development;

·         nothing would be sold until the relocation was agreed;

·         it was possible that a developer might have a site to swap, which may provide additional range of sites for depot relocation;

·         there were still some sites with BLRF funding, which was available to spent, but there was a time limit on its use, which was conditional on the sale of the site for residential development.

The Leader moved, and Councillor Wright seconded, the recommendations which were voted upon and CARRIED unanimously.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1) the allocation of a £2.5million capital budget to cover the costs of acquiring and developing an alternative Green Space depot site and the preparation of the Belle Isle site for disposal;

(2) the unrestricted disposal of land at Belle Isle, as shown on the site boundary plan in Appendix 1 of the report;

(3) that delegated authority be granted to the City Surveyor, in consultation with the Leader and the Director Finance* to:

·         approve the final terms associated with the acquisition of an alternative depot site;

·         approve the final terms associated with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84