Meeting documents

• (Attachment: 1)Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.

Executive Members: Councillors A.J. Kay and G. Knight.

Non-Executive Members: Councillors M.S. Blacker, N.D. Harrison, D.J. Pay, C. Stevens, Mrs R. Turner and S. Bramhall.
 

None.

• (Attachment: 2)Item 4: Neighbourhood Improvement Fund Report (157K/bytes)

The Leader of the Council, Councillor V.W. Broad referred to an announcement that he made earlier in the year with proposals to introduce a new grant funding scheme to enable ward Councillors to support community projects. The Leader introduced his detailed proposals for the introduction of this scheme which would provide £190,000 to be drawn from the New Homes Bonus to establish a new Neighbourhood Improvement Fund.

 The Fund would provide £10,000 per ward to support small community projects. It would involve a simple application process, led by Ward Councillors, and offered an opportunity for smaller community based organisations and community led projects to secure funding.

 Ward Councillors would be central to this proposal to allow them to agree the proposals needed for their ward working together and engaging their local communities to identify proposals and deliver improvements in their wards.

It was noted that there would be minimal criteria that the Community & Special Projects Group would utilise to consider and support the application process.

Following Member questions the Leader indicated that he was open to adjoining Ward Councillors discussing joint projects if that was what was needed for their area and that he had not set a time limitation on when the project bids needed to be submitted to allow greater flexibility to Councillors in considering this new initiative.

 RECOMMENDED that the S151 Officer be authorised to transfer £190,000 from New Homes Bonus into a new special revenue budget for the Neighbourhood Improvement Fund.

RESOLVED that:

(i) the Head of Health & Wellbeing be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to approve grants up to £10,000 from the Neighbourhood Improvement Fund; and

(ii) the Head of Health & Wellbeing be authorised to establish an application process, including appropriate checks and criteria, to support the allocation of funding from the Neighbourhood Improvement Fund.

Reasons for decision:
The establishment of a Neighbourhood Improvement Fund would support small community projects. The use of New Homes Bonus is in line with the Government’s guidance to fund community infrastructure.

Alternative options:
(i) Approve the recommendations to establish a Neighbourhood Improvement Fund, but with a different level of funding, or with funding provided from a different sources; or
(ii) Refuse the recommendations.
 

• (Attachment: 3)Item 5: Disposal of land off Merefield Gardens Report (898K/bytes)

The Executive Member for Property and Regeneration, Councillor Mrs N.J. Bramhall reported on proposals to sell an area of land in the Preston Ward, off Merefield Gardens, Tadworth (adjacent to the former De Burgh School playing fields site) to London Square Developments Limited.

The land had been jointly marketed with a larger adjoining site that was owned by Surrey County Council. The combined sites were proposed to be sold for a residential development of 186 houses which included provision for affordable housing which will give rise to further S106 contributions and assist Preston’s regeneration.

There had been two rounds of bidding for the sites which had resulted in best offers from three shortlisted bidders. The offer from London Square had been recommended for acceptance by the marketing agents, Knight Frank following a process of evaluation and scoring of the bids received and the terms of each of the offers.

Details of the bids and the proposed terms of the disposal to London Square were contained in the exempt report in part 2 of the agenda. The Executive noted that one of the bidders had, on 3 December 2015, submitted an alternative bid. However as the bid was subject to planning it was non-compliant and furthermore it was considered that the terms of the new bid did not represent better value than the recommended bid.

In addition it was recommended that authority be delegated to the Head of Property in consultation with the Leader, Deputy Leader, the Executive Members for Finance and Property and Regeneration to agree the final terms for the sale and the contract.

A Notice to advertise disposal of the land had been issued, to date no objections had been received to that notice but the Executive was requested to delegate authority to the Head of Property, with the same consultation arrangements as above, to respond to any valid objections should they be received at a later date.

It was noted that the new housing and Section 106 contributions that would result from this disposal would further contribute to the regeneration of the Preston area.

RESOLVED that:

(i) the land shown edged red on the plan attached at Annex 1 to the report, be approved for disposal to London Square Developments Ltd in accordance with the heads of terms set out in Annex 2 to the exempt report in Part 2 of the agenda; and

(ii) the Head of Property be authorised, in consultation with the Leader, Deputy Leader and Executive Members for Property and Regeneration and Finance to:
a. agree final terms for the sale and to finalise, agree and sign contracts; and
b. deal with any open space disposal objections.

Reasons for decision:
Preston is one of the principal regeneration areas in the Borough; the delivery of new housing is a critical element in achieving regeneration of the area, and this site is to be sold for residential development.
S106 contributions arising from development of the larger site will also contribute to regeneration of the area.

Alternative options:
Develop the site directly or as part of a joint venture.
 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor V.W. Broad, thanked the Members of the Executive, other Members and Officers for their support during 2015 and wished all well for a happy Christmas.

None.

RESOLVED that members of the Press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that:

(i) it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act; and

(ii) the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
 

• (Attachment: 4)Item 9: Disposal of land off Merefield Gardens Part 2 Report (4M/bytes)

RESOLVED that the exempt information relating to the disposal of land off Merefield Gardens, Tadworth be noted.