Issue - meetings

Council is asked to

1)    Approve the introduction of a Development Delivery Strategy;

2)    Approve the form and content of the draft Development Delivery Strategy attached to the report;

3)    Approve the prioritisation list of development site delivery;

4)    Approve that the prioritisation list of development site delivery shall form part of the Development Delivery Strategy.

Appendix 2 contains exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in any contract or other type of negotiation with the proposed provider who could then know the position of the Council.

Council resolved to approve:

1.    The introduction of a Development Delivery Strategy,

2.    The form and content of the draft Development Delivery Strategy attached to the Committee report,

3.    The prioritisation list of development site delivery; and

4.    That the prioritisation list of development site delivery shall form part of the Development Delivery Strategy.

To consider a report on the Development Delivery Strategy and the prioritisation list of development sites.

The Committee considered a report on the Development Delivery Strategy and the prioritisation list of development sites. The Group Head Assets advised that following Councillor led workshops in March and April the Development Delivery Strategy was recommended for approval by the Development Sub-Committee in May 2024. The Committee were advised that the Development Sub-Committee had requested that a site prioritisation list be included.

The Committee asked how the prioritisation list had been created and were advised that it was based on the social value of the development and the cost of holding on to the site.

The Committee queried at which stage residents would be consulted. The Group Head Assets advised that the strategy is intended as a high level look at the process and does not contain that level of detail however it was intended that resident consultation would happen in parallel with ward councillor consultation.

The Committee asked for clarification as to what infrastructure would be included with the development sites and were advised that the infrastructure would vary and be site dependent.

The Committee asked if there could be a template for ward councillors to use when providing feedback at consultations however it was felt that it was better to take a less restrictive approach allowing more freeform feedback. The Group Head Assets stated that there could be a standard template for how the results of consultations were fed back to the Committee.

The Committee noted that the Development Delivery Strategy was to be reviewed annually and suggested periodic review may be more appropriate. The Committee queried what would happen if an opportunity came available to progress one of the sites outside the scheduled prioritisation timescales. The Group Head Assets advised that they were continually considering all options for the sites and if a viable opportunity arose it would be presented to the Committee for a decision.

It was proposed by Councillor Clarke, seconded by Councillor Bateson and resolved to exclude the public and press be excluded for the remainder of the item, in accordance with paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in being able to undertake even-handed negotiations and finalizing acceptable contract terms.

The meeting returned to open session.

The Committee resolved to recommend to Council to:

1. Approve the introduction of a Development Delivery Strategy.
2. Approve the form and content of the draft Development Delivery Strategy attached to this report.
3. Approve the prioritisation list of development site delivery.

4.    Approve that the prioritisation list of development site delivery shall form part of the Development Delivery Strategy.

To consider recommending to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee to:

1. Approve the introduction of a Development Delivery Strategy;

2. Approve the form and content of the draft Development Delivery Strategy attached to this report; and

3. Refer the Development Delivery Strategy to Council for adoption.

The Sub-Committee received a report on the draft Development Delivery Strategy. The Group Head Assets advised that delivery options would be considered on a site-by-site basis and that the strategy would set out the criteria for deciding the relevant options for each site.

The Sub-Committee asked for clarification over what would be prioritised; achieving the objectives of the Corporate Plan or the need to achieve financial returns on the sites. The Group Head Assets advised that while the Council has a statutory obligation to achieve best value in terms of financial returns, it is the Councillors who would make the decision as to how the sites are progressed and could decide that best value meant something beyond the financial implications.

The Sub-Committee queried how residents should interpret Appendix 2 and were advised that it showed anticipated delivery mechanisms that would be acceptable to the market, but that no decision would be made until a report was brought to the relevant committee. The Sub-Committee expressed reservation about Appendix 2 being in the public domain and it was resolved that it would not be published with the rest of the Development Delivery Strategy.

The Sub-Committee queried whether it would be possible to do nothing and wait for interest rates and construction cost to reduce. The Chief Accountant advised that doing nothing was not an option and that progress needed to be made on the sites to avoid £15m being transferred to the revenue budget.

The Chair suggested that further work on the strategy was needed to identify which sites should be prioritised. The Group Head Assets suggested the report be withdrawn and that a workshop with selected Councillors held to identify priority sites. The report could then return to Development Sub-Committee in May 2024.

The Sub-Committee resolved to withdraw the report and reconsider it at the next meeting.