Agenda and minutes

To receive any disclosures of interest from Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The Monitoring Officer’s covering report, and the investigator’s report and associated appendices are attached.

Council considered a report from Yinka Owa following the Waterfront Development Investigation.

Council were advised that the report exonerated all councillors, cabinet members and officers that had been involved in the Waterfront Development.

Concerns were raised over the potential final cost of the investigation which was anticipated to be in the region of £100k.

Proposed Councillor Noble

Seconded Councillor Barnard

Council resolved to note the report.

To consider a recommendation from the Development Sub-Committee meeting on 26 July 2022.

Council considered a report from the Development Advisor that sought approval of:

1.    the request for a design variation to the Development Agreement between the Council and Arora Hotels Group Ltd from a 354-bed upscale 4* luxury hotel led scheme to a 205-bed upscale luxury 4* hotel led regeneration scheme (as presented to Council on 09 February 2022 by Arora). Full scheme analysis can be seen at Appendix 1 (Cushman’s Market Report),

2.    the request for an extension of the Planning Condition Long Stop Date and the Vacant Possession Long Stop date in the Development Agreement to 31 December 2023,

3.    the Amended Planning and Vacant Possession Long Stop dates that will be applicable to the amended scheme; and

4.    delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Group Head of Corporate Governance in consultation with the Chair of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee to enter into a Deed of Variation to the Development Agreement to give effect.

The Leader advised Council that he would be setting up a cross-party Sub-Committee made up of only of Staines Councillors to monitor the Waterfront development and be involved in talks with Arora. This Committee would be a sub-group of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and would therefore report back to them. He also stated that a public consultation would take place before any planning application was submitted.

It was proposed by Councillor Fidler and seconded by Councillor Barnard and resolved by Council that Standing Orders should be suspended to enable consideration of the item to continue.

The Mayor requested that recorded votes were taken for the 4 recommendations outlined in the report.

Recommendation 1:

For: Cllrs Attewell, Barnard, C Barratt, R Barratt, Beardsmore, Boughtflower, Brar, Buttar, Chandler, Fidler, Gething, Harman, H Harvey, I Harvey, Islam, Leighton, Noble, Rybinski and Sider – 19 votes

Against: Councillor Spoor – 1 vote

Abstain: Cllr S Doran, Saliagopoulos, Bateson, Button, J Doran, Gibson, Grant, Mooney, Nichols, Sexton, Vinson and Whitmore – 12 votes

Council resolved to approve Recommendation 1 of the report

Recommendation 2:

For: Cllrs Attewell, Barnard, C Barratt, R Barratt, Beardsmore, Boughtflower, Brar, Buttar, Chandler, Fidler, Gething, Harman, H Harvey, I Harvey, Islam, Leighton, Nichols, Noble, Rybinski and Sider – 20 votes

Against: No votes

Abstain: Cllrs S Doran, Saliagopoulos, Bateson, Button, J Doran, Gibson, Grant, Money, Sexton, Spoor, Vinson and Whitmore – 12 votes

Council resolved to approve Recommendation 2 of the report

Recommendation 3:

For: Cllrs Attewell, Barnard, C Barratt, R Barratt, Beardsmore, Boughtflower, Brar, Buttar, Chandler, Fidler, Gething, Harman, H Harvey, I Harvey, Islam, Leighton, Nichols, Noble, Rybinski and Sider – 20 votes

Against: No votes

Abstain: Cllrs S Doran, Saliagopoulos, Bateson, Button, J Doran, Gibson, Grant, Money, Sexton, Spoor, Vinson and Whitmore – 12 votes

Council resolved to approve Recommendation 3 of the report

Recommendation 4:

For: Cllrs Attewell, Barnard, C Barratt, R Barratt, Beardsmore, Boughtflower, Brar, Buttar, Chandler, Fidler, Gething, Harman, H Harvey, I Harvey, Islam, Leighton, Noble, Rybinski and Sider – 19 votes

Against:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107/22