Agenda and minutes

To receive any disclosures of interest from members in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Smith-Ainsley.

To elect a Chairman to preside over the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Harvey

Seconded by Councillor Noble

Resolved that Councillor L Nichols chair the remainder of the meeting.

The Committee are asked to nominate a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the Municipal year. These nominations shall then be presented to Council on 14 October 2021.

It was moved by Councillor Harvey and seconded by Councillor Nichols that this item be deferred pending feedback from the Independent Renumeration Panel in respect of Members’ allowances for the Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee.

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for the following items, in view of the likely disclosure of 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.

Councillor Nichols expressed concern that some items on the agenda were scheduled to be heard in a closed session as most of the information contained in the reports was already in the public domain and it would be in the public interest to discuss them in an open forum .

The Monitoring Officer advised that the financial information contained within the reports would need to be discussed in a closed session. The Committee agreed to hear each item in public unless a vote was taken to hear it in private.

It was proposed by Councillor Nichols and seconded by Councillor Harvey and Resolved to move the exclusion of the Press and Public for the next item on the agenda, Ashford Multi-Storey Car Park, in view of the likely disclosure of 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.

To receive an update from the Group Head, Regeneration and Growth, on development projects.

Reason for exemption

This report 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 the bidding process for the site/services by allowing other bidders to know the position of the Council.  This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the bids process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to acquire a site/services in order to enable regeneration in the Borough.

The Committee agreed to defer this item to the next meeting on 09 August 2021.

The Sub-Committee are asked to:

1.    Approve the budget for the design phase up to planning submission.

2.    Authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentation necessary to implement the design team appointments.

Reason for exemption

This report 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 the bidding process for the site by allowing other bidders to know the position of the Council. This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the bids process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to acquire a site in order to enable regeneration in the Borough.

The Committee considered an exempt report on the Ashford Multi-Storey Car Park and resolved to  :

1)    approve the budget up to the feasibility stage of the process, and

2)    authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentations necessary to implement the design team appointments

The Sub-Committee is asked to:

1.    Authorise Benwell House Phase 2 project to proceed to determination by the Planning Committee meeting at the earliest opportunity.

2.    Note that Assets will finalise terms and identify a preferred contractor and  hen make recommendations for approval to the Development Sub-Committee, the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council.

Reason for exemption

This report 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 the bidding process for the site/services by allowing other bidders to know the position of the Council.  This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the bids process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to acquire a site/services in order to enable regeneration in the Borough.

The Committee agreed to defer this item to the next meeting on 09 August 2021.

Committee is asked to:

1.    note the report and the current position on the creation of a potential new Staines Health and Wellbeing centre;

2.    note that if the preferred site chosen is on land in Council ownership that a further report will come to the Development Sub Committee.

Reason for exemption

This report 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 the bidding process for the site by allowing other bidders to know the position of the Council. This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the bids process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to acquire a site in order to enable regeneration in the Borough.

The Committee received an update from the Group Head Regeneration and Growth and resolved to:

1.    note the report and the current position on the creation of a potential new Staines Health and Wellbeing centre;

2.    note that if the preferred site chosen is on land in Council ownership that a further report will come to the Development Sub Committee.