Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for this meeting of the Development Sub-Committee

Proposer: Councillor R Dunn

Seconder: Councillor R Smith-Ainsley

Councillor Noble was elected as chairman of the meeting.

To receive nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee, to be agreed at the next Council meeting.

Chair

Proposer: Councillor S Buttar

Seconder: Councillor J Doran

Councillor Noble was nominated as chairman of the Development Sub-Committee.

Vice-Chair

Proposer: Councillor J Doran

Seconder: Councillor H Harvey

Councillor Smith-Ainsley was nominated as vice-chairman of the Development Sub-Committee.

The appointments would be considered at Council on 9 December 2021.

To receive any apologies for non-attendance and details of Member substitutions.

Councillor Nichols joined the meeting remotely and did not vote on any matter.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 01 November 2021.

Minutes to follow

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 2021 were agreed.

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

Councillors Helen Harvey, Doran and Noble advised the Committee that they were Planning Committee members and therefore would not be making comment on any applications due to come before the Planning Committee.

The Chair, or his nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 40.

At the time of publication of this agenda no questions were received.

None.

To consider any issues raised by ward councillors in accordance with Standing Order 34.2

At the time of publication of this agenda no ward issues were received.

None.

To consider any urgent action that have arisen since last meeting.

None.

To consider the Forward Plan for the Development Sub-Committee.

Noted.

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.

It was proposed by Councillor Smith-Ainsley, Seconded by Councillor Harvey and resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of this item, in accordance with paragraph 3 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 finalising acceptable contract terms.

To receive an update on the Staines Ward Councillors’ Development Meeting  on the Thameside House Development.

Reason for Exemption

This attached documents contain 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 future construction works 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’s future regeneration in the Borough.

[See separate exempt minutes.]

The committee agreed to proceed on the basis of Block A being 11, 9 and 7 storeys in height and Block B being 8, 6 and 5 storeys in height.

To receive a verbal update from the Group Head, Regeneration and Growth on the Oast House and Staines Health and Wellbeing Centre.

[See separate exempt minutes.]

The update was noted.

To receive an update from the Richard Mortimer, Development Advisor on development projects.

The sub-committee noted the update on current development projects.

To consider any business deemed as urgent by the chair.

The chair has agreed to this item being added to the agenda in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

5^th Floor, Communications House, Staines – Operation of Landlord’s Option to Determine Lease

The chair has agreed to this item being added to the agenda in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 for the following reasons:

‘Delaying the serving of a notice to vacate to the current tenant will delay redevelopment of the site and significantly increase the costs to the Council in the medium to long term. In order to maintain the development timeline a notice to vacate needs to be served during December 2021, to obtain vacant possession of Communications House by July 2022. Urgent consideration of this report by the Development Sub-Committee is therefore required, to enable it to make a recommendation to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee on 29 November 2021.’

5^th Floor, Communications House, Staines – Operation of Landlord’s Option to Determine Lease

[See separate exempt minutes.]

The committee agreed to proceed in accordance with the officer’s recommendation.