Cabinet - Tuesday, 14th July, 2020 5.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd June, 2020 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2nd June, 2020 were confirmed.

To consider Report No. DCS2001 (copy attached), which seeks approval of the Council’s  three year Business Plan, for submission to the Council on 30th July, 2020.

The Cabinet considered Report No. DCS2001, which set out proposed updates to the Council’s three year business plan.

Members were informed that the business plan would build on the sixteen priorities that had been identified by the Cabinet and that supported the Council’s Vision for Aldershot and Farnborough 2030. Members were informed that the business plan would be presented at the Council Meeting on 30th July, 2020.

In response to a question, it was confirmed that Members would be informed of any priority areas that had been seriously impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that the Rushmoor Borough Council Business Plan (April 2020 to March 2023), as set out in Report No. DCS2001, be approved.

To consider Report No. RP2009 (copy attached), which sets out a proposal to carry out a detailed feasibility study for the potential development of a combined leisure centre and civic hub, within the proposed Farnborough Civic Quarter.

The Cabinet considered Report No. RP2009, which sought additional funding to proceed with a detailed feasibility study for the potential development of a combined leisure centre and civic hub within the Farnborough Civic Quarter site.

Members were reminded that a capital budget of £100,000 for the commissioning of a feasibility study in relation to the potential development of a new leisure centre had been agreed previously by the Cabinet. It was now proposed that the scope of the feasibility study should be broadened to consider the creation of a new civic hub as part of the development. This would require the establishment of a further budget of up to £100,000. Members were informed that the Council had appointed GLK Solutions to work with officers to produce the Outline Business Case appended to the Report.

The Cabinet considered the details of the business case and was supportive of the approach suggested. In particular, Members discussed issues around the condition of the existing council offices and the requirement for the Council to reduce its carbon footprint over the coming years.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the Outline Business Case, as set out in Appendix A to Report No. RP2009, be approved;

(ii)          the recommendations, as set out in paragraph 3.4 of the Report and in accordance with the Outline Business Case, be approved; and

(iii)         a further budget of up to £100,000 to support the delivery of the feasibility study, as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the Report, be approved.

To consider Report No. RP2011 (copy attached), which sets out an update in relation to the redevelopment of Union Street, Aldershot.

The Cabinet considered Report No. RP2011, which set out an update on progress in relation to the Union Street, Aldershot redevelopment site.

Members were informed that planning permission had been granted for the scheme in June, 2020. Approval was now required to carry out the necessary demolition and clearance works to maintain the development timetable. This would enable the Council to secure the external grant funding that had been secured against the scheme and would ensure the timely delivery of the agreed student accommodation to the University for the Creative Arts.

In response to a question, it was confirmed that the exercise to select a  demolition contractor would be subject to appropriate procurement practices and would be Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) compliant. Members also discussed the importance of securing the external funding to offset the overall cost of the scheme.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the update on the due diligence being undertaken and the proposed decision making process, as set out in Report No. RP2011, be noted;

(ii)          the progression of the demolition of the site, including the procurement of demolition services and the awarding of contracts (up to £1.25 million) through an appropriate framework, to clear and prepare the site for construction as soon as practicable, be approved;

(iii)         the meeting of the demolition and site clearance costs from the capital budgets already set aside for the regeneration of Union Street, Aldershot be approved;

(iv)         the establishment of an internal (client) project team be noted and the appointment of other advisers and the procurement of advice, as necessary, to complete the due diligence process and support the demolition and clearance of the site be approved, with the costs being met from budgets already agreed for the regeneration programme;

(v)          in relation to planning application no. 20/00171/FULPP, the entering into the necessary legal agreement(s) in relation to the planning obligations set out in Section 4.4 to secure planning consent in a timely manner be approved;

(vi)         the appointment of external solicitors to progress the Agreement for Lease and associated documents with the University for the Creative Arts be noted; and

(vii)       the formal approval by the Enterprise M3 LEP of grant funding of £1.2 million be noted.

To consider resolving:

That, subject to the public interest test, the public be excluded from this meeting during the discussion of the undermentioned item to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such item:

Item                Schedule      Category

No.                  12A Para.

                        No.

6                      3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

RESOLVED: That, taking into account the public interest test, the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the under mentioned item to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the item:

Minute           Schedule      Category

No.                  12A Para.

                        No.

12                   3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider Exempt Report No. RP2010 (copy attached), which sets out proposals to secure the vacant possession of land within the Union Street, Aldershot regeneration site.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No. RP2010, which set out proposals to secure the vacant possession of land within the Union Street, Aldershot regeneration site.

Members were informed of the circumstances around two properties within the site. In each case, the legal position of the properties had been complex and this had led to protracted negotiations with the occupiers. It was, however, in the Council’s interests to secure vacant possession to enable progress to be made in delivering the redevelopment project plan. Members were supportive of the approach proposed and considered that the regeneration of this site remained one of the Council’s key priorities. Officers were authorised to negotiate with the occupiers to obtain vacant possession, within prescribed limits.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

i)             in order to make progress with the demolition of the site and with the implementation of the planning permission obtained, Council officers be authorised to secure vacant possession of the properties, as set out in Exempt Report No. RP2010, by negotiation up to the limits agreed at the meeting and set out in the Restricted Minute appended; and

ii)            the setting aside of a revenue budget for temporary holding costs, as set out in paragraphs 5.4–5.5 of the Exempt Report, be approved.