Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Miah.

The minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 5 and 15 March 2007 were signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED:That N Duffy (EC Harris consultants) be granted leave to address the Cabinet in respect of items 7 and 9 “Grosvenor/Greyfriars Progress”.

Councillor Larratt declared an personal interest in items 7 and 9 insofar as the discussion included the WNDC of which he was a Board member.

None

None.

Report of Corporate Manager, Community Safety, Leisure and Town Centre Operations (copy herewith)

Councillor Caswell, the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Infrastructure, submitted a report that sought the extension of the pay on foot scheme to the St Johns and St Michaels multi storey car parks; to allow annual season ticket holders into the Mayorhold Shoppers pay on foot car park; the ability to pay parking tickets charges by credit or debit cards; and advertising in the Mayorhold, St Johns and St Michaels car parks.  He noted that these developments were part of an ongoing car parking strategy.

RESOLVED:(1) That approval be given to an amendment to the Parking Place Order for St Johns and St Michaels multi storey car parks when they change from pay and display to pay on foot on 1 May 2007 or other agreed date.

(2) That approval be given to an amendment of the Parking Place Order for the Mayorhold shoppers car park to enable that car park to be used by season ticket holders from 1 May 2007 or other agreed date.

(3) That approval be given to implement the use of credit and debit cards on selected parking ticket machines to purchase day tickets.

(4) That authority be given to the Director of Customer and Service Delivery to negotiate and implement schemes to gain income and from advertising on selected car parks.

Report of Corporate Manager, Regeneration, Growth and Community Development (copy herewith)

Councillor Caswell the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Infrastructure submitted a report that summarised the progress made with Legal and General and Stagecoach to bring forward the redevelopment of the Grosvenor and Greyfriars Bus Station.  The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Growth and Community Development commented that regular meetings had been held with Legal and General and whilst Heads of Terms had not yet been agreed (mainly due to illness) progress was being made and a recent meeting between representatives of the Council and Legal and General had been very positive.  Accordingly, the report was recommending the extension of the Collaboration Agreement to the end of June 2007.  Legal and General had accepted the principle of acquiring a long leasehold interest of the bus station.

Discussions had also taken place with Stagecoach who had agreed in principle to their relocation.

The Corporate Manager for Regeneration, Growth and Community Development commented that Donaldsons were working on a draft report in respect of compulsory purchase powers.

The Corporate Manager also commented that he was seeking approval to spend £10,000 from the agreed £145,000 budget to allow the project viability assessment to continue.

N Duffy reported that there appeared to be a great deal of goodwill on both sides and it seemed increasingly likely that a deal could be achieved.

Councillor Hadland commented that the tight timescale agreed by the Cabinet in December 2006 was beginning to achieve the results that the Council was hoping for.

RESOLVED: (1) That the progress and actions to date be noted and that it also be noted that a draft report on compulsory purchase powers and related issues would be presented to a future Cabinet meeting.

(2) That the strategy for the progression of the project agreed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 5 March 2007 be continued.

(3) That it be noted that whilst progress has been made the timetable for the reaching of a development agreement be revised from the end of May to the end of June 2007 whilst accepting that this still represented a challenging timetable.

(4) That the request from Legal and General to extend the collaboration agreement beyond 30 April 2007 to 30 June 2007 be agreed.

Report of Corporate Manager, Housing Services (copy to follow)

This item was withdrawn.

THE CHAIR TO MOVE:

“THAT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS BE EXCLUDED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE IS LIKELY TO BE DISCLOSURE TO THEM OF SUCH CATEGORIES OF EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED BY SECTION 100(1) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS LISTED AGAINST SUCH ITEMS OF BUSINESS BY REFERENCE TO THE APPROPRIATE PARAGRAPH OF SCHEDULE 12A TO SUCH ACT.”

The Chair moved that the public and Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there was likely to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to the appropriate paragraph of Schedule 12A to such Act.

The Motion was Carried.

Report of Corporate Manager, Regeneration, Growth and Community Development (copy herewith)

The Corporate Manager for Regeneration, Growth and Community Development submitted a report and N Duffy reported that Donaldsons had been examining compulsory purchase powers in the whole context of the project.  They had concluded that such orders would be a necessary tool to help the project progress.

The Corporate Manager for Regeneration, Growth and Community Development commented that Stagecoach had publicly announced their wish to vacate from the bus station to a site at Edgar Mobbs Way for their layover facilities and maintenance depot which would rationalise their current two centre operation at the bus station and Rothersthorpe Road.  Stagecoach also wished to discuss the temporary arrangements whilst the development was taking place.

The Corporate Manager for Regeneration, Growth and Community Development commented that a conditional Development Agreement could be achieved by June/July 2007 but this remained a demanding target.  Once an agreement had been reached other managers and areas of expertise in the Council would be brought on board perhaps via a commercial board.  It was also noted that specialist design advice for the Council would be sought after a Development Agreement had been signed.

RESOLVED: That the update on compulsory purchase powers and negotiations with Legal and General and Stagecoach be noted.

Report of Corporate Manager, Development, Building Control and Environmental Health (copy herewith)

Councillor Flavell the Portfolio Holder for Local Environment submitted a report that sought the award of the Pest Control Contract to Pest Express.  She further commented that following a tendering process two tenders had been received and assessed through evaluation criteria.

RESOLVED:(1) That Pest Express be appointed to provide pest control services on behalf of the Council and in accordance with the outcome of the tender evaluation process.

(2) That the Solicitor to the Council be authorised to agree the formal contractual terms and issue the award letter to Pest Express.