Issue - meetings

Councillor D Wright, Cabinet Member: Economy, Housing, Transport & Infrastructure, presented the report of the Chief Executive. 

Councillor I T W Fletcher asked if a contingency plan was in place for the contractor. Councillor Wright advised that Lovell were contracted through a competitive process and the market would be tested prior to the scheme taking place.

Councillor I T W Fletcher further asked why only 11.8% of homes in the scheme were affordable, when the local plan stated that 20% of properties should be so, he also raised a question in respect of state aid and the contingency plans for if some selected sites did not receive planning permission.

Councillor Wright advised that Nuplace offered an affordable, sustainable portfolio of homes, with more affordable and sustainable homes being built, which would continue to be an objective of the scheme. The scheme met all legal requirements and all sites would have to go through the planning processes. There would be a list of alternative sites if one or more of the indicative sites did not progress.

RESOLVED that:

a)      The revised Business Case included at Appendix 1 of the report be noted

b)      The allocation of £38.5m from the Regeneration and Investment Fund to support the developments as set out in the report be noted

c)       The extension to the Nuplace Loan Facilities Agreement of £36m, the rate and terms to be delegated for approval to the Council’s s151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member: Council Finance & Governance be approved

d)      The delegation of authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Housing Investment Programme Board be noted, to:

i)                    Agree and enter into, where necessary, any documents, as required, to implement the recommendations contained within the revised Business Case

ii)                  Agree and enter into, where necessary, any agreements, as required, for the disposal or acquisition of land required to give effect to the recommendations contained within the Business Case

e)      The delegation of authority to the Associate Director: Policy & Governance to seal or sign any documents required to give effect to the recommendations contained in this report be noted.