Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

The Development Agreement for the John Barker Place Area of Hitchin.

RESOLVED:

(1)    That officers be authorised to assess the suitability of the existing DA and review if an alternative agreement is required for settle’s new scheme.

(2)    That, should a new DA be required, officers should negotiate its terms with settle and return to the Cabinet for it to be considered and decided.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The economic operating environment for registered providers has changed significantly and many items contained in the existing DA appear to be redundant. The Council’s financial situation has also changed since 2013.

Audio Recording – 59 minutes 41 seconds

The Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health presented the report entitled The Development Agreement for the John Baker Place Area of Hitchin.

The following alternative options were considered:

(1)     Due to the newly proposed JBP scheme, (as shown on the current planning application - 19/01416/HYA - submitted by settle) the existing DA was no longer considered fit-for-purpose.  As a result, the option of leaving it in place without review had been discounted.

(2)     Termination of the current DA was considered, however until the necessity for, (and potential content of) a new DA had been fully assessed, this was not recommended.

The following Members took part in the debate and asked questions:

·            Councillor Sam North;

·            Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb;

·            Councillor Steve Jarvis.

It was moved by Councillor Gary Grindal, seconded by Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb and:

RESOLVED:

(1)    That officers be authorised to assess the suitability of the existing DA and review if an alternative agreement was required for Settle’s new scheme.

(2)    That, should a new DA be required, officers should negotiate its terms with Settle and return to the Cabinet for it to be considered and decided.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The economic operating environment for registered providers had changed significantly and many items contained in the existing DA appear to be redundant. The Council’s financial situation had also changed since 2013.