Agenda item

APPROVAL OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE JOHN BARKER PLACE AREA OF HITCHIN

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGUATORY

 

To consider entering into a new Development Agreement for the John Barker Place area of Hitchin.

Decision:

RECORD OF DECISION MADE UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY

(as a result of the Cabinet meeting on 24 March 2020 being cancelled

due to Covid-19 situation)

 

 

*PART 1 – PUBLIC DOCUMENT

 

 

Any interest to declare/ or conflict and any dispensation granted [if applicable]

 

SERVICE DIRECTORATE: Regulatory

 

 

1.         DECISION TAKEN

 

In respect of the Cabinet Agenda – 24 March 2020 – Items 7 and 6I - Approval of a New Development Agreement for the John Barker Place Area of Hitchin

 

(1)       That notice is served on settle to terminate the Development Agreement that was signed in 2013, with immediate effect.

 

(2)       That the newly proposed Development Agreement, at Appendix B of the report, be approved.

 

(3)       That authority is delegated to the Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health, in conjunction with the Service Director - Regulatory, to agree minor changes to the new Development Agreement.

 

(4)       That a lease on the identified Council owned land at Swinburne Avenue, Hitchin, is granted to settle on the lease heads of terms attached to this report (please see Appendix C of the report).

 

2.       DECISION TAKER

 

The Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council

 

3.       DATE DECISION TAKEN:

 

2 April 2020

 

 

4.       REASON FOR DECISION

 

The Cabinet meeting on 24 March 2020 was cancelled due to the Covid-19 situation.

 

The newly proposed Development Agreement (DA) includes a package of measures that support settle’s regeneration scheme for John Barker Place (JBP), which is situated in one of the most deprived areas of the district.

 

The existing DA is not considered to be fit for purpose as it relates to historic planning approvals and former Council priorities. This view is supported by settle.

 

5.       CONSULTATION WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS

 

Consultation including the effect on stakeholders, partners and the public is contained within the report published with the Cabinet agenda for the meeting on 24 March 2020.

 

Given the current Covid-19 situation and government advice regarding gatherings, the meeting of the Cabinet was not possible. Therefore, the Cabinet Members were requested to provide an indication as to how they would have voted and any comments as to guide the decision maker.

 

By the prescribed deadline 8 votes were cast in favour of the recommendation.

 

The following Members of Cabinet voted:

 

·                Councillor Ian Albert

·                Councillor Judi Billing

·                Councillor Paul Clark

·                Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg

·                Councillor Gary Grindal

·                Councillor Keith Hoskins

·                Councillor Steve Jarvis

·                Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb

 

The following comments were made by Members:

 

Councillor Paul Clark

Are we able to get agreement to improve the environmental building standards of the dwellings on site to BREEAM from BRE?

 

Councillor Carol Stanier (Deputy Executive Member)

I fully support the development and affordable housing suggestions. In addition I would like to comment that it would be nice to see higher environmental standards such as BREAM being proposed as part of this development.

 

6.       SUPPORTING REPORT

 

Other information relevant to the decision, such as legal, financial, risk, social value and equality implications, is contained within the report published as Items 7 and 6i within the Cabinet agenda for the meeting on 24 March 2020 via link below:

 

https://democracy.north-herts.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=133&MId=2200&Ver=4

 

NOTIFICATION DATE

 

3 April 2020

 

Signature of Decision Taker

 

Call-in does not apply to NON-EXECUTIVE DECISIONS

 

In respect of Executive Decisions, as per section 6.3.11(b) of the Constitution ‘Call-In and Urgency’, the call-in procedure does not apply when the decision being taken is urgent. For the purposes of the current Coronavirus pandemic, this decision is considered to be urgent (as normal meetings and the decision-making process has been suspended). The Chair of Council has been informed and agrees that the decision is a reasonable one in the circumstances and is to be treated as a matter of urgency.

Supporting documents: