Agenda item

Report No: COU/SE/18/009

Council considered the Referrals Report of Recommendations from Cabinet contained within Report No: COU/SE/18/009.

(A)    Referrals from Cabinet : 27 March 2018

1.       Tackling Rogue Landlords: Civil Sanctions Policy

Approval was sought for new officer delegations associated with the Housing Standards - Civil Sanctions Policy.  Approval of the policy itself was given by Cabinet on 27 March 2018.

Councillor Sara Mildmay-White, Portfolio Holder for Housing, drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including responding to a question associated with the apparent specific behaviour of landlords in Haverhill. Whilst the concerns were noted, it was important to acknowledge that agencies and organisations must work together to rectify specific problems, as the incidences described were largely the result of anti-social behaviour rather than poor management of housing standards. 

On the motion of Councillor Sara Mildmay-White, seconded by Councillor Joanna Rayner, and duly carried, it was

RESOLVED:

That the new delegations regarding the enforcement powers described within the Housing Standards – Civil Sanctions Policy contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/SE/18/021,be incorporated into the Scheme of Delegation, contained in Part 3 of the Constitution, to enable these housing standards civil sanctions to be enforced.

(B)    Referrals from Extraordinary Cabinet : 17 April 2018

1.       Investing in the Regeneration of Bury St Edmunds Town Centre: 17-18 Cornhill

Approval was sought for a preferred option and policy approach for the future of 17-18 Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, and the necessary funding required to deliver the preferred option.

An addendum to Report No: COU/SE/18/009, which together with its recommendations on the above report which had been considered following the publication of the agenda and papers for this meeting, contained corrections to typographical errors contained within Report No: CAB/SE/18/027.  Recommendation (3) was amended to read:

Approve £8.4m£8.24m capital budget (includes £1.68m purchase and redevelopment budget), funded through the Investing in our Growth agenda fund, in line with paragraph 1.9.

For completeness the table in paragraph 1.9.2 of the Cabinet report was also amended as shown in the addendum to Report No: COU/SE/18/009.

Members noted the background to the Council’s acquisition of 17-18 Cornhill, including that the purchase had accorded with the adopted Local Plan (Vision 2031) and the aspirations of the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Masterplan. 

Since the acquisition in December 2016, the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Masterplan Advisory Group, which comprised Members (including the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth), officers and stakeholders had explored and agreed objectives for the site and these informed future detailed design work.  A project team was established to develop the objectives, which included appointing external expertise relative to the project, as set out in Section 1.6 of the Cabinet report. 

A detailed options appraisal was undertaken and this was now presented for consideration, as summarised in Section 1.8 of the Cabinet report.  The options were:

Option 1:     ’Do nothing’

Option 2:     Resell to the market (following the purchase of the site in December 2016)

Option 3:     Refurbishment of the existing site

Option 4:     Redevelopment of the site

Councillor Alaric Pugh, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth, drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including expressing his full support for Option (4), which was to redevelop the site, which through retaining the front elevation and demolishing the remaining buildings aimed to achieve all objectives set and maximise the potential to deliver wider community benefits.The benefits of this option were summarised in the Cabinet report.

This option would require a further capital allocation of £6.72m, which if assessed as a financial investment alone, was a breakeven option. (This option assumed the purchase costs of £1.68m which would be funded by capital receipts). However, Councillor Pugh reiterated the economic, community, social and indirect financial benefits this option would generate for the town, which were all key elements of the West Suffolk Growth Investment Strategy adopted in February 2018.  The redevelopment option also linked to the forthcoming proposals for the St Andrews Street redevelopment, which was also a key feature of the aspirations of the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre masterplan.

A detailed discussion was held with support and enthusiasm demonstrated by a significant number of Members for the redevelopment Option.  Issues raised included:

(a)     the intention to preserve the frontage of the building. Whilst the building was located in the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Conservation Area, neither it nor the Victorian façade was listed.  Minor modifications may be appropriate in keeping with the façade’s historic status; however, recognition was given to protecting its context and impact on the street scene;

(b)     as 17-18 Cornhill was now under Council ownership, the opportunity had been presented to widen Market Thoroughfare, which had been part of the original plan for the arc development;

(c)     the positive impact the redevelopment would have on Bury St Edmunds town centre and its role in the aspirational objectives of the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Masterplan;

(d)     a general breakdown of the capital budget required, including that contributions would be sought for other sources of funding to help deliver this scheme and the breakeven financial position was the worse case scenario;

(e)     Members commendations towards the team of officers and the input of stakeholders of the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Masterplan Advisory Group for aiming to achieve such an exciting redevelopment scheme which fully met the objectives set for the future of this site. 

On the motion of Councillor Alaric Pugh, seconded by Councillor Peter Stevens, and duly carried, it was

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     the project objectives set out at paragraph 1.3.1 of Report No: CAB/SE/18/027 for the site, be endorsed;

(2)     as the preferred option and policy approach, the redevelopment (Option 4) of 17-18 Cornhill, be approved;

(3)     an £8.4m capital budget (includes £1.68m purchase and redevelopment budget), funded through the Investing in our Growth agenda fund, be approved in line with paragraph 1.9 of Report No: CAB/SE/18/027;

(4)     it be acknowledged that in line with Recommendations (2) and (3) above, officers will proceed in the development of the site in line with the Council’s agreed Scheme of Delegation; and

(5)     the Council’s Section 151 Officer will make the necessary changes to the Council’s prudential indicators as a result of Recommendation (3).