Agenda item

Report No:   CAB/SE/15/015 TO FOLLOW

Cabinet Member: John Griffiths      Lead Officer: Mark Walsh

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     the contents of Report No: CAB/SE/15/015 be noted; and

(2)     the next stage of the project be agreed to proceed which will be to seek planning consent for a West Suffolk Operational Hub at Hollow Road Farm, Bury St Edmunds.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/015 (previously circulated) which sought approval for proceeding with the next stage of the West Suffolk Operational Hub project.

Councillor Mrs Mildmay-White, Deputy Leader of the Council, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet.  She explained that the proposed development of a West Suffolk Operational Hub at Hollow Road Farm, Bury St Edmunds would be one of a number of important public sector estate projects in Suffolk.

A new facility at Hollow Road Farm, which could potentially include provision of a new Waste Transfer Station and Household Waste Recycling Centre for West Suffolk, would mean that immediate efficiency gains could be realised by all parties and new commercial opportunities explored. 

The relocation of waste services into this new facility would also enable a series of exciting new developments to be completed on the vacated land. This would include the second phase of the ambitious Public Sector Village (PSV) in Bury St Edmunds, which in turn could potentially allow other sites in West Suffolk to be vacated and put to better use.

This programme sought to identify opportunities for shared use of public sector facilities. Bringing services from different partners together on to the same site and sharing costs (co-location) would give better value for taxpayers and better services for residents and businesses through efficiencies which came from more joined-up working. This reorganisation would make better use of assets; ensuring modern, efficient facilities with room for growth to be available for the future with a minimum overall cost to taxpayers.

Report No: CAB/SE/15/015 provided an update on the current anticipated costs and benefits and asked that the next stage of the project regarding the starting of planning application process, which was also dependent on Forest Heath and Suffolk County Councils’ approval, to be formally commenced.  During this next phase, options for capital funding would also be reviewed which would include funds from other related projects (such as PSV Phase Two) and consideration of financing options.  Approval to fully proceed with the project would be required by Cabinet and full Council at a later stage.

A detailed discussion was held and the Cabinet was pleased to note that Suffolk County and Forest Heath District Councils’ Cabinets appeared to be supportive of the principles of the proposed scheme and it was encouraging that there seemed to be a tremendous will from all parties to bring this project to fruition.

Members were also encouraged that a holistic approach to the project was being taken with capacity for the site expected to be sufficient for the next 10 to 20 years.

Councillor Mrs Broughton, neighbouring Ward Member for the site, was in attendance and wished to speak on matters provided in the Exempt Appendices.

Therefore at this point, it was proposed, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act.

Such matters included:

(a)     the length of the consultation period during the proposed pre-planning application stage;

(b)     provision of sufficient consultation sessions with neighbouring parish councils and the public;

(c)     proposed access and egress to the site; and

(d)     potential traffic implications during both the site’s development and upon completion. 

Issues (c) and (d) above and more would be considered during the pre-planning application stage and interested parties would have the opportunity to submit their comments during the consultation.

Following consideration in private session, the Cabinet concluded its discussion in public.

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     the contents of Report No: CAB/SE/15/015 be noted; and

(2)     the next stage of the project be agreed to proceed which will be to seek planning consent for a West Suffolk Operational Hub at Hollow Road Farm, Bury St Edmunds.