Issue - items at meetings - St Oswalds Redevelopment

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy seeking Members to approve the disposal of the City Council’s interest in a site pertaining to the comprehensive redevelopment of land at St Oswalds for up to 300 new homes in partnership with Rooftop Housing Association (RHA).

Please note that Appendices 2 and 3 are exempt from disclosure to the press and public by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the authority holding that information). If Members wish to discuss Appendices 2 or 3 Cabinet will need to resolve to exclude the press and public before doing so.

RESOLVED that:

(1) the Property Commissioning Manager is authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Planning and Strategy, Head of Policy and Resources and Head of Place:

a. to accept a surrender from Tesco Stores Limited of the land edged GREEN in Appendix 1 of the report

b. to agree a new lease with Tesco Stores Limited for the land edged GREEN on in Appendix 1 of the report for a period of 250 years with no restriction to future development

c. the completion of both transactions taking place only when all other legal agreements referenced in resolution (iii) of the 10^th March 2021 Cabinet Report ‘St Oswalds Redevelopment’ complete

(2) the Head of Place in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy, the Head of Policy and Resources and the Council Solicitor is authorised to take all necessary steps and undertake necessary procedures, including but not limited to entering into any legal arrangements or other documentation as may be required to facilitate resolutions (1)a and (1)b above

(3) the recipients of the delegations set out in Resolutions (1) and (2) above are authorised to instruct the Council Solicitor to prepare such documents as considered appropriate to achieve the outcomes set out in those Resolutions.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy that sought Members to approve the disposal of the City Council’s interest in a site pertaining to the comprehensive redevelopment of land at St Oswalds for up to 300 new homes in partnership with Rooftop Housing Association (RHA).

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy remarked on the technical complexity of this ambitious project which was reflected in the report and thanked the Head of Place and his team for their expertise and guidance in its preparation. He stated that the risks were consistent with the previous report to Cabinet (10^th March 2021 Agenda Item 10). The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy reminded Members that 200 of the 300 planned homes would be affordable. He commented that this represented a step forward towards the goal of helping people find somewhere to live about which Cabinet are passionate.

The Cabinet Member for Environment expressed his own gratitude to officers for their efforts in what is a long and complex process towards providing homes that are desperately needed. He looked forward to the commencement of work on site. The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure drew Members’ attention to the removal of significant risk by the recommendations (7.1) and the next steps to be taken (8.1). He commented that it was right and in the interest of taxpayers that each stage of this complex process is to be completed absolutely correctly and ways found to minimise risk.