Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources and Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy seeking to give authority to enter negotiations with Gloucester City Homes (GCH) over the transfer of land in Podsmead to enable the regeneration of the estate.

RESOLVED that delegated authority is given to the Property Commissioning Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Performance & Resources and Planning & Housing Strategy, the Head of Communities and the Head of Place to:

(1)       negotiate heads of terms with Gloucester City Homes (GCH) for the disposal of the freehold interest in the areas of sites shown edged Red on the Plan (“the sites”) whether by one or more transactions, and that a cost benefit analysis informs the final decision on disposal

(2)       negotiate heads of terms with GCH on an agreement to provide affordable homes within the regeneration of the estate

(3)       if so required, to seek authority from the Secretary of State to dispose of the sites on the proposed terms

(4)       negotiate terms with Gloucester United Schools Trust (GUS) for the release, relaxation or variation of the restrictive covenants affecting the sites.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources and Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy that sought to give authority to enter negotiations with Gloucester City Homes (GCH) over the transfer of land in Podsmead to enable the regeneration of the estate.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy outlined the process that led to the request by GCH to enter the proposed negotiations.  She reminded Members of the vision agreed by the strategic partnership formed in 2017 (3.1).  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy further emphasised that her report recommended that negotiations commence and was not an agreement to transfer the sites.  She reassured Members that should there be an agreement then it would be brought to a future meeting of Cabinet for due consideration.

The Cabinet Member for Environment advised Members that he had seen documentation demonstrating that consultation exercises had taken place.  He noted that as much of the report as possible had been made accessible to the public.

RESOLVED that delegated authority is given to the Property Commissioning Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Performance & Resources and Planning & Housing Strategy, the Head of Communities and the Head of Place to:

(1)       negotiate heads of terms with Gloucester City Homes (GCH) for the disposal of the freehold interest in the areas of sites shown edged Red on the Plan (“the sites”) whether by one or more transactions, and that a cost benefit analysis informs the final decision on disposal

(2)       negotiate heads of terms with GCH on an agreement to provide affordable homes within the regeneration of the estate

(3)       if so required, to seek authority from the Secretary of State to dispose of the sites on the proposed terms

(4)       negotiate terms with Gloucester United Schools Trust (GUS) for the release, relaxation or variation of the restrictive covenants affecting the sites.