Agenda and decisions

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

To consider a number of representations following the advertisement of the proposed appropriation of open space land to planning purposes and the proposed disposal of open space land at Stanley Park Golf Course, Blackpool and to decide whether or not to proceed with the proposals to appropriate and dispose of the land.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To note the objections received in respect of the intention to dispose of the open space land at Stanley Park Golf Course, Blackpool, coloured red on the plan attached at Appendix 2a, to the Executive report, (‘Site A’) but having considered the objections along with the information contained in this report agree that no changes to the proposal should be made.

2. To authorise the disposal of Site A by way of leasehold disposal arrangements for the initial operation of the whole of Site A as golf course facility followed by the operation of a golf course facility on that part of Site A which is shown coloured green on the plan attached at Appendix 2a, to the Executive report  (‘Site C’).

3. To delegate authority to the  Director of Communications and Regeneration to undertake the disposal process in respect of Site A, agree the timing of the implementation and all matters related to the disposal, deal with all matters arising from the decision and to complete the disposal process.

4. To note the objections received in respect of the intention to appropriate the open space land at Stanley Park Golf Course, Blackpool, shown coloured blue on the plan attached at Appendix 2a, to the Executive report, (‘Site B’) from open space purposes for planning purposes but having considered the objections along with the information contained in this report agree that no changes to the proposal should be made.

5. To agree in principle that Site B, which is held by the Council for the purpose of open space/recreation is no longer required to be held for those purposes and should be appropriated for planning purposes with a view to its subsequent future development.

6. To authorise the appropriation of Site B from open space/recreation purposes for planning purposes.

7. To delegate authority to the Director of Communications and Regeneration to undertake the appropriation processes in respect of Site B, to agree the timing of the implementation and all matters relating to the appropriation, to deal with all matters arising from the decision and complete the appropriation process

8. To note the objections received in respect of the intention to dispose of the open space land at Stanley Park Golf Course, Blackpool, shown coloured blue on the plan attached at Appendix 2a, to the Executive report, (‘Site B’) but having considered the objections along with the information contained in this report agree that no changes to the proposal should be made.

9. To authorise the disposal of Site B by way of long term leasehold disposals for use for the proposed development of Site B.

10. To delegate authority to the Director of Communications and Regeneration to undertake the disposal process in respect of Site B, agree the timing of the implementation and all matters related to the disposal, deal with all matters arising from the decision and to complete the disposal process.

11. To authorise the Head of Legal Services to enter into such documentation as may be necessary to give effect to the  ...  view the full decision text for item 2.

To undertake a final review of the emergency delegation of powers to the Chief Executive due to the Coronavirus pandemic and consider a delegation for future major incidents.  

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To rescind the delegation to the Chief Executive agreed under decision EX22/2020 and amended under EX23/ 2020, as in line with these previous approvals, the delegation is no longer required to respond to the situation. Normal Executive decision making would now be utilised, in line with the Executive decision making criteria updated on 24 February 2017 and the Constitution.

2. To help manage future major incidents, the Constitution be amended to allow the Chief Executive (or in his absence a nominated deputy) to be given delegated authority to exercise any urgent Executive decision where, in the opinion of the Chief Executive (or in his absence the nominated deputy), by reason of limitation of time or urgency, a decision is required on any matter relating to a major incident. Any decisions taken in this manner shall be reported to the next meeting of the Executive or Council for information.

3. That the delegated authority at decision 2 be activated only after consultation with the Leader of the Council and the other Group Leaders and the Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board and the delegated authority be temporary, proportionate to the threat, only to be used when strictly necessary and be in place for as long as required to respond to the situation.

4. That for each Executive decision taken under this delegated power, the relevant Cabinet Member be consulted, where possible.

5. That during the exercise of this delegation then periodic briefings be held with the Group Leaders and local Members of Parliament.

6. To note that a similar recommendation will be made to the next Council meeting, in relation to Council functions and responsibilities.

7. To request that the Monitoring Officer updates the Constitution accordingly.

To seek approval for the updated Children’s Services Medium Term Financial Strategy for children. The report seeks agreement for further investment to more swiftly address particular cost drivers – spend on residential placements and spend on foster homes provided by independent fostering agencies.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1.      To approve the updated Children’s Services Medium Term Financial Strategy as attached at Appendix 4a to the Executive report, and the revised modelling attached at Appendix 4b to the Executive report.

2.      To approve the funding of a £1.2m per year for two years for a specific project to step-down from residential care via a therapeutic children’s home into specialist foster placements.

3.      To approve the funding of £460,000 including investment of £300,000 necessary to transform the Council’s fostering service as set out in Appendix 4c to the Executive report.

4.      To approve the changes in payments to foster carers at a cost of £1.1m as set in Appendix 4c to the Executive report.

To consider the next stage of Blackpool Central project in accordance with the Land Sale Agreement 13 January 2020, with particular reference to site assembly

While the report and Appendix 6a are public documents,  Appendix 6b is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that publication of this document at present  would significantly undermine the Council’s position in continuing negotiations and the public interest would not be served by publishing this information.  This document may be published in full or in an amended form at a later date.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.   To agree that Appendix 6b to the Executive report is not public for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. 

2.   To agree, in principle, that if other options are exhausted then the Council would consider the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers to assemble the site outlined in Appendices 6a and 6b to the Executive report.

3.   To authorise the Chief Executive to pursue detailed negotiations with the developer and other interested parties as necessary.

4.   To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to authorise expenditure and contracts pursuant to decisions 2 and 3.

5.   To instruct relevant officers to commence all necessary preparatory works for the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order, to support the site assembly of the land outlined in Appendices 6a and 6b, to the Executive report, which is required for the development and associated road improvements and road closures.

6.    That officers be requested to bring a further report to the Executive to seek authority prior to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order.

To seek  approval for the Council to develop a commercial unit of 40,000sq ft on the Enterprise Zone and subsequently enter into a 25 year lease with Multi-Ply Components Limited for the occupation of the premises, at a market rent without a premium.

While the report and Appendix 7b are public documents,  Appendices 7a and 7c are not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that publication of the documents would significantly undermine the Council’s position in continuing negotiations and the public interest would not be served by publishing this information.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.         To agree that Appendices 7a and 7c to the Executive report are not public for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. 

2.         To approve the proposed development and subsequent grant of a lease in accordance with the Heads of Terms.

3.         To agree to the conditions set out in the Heads of Terms. These have been agreed between the parties and are contained within Appendix 7a to the Executive report (Confidential).

4.         To agree that the Council enter into a building contract for the construction of the proposed development, with agreement for the Council to negotiate construction costs up to the agreed budget costs, outlined in Appendix 7c to the Executive report (Financial Information).

5.         To agree that the Council enter into a building contract for the construction of the proposed development, with agreement for the Council to negotiate construction costs up to the agreed budget costs, outlined in Appendix 7c to the Executive report (Financial Information).

6.         In addition to the above, agreement to delegate authority to the Head of Legal to enter into any proposed legal agreements relating to the scheme.

To consider a report on the Hounds Hill Phase 2.

(This item to be considered in private by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 as the report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information))

It is considered on balance that the public interest would not be served by publishing the information as it could prejudice the proposed development.

Notification has been given on the 15 June 2020 that this item was to be considered in private and no representations have been received in response to this notification.

To consider a report on purchase of a property in the town centre.

(This item to be considered in private by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 as the report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information))

It is considered on balance that the public interest would not be served by publishing the information as it could prejudice the proposed purchase and subsequent development.

Notification has been given on the 15 June 2020 that this item was to be considered in private and no representations have been received in response to this notification.