Decision details

• To note the current financial forecast for the Weyside Urban Village report.

• To note the ongoing work on the financial mitigation strategy.

• To approve the transfer of funds from provisional to approved capital programme

• To approve officer delegations to enter into future contracts.

Decision:

1.       Noted the current financial position of Weyside Urban Village programme at the Spring 2024 Financial Review, as set out in the report.

2.       Noted the current forecasted eventual deficit - outlined in Exempt Appendix 1 - in 2033 (year 10 of the project delivery programme).

3.       Delegated to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration and Lead Councillor for Finance and Property, authority to enter into such other contracts and legal agreements connected with the Weyside Urban Village programme as may be necessary in compliance with Procurement Procedure Rules and within the approved budget.

4.       Recommended to Full Council meeting on 13 May 2024 the approval of the transfer of £69.548 million from the provisional capital programme to the approved capital programme for payments which the Council is obliged to make to Thames Water Utilities Limited under the Thames Water Agreement for 2024/25, for costs necessary to meet the milestones set within the Homes England Housing Infrastructure Funding agreement and construction costs of phase 2 Infrastructure, Offsite Highways and the New Council Depot.

Reason(s):

1.       To ensure that there is sufficient understanding of the projected financial forecast of the programme and outline the work underway to develop mitigation strategies to alleviate the forecast deficit.

2.       To ensure that there is sufficient funding in the approved programme to cover construction of phase 2 Infrastructure, Offsite Highways and the new Council Depot and the payments which the Council is obliged to make to Thames Water Utilities Limited under the Thames Water Agreement for 2024/25.

3.       To ensure that statutory service agreements and construction agreements can be entered into for the delivery of services and infrastructure for the development and to ensure that Homes England Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) milestones are achieved. 

4.       To support the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan (2021-2025) priorities, by supporting the high-quality development of a strategic site, creating employment opportunities through regeneration and facilitating affordable housing.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

Option 1, not to approve the recommendations.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.