Agenda item

Decision:

To authorise the Strategic Services Director, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration:

1.     To approve the detailed plans and specification for the refurbished bus interchange.

2.     To approve the detailed plans and specification for the proposed pedestrianisation of North Street.

3.     To approve temporary North Street Market arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the developer’s planning consent.

4.     To approve any temporary taxi rank arrangements required to facilitate implementation of the developer’s planning consent once all necessary statutory requirements have been followed.

5.     To seek approval to remove the existing taxi rank in North Street that is located outside the Marks and Spencer store and to make any necessary arrangements and complete any agreements as necessary to proceed with seeking such approval to facilitate the North Street Development and to follow all necessary statutory requirements when seeking such approval.

6.      To approve any temporary parking changes that are required to facilitate temporary market and taxi rank arrangements. 

Reason(s):

To progress the scheme

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

To not approve the request for additional delegated authority which would result in a risk of the Council failing to meet its contractual obligations.

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

None.

The Executive considered a report seeking delegated authority to progress certain aspects of the scheme. The report was introduced by the Lead Councillor for Regeneration. It was explained that the Council performed two roles in the context of the development of North Street. First, as a corporate partner getting the best commercial opportunities for residents and second as the statutory local planning authority (LPA). Through good governance the Council would keep those roles strictly separate to avoid any confusion or risk a conflict of interest.

The North Street redevelopment project had run for over 3 years. The Council had held ownership of around 20% of the site and aimed to get best value from the sale. As a result of negotiation, the contract with St Edwards included delivery of a refurbished bus station, new access and exit road systems and improvements to the public realm. The Council had exchanged contracts with St Edwards on 8 March 2022, with St Edwards contractually required to deliver plans setting out a detailed specification for the bus interchange and pedestrianisation of North Street to the Council at least four weeks before any planning application was submitted. St Edwards had undertaken consultation with stakeholders, residents and councillors and was presently at ‘pre-app’ stage with the LPA. The Council must approve or reject the detailed plans submitted by St Edwards within fifteen working days. Should the Council not respond within that timescale then consent would be deemed to have been granted. The timescale for delivery of those plans to the Council was restrictive given the scheduled submission of a planning application in July. Therefore, to minimise the probability of the Council failing to meet its contractual obligations delegated authority was sought to enable a timely response.

The report also set out other associated matters where delegated authority was sought in relation to the market and taxi ranks to enable commencement of works and the implementation of a planning consent.

It was noted that the delegated authorities sought did not affect or impede the Local Planning Authority in deciding the developer’s planning application in the normal way.

The Lead Councillor for Regeneration agreed that the Executive would be kept informed of delegated decisions taken under authority and all other councillors informed in due course, with regard to any commercial constraints, if the recommendations were approved.

The Executive was satisfied that the project to date had been transparent and the planning process would offer stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the detailed plans. Consequently, the Executive

RESOLVED:

To authorise the Strategic Services Director, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration:

1.     To approve the detailed plans and specification for the refurbished bus interchange.

2.     To approve the detailed plans and specification for the proposed pedestrianisation of North Street.

3.     To approve temporary North Street Market arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the developer’s planning consent.

4.     To approve any temporary taxi rank arrangements required to facilitate implementation of the developer’s planning consent once all necessary statutory requirements have been followed.

5.     To seek approval to remove the existing taxi rank in North Street that is located outside the Marks and Spencer store and to make any necessary arrangements and complete any agreements as necessary to proceed with seeking such approval to facilitate the North Street Development and to follow all necessary statutory requirements when seeking such approval.

6.     To approve any temporary parking changes that are required to facilitate temporary market and taxi rank arrangements. 

Reason(s):

To progress the scheme.