Decisions

GBC wish to enter into a contract with a specialist contractor to carry out remedial works to the Mayor’s parlour to prevent further damage to the Grade I listed structure due to weather ingress.

The minutes of the meeting held 23 February were agreed as correct. The Chairman signed the minutes.

1.      To note the update on the progress of the Guildford’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund projects.

2.      Approve the revised spend proposals for 2024/5

Decision:

1.    Approved the progression of Guildford’s UKSPF and REPF plans, as outlined in the report.

2.    Delegated to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader, authority to enter into such other contracts and legal agreements connected with the UKSPF and REPF as may be necessary in compliance with Procurement Procedure Rules and within the allocated grant funding budget.

Reason(s):

The £1.4 million total funding Guildford Borough Council had been allocated from the UKSPF and REPF was a significant sum of money that could have a positive impact on the borough’s local communities and businesses.

Grounded on insights from local stakeholders, partners and GBC Councillors and Officers, the projects put forward in Guildford’s Investment Plan and REPF Addendum aligned with the borough’s local priorities and intent to leverage collaboration with the Council’s partners to maximise value for money.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

OPTION 1: The Executive could have decided not to approve the proposed interventions (including changes) for Guildford’s UKSPF and REPF. This would make the Council unable to advance the proposed projects and make use of the £1.4 million allocated by DLUHC and DEFRA within the prescribed timescales to empower our local businesses and communities.

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

None.

Decision:

The Executive approved the adoption of the Community Asset Transfer Policy, asset out in Appendix 1 to the report, incorporating the updated wording to page 7. subparagraph 6 as set out in the Supplementary Information Sheet.

Reason(s):

·         The Council did not currently have a policy on the transfer of assets to community groups.

·         To deliver community objectives.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

Do nothing – Do not adopt the policy. This would not address having a consistent decision-making process and community groups and Council officers would not have a clear procedure to follow if a group wished to submit an expression of interest

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

None.

To agree funding of condition and other necessary surveys.

The report was withdrawn prrior to the meeting as further work was required.

Decision:

1.    That subject to the adoption of the Local Plan: Development Management Policies, the Parking Standards for New Development Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (at Appendix 6) be adopted.

2.    That the Lead Councillor with portfolio responsibility for Planning Policy be authorised, in consultation with the Joint Strategic Director of Place, to make such minor alterations to improve the clarity of the Parking Standards for New Development SPD as they may deem necessary.

3.    To note that Executive comments will be passed to the full Council meeting on 22 March 2023 via the Order Paper.

The Executive further

RECOMMEND (to Council):

(1)   That the Local Plan: Development Management Policies (as set out in Appendix 4 to the report), which incorporates the Inspector’s Main Modifications (at Appendix 2 to the report) and the Council’s Minor Modifications (at Appendix 3 to the report), be adopted.

(2)   That the Secretary of State be requested to exercise his powers to revoke the ‘residual’ policies of the 2003 Local Plan.

(3)   That updates to the Guildford Borough Policies Map be adopted in line with the Local Plan: Development Management Policies including additions proposed at Appendix A of the Local Plan: Development Management Policies, as amended by the Inspector’s main modification 6.

(4)   That the Lead Councillor with portfolio responsibility for Planning Policy be authorised, in consultation with the Joint Strategic Director of Place, to make such minor alterations to improve the clarity of the LPDMP as they may deem necessary.

Reason(s):

1.    To enable the adoption of the Parking Standards for New Development SPD to provide further guidance regarding the implementation of LPDMP Policy ID11 [now Policy ID10]: Parking Standards for New Development.

2.    To enable minor alterations to be made to the SPD should they be necessary prior to publication

3.    To enable the adoption of the LPDMP in line with the Council’s Local Development Scheme and for the plan to become part of the Council’s development plan, carrying full weight in the determination of planning applications.

4.    To enable the revocation of the ‘residual’ Local Plan 2003 policies that are not superseded by policies contained in the LPDMP.

5.    To ensure that changes are brought about to the policies map in line with the adoption of the LPDMP.

6.    To enable minor alterations to be made to the LPDMP should they be necessary prior to publication

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

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

None.

The minutes of the meeting held 22 September 2022 were agreed as correct. The Chairman signed the minutes.

There were no declarations of interest.

Decision:

1.    Agreed to the appointment of Guildford Borough Council as a trustee of Arundel House (Hamilton Fellowes); and

2.    Delegated authority to the Joint Strategic Director of Transformation to arrange for an Officer to attend the Trustee meetings and take day to day decisions about the operation of the Charity and any applications made to the Charity

Reason(s):

To fulfil the Council’s governance duties in respect of land it is holding on trust. 

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

Refuse the appointment and further consideration will need to be given to transfer of the land to a trustee of the charity. 

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

None.

There were no new recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider. The paper was noted.

The Leader deferred her announcements to the meeting of full Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2023 were agreed as correct. The Chairman signed the minutes.

Recommendation to Executive: 

(1)      To recommend that Full Council (at its extraordinary meeting on 16 March 2023) approves the budget and funding strategy as set out in Exempt Appendix 2 and Exempt Appendix 3.

(2)      To delegate to the Strategic Director for Place, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, and Lead Councillor for Finance and Planning Policy, authority to enter into such other contracts and legal agreements connected with the Ash Road Bridge Scheme as may be necessary in compliance with Procurement Procedure Rules and within the approved budget

Recommendation to Council:

(1)      To approve the budget and funding strategy as set out in Exempt Appendix 2 and Exempt Appendix 3.

Decision:

1.     To recommend that Full Council (at its extraordinary meeting on 16 March 2023) approves the budget and funding strategy as set out in Exempt Appendices 2 and 3 to the report, subject to the revisions to Appendix 3 as set out in the exempt Appendix 1 to the Supplementary Information Sheet circulated at this meeting.

2.     To approve the transfer of the sum referred to in Paragraph 1 (Recommendations (Budget)) of the Exempt Appendix 2 to the report.

3.     To delegate to the Strategic Director for Place, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, and Lead Councillor for Finance and Planning Policy, authority to enter into such other contracts and legal agreements connected with the Ash Road Bridge Scheme as may be necessary in compliance with Procurement Procedure Rules and within the approved budget.

Reason(s):

This is a unique opportunity to utilise £23.9 million of central government funding towards the Ash Road Bridge Scheme to deliver an alternative road crossing of the North Downs railway line in close proximity to the Ash level crossing.  The Ash Road Bridge Scheme forms a requirement of Policy A31 of the Council's Local Plan which allocates land for housing in Ash. Delivery of this scheme will also enable the closure of Ash level crossing to motor vehicles, which will improve safety for highway and rail users and significantly reduce traffic congestion on the A323 and the use of alternative local roads to avoid the Ash level crossing in Ash.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

Option 2, to not proceed with the recommendations set out in the report.

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

None.

Decision:

1.    To approve the Strategic Outline Business Case for the Guildford Park Road Redevelopment, attached as Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive, and to endorse the recommended delivery strategy outlined within.

2.    To endorse the revised planning strategy for the project.

3.    To approve commencement of the procurement of a development partner to support the delivery of the Guildford Park Road housing project.

4.    To approve the spend of up to £700,000, already allocated for the scheme within the Housing Revenue Account approved capital programme, to deliver the procurement activity.

5.    To delegate to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Housing and Community and Lead Councillor for Regeneration, authority to enter into such other contracts and legal agreements connected with the Guildford Park Road housing project as may be necessary in compliance with Procurement Procedure Rules and within the approved budget.

Reason(s):

1.    The Guildford Park Road redevelopment is a key scheme within the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan that will deliver a significant number of additional homes in the town centre. Officers currently have no authority to initiate the delivery phase of the scheme, and this authority is now sought from the Executive.

2.    The recommendation will support the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan (2021-2025) priorities by providing and facilitating housing that people can afford.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

1.     Do Minimum – Sell the site with no conditions attached

3.    Do Most – The Council builds out the scheme directly and takes on all development risks

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

None.