Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council introduced a report on the Council’s successful Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bid to deliver an integrated highways revitalisation project estimated to cost £115 million. It was noted that there are three key elements to the project:

o      acquisition and demolition of the Island site;

o      A320 highway widening and improvements;

o      and the replacement of Victoria Arch bridge (the Scheme).

In order to deliver the scheme the Council had to consider the use of its compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers. The report outlined the detailed reasons for using such powers.

The attention of Members was drawn to a supplementary report which had been drawn up following discussion between the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Economic Development Task Group, Cllr Ian Johnson, concerning Member oversight of the Fund Project.  It was proposed to establish a Housing Infrastructure Fund Oversight Panel, draft Heads of Terms were attached at Appendix 1. Appointments to the Panel will be made annually in May, alongside other appointments, but to enable the Panel to be established as soon as possible the report nominated the following Councillors:

-      David Bittleston, Leader of the Council and Mount Hermon Ward Member;

-      Ayesha Azad, Portfolio Holder for Financial Services;

-      Colin Kemp, Portfolio Holder for Transport;

-      Ian Johnson, Mount Hermon Ward Member;

-      Liam Lyons, Mount Hermon Ward Member; and

-      Mohammad Ali, Canalside Ward Member.

In considering the supplementary report, it was noted that the membership included both the Ward Members for Mount Hermon and the Leader of the Council.  The County Council had chosen to delegate responsibility to Woking Borough Council and it was therefore not proposed to include County Members on the Oversight Panel.

In view of the lateness of the supplementary paper, Councillor Ali proposed that the Panel should be established and that the composition and Heads of Terms of the Panel should be considered at its first meeting, with any proposed changes to be brought back to the Council.  The amendment was seconded by Councillor Aziz.  The Leader of the Council advised that the Heads of Terms were based on those adopted by other Oversight Panels and that there would be no objections should the Members of the Panel wish to recommend any changes to the Council.  It was therefore agreed that the amendment by Councillor Ali could be added to the substantive recommendations before the Council without the need for a named vote.

In accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the names of Members voting for and against the substantive recommendations, as amended, were recorded.

In favour:                           Councillors M Ali, S Ashall, A Azad, T Aziz, A-M Barker, D Bittleston, J Bond, A Boote, M Bridgeman, G Chrystie, G Cundy, K Davis, G Elson, D Harlow, K Howard, D Hughes, I Johnson, C Kemp, R Leach, N Martin, R Mohammed, M I Raja, C Rana, J Sanderson and M Whitehand

Total in favour:                  25

Against:                             Councillor L Lyons.

Total against:                     1

Present not voting:            The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12