Agenda item

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 Mayor, Councillor Mrs Hunwicks, and Councillors W Forster and L Morales.

Total present not voting:   3

The recommendations, as amended, were therefore carried by 25 votes in favour to 1 vote against.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Council, being satisfied that there is a compelling case in the public interest for the compulsory purchase of the Order Land (identified within Appendix 1), to facilitate the carrying out of the Scheme, authorise the making of a compulsory purchase order under the relevant statutory powers (being the powers under the Highways Act 1980 or the powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as appropriate) and that the Council make such Order;

          (ii)   the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder, be authorised to settle the final form and content of the Order and all associated documentation and take all action needed to pursue the Order and secure its confirmation;

          (iii)  the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder, be authorised to negotiate, agree terms and enter into agreements with interested parties including agreements for the withdrawal of objections or undertakings not to enforce the Order on specific terms including where appropriate removing land or rights from the Order or to request the modification of the Order by the Secretary of State;

          (iv) the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder, be authorised to implement the Order powers following confirmation of the Order, and so acquire title to and/or take possession of the Order Land;

          (v)   the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) Oversight Panel be established and the Terms of Reference attached to this report be approved;

          (vi)  Councillors Bittleston, Azad, Kemp, Johnson, Lyons and Ali be appointed to the Panel; and

          (vii) the composition and Heads of Terms of the Panel to be considered at its first meeting of the Oversight Panel, with any proposed changes to be brought back to the Council.