Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources with a request to exchange a conditional contract for the disposal of the former St Wilfrid’s RC High School site to Bellway Homes in accordance with the Council’s Asset Disposal Policy. 

Decision Made: That the Cabinet:

(1)         notes that the proposal is a Key Decision that had not been included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.  Consequently, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) has been consulted under Rule 27 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made by the Cabinet as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until Cabinet in November due to the requirement to conclude the legal position and exchange contracts with Bellway Homes, arising from external contract and project plan commitments;

(2)    notes that the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) has been consulted under Rule 46 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, waiving call in due to the need to resolve on the basis that the decision cannot be reasonably deferred because of the urgency to conclude the legal position and exchange of contracts, arising from external contract and project plan commitments.

(3)     notes the progress of negotiations with Bellway Homes and the beneficiary of the restrictive covenant for its release and a further report on the sum required for such covenant release be submitted to the Cabinet Member - Regulatory Compliance and Corporate Services in conjunction with the Head of Corporate Resources for approval once the outstanding matters have been resolved;

(4)          confirms that there is no objection to exchanging conditional contracts with Bellway Homes to achieve best consideration;

(5)          notes the current strategy that officers are pursuing with the Education Funding and Skills Agency (EFSA) to secure Section 77 consent under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998; and

(6)      approves that the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer complete the necessary legal documentation for the disposal of the site subject to the resolution of the conditions of contract for sale.