Decision details

Having considered both an open and a confidential officer report, and a

presentation by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan,

the Mayor agreed that:

(1) the progress in developing an outline proposal for new homes, health

and community provision on the development site at Besson Street be noted;

(2) the options for developing the site, including the commercial and legal

advice, and the views of participants in a soft market testing exercise,

contained in the confidential section be noted;

(3) the principle that the site should be developed through a Joint

Venture Partnership between the Council and an experienced private sector

Partner be approved, subject to further detailed due diligence in that regard;

(4) further decisions be required to finalise the arrangements

proposed, including approvals for the structure and governance of the

Joint Venture Partnership, and the proposed approach to selecting an

investment partner and that a further report be brought back to Mayor and

Cabinet in the spring of 2016.

(5) authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Customer Services to

develop proposals for a ‘meanwhile’ use of the site for the commercial

elements at the northern end of the site.

(6) the confidential financial and commercial advice provided to date be noted;

(7) the proposed project budget as set out in the confidential section be

approved.