Decision Maker: Mayor and Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Having considered an earlier debate at Council, and a formal presentation by
the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Cabinet agreed that:
(1) an independent Inquiry be established to investigate matters related to the
Council’s proposed compulsory purchase order of land at New
Bermondsey/Surrey Canal;
(2) the terms of reference for the Inquiry as set out in paragraph 5 be
approved;
(3) the Chair of the Bar Council be approached to appoint a QC who meets
the criteria set out in paragraph 6 to conduct the Inquiry and, if he is unable
to make such an appointment, to nominate an alternative intermediary with an
equal level of probity and independence;
(4) expenditure of up to £500,000 be approved for the conduct of this Inquiry;
(5) the Executive Director for Children and Young People be the Council’s
officer lead in relation to the establishment and conduct of the Inquiry;
(6) a cross party New Bermondsey/Surrey Canal Inquiry Committee be
established comprising four majority group members and the minority party
member to receive the report of the Inquiry, to receive periodic reports on
progress, expenditure incurred and to make recommendations to full Council
and Mayor and Cabinet for any action arising from the Inquiry; and
(7) if, in the course of the investigation, the person conducting the Inquiry is of
the view that there are any other matters which ought to be explored in the
context of the Inquiry, they should investigate those matters and report on
them to the Council.
Publication date: 23/02/2017
Date of decision: 22/02/2017
Decided at meeting: 22/02/2017 - Mayor and Cabinet
Accompanying Documents: