75 Alker Lane - Delivery Options
To consider and receive the report of the Director (Business, Development and Growth).
Decision:
1. Agree in principle to exploring a Local Authority and Contractor Partnership arrangement to bring forward the development of the Alker Lane employment site;
2. Note the risks associated with the site and the required actions, the funding of which will be subject to a separate budget report to Council in the foreseeable future.
Minutes:
Councillor John Dalton arrived at 6.52pm.
Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Member (Economic Development and Public Service Reform) presented the confidential report of the Director (Business Development and Growth), which informs Members of the delivery options, next steps and key issues available to the Council to bring forward employment premises on the Alker Lane site.
Decision:
1. Agree in principle to exploring a Local Authority and Contractor Partnership arrangement to bring forward the development of the Alker Lane employment site;
2. Note the risks associated with the site and the required actions, the funding of which will be subject to a separate budget report to Council in the foreseeable future.
Reasons for Recommendation(s):
The recommended model will in principle meet the Council’s aims for the employment site namely, to generate jobs, enable the Council to bring forward the site debt free at the end of the process and will generate on-going revenue for the Council.
Alternative options considered and rejected:
Two alternative models were considered in the report and rejected as they were not viable and consequently did not meet the development objectives.
The Council could choose to not bring forward the site at this time and rely on other employment land owners to create the supply of employment premises of which there is a shortage in Chorley now and in the future. However, there is no guarantee that other land owners will bring forward their sites and in action by the Council will only seek to exacerbate the situation.