Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 30 August 2017, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED – that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined by Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act.

Report of the Director of Business, Development and Growth.

Mark Lester, Director of Business, Development and Growth, presented a confidential report which sought a decision on the next steps in relation to Phase 2 of the Market Walk extension.  Two options were set out within the report. 

On 25 July 2017, the Council resolved to proceed with the Market Walk extension scheme on the basis that the contract to build would be awarded and work commence only upon having 48.4% of the lettable area being the subject of agreement for leases.

On 30 August 2017, General Purposes Committee authorised the immediate commissioning of the provision of new water and gas supplies to the development site; and to the ordering of site hoardings.

Members discussed the progress with prospective tenants and the detailed nature of the agreement.  The Market Walk Steering Group met on Monday evening to discuss the options in detail.  Since then, engrossments of the agreement had been signed by the Council. 

Chris Moister, Head of Legal, Democratic and HR Services, advised that, he was very confident that the prospective tenants will sign imminently, although there is a small risk that they will not sign.  Once the agreement for lease is signed the terms of the 25 July Council decision will be satisfied.

A package of enabling and site preparation works, and purchase of materials, is required.  Members considered the cost implications for the options set out within the report and the risks associated with them in detail. 

It was noted that if the prospective tenants do not sign the agreement for lease by w/e 29 October a Special Council meeting will be called. 

Decision: To authorise the immediate commissioning of works through until w/e 29 October, as set out in the report.