Agenda and minutes

Decision: That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on 9 November 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 ground 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.

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

Decision: that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the remaining item of business on the grounds that it will involve the disclosure of exempt information under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.    

The Chair, Councillor Gordon France, invited the Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, to introduce the report and answer any queries from Members. 

Councillor Peter Wilson explained that the report relates to the confidential Market Walk Building Contract item discussed at the Executive Cabinet meeting just prior.  The report was considered by the cross-party Market Walk Steering Group on Monday evening.  The report seeks approval of an increase in the budget for the Market Walk Extension and ancillary works. 

On 23 January 2018 Council resolved to proceed with the Market Walk extension development and allocated a budget.  The costs associated with the building contract and the ancillary works have increased by a combined sum of £312,433 with the total works costs now being £16,727,076.  This is due to an increase in the price of steel, the need to find an alternative company to source the cladding from, works to the form Oak House site and works to the Chorley PALS memorial.  The terms of the building contract were agreed at Executive Cabinet just prior.

The contract has a fixed price, but there may be future costs relating to specific tenant requests.  Some costs, relating to highways works, have been requested from Lancashire County Council. 

Councillor John Dalton queried the reasons for the delay in signing the contract.  The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley, responded with the consent of the Chair.  Enabling works have been ongoing for several months which have provided essential information to facilitate the fixed price contract.  This approach was agreed by the Council as it was considered the least risky. 

Councillor Greg Morgan queried the number of tenants with signed contracts.  Marks and Spencers Food and Reel cinema are the only two tenants with signed contracts, but there are a number of potential tenants in advanced discussions. 

Councillor Peter Wilson highlighted the wish to follow the correct procedure with all aspects of the project given the size of the budget and impact on the Town Centre. 

Councillor Gillian Sharples arrived at 7.25pm.

Councillor Margaret France spoke in favour of the project and the proposal.

Decision: That the budget approved by Council on 23 January 2018 for the delivery of the Market Walk extension and ancillary works be increased to £16,727,076.