Agenda item

To provide an update on progress made and the current position regarding the Garden Communities project.

That Cabinet:

1.     Notes the progress made in respect of the North Essex Garden Communities project and endorses the work of NEGCLtd;

2.     Notes the updated position on the control of land and supports the continued work by the Local Delivery Vehicle (LDV) Directors to achieve control of the land for each Community by way of voluntary agreements with the current land owners in accordance with the LDV structure;

3.     Supports the approach proposed by NEGC Limited that Directors actively engage with Government to promote the positioning of the NEGC Limited as a “Responsible Body” for the establishment of a single new locally-controlled Development Corporation across all three of the proposed North Essex Garden Communities – subject to final consideration of this approach by Members after the publication of theRegulations;

4.     Supports the signing of a letter (attached as Appendix A) to be sent by the Leaders of all four of the Councils together with NEGC Limited to the relevant Secretary of State to support the promotion of regulations which enable the formation of a New Town Development Corporation with a locally accountable body in a timelyand  effective way;

5.     Notes that detailed work is being undertaken by NEGC Limited to assess the financial and legal implications and requirements relating to the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) to enable future decisions to be taken by the respective Councils / Development Corporation;

6.     Supports the principle of using compulsory purchase powers (either as individual Councils or potentially through a new Development Corporation) to secure control of the land if voluntary land agreements cannot be achieved in a reasonable time; and

7.     Agrees to provide a further contribution of £250,000 to fund the work of NEGC Limited in the development of the project, to be funded from the Garden Communities Project budget which is included within the Council’s currentbudget.

There was submitted a report by the Leader of the Council (A.2), which had provided Cabinet with an update on the progress made and the current position regarding the Garden Communities project and in particular:

·        To note that the joint Part One of the Local Plans had been agreed by the three District Councils;

·        To note that the proposed governance arrangements approved by the four authorities had been established and that whilst no land deals had been secured, discussions and negotiations were continuing in respect of all three areas;

·        To advise Members of the emergence of the potential to deliver the Garden Communities through the delivery model of a locally controlled Development Corporation and that support was sought for the approach proposed by North Essex Garden Communities (NEGC) Limited;

·        To advise Members of the potential use of compulsory purchase powers to gain control of the land to deliver the Garden Communities and support was sought in principle to the development of an approach to Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers; and

·        To provide Members with an update on the financial position of the project and that a further financial contribution of £250,000 to the project from each of the Councils was sought.

Cabinet was informed that the information and proposals that were set out in the report were being submitted to the Cabinets of all four of the Councils involved in the North Essex Garden Communities project during September 2017. The recommendations being made had sought the same decisions and commitments from each of the Councils.

Councillor Stock OBE declared a Non-Pecuniary interest in respect of item A.2 by virtue of the fact that he was a Director of the North Essex Garden Communities Ltd.

Councillor G V Guglielmi also declared a Non-Pecuniary interest in respect of item A.2 by virtue of the fact that he was a Substitute Director of the North Essex Garden Communities Ltd.

Councillor I Henderson (Leader of the Labour Group) requested that his concerns be recorded in the minutes in regards to ensuring that the public are given the right messages and answers in respect of funding the Garden Communities project versus 10 year financial forecasts and budget cuts, especially when the project would not benefit all of the residents in the district.  Councillor I Henderson also stated that he supported growth through the Garden communities and development.  

Having considered the report, it was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor G V Guglielmi and RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     notes the progress made in respect of the North Essex Garden Communities project and endorses the work of NEGCLtd;

2.     notes the updated position on the control of land and supports the continued work by the Local Delivery Vehicle (LDV) Directors to achieve control of the land for each Community by way of voluntary agreements with the current land owners in accordance with the LDV structure;

3.     supports the approach proposed by NEGC Limited that Directors actively engage with Government to promote the positioning of the NEGC Limited as a “Responsible Body” for the establishment of a single new locally-controlled Development Corporation across all three of the proposed North Essex Garden Communities – subject to final consideration of this approach by Members after the publication of theRegulations;

4.     supports the signing of a letter (attached as Appendix A) to be sent by the Leaders of all four of the Councils together with NEGC Limited to the relevant Secretary of State to support the promotion of regulations which enable the formation of a New Town Development Corporation with a locally accountable body in a timelyand  effective way;

5.     notes that detailed work is being undertaken by NEGC Limited to assess the financial and legal implications and requirements relating to the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) to enable future decisions to be taken by the respective Councils / Development Corporation;

6.     supports the principle of using compulsory purchase powers (either as individual Councils or potentially through a new Development Corporation) to secure control of the land if voluntary land agreements cannot be achieved in a reasonable time; and

7.     agrees to provide a further contribution of £250,000 to fund the work of NEGC Limited in the development of the project, to be funded from the Garden Communities Project budget which is included within the Council’s currentbudget.