Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of City Development providing an update on the positive progress that has been made on bringing forward the East of Otley development since the last report presented in June 2019. Also, the report requests ‘Authority to Spend’ £2.245m from the Capital Programme to cover costs and fees associated with taking the project up to and through the planning process.

(Please notes that Appendix 2 to this report is designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3))

Further to the Minute No. 18, 26^th June 2019, the Director of City Development submitted a report providing an update on the positive progress which had been made on the various strands of the East of Otley development project. Also, the report sought approval regarding the ‘Authority to Spend’ £2.245m to enable the completion of critical preliminary works, which would enable the full costing of the East of Otley Relief Road (EORR) scheme to take place, the submission of a planning application and the provision of essential information which would inform the Collaboration Agreement.

In presenting the submitted report, the Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development highlighted the level of affordable / social housing proposed as part of the development, together with details of the wider benefits for Otley town centre.

Officers responded to a Member’s enquiries regarding the process for the drawdown of the Housing Infrastructure Fund grant, the associated development viability check and in relation to potential issues arising from the complexity of the project.

Responding to a specific enquiry regarding the potential impact upon sports pitches, it was emphasised that any development would require appropriate planning consent and in securing this, any replacement of pitch provision would need to be agreed with Sport England as a statutory consultee and also with the affected sports clubs. 

Following the consideration of Appendix 2 to the submitted report, designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, and which included officers providing further information to the Board in response to Members’ enquiries on the content of the exempt appendix, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the continued positive progress which is being made on the East of Otley scheme,including entering into contract with Homes England for the HousingInfrastructure Fund, be noted;

(b)  That the proposed environmental measures to be implemented as part of the design and delivery of the EORR and the wider East of Otley development to help towards supporting the reduction of the climate impacts that the scheme may have, be noted;

(c)  That the drawdown of £2.245m from the Capital Programme (Scheme 33010) for the provision of funding to cover further fees and additional costs to progress the EORR project up to and through the planning process, be approved;  and that the necessary Authority to Spend be delegated to the Director of City Development in consultation with the Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development; with it being noted that these costs will be recovered to the Capital Programme following the first drawdown of the Housing Infrastructure Fund grant in respect of the costs associated with the EORR or from the landowners via the Collaboration Agreement in respect of the costs incurred as part of the wider residential led mixed use scheme;

(d)  That the positive progress which has been made towards completing a Collaboration Agreement, as set out in exempt  ...  view the full minutes text for item 140