Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of City Development which seeks to obtain the necessary authority for further land acquisition related to the delivery of the schemes detailed within the submitted report. In addition, the report also sets out the current position in respect to the delivery of the John Lewis Partnership store as part of the development and seeks the necessary approvals to enable the delivery of a car park on the land presently held by the West Yorkshire Police Authority. 

Appendix A and Plans A and B to this report are all designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.14(3).

Further to Minute No. 214, 7th March 2012, the Director of City Development submitted a report which sought to obtain the necessary authority for further land acquisition which related to the delivery of the Eastgate redevelopment scheme. In addition, the report also detailed the current position regarding the delivery of the John Lewis Partnership store as part of the development and which sought the necessary approvals to enable the delivery of a car park on the land presently held by the West Yorkshire Police Authority. 

Following consideration of Appendix A and Plans A and B to the submitted report, designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which were considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to the capital injection of funds and the authority to spend (identified in the exempt appendix to the submitted report) into the capital programme for the Council to acquire the West Yorkshire Police landholdings, as shown on exempt plan A,  and that approval also be given to allocating the sum identified within the exempt appendix for the demolition of the Millgarth building, which will be dealt with as a Design & Cost report to a future Executive Board. 

(b)  That subject to the agreement of final terms, approval be given to the Council releasing to Hammerson part of the acquired site necessary to allow for the construction of the John Lewis building (as identified upon exempt plan A to the submitted report).

(c)  That the principle that the Council enters into an agreement, subject to the agreement of final terms, with either or both John Lewis and Hammerson, in respect to the delivery and/or operation of the car park, be approved.

(d)  That the principle that should the Council be unable to agree acceptable Heads of Terms with Hammerson to deliver the car park, approval be given to the Council delivering a car park, the details of which would be subject to a further Design & Cost report to Executive Board.

(e)  That the necessary authority be provided to the Director of City Development, with the concurrence of the Executive Member for Development and the Economy and the Director of Resources, for the completion of all necessary Heads of Terms and legal documentation, for the various property transactions (as set out within the submitted report and exempt appendix A), so that such matters can be dealt with under the appropriate scheme of delegation.

(The matters referred to within this minute were not eligible for Call In as it was considered that any delay in such matters would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public interest.  A delay in completing the Heads of Terms and legal documentation as soon as practically possible may have an impact upon the critical path of approvals which were being sought both from Hammerson and John Lewis Boards)