Agenda item

Note – Essential Reference Papers C, D and E are enclosed for Members only as they contain exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.  In considering these matters, the meeting may exclude the press and public as detailed at item 12.

The Chief Executive submitted a report on the progress of the Old River Lane (ORL) site in Bishop’s Stortford and sought Members steer on the next phase of the development.  

The Chief Executive drew Members’ attention to the Essential Reference Papers which contained exempt information and reminded Members of the need to move a motion to exclude the press and public if they wished to consider the information in the open part of the meeting.  She explained that she would present Members with a vision for the Old River Lane site (including some procurement options), followed by a presentation containing exempt information, by Mr Hewines (Consultant for Montagu Evans) which would require the exclusion of the press and public.

The Chief Executive’s presentation summarised the background to the project which included:

·        A new arts/cultural and entertainment centre (500 seat theatre, 3-4 cinema screens, shared reception space, potential Bishop’s Stortford library, and a one-stop shop for Council services, hot-desking work space, café/bar);

·        Up to 180 homes (including a range of tenures and including affordable homes);

·        Retail (shops and restaurants) ;

·        Parking provision for the whole site;

·        A new public square and high quality public realm;

·        Castle Gardens connection;

·        High quality accessible parking; and

·        Sensitive scale and massing.

The Chief Executive explained the research and visits which had been undertaken by Members of the Arts Centre Working Group in terms of what arts and cultural centres might fit within the vision for ORL.  It was noted that The Rhodes Centre had fully signed up to the vision for a new arts centre and was working with the Council through the signed Heads of Terms.

At 8:55pm it was moved by Councillor B Deering and seconded by Councillor M Casey that a motion to exclude the press and public be moved.  Upon being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED. 

Mr M Hewines (Consultant for Montagu Evans) provided Members with a presentation which summarised the business case for the development of the ORL site and his views following soft market and viability testing with developers on a number of core areas including:

·        Developers’ views of ORL as a major town centre regeneration opportunity;

·        The content of the Masterplan; and

·        Specific delivery issues, such as parking, place marking and accelerated delivery.

The Consultant provided a comprehensive summary on:

·        the scheme’s potential evolution in planning terms (including land costs and viability;

·        a potential development package and delivery model;

·        the financial implications (of delivery models) and income generation and a summary outputs and funding gaps; and

·        Development and operational costs and risks associated with the project.

Members sought and were provided with clarification on:

·        the issue of risk in relation to the options proposed (Members were keen to minimise risk);

·        Charrington’s House occupancy levels  and current improvements and the absence of itemised demolition costs within the evaluations; 

·        the dependency of the ORL scheme on the multi-storey car park;

·        land costs and disposal (including legislative restrictions) and whether the figures detailed included the costs associated with buying back the land originally sold to a developer;

·        levels of affordable  housing proposed and whether this was achievable in terms of the preferred option;

·        whether properties could be included within the Council’s portfolio;

·        the need to accommodate successes (such as Launch Pad) within the new scheme arrangements;

·        the need to have firm plans in relation to the arts centre;

·        the funding gap and how this would be addressed;

·        the use of Section 106 monies and proposed financial support by Bishop’s Stortford Town Council to support the scheme;

·        Development proposals for the Arts Centre: the need for it to be centrally located and what consultation had been carried out over the last 18 months; proposed development proposals (including the need to install a “fly tower”) for the arts centre stage.

The Committee Chairman sought and was provided with clarification in relation to the financial risks associated with Options 2 and 3.

It was moved by Councillor M Allen and seconded by Councillor M Casey that the recommendations  as detailed, be approved.   After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the recommendations were declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Executive be advised that Members support (A)        the suggested delivery model as set out in the exempt Essential Reference Paper D (Business Case) and summarised in paragraph 2.2 of the report and the procurement phasing, set out in exempt Essential Reference Paper E (Procurement Strategy) and summarised in paragraph 2.4; and

(B)  note the impact in relation to the Risk Register as detailed in Essential Reference Paper F.