Issue - meetings

Council considered a report in respect of Old River Lane, Bishop’s Stortford, seeking approval for delivery models for each aspect of the scheme and the procurement method.  Council also noted the successful application for gap funding from the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The Leader expressed her appreciation to the efforts of officers and members of the Delivery Board.

Councillor G Williamson moved, and Councillor D Andrews seconded, the recommendations as now detailed.  After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the recommendations were declared CARRIED.

Council approved the recommendations now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the comments and suggestions from the Overview and Scrutiny committee held on 19 June 2018 (set out in summary at paragraph 2.6 of the report submitted) be noted;

(B)       as recommended by the Executive on 17 July, the suggested delivery models for the three parts of the scheme be approved as follows:

·        Northgate End: Direct Delivery

·        Core ORL Site: Development Agreement

·        Arts Centre: Direct delivery, with developer taking overarching project management role for all of core ORL site.

(C)       as recommended by the Executive on 17 July 2018, officers be instructed to proceed with procurement, splitting the whole scheme into two parts, with two parallel procurement processes (Option 2 as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report submitted); and

(D)      subject to (C) above, in noting the budget for the next stage of development is £480,000, the use of LEP resources to fund it, be approved.

(see also Minute 134)

Note – Essential Reference Papers C – 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, if necessary, the meeting may exclude the press and public in accordance with Agenda Item 19.

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57