To receive any public questions.
Minutes:
Question 1
James Clark to ask Councillor Jan Goodeve, the Executive Member for Planning and Growth
Can the Executive
Member for Planning and Growth update residents on plans to bring
the Caxton Hill Industrial Estate back into employment
use?
Response from
Councillor Jan Goodeve
“The previous
owners of Caxton Hill Industrial Estate proposed 200 apartments, 5
storeys high on a hill as part of a mixed
use development claiming that the site was not viable
without the residential element. Castle Ward members found this
wholly unacceptable as did community groups and we resisted this.
EHDCcommissioned its own study to challenge the developer’s
viability claims. Ownership of the site subsequently changed,
Caxton Capital Partners (backed by Blackrock) have been meeting
with local elected members and it is encouraging to hear that they
propose that the site will be for 100% employment use in accordance
with the district plan. The developer is now seeking PPA and
in due course a planning application will be submitted to East
Herts District Council and published for public consultation in the
usual way.”
Supplementary
question from James Clark
What steps will the
Council take to ensure that the developer builds as sustainably as
possible?
Response from
Councillor Jan Goodeve
“We want our towns to be sustainable in their own right; places where residents can obtain goods and services and people can go to work locally and not to become dormitory towns.
On questioning we
have been pleased to learn that the developer is proposing to
bringforward:
- a BREEAM Excellent standard of building sustainably
- will include both EV charging points and solar panels on site; and that
- demolished
building materials will be used onsite where possible
Caxton Capital
Partners have also met with Hertford Town Council, Hertford Civic
Society and have arranged to meet with the LEP (Local Enterprise
Partnership) as part of their pre application community
consultation.
I’d like to thank Mr Clark for his questions.”
Question 2
Jill Goldsmith to ask Councillor Geoff Williamson, the Executive Member for Financial Sustainability
Have the Development Agreement and Development Management Agreement with Cityheart now been signed and when will they be disclosed on the Contracts Register? Why has the Contracts Register not been updated in June?
Response from
Councillor Geoff Williamson
“Thank you for
the question.
The Development
Agreement with Cityheart has not yet
been signed which is why it is not referenced in the Contracts
Register. I know early last year I stated that we hoped it
wouldn’t be too long before we signed it but there have been
a few issues which needed to be resolved with regards to both
parties sharing the risk and elements to work through regarding the
land assembly and the Waitrose car park. We are now at the closing
stages and anticipate signing the Development Agreement in a matter
of weeks as opposed to months.
In terms of the
Contracts Register, this should be updated every financial quarter
so that information as at the end of June should be available on
the website. I have spoken to Officers who have made it a priority
to have the information published. Once the Development Agreement
has been signed, the contract with Cityheart will be referenced on the register and
available for public viewing by the end of
September.”
Supplementary
question from Jill Goldsmith
Why was it left until September after the consultation on the Supplementary Planning Document to release any information to residents on the nature of the contract between the Council and Cityheart?
Response from
Councillor Geoff Williamson
He said that the Development Agreement was due to be signed imminently and the next version of the Contracts Register would be published on the website in September. The Old River Lane Board meeting minutes were on record and if the agreement was signed before September, the minutes would record this.
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