Issue - meetings

The Chair opened the item by noting that discussion of the matter had been postponed from July at the request of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Joe Baker.  This had occurred because the Executive Committee had only provided 17 days’ notice of the item in the Executive Work Programme rather than the 28 days’ notice that was legally required for key decisions.  The matter had been pre-scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, though no recommendations had been proposed and the Chair of the Committee had not taken part in the proceedings for that item.  The Chief Executive advised that the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been unable to participate as the constitution required that no member who had previously taken part in making a decision on a matter, in this case the One Public Estate regeneration of the town centre considered in March 2018, could subsequently scrutinise the issue.  In line with the 1972 Local Government Act’s guidelines in respect of chairing Council meetings Councillor Baker had left the room to ensure that another Member could Chair the meeting in his absence.

The Head of Economic Development and Regeneration for North Worcestershire presented the report and highlighted that the report in respect of One Public Estate that had been considered in March 2018 had identified a preferred site for a public sector hub; on Church Road. Officers were now suggesting that this should no longer be the preferred location due to the costs involved.  There was also a lack of market evidence that this was the most appropriate location for such a hub. Instead, Redditch Town Hall had been identified as a site that was more appropriate for a public sector hub. Members were advised that the Council would continue to work with partner organisations and work on existing proposals in relation to the railway quarter and relocation of the library into the hub.

Following the presentation of the report the Committee discussed a number of matters in detail:

·                The new evidence that had emerged in respect of the most appropriate location for a public sector hub in the town centre.  Officers advised that this was based on an assessment of the market conditions, with the market for office accommodation in Redditch being quite weak.

·                The extent to which partner organisations were supportive of the change to the proposed location for the public sector hub.  The Committee was informed that the partner organisations had indicated they were supportive of these proposals.

·                The potential for the Town Hall to act as a public sector hub and the reason why other options were not being explored.  Officers advised that it was important to maintain footfall around the area of the Town Hall.

·                The potential for residential properties to be included in the regeneration of the town centre and the reasons why a residential zone was no longer explicitly referred to in the report.  Members were advised that this would be considered but was not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21