Agenda item

NOTE: The exempt appendix (Appendix 5) attached for this item has only been made available to Members and relevant Officers. Should Members wish to discuss Appendix 5 in any detail, a decision will be required to exclude the public and press from the meeting on the grounds that exempt information is likely to be divulged, as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 (a) of Section 100 1 of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

(Paragraph 3: Subject to the “public interest” test, information relating

to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).)

The Chief Executive presented a report proposing the introduction of a Blue Light Hub on Middlehouse Lane.

Council was informed that a key part of the proposals for the regeneration of Redditch town centre was the redevelopment of the current police station site.  The building was not considered to be fit for purpose as a police station in the twenty-first century.  The Council had worked with West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority on the idea of introducing a blue light hub in a central location in Redditch.  In order to realise this vision, it was proposed that the Council should swap land owned at Middlehouse Lane with land owned by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority.  Approval of this proposal would enable partner organisations to move forward with the introduction of a blue light hub and would ensure that plans for the redevelopment of the town centre could proceed.

Members discussed the proposals and in doing so commented that neither the current police station nor the current fire station in Redditch were fit for purpose and both buildings had issues with asbestos.  The proposals would provide greater opportunities for young and existing firefighters and would also lead to the introduction of housing in the town centre on a brownfield site.

During consideration of this item Members asked about the extent to which there would be a police presence in the town centre, should the proposals be approved.  Officers explained that discussions had been held with the Chief Constable regarding this matter and it was clear that there would need to be some form of police presence in the town centre, though the arrangements for this remained to be confirmed.

Reference was also made to the tenure of the housing that would be introduced on the brownfield site.  Officers explained that, due to the exempt nature of the information required, a response regarding this matter would be made available to Members outside the meeting.

Concerns were raised about the fact that the proposals would result in relatively modern buildings being demolished.  Questions were raised about the potential for the buildings to be reused and for the designs for the new blue light hub to focus on the durability of the building where the hub would be based moving forward.  However, Members noted that both the existing fire station and the police station had been constructed in the post war period with materials that had not necessarily been designed to last.

RESOLVED that

1)        the Council owned land located at Middle House Lane be declared surplus;

2)        the proposed land swap to facilitate the redevelopment of the joint blue light hub, involving the exchange of Council owned land located at Middle House Lane (Plot 1) with land located at Middle House Lane owned by Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority (plot 4) be approved;

3)        a remediation strategy for the plots should be developed; and

4)        authority be delegated to the Chief Executive and Head of Legal, Democratic and Property Services, following consultation with the Leader, to finalise the heads of terms and to proceed to completion.

(Prior to consideration of this item, Councillor Matthew Dormer declared a pecuniary interest due to his position as a paid firefighter.  He left the meeting and did not participate in the debate or vote thereon.)