The Leader advised that the report in respect of land at Upper Norgrove had been referred back to the Executive Committee as a decision on this matter was an Executive function. Following a detailed debate in respect of the report at the previous meeting of the Executive Committee, a formal presentation from Officers had also not been requested for this meeting. The resolutions detailed in the report were subsequently proposed by Councillor Matthew Dormer and seconded by Councillor Gemma Monaco.
During consideration of this item, Councillor Joe Baker proposed the following amendment to the resolutions detailed in the report, which was seconded by Councillor Bill Hartnett.
“The Council should not sell the land at Upper Norgrove and instead should build social housing at the site.”
However, Officers advised that an amendment to a resolution could not be completely different to the original proposal. As that was the case in this instance, Officers advised that this was not a valid amendment and could not be debated as such. Whilst this advice was accepted at the meeting, it was subsequently noted that there had been a desire amongst some Members to highlight that there was an alternative option available to the Council for the use of this land.
Consideration was given to the potential for social housing to be developed on other parcels of land currently owned by Redditch Borough Council. It was suggested that there might be more appropriate opportunities to explore the development of social housing on some of this land located elsewhere in the Borough, subject to the outcomes of the planning process.
RESOLVED that
1) the Council dispose of the land at Upper Norgrove site to Bloor Homes Ltd on the basis of the offer received; and
2)
authority be delegated to the Head of
Legal Democratic and Property Services and the Section 151 Officer
to implement the disposal.