Council and councillors

To receive Report No. 14/2018 from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to the Council for determination and to note the Key Decisions taken at its meetings held on 21 November 2017 and 19 December 2017.

Report No. 14/2018 from the Cabinet was received, the purpose of which was to consider the recommendations of Cabinet referred to Council for determination and report the Key Decisions made by Cabinet since the publication of the agenda for the previous ordinary meeting of the Council on 13 November 2017.

1)    Council NOTED the Key Decisions made since the publication of the agenda for the previous ordinary meeting of the Council on 13 November 2017, as detailed in Appendix A to Report No. 14/2018.

2)         i)  21 November 2017

Decision No. 401

Report No. 199/2017

CHILDREN LOOKED AFTER AND CARE LEAVERS STRATEGY 2017-2022

Mr Foster introduced and moved the recommendations in the report.  Mr Wilby seconded the recommendations.

During his introduction Mr Foster confirmed that the safety and well-being of vulnerable children looked after was a very important topic and re-emphasised the corporate responsibility that Members had to these young people.  A number of training sessions had been arranged for members on this topic and Mr Foster asked that members communicate any issues with attending these sessions to him.

During debate of the recommendations, points raised included:

                                              i.     Miss Waller requested that significant notice was given regarding any training/briefing sessions.  It would be helpful to resume the practice of holding training sessions on the second Monday monthly where Full Council meetings were not scheduled or no longer required.

RESOLVED

To APPROVE the Children Looked After and Care Leavers Strategy 2017-22. (Appendix B Report 14/2018).

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Mr Bird left the meeting.

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ii) 19 December 2017

Decision No. 476

Report No. 170/2017

OAKHAM ENTERPRISE PARK DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Mr Hemsley introduced and moved the recommendations in the report.  Mr Brown seconded the recommendations.

During debate of the recommendations, points raised included:

i.      The return on investment for the entire site (after the investment) would be 4.03% after borrowing charges;

ii.     There was a need to be able to move quickly in order to meet demand as it arises;

iii.    A contingency had been built into the budget to deal with possible contamination on the site;

iv.   The units would be built in stages, with work commencing on the second unit only when the first unit was fully committed;

v.     Mr Conde requested clarification on why different figures were quoted in the report with regards funding; why Council were not being asked to approve the funding for the road; and whether members would receive regular project updates?  Mr Hemsley confirmed that the answers would be provided following the meeting;

vi.   There was a need to encourage growth and employment in the County and development of Oakham Enterprise Park (OEP) was a positive step; and

vii.  The development of OEP was not intended to create competition for other providers, but to meet demand for specific units.

RESOLVED

To APPROVE £1.77m capital funding to facilitate the infrastructure works & construction of new buildings under development Phase 2a of the Oakham Enterprise Park Development Strategy.

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Mr Bird returned to the meeting.

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(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 170/2017

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 170/2017 from the Director for Places was received.

Mr Frieland, Economic Development and Tourism Manager, introduced the report the purpose of which was for Cabinet to consider and approve the long-term development strategy for the Oakham Enterprise Park (OEP) site.  It also presents for approval a business case for the investment of £2.2m to develop the central area of the site at OEP to include road infrastructure works. This will facilitate optimisation of the site in accordance with relevant sections of the Constitution.  In certain circumstances it is necessary for the Council to act quickly to take progress opportunities as they arise, namely to accommodate additional business tenants for the Council thus maintaining a revenue stream and ensuring an appropriate rate of return on its investment.

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After debate on this item the Cabinet APPROVED that the meeting returned to public session.

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DECISION

Cabinet:

1.    ENDORSED the proposals and RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that it approves £1.77m capital funding to facilitate the infrastructure works & construction of new buildings under development Phase 2a.

2.    APPROVED £420,000 capital funding to facilitate construction of the new access road and improvement of the existing road infrastructure.

3.    APPROVED adoption of the draft development strategy for the OEP site and delegates management of approved capital schemes to the Director for Places Development and Economy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Growth, Trading Services & Resources and the Oakham Enterprise Project Board.

4.    DELEGATED authority to the Director for Places Development and Economy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Growth, Trading Services & Resources and the Oakham Enterprise Project Board to negotiate and enter into necessary legal agreements for the build of industrial units on the site following a procurement process and for the subsequent lease of the units.

5.    AUTHORISED the Director for Places Development and Economy, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Growth, Trading Standards & Resources and the OEP Project Board to determine a procurement route, award criteria and if a suitable supplier or suppliers are identified move forward and award contracts for the works detailed in this report.

Reason for the decision

The growing popularity of Oakham Enterprise Park with businesses and the local community in general is a testament to its success.  Phase 1 has generally been at capacity occupancy for around 2 years and there is a growing waiting list for industrial units and small offices on the site along with firm interest in the proposed new units.

The development of the central site area along with the new and improved roads is fundamental in unlocking growth of the wider site in addition to being able to attract larger businesses.  The projected financial return of 4.03% even taking into account the construction costs for the new road is an attractive proposition and subsequent buildings, with the bulk of the ground preparation and new roadway in place are likely to improve on this figure.

Engagement with larger businesses seeking to relocate to Rutland in recent years has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 476