Agenda and minutes

It was noted that following receipt of the temporary resignation of Councillor Kaur from the Committee, the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, acting under delegated powers, had appointed Councillor Rayment to replace them for the purposes of this meeting.

The Committee also noted the apologies of Appointed Member Rob Sanders for the meeting and the resignation of Appointed Member Clare Rogers from the Committee.

To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential appendices 2 – 5 to the following Item

Confidential appendices 2 – 5 contain information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Categories 3 and 7A of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules. It is not considered to be in the public interest to disclose the information because doing so would put the Council or other parties at a commercial disadvantage and prejudice the Council’s negotiating position and its ability to achieve best consideration.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the Chair moved the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential appendices 2 – 5 to the following item.

Confidential appendices 2 – 5 contain information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Categories 3 and 7A of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules. It is not considered to be in the public interest to disclose the information because doing so would put the Council or other parties at a commercial disadvantage and prejudice the Council’s negotiating position and its ability to achieve best consideration.

Report of the Director - Legal and Business Operations, detailing the Call-In of Executive Decision CAB 21/22 32527 –  Northern Above Bar Properties.

The Committee considered the report of the Director - Legal and Business Operations, detailing the Call-In of Executive Decision CAB 21/22 32527 –  Northern Above Bar Properties.

Councillor Fitzhenry – Leader of the Council, was in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet reconsider the called in decision at the next decision meeting.

The following recommendations were made to be addressed by Cabinet:

(i)  That Cabinet do not proceed with the decision agreed at 18 October 2021 meeting and that the future of 176 to 202 Above Bar Street is considered within the wider property portfolio review being undertaken by Eddison’s.

If Cabinet is not minded to postpone the decision:

(i)  That Cabinet seeks a full appraisal of the site, 176 to 202 Above Bar Street, to include, in addition to the Section 123 best consideration report, consideration of how the site fits with the economic growth and development ambitions of the city, and that Cabinet use this information to inform their decision.

If Cabinet is not minded to authorise a full appraisal of the site:

(i)  That, on receipt of the Section 123 best consideration report, the Executive return to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee to discuss the Administration’s intentions with regards to 176-202 Northern Above Bar Properties. 

(ii)  That the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets provides the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee with an explanation of the comments he made at the 14 October 2021 meeting of the Committee relating to the marketing of properties on Northern Above Bar (176-202) when subsequent enquiries have revealed that this has not happened.