Issue - meetings

In the Leader’s absence for this item, Councillor Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Education, and Skills, took the chair.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and the Corporate Director of Communities and Housing submitted a joint report setting out the benefits and risks of the Council of providing an indemnity to the National House Building Council (NHBC) in relation to housebuilding and sales activity undertaken by Wichelstowe LLP (JV).

Councillor Gary Sumner advised Cabinet that approving the recommendation would help to avoid higher costs from the development.

Resolved – That the Chief Legal Officer be authorised, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Communities and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning to complete the necessary contractual arrangements with the JV and the NHBC on the terms as set out in the body of the report

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

(The Leader of the Council declared a personal and prejudicial interest as a Council-appointed member of the JV Board and left the meeting for the duration of this item. The Chief Executive and the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets as fellow appointees to the JV Board also left the meeting.)