Issue - meetings

Councillor Toby Elliott, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Sustainability, and the Corporate Director, Economy, Regeneration and Skills, submitted a joint report seeking approval to progress the delivery of residential development at Wichelstowe on land known as parcels 2 and 3 (“the Wichelstowe parcels 2 and 3 residential scheme”) by Swindon Housing Company Limited, which was incorporated by the Council on 12th May 2017 (“the Housing Company”). It was noted that the Housing Company is wholly owned by the Council and that its governance arrangements had been approved earlier in this meeting (Minute ?? above refers).

Cabinet noted that approval of the business case for the Wichelstowe parcels 2 and 3 residential scheme was required following the February 2017 Cabinet, at which funding to progress initial design and feasibility work for this project had been approved as part of the wider District Centre business case, with additional project funding subject to the receipt of a specific business case for parcels 2 and 3 (Cabinet Minute 98 (4) 2016/17 refers).

The meeting was advised that approval of the business case would enable the Council to progress to the next stage of detailed design, planning and procurement for the Wichelstowe parcels 2 and 3 residential scheme  with a view to selecting a contractor at the end of 2017 and a construction start on site at the beginning of 2018.

Resolved – (1) That the Corporate Director, Resources and Transformation, be authorised to allocate a loan facility to the Housing Company of up to the amount specified in the report, towards the delivery of the Wichelstowe parcels 2 and 3 residential scheme.

(2) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Head of Property and Assets, be authorised to transfer of the land comprising parcels 2 and 3, Wichelstowe, to the Housing Company at a time in the future which he considers to be appropriate and on such terms as he considers necessary to protect the Council’s interests.

(3) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services be authorised to agree and carry out any necessary legal processes, including the novation to the Housing Company of any contracts already entered into by the Council in respect of the Wichelstowe parcels 2 and 3 residential scheme as well as the completion of a loan agreement to the Housing Company, on such terms as he considers necessary to protect the Council’s interests.

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