Issue - meetings

The Scrutiny Board is requested to note the call-in request and to consider confidential recommendations, in the report, which were approved by Cabinet on 18^th November 2024 and which were subsequently call-in by Councillors Kenyon and Al-Hamdani.

The Calling-in Member addressed the Scrutiny Board and explained the reasons why they have called-in the Cabinet’s decision. The Calling-in Member suggested that the decision falls outside the council’s agreed budget and there is not enough information on which to make this decision. There is a lack of information on the exploration of other options, namely the search for a commercial option. The Member also questioned the timeline for the development and whether this was realistic. He noted that the legal report suggested that the timeline could not be met, and questioned if that was the case, why more time could not have been taken by Cabinet in making the decision.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing explained the background of the decision. The inclusion of the Princes Gate site will deliver around 295 new homes to push forward with the delivery of the town centre regeneration masterplan supported by Brownfield Housing Land Grant secured on the site to help delivery. The Cabinet Member highlighted that the decision was an opportunity to work towards addressing the housing crisis the Council were currently facing and was in line with the aims of additional of brownfield development. The Cabinet Member addressed the shift commercial to residential focus in the development and suggested that this was because of a lack of demand for commercial properties. The Cabinet Member set out the key milestone dates of the development and explained that the council were currently on track to meet the next milestone and start work in August 2025 and drawdown on the grant. The Board heard that the grant funding could be lost if timelines were not met.

The Director of Economy and Muse representative presented to the Scrutiny Board some additional detail behind the decision highlighting key points;

•        Development Framework approved by Cabinet in November 2024

•        £5.55m Brownfield grant funding secured

•        £3.15m One Public Estate grant funding secured – works on site at Former Leisure Centre

•        Market engagement progressing at pace

•        Mechanism within MDA to include Prince’s Gate

•        Inclusion of Princes Gate within the MDA provides a unique opportunity to transform a key gateway location

•        Scheme designs across core sites and Prince’s Gate progressing at pace

•        Positioning of masterplan in strongest place to secure investor interest and grant funding

The Calling-in Member was given the opportunity to ask questions of the Cabinet Member, Director of Economy and Muse representative. He queried whether there was further information on the lack of commercial demand, as there was nothing in the report to evidence this claim or demonstrate attempts to search for commercial partners. Officers explained that previous attempts to develop commercial property on the site had been unsuccessful and gave examples of LIDL and Marks & Spencer’s but accepted that search attempts had not been sufficiently evidenced within the cabinet report.

The Calling-in Member stressed concerns over the decision as he understands that there is no gateway to include the Princes Gate site in the Master Development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7

To consider confidential recommendations

The Cabinet considered confidential recommendations to the report detailed at agenda item 9.

Resolved:

1.  That the Cabinet Members approve the inclusion of the Oldham Mumps into the Master Development Agreement (dated 11^th September 2023) via a Supplementary Agreement to ensure MUSE’s obligations and timescales for stratifying the core sites are maintained.

2.  That the Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to the Leader, Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and to the Interim Borough Solicitor to agree the final details and then finalise the supplemental agreement with Muse.

3.  That the Cabinet agree to delegate authority to the Leader, Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and Director of Finance to review all legal, financial and commercial details, ahead of entering into relevant agreements to support pre-development partnership costs (up to £5 Million).