Issue - meetings

The Board considered the Cabinet Work Programme for the period 1st December 2014 to 31st March 2015.  Members expressed an interest in the Environmental Services Transformation and Shared Services Restructure.  Officers advised that this report had been presented at a recent meeting of the Shared Services Board, to which all Members had been invited, and a decision would be made on it by Cabinet prior to the next meeting of the Board.  However, due to Members’ interest in this item it was agreed that the Head of Environmental Services would be invited to attend give a presentation on the shared services and transformation which had been undertaken.

The Chairman informed Members that Cabinet was due to receive an update on the development of the Hanover Street site, though this had been included in the Cabinet Work Programme.  Due to the Board’s previous interest in this subject he invited the Executive Director for Finance and Corporate Resources to provide the Board with an verbal update on this matter,.

Members were advised that Officers were hoping to prepare a report on this subject for consideration at Cabinet on 3rd December, though it was possible that a special meeting of the Cabinet would need to be convened. 

The following areas were discussed in detail:

·         The previous development plans for the site were no longer applicable following the withdrawal of the developer.

·         There were a number of options available to the Council for development of the site including: marketing the site in its current state, developing the site and selling it in its entirety, developing and retaining the site as a landlord and dividing the site up for sale for various purposes.

·         Cabinet would need to decide which option would represent value for money for Bromsgrove District Council and for local residents.

·         It was likely that some of the information would be exempt.  Wherever possible the Board would consider information in an open and transparent manner, but if necessary could enter into confidential session.

The Board discussed whether there would be a need for an extra meeting to provide Members with an opportunity to pre-scrutinise the report.  The option for this meeting to be held prior to Cabinet on 3rd December was considered, but due to the uncertainty as to when the report would be ready it was agreed that Officers would canvass dates once the date for the Cabinet’s consideration of the report was finalised.

RESOLVED that

(a)  the Head of Environmental Services be asked to present a summary of the Transformation and Shared Services Restructure at the following meeting of the Board; and

(b)  an additional meeting of the Board be arranged in order to pre-scrutinise the report in respect of the future development of the Hanover Street site.