Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Development and Safety

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    continued support to the ongoing Cyber Central work programme be approved, to include:

·         delivery vehicle / route to market for development / investment partner(s)

·         further land assembly

·         land management

·         collaboration with landowners

·         collaboration with Tewkesbury Borough Council, other public sector stakeholders and government agencies

·         occupier requirements

·         progression of Garden Communities programme

2.    the spend to date on the Cyber Central Programme and the projected financial position until the end of 2020 be noted;

3.    authority be delegated to the Managing Director Place and Growth, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member and the Executive Director of Finance and Assets, to approve and submit planning applications to the relevant planning authorities.

The Cabinet Member Development and Safety introduced the report, he explained that the scheme was arguably the most important scheme to come before the council in 50 years. The council had already made a significant investment by purchasing 45 hectares of land but still had a huge amount of work to do in terms of bringing the project forward in collaboration with partners and other agencies.

He explained that West Cheltenham is a strategic Joint Core strategy (JCS) allocation that allows for the delivery of around 1,100 homes. The aim is for Cheltenham to attract local and international talent to a vibrant new sustainable community and continue as the cyber capital of the UK.

He explained that the programme, as set out in the report, is complex and challenging and that the council were assembling a multidisciplinary high skilled team of officers and external advisors to deliver the project. A joint programme board had also been established between Tewkesbury Borough Council and CBC to promote and drive forward the vison and growth potential.  He acknowledged the significant cost of a project of this scale but explained that the costs would be mitigated through partnership arrangements with a future delivery partner.  The Council had also successfully targeted external funding and the project had been promoted by a number of members of government including the Secretary of State and local MPs.

Cabinet Members felt that the project showcased the potential for a town of Cheltenham’s size and had the potential to become an exemplar for environmental and sustainable development. They further acknowledged that the site was one of the strategic housing delivery sites for affordable housing and the provision of housing would assist in addressing issues with Cheltenham’s 5 –year land supply. A Cabinet Member highlighted that the County loses between 400/500 young people a year and stressed the importance of providing not just housing and jobs but a cultural offer in order to retain young people to the area.

The Cabinet Member Development and Safety explained that they were still in the process of drawing up the masterplan and that whilst the detail was yet to emerge the intention was to create an area where people could live and shop with great transport links.  He explained that because the council own a chunk of the site, they can  have considerable more input in to the plans.

RESOLVED THAT:

1. Continued support to the ongoing Cyber Central work programme be approved, to include:

·           delivery vehicle / route to market for development / investment partner(s)

·           further land assembly

·           land management

·           collaboration with landowners

·           collaboration with Tewkesbury Borough Council, other public sector stakeholders and government agencies

·           occupier requirements

·           progression of Garden Communities programme

2. The spend to date on the Cyber Central Programme and the projected financial position until the end of 2020 be noted;

3. Authority be delegated to the Managing Director Place and Growth, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member and the Executive Director of Finance and Assets, to approve and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7