Issue - meetings

That:

1)        It be agreed to authorise in-principle the making of a compulsory purchase order ("CPO") to acquire the necessary interests in the land shown indicatively by the hatched area on the annexed plan required to deliver the proposed regeneration of the Site pursuant to section  226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and, in the case of any new rights, pursuant to section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, because it considers that:

(a)          the acquisition will facilitate the carrying out of the development, redevelopment or improvement of land; and

(b)          the development, redevelopment or improvement of the land is likely to contribute to the achievement of any one or more of the promotion or improvement of the economic, social and environmental well-being of Wokingham.

2)        the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Leader and Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration, be authorised to take all necessary steps to commence the process for the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO, including securing the appointment of suitable external advisors and preparing all necessary CPO documentation;

3)        a further report will be put before the Executive to approve the final extent of the land to be acquired following the finalisation of the necessary preparatory work.

The Executive considered a report relating to the steps to be taken to secure the acquisition of all necessary land interests to deliver the regeneration of the Carnival site.

The Deputy Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration went through the report and highlighted that the Compulsory Purchase Order in principle, indicated the Council’s intentions.  Negotiations with the relevant landowner had been ongoing for three years with no resolution reached.

Councillor Pollock commented that this was a tried and tested approach.

RESOLVED That:

1)        It be agreed to authorise in-principle the making of a compulsory purchase order ("CPO") to acquire the necessary interests in the land shown indicatively by the hatched area on the annexed plan required to deliver the proposed regeneration of the Site pursuant to section  226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and, in the case of any new rights, pursuant to section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, because it considers that:

(a)          the acquisition will facilitate the carrying out of the development, redevelopment or improvement of land; and

(b)          the development, redevelopment or improvement of the land is likely to contribute to the achievement of any one or more of the promotion or improvement of the economic, social and environmental well-being of Wokingham.

2)        the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Leader and Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration, be authorised to take all necessary steps to commence the process for the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO, including securing the appointment of suitable external advisors and preparing all necessary CPO documentation;

3)        a further report will be put before the Executive to approve the final extent of the land to be acquired following the finalisation of the necessary preparatory work.