Issue - meetings

That:

1)              the Council should make a compulsory purchase order ("CPO") to acquire the land as shown indicatively edged red and shaded pink on the draft plan at Appendix 1 of the report (“the Land”) required to deliver the proposed regeneration of land known as land at Gorse Ride South, Finchampstead, Wokingham ("the Site") pursuant to section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) (“the 1990 Act”) because it considers that:

a.     the acquisition of the Land will facilitate the carrying out of the development, redevelopment or improvement of the Site;

b.     the development, redevelopment or improvement of the Site 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 the Borough of Wokingham; and

c.     there is a compelling case in the public interest for the CPO.

2)       the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the

          Executive Member for Housing and Finance, to:

a.     take all necessary steps in relation to the Land to secure the making, the confirmation and the implementation of the CPO including publication and service of all relative notices and the presentation of the Council's case at any Public Inquiry; and

b.     approve terms for the acquisition of legal interests (including rights if required) by agreement including for the purposes of resolving any objections to the CPO.

3)       if the CPO is confirmed, to the extent that it is not already held for such purposes, that that part of the Site already within the Council's ownership shown shaded green on the plan, at Appendix 2 of the report, be appropriated for planning purposes as described in section 226 of the 1990 Act on the date immediately before the Council implements the confirmed CPO by the making of a vesting declaration or service of notice to treat/notice of entry, such land being then no longer required for the purpose for which it is currently held.

(Councillor UllaKarin Clark declared a personal interest in this item)

The Executive considered a report which provided an update on the progress made to deliver the Gorse Ride Regeneration Project, including the use of compulsory purchase powers to enable all necessary land interests to be acquired to secure the delivery of the regeneration of Gorse Ride and the consequential benefits to the local community.

The Executive Member for Finance and Housing advised the meeting that this was the most ambitious housing project that the Council had ever embarked upon and would improve the existing Gorse Ride estate through the demolition of the poor quality housing which were not economically viable to repair and which were not fit for purpose.  The intention therefore was to replace these dwellings with 200 well designed houses which would be constructed to current standards.  In addition, the scheme would be integrated within the existing landscape, improve the area by the planting 200 new trees on the site. as well as the creation of a new village green. 

Councillor Kaiser advised that the Council had been in constant dialogue and consultation had been carried out with residents, the Tenants’ Association, the local parish council, and Ward Members. CPO measures would only be used in very extreme circumstances once all other means of negotiation had been exhausted.  It was noted that the Council had given a commitment to the current residents that if they were moved out of their homes and wished to return to Gorse Ride once the development has been completed, they would be provided with one of the new properties.

RESOLVED that:

1)              agrees that the Council should make a compulsory purchase order ("CPO") to acquire the land as shown indicatively edged red and shaded pink on the draft plan at Appendix 1 of the report (“the Land”) required to deliver the proposed regeneration of land known as land at Gorse Ride South, Finchampstead, Wokingham ("the Site") pursuant to section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) (“the 1990 Act”) because it considers that:

a.     the acquisition of the Land will facilitate the carrying out of the development, redevelopment or improvement of the Site;

b.     the development, redevelopment or improvement of the Site 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 the Borough of Wokingham; and

c.     there is a compelling case in the public interest for the CPO.

2)       the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the

          Executive Member for Housing and Finance, to:

a.     take all necessary steps in relation to the Land to secure the making, the confirmation and the implementation of the CPO including publication and service of all relative notices and the presentation of the Council's case at any Public Inquiry; and

b.     approve terms for the acquisition of legal interests (including rights if required) by agreement including for the purposes of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82