Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the BUILDINGS, LAND AND PROCUREMENT PANEL of the County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on 13 January 2009.
Councillors:
p T.K. Thornber C.B.E.
a R.J. Baulk p K. Gill
p M.F. Cartwright p D.A. Kirk
p A.P. Collett p J.J. Maxwell
p B.D. Dash p Mrs J. Porter
p C.R.H. Davidovitz p A. Weeks
a A.D.G. Evans
283 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R J Baulk and A D G Evans.
284 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code.
285 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 7 October 2008 were confirmed as the correct record and signed by the Chairman.
286 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman reported that due to other priorities he was not able to join members of the Panel on site visits taking place on the rise of the meeting.
287 ROMAN WAY PRIMARY SCHOOL, ANDOVER - EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT WORKS
The Panel considered and approved the report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 5 in the Minute Book) recommending approval of the design proposal for an extension and improvement works at the school.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the design project appraisal for the proposed extension and improvement works at Roman Way Primary School, Andover, at an estimated total cost of £1,563,000, including fees, be approved.
288 PROCUREMENT INITIATIVES, ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE CAPITAL REPAIRS PROGRAMME AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS APPROVALS
The Panel considered and approved the report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book), proposing new procurement initiatives relating to the delivery of building construction work and maintenance of the Corporate Estate.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that:
a) the proposal to procure a framework for provision of electrical testing and inspection services at an estimated cost of £400,000 per annum be approved.
b) the selection and appointment of a contractor under the IESE Tier 2 framework to provide pre-construction services up to a maximum value of £35,000 in connection with the proposed amalgamation of Meadowlands Infant and Junior schools be approved.
c) the selection and appointment of a contractor under the IESE Tier 2 framework to provide pre-construction services up to a maximum value of £35,000 in connection with the proposed refurbishment and improvement works at Cherry Orchard and Copper Beeches older persons homes be approved.
d) the additions and amendments to the Capital Repairs programme and other miscellaneous approvals as set out in Appendix B to the report be approved.
289 WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL - SUPPORT TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXISTING EDUCATION FACILITIES
The Panel considered the report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) recommending actions to support the Winchester Cathedral project. In response to questions from the Panel, the Acting Director confirmed that the proposed grant of £280,000 represented the minimum amount required to improve the facilities to a modern standard. The Acting Director also reported that, during discussions, Winchester Cathedral had given assurances that use of the improved facilities would be offered to Hampshire school groups as a priority.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that:
a) the proposals for improving the existing Education Centre and education experience at the Cathedral be supported.
b) a grant of £280,000 to the Winchester Cathedral Trust be approved on the understanding that the grant may be used to discharge existing liabilities but the primary purpose will be to support the improvement of the Education facilities. This financial contribution will be funded from under spending in 2007/08, earmarked for this purpose.
c) design advice and professional services be offered to the Cathedral at no cost to assist it to undertake and complete a building feasibility study for the Education Centre project.
d) following completion of a building feasibility study, a review be undertaken by the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services concerning the next steps involved in assisting the Cathedral realise its future ambitions.
290 REFURBISHMENT OF BASINGSTOKE LIBRARY
The Panel considered the report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) recommending refurbishment of Basingstoke Library. The Panel highlighted the comments from local members (within Appendix B of the report) and in response, the Acting Director confirmed that staff accommodation and accessibility would be addressed during the refurbishment.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that:
a) the project to refurbish Basingstoke Library and incorporate a new book self issue system at an estimated total cost of £377,000, subject to a contribution of £52,000 from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, be approved.
b) £250,000 for the main library refurbishment be added to the Policy and Resources 2008/09 Capital programme.
c) £75,000 for the Self Issue (RFID known as Fast Track) system be added to the Recreation and Heritage Capital Programme 2008/09.
d) a refurbishment of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), fully funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, be carried out in conjunction with the library refurbishment project, subject to confirmation from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and the CAB.
291 CORPORATE PROCUREMENT UPDATE
The Panel received and noted the report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 9 in the Minute Book) concerning progress on corporate procurement initiatives.
292 MAJOR PROJECTS UPDATE (PART A)
The Panel received and noted the report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 10 in the Minute Book) providing an update on Ashburton Court, which was both on target and budget, and the Children's Centre Strategy, which was now achieving completions on time and in some cases ahead of schedule.
293 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That in relation to the following items the public be excluded from the meeting, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during the items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the reports.
294 MAJOR PROJECTS UPDATE (PART B)
The Panel received and noted the exempt report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 12 in the Minute Book) providing an update concerning the Carfax site, Winchester.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services be authorised to carry out the necessary negotiations and prepare design proposals as set out in the exempt report, and the findings be reported to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources in advance of proposed public consultation and application for outline planning approval.
295 LAND ADJOINING KINGS COPSE PRIMARY SCHOOL, HEDGE END
The Panel considered an exempt report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services on land adjoining Kings Copse Primary School, Hedge End.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that;
a) disposal of the land adjoining Kings Copse Primary School be approved on the basis outlined within the report.
b) the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Interim Head of Estates) be authorised to settle detailed terms and conditions.
296 MERTON RISE UPDATE
The Panel considered an exempt report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services on Merton Rise (SUMMARY OF AN EXEMPT MINUTE).
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that;
a) authority be given to reject the remaining current financial offers for land disposals at Merton Rise, as they are unlikely to be sustained and also reflect the very poor market and values for residential development land, and the current economic uncertainties.
b) authority be given to proceed with the revised Planning and Disposal strategy as set out in the report to be able to take advantage of a future property market recovery at the earliest opportunity, including securing a suitable Outline Planning Consent and/or associated Supplementary Planning Document.
c) a revised expenditure profile of the approved Merton Rise Infrastructure Budget as set out in the report be approved in order to supported an updated Procurement Strategy that will ensure appropriate interim site management and cover the costs of obtaining additional planning approvals.
297 THE ROOKWOOD CENTRE, EASTLEIGH
The Panel considered an exempt report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services on The Rookwood Centre, Eastleigh (SUMMARY OF AN EXEMPT MINUTE).
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that;
a) authority be given to dispose of The Rookwood Centre, Eastleigh to Eastleigh College on the basis set out in the report.
b) authority be given for the acquisition of approximately 0.04ha (0.1ac) of land adjoining Cherbourg Primary School, Eastleigh from Eastleigh College on the basis set out in the report.
c) the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Interim Head of Estates) be given delegated authority to settle terms and conditions of the sale and acquisition.