Issue - meetings

Report attached.

Appendix D to this report, containing exempt information, appears at Agenda Item 12, in Part C of the Agenda.  The implementation of the decisions taken under Agenda Item 8 will be conditional upon the adoption of the recommendation at Agenda Item 12.

The Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Mohammed Younis, Portfolio Holder for Levelling Up, regarding progress to date with the acquisition of interests in the Market Chambers intervention within the Council’s Levelling Up Funding (LUF) programme.

Cabinet was being invited to authorise the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) under Section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to acquire compulsorily land, existing rights and interests at Market Chambers where agreement could not be reached in order to deliver the comprehensive 'Accrington Acre' redevelopment which was the subject of the LUF submission.

The proposed order lands were shown (edged in red) in the draft CPO plan set out at Appendix C to the report.

This report also sought approval for the Executive Director (Environment), following consultation with the Executive Director (Legal & Democratic Services) to agree compensation and acquisition payments where this would avoid the need to compulsorily purchase interests.

Councillor Younis outlined the main elements of the report.  Members were also informed that Appendix D to the report appeared in the private part of the Agenda and that any decisions taken on the current Agenda Item would be subject to approval of the recommendation at Item 12.

Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP expressed that view that every effort should be made to liaise with the occupiers of the premises to support their relocation to alternative premises.  Councillor Younis confirmed that this was already happening and that the Council was working with them closely.

Approval of the report was a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

The report provided detailed information on the following:

• Background and the need for redevelopment;
• Timescale for delivery;
• Appointment of preferred developer and partner/operator;
• Land assembly and obtaining clean title to the land;
• Description of the order land;
• Description of interests in the order land;
• The need for a Compulsory Purchase Order;
• Details of attempts to acquire interests by agreement;
• Planning;
• Funding; and
• Consultations undertaken.

Alternative Options considered and Reasons for Rejection

The Council’s preference was to acquire the Order Land by agreement with those with an interest in the Order Land.  However, this could not be guaranteed and therefore a CPO would be needed where agreement could not be reached in a timely manner.

Resolved                                 (1)   Having concluded that the acquisition of all interests at Market Chambers (43-59 Blackburn Road / 2- 4 Church Street) will facilitate the redevelopment and improvement of the ‘Accrington Acre’ within the approved strategic Town Centre Investment Plan (TCIP) and that such a redevelopment is likely to contribute to the achievement of any one or more of the following objectives:

·      The promotion or improvement of the economic well-being of the area

·      The promotion or improvement of the social well-being of the area

·      The promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of the area

Cabinet resolves to take all necessary steps to make and secure the confirmation and implementation of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to acquire compulsorily all or part of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31