Agenda item

(a)  That the performance of SUR as set out in Section 5.4 be noted;

(b)  That the performance targets for SUR for 2018/19 as set out in Section 5 be agreed;

(c)  That, subject to (b), agree the Partnership Business Plan for the period to December 2023.

(d)  That it be noted that the SBC board representatives for SUR would be subject to review.

The Director of Regeneration introduced a report that updated on the performance of Slough Urban Renewal (SUR) and sought approval for the Partnership Business Plan 2018-2023.  The Cabinet noted the Part II appendix, which was the draft Plan, during Part I of the meeting without disclosing any of the exempt information.

The Plan was the core document for the SUR and set out the strategic, operational and governance framework.  It had first been agreed in 2013 once the Council entered into the agreement with Morgan Sindall and was reviewed annually for approval by both partners.  Good progress had been made on planned activity over the past year on a range of housing and community schemes.  The key performance targets for 2018/19 were summarised including the residential development of 104 homes at Wexham Green and master-planning for the redevelopment of the Thames Valley University site on which SUR had secured an option to be the developer.

The Cabinet welcomed the completion of key schemes such as the Ice Arena refurbishment and the Milestone development on Ledgers Road as well as the significant number of apprenticeships and employment opportunities.  Members discussed a number of issues including the flexibility in the plan to be revised if market conditions significantly worsened and the need to ensure that delivery continued at pace to secure the benefits for the town.  It was noted that the Business Plan recognised market conditions and the Council had sufficient controls in the governance arrangements to adjust the plans accordingly.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the performance update for the SUR was noted and the revised Partnership Business Plan, as at Appendix A to the report, was approved.

Resolved –

(a)  That the performance of SUR as set out in Section 5.4 of the report be noted.

(b)  That the performance targets for SUR for 2018/19 as set out in Section 5 of the report be agreed.

(c)  That the Partnership Business Plan for the period to December 2023 be agreed.

(d)  That it be noted that the SBC board representatives for SUR would be subject to review.