Agenda item

(a)  Delegate authority to the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, to enter into a Compulsory Purchase Order Indemnity Agreement (CPOIA) and if necessary, a development agreement with Berkeley Homes (and any other relevant third party) prior to undertaking any preparatory works in respect of the CPO,

(b)  Agree that the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, be authorised to take all necessary steps to secure the making, submission, confirmation and implementation of a CPO to acquire and third party proprietary interests within the Stoke Gardens Regeneration Area (see Appendix 1 to the report),

(c)  Agree that the Director of Place be authorised to issue all relevant notices and certificates in connection with the making, confirmation and implementation of any CPO,

(d)  Agree that the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, be authorised to acquire third party proprietary interests by private treaty negotiation,

(e)  Agree that the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, be authorised to dispose of any third party proprietary interests acquired pursuant to the CPO to Berkeley Homes in accordance with terms to be agreed,

(f)  Agree that the Director of Place be authorised to make General Vesting Declarations (GVDs) under the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 and/or to serve notices to treat and notices of entry (if required) following confirmation of a CPO by the Secretary of State,

(g)  Agree that the Director of Place be authorised to issue and serve any warrants to obtain possession of property acquired by the Council following the execution of a GVD or service of a notice of entry if it was considered appropriate to do so; and

(h)  Delegate authority to the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, to work with Berkeley Homes to facilitate the regeneration of this strategic town centre site.

A report was considered that sought approval for the Council to use Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers to acquire and simultaneously dispose of land and properties to Berkeley Homes on regeneration grounds.

Stoke Gardens was identified as an opportunity site within the Centre of Slough Regeneration Framework.  The site was at the entrance to the Horlicks scheme, a 1,300 dwelling residential development of Berkeley Homes.  The Council had been asked by Berkeley Homes whether it would consider using CPO powers to assemble the Stoke Gardens Regeneration Area site to facilitate redevelopment.  The full cost of the CPO would be underwritten by Berkeley Homes.

The Cabinet was informed that the redevelopment of the site through these means would enhance the local area and address some of the anti-social behaviour issues in the vicinity.  Overall, there was a compelling case in the public interest to successfully enable the regeneration plans for the area and all the benefits that would bring.  Lead Members discussed the reasons for requiring the use of CPO powers rather than acquiring through agreement and asked about overage.  It was confirmed that the Council would seek to secure an overage so that the people of Slough could benefit from any profit achieved over above that defined in the SBC Developer’s Guide.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton asked if the scheme could potentially improve transport links through to Farnham Road in the wider area.  It was responded that it would not become an alternative route for existing traffic but cycling and sustainable transport links would be maximised.

At the conclusion of the discussion the recommendations were agreed, with the addition that delegations to officers should be following consultation with the relevant Lead Member.

Resolved –

(a)  Delegate authority to the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, to enter into a Compulsory Purchase Order Indemnity Agreement (CPOIA) and if necessary, a development agreement with Berkeley Homes (and any other relevant third party) prior to undertaking any preparatory works in respect of the CPO,

(b)  Agree that the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, be authorised to take all necessary steps to secure the making, submission, confirmation and implementation of a CPO to acquire and third party proprietary interests within the Stoke Gardens Regeneration Area (see Appendix 1 to the report),

(c)  Agree that the Director of Place be authorised to issue all relevant notices and certificates in connection with the making, confirmation and implementation of any CPO,

(d)  Agree that the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, be authorised to acquire third party proprietary interests by private treaty negotiation,

(e)  Agree that the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, be authorised to dispose of any third party proprietary interests acquired pursuant to the CPO to Berkeley Homes in accordance with terms to be agreed,

(f)  Agree that the Director of Place be authorised to make General Vesting Declarations (GVDs) under the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 and/or to serve notices to treat and notices of entry (if required) following confirmation of a CPO by the Secretary of State,

(g)  Agree that the Director of Place be authorised to issue and serve any warrants to obtain possession of property acquired by the Council following the execution of a GVD or service of a notice of entry if it was considered appropriate to do so; and

(h)  Delegate authority to the Director of Place, following consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration & Strategy, to work with Berkeley Homes to facilitate the regeneration of this strategic town centre site.