That the progress reported at Appendix B be noted.
(a) That Sites 3-5 on the Plan at Appendix A, be subject to individual redevelopment for the supply of Slough Borough Council social housing.
(b) That subject to 2 (a) above, at the earliest opportunity, the tenants from Wentworth Flats be relocated and given prior consideration for the new housing, subject to the normal rules about property size relating to tenants needs;
(c) That subject to 2 (a) above, to work with the commercial tenants in the properties immediately beneath the Wentworth Flats and in the properties facing the Flats to further discuss their future needs and aspirations;
(d) That the existing capital provision of £1.679 million previously reported, be increased to £2,679 million by combining all Britwell regeneration activity funding into a single Britwell Regeneration Scheme. These funds, plus the £6 million HRA contribution for the social housing are to fund the cost of the Britwell Community hub, make provision for the preliminaries required and development of the three satellite housing sites and associated costs.
(e) That a further update report be made to the next Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet noted that:
A. to inform negotiations with SEGRO for bringing further land at Kennedy Park into the Council’s ownership, that a second phase contaminated land analysis has been commissioned for completion by 31st March 2011.
B. work has been undertaken to commission a brief to develop an options appraisal for the enhancement of the range and quality of activities in Kennedy Park in preparation for further public consultation.
C. notices have been issued and served on the remaining users of the garages and an order placed to demolish the garage court to the west/rear of Wentworth Avenue shops with the requirement that the work be completed by 31st March 2011.
D. wide-ranging discussions have been held with the representatives of the Britwell Scouts and Guide Groups currently located in Kennedy Park, adjacent to Pemberton Road to consider options for their relocation.
E. a short public consultation has been conducted with the residents of Britwell on their priorities for services to be located in the new Britwell Community Hub (see recommendation (8) below).
Cabinet resolved that:
(1) officers should negotiate with Scottish and Southern Electricity to secure either the ownership or where appropriate access across the strip of land in their occupation between Kennedy Park and the SEGRO land.
(2) the site of the Britwell Family Centre on Long Furlong Drive be included in Phase 1 (Kennedy Park) of the Britwell and Haymill regeneration Scheme.
(3) subject to agreeing (1) above, that the rating for the Britwell Family Centre on Long Furlong Drive in the Asset Management Plan be changed from a Category A to Category D – asset for disposal.
(4) officers now work formally with the users of the Britwell Family Centre to identify and agree suitable alternative accommodation for their future use when the Centre is required for construction.
(5) delegate to the interim Assistant Director of Environment & Regeneration, in consultation with the Leader, the finalisation of the outstanding conditions in the Section 106 agreement associated with the Planning Committee's decision of 17th March 2010 to secure Outline Planning Permission for Phase 1 (Kennedy Park).
(6) the whole of Phase 1 (Kennedy Park) and Phase 2 (Wentworth Avenue and environs) be procured through an EU compliant design and build tendering process at the earliest opportunity, subject to:
a. the availability Housing Revenue Account (HRA) funding of up to £6 million as a contribution to the estimated cost of developing Phase 1 (Kennedy Park) to reflect the need to develop at least 45 affordable homes for direct management by the Council.
b. by 30 September 2011, the Assistant Director of Housing to complete a property specific tenant (and where appropriate Leaseholder) consultation on the proposal to demolish Wentworth Flats and Marunden Green houses.
c. local residents being asked to become involved with the formation and development of a Neighbourhood Board and for the Board, once formed, to be consulted on the selection of the successful developer based upon the design proposals and other quality criteria within the Tender Documentation.
d. priority be given by the selected developer to constructing the social housing required to decant housing tenants from Wentworth Flats and to provide new retail units to provide for the local area.
e. at the earliest possible opportunity following the rehousing of the tenants of the Wentworth Flats, the flats and the shops in that block be demolished.
f. that, subject to the Local Planning Authority’s requirements, a mixture of housing ownership and tenancies be created in both Phases 1 & 2 to secure maximum value from the use of the sites and the creation of balanced communities, with a minimum 30% social housing and 10% intermediate housing such as shared ownership.
g. to incorporate the use of “Building Licences” into the contract with the developer in order to incentivise the pace of development.
h. that having regard to the development of the Community Hub and the existence of a range of other community buildings being located in Britwell an options appraisal be completed by 31 May 2011 to examine the community needs and use of suitable accommodation within the Britwell and Haymill Regeneration area and to report back to the Cabinet at the earliest opportunity after completion of the report.
i. the Assistant Director of Environment & Regeneration, in consultation with the Commissioner for Neighbourhoods & Renewal be authorised to determine the final specification for the Design & Build Tender Documentation.
(7) to minimise the need to relocate tenants from both Wentworth Flats and the elderly people’s dwellings on Marunden Green, that:
a. no further housing tenant allocations be made after 1st June 2011 to the Wentworth Flats (except on grounds of urgent medical need for rehousing);
b. no further housing tenant allocations be made and to the elderly people’s dwellings on Marunden Green with immediate effect;
c. subject to the above, the Housing Service actively pursue rehousing the existing Housing tenants;
d. no further commercial lettings be agreed at any of the properties.
(8) due to the level of vacant properties on Marunden Green, that at the earliest possible opportunity following the vacation of all surplus housing property, the elderly people’s dwellings on Marunden Green be demolished and the site made good for redevelopment.
(9) the Britwell Community Hub building created to relocate the Library and My Council be the subject to:
b. subject to (8) a. above, that the following two sites be the subject of the Tender, both separately and as a combined facility:
i. The old Housing Payment Office and MALT building at 41/43, Wentworth Avenue together with the adjoining land and buildings (shown as 1A in Appendix B);
ii. The Wentworth Industrial Court buildings together with the adjoining land (shown as 1B in Appendix B).
c. subject to (8) b. above, that officers should now work formally with the users of the Wentworth Industrial Court to identify and agree alternative accommodation for their future use once the site is required for construction.
d. That, subject to (8) b. above, Members of the Neighbourhood Board be consulted on the selection of the successful developer based upon the design proposals and other quality criteria within the Tender Documentation.
(10) that a further progress report be made to the next Cabinet Meeting in April 2011.
that the Interim Borough Secretary and Solicitor, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Resources be authorised to agree the surrender of the existing lease on the terms outlined in the report below.