Issue - meetings

Horsham Enterprise Park Scheme Delivery

Meeting: 18/02/2020 - Cabinet (Item 43)

43 Horsham Enterprise Park Scheme Delivery (CAB14_19/20) pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved:

 

 

1.    To confirm the proposal to deliver the Horsham Enterprise Park Scheme through a ‘development agreement’.

 

2.   To authorise the Director of Property and Assets to procure a development partner through an OJEU procurement process using the competitive procedure with negotiation (CPN), and to procure the work packages for enabling works through a non-OJEU procurement process.

 

3.   To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place Services to award the contract to the bidder submitting the most advantageous tender to deliver the Horsham Enterprise Park scheme consistent with the outline planning permission to finalise negotiations on the contractual development agreement, and to award the contract or contracts for enabling works. 

 

4.   To authorise the use of £4.157m from the Horsham Enterprise Park capital programme allocation for site enabling works and infrastructure upgrades, professional services, internal project and contract management, and statutory approvals to be undertaken through existing contractual arrangements or framework agreements.

 

5.   To delegate authority to the Director of Property and Assets, in consultation with the Director of Highways and Transport, to consider and pursue options to enable and fund improvements to the junction of Wimblehurst Road and Parsonage Road, Horsham (adjacent to the site), and to sign a funding agreement if successful, subject to County Council governance. 

 

 

The call-in deadline is 27 February 2020. 

Minutes:

43.1  The Cabinet considered a report by Executive Director of Place Services and Director of Property and Assets (copy appended to the signed minutes). 

 

43.2  Mr Jeremy Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report highlighting the work that had developed since the purchase of the site in 2016.  The proposal was to now engage with a development partner with progress for the site predicated on meeting milestones for both the commercial and residential development.  The engagement of a delivery partner would assist in de-risking the site and enhance its value, recognising the need to develop at pace, with a target of Spring 2023 for the first phase. 

 

43.3  Mr Hunt highlighted the local concern in regard to Wimblehurst Road junction and confirmed that external funding was being explored. 

 

43.4  Mrs Joy Dennis, Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee confirmed that the Committee was generally supportive of the proposals and recognised the need to continue public engagement.

 

43.5  Mr Michael Jones, Leader of the Labour Group, highlighted the change in vision for the site since its purchase and the impact that the additional housing could have on the area.  Mr Jones also highlighted the risk of the project not being financially viable due to the tight margins and queried if this was the best use of revenue funds.

 

43.6   Cabinet welcomed the progress on the project and recognised the economic benefits the site would provide including high end jobs and additional housing.  There was already interest in commercial space and a need to ensure it does not go to other areas of the country. 

 

44.7 Mr Paul Marshall, Leader added that the consideration for the junction improvements at Wimblehurst Road were welcome, should the funding be forthcoming.  The County Council needed to move at pace and the enabling work of securing a development partner was critical to this.

 

43.8  RESOLVED that Cabinet:

 

1.    Confirms the proposal to deliver the Horsham Enterprise Park Scheme through a ‘development agreement’.

 

2.   Authorises the Director of Property and Assets to procure a development partner through an OJEU procurement process using the competitive procedure with negotiation (CPN), and to procure the work packages for enabling works through a non-OJEU procurement process.

 

3.   Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place Services to award the contract to the bidder submitting the most advantageous tender to deliver the Horsham Enterprise Park scheme consistent with the outline planning permission to finalise negotiations on the contractual development agreement, and to award the contract or contracts for enabling works. 

 

4.   Authorises the use of £4.157m from the Horsham Enterprise Park capital programme allocation for site enabling works and infrastructure upgrades, professional services, internal project and contract management, and statutory approvals to be undertaken through existing contractual arrangements or framework agreements.

 

5.   Delegates authority to the Director of Property and Assets, in consultation with the Director of Highways and Transport, to consider and pursue options to enable and fund improvements to the junction of Wimblehurst Road and Parsonage Road,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43