Issue - meetings

A report of the Property Development Project Manager regarding Watford Business Park.

Two appendices to the report are considered Part B in accordance with Paragraph 3, Part1, Schedule 12A as they contain information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council.

The Deputy Managing Director introduced the report and explained that at the end of 2018 Cabinet had approved to move forward in principle with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).  The item was coming back to Cabinet as the area for the order had changed.

The Deputy Managing Director continued that the Watford Business Park was an important employment area in Watford, however, many sites on the park were run down and the council was looking at making it fit for purpose.  There had been significant capital investment and support from the LEP. The plan attached to the report showed the affected area and the report explained how the intention was to create further jobs, safeguard existing jobs and provide new training and development opportunities.

Councillor Sharpe commented that Watford Business Park was very important and it was vital to move forward with the regeneration to provide a better environment to attract employment and the CPO would enable this to happen.

Following a question from Councillor Bell, the Managing Director explained that as part of the CPO process a full referencing exercise had been undertaken where all the interests had received letters.  The council’s property advisers, Lambert Smith Hampton, had undertaken conversations with all the occupiers regarding their current occupation and future interest.  The majority of interests had been acquired by agreement and it was hoped that this would be the case for the rest but the CPO would provide the council with a ‘safety net’.

            RESOLVED

            That Cabinet:

a)        Agrees that the council makes a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) under section 226(1)(a) of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) for the acquisition of the land and rights within the area and edged red on the plan at Appendix 1 entitled "WBC001" for the purpose of delivering a modern, fit for purpose industrial scheme in order to achieve the objectives outlined for the Business Park in Special Policy Area 6 ‘Western Gateway’ of the Local Plan Part 1.

b)        Authorises the Property and Regeneration Section Head to:

i.          take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication and service of all notices and the presentation of the council’s case at Public Inquiry should one be called;

ii.         acquire all interests in land within the CPO boundary either by agreement or compulsorily;

iii.        approve agreements with land owners including the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO, including where appropriate seeking exclusion from the CPO;

iv.        exercise the compulsory purchase powers authorised by the CPO by way of general vesting declaration and/or notice to treat;

v.         to approve the acquisition of all interests, where possible, by negotiation pursuant to the CPO, approving payments to interest holders in line with the statutory compensation provisions within the budget allocation set out in Part B Appendix 3.

c)         Gives authority under Section 6(4) of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 to dispense with individual service of notices in respect of areas  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80