Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall Watford

Contact: Caroline Harris  Email: legalanddemocratic@watford.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Mark Watkin.

2.

Disclosure of Interest (if any)

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

3.

Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2017 to be submitted and signed.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2017 were submitted and signed.

4.

Conduct of meeting

The Cabinet may wish to consider whether there are any items on which there is general agreement which could be considered now, to enable discussion to focus on those items where the Cabinet sees a need for further debate.

Minutes:

No changes made to agenda

5.

Riverwell update pdf icon PDF 609 KB

Presentation by Managing Director

Minutes:

Cabinet received a presentation by the Managing Director, Mr McDiarmid and Mr Caddy.

 

The Managing Director explained it was a crucial stage of development of the scheme.  The Watford Health Campus was about building a new community with high quality space and multiple uses, the council wanted to adopt a new brand and place name to reflect this.

 

Mr Caddy introduced the presentation and summarised the strategy as ‘Welcome to Wellbeing’ as the development would be welcoming people whether residents, patients, businesses or investors.  The word wellbeing encompassed the concept of health, prosperity and happiness. 

 

Mr Caddy continued that the name Health Campus had just implied something to do with the hospital exclusively whereas the site would have a mixed use with a high proportion of residential and business development.  The name Riverwell was intended to reflect the importance of the river and link to neighbourhoods such as Holywell and Brightwell.  They were currently creating a film to be part of the new website which would reflect the Watford community.

 

Mr McDiarmid explained that Riverwell would not be just a marketing name but was about creating a place.  There was a corporate brand identity in final draft form.  The new website to be built would be about community engagement including what was going on and how the community could be involved.

 

Mr McDiarmid continued that the opening of Thomas Sawyer Way was a real milestone and the communications team at West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust (WHHT) had reported that the infrastructure had improved emergency services response times.  Riverwell would continue to improve facilities, particularly the car parking.  At present there was a congested and difficult to manage car park.

 

Mr McDiarmid highlighted that there would be an exhibition in July which would be the first community event to display the expanding master plan.  The community website would be launched in conjunction with the website.  There would also be an activity to clean up the river which would be delivered with Watford on the Water and Veolia alongside local community groups.  They would host a community day with a local school to do a river clean up event.

 

Within the site, Mr McDiarmid explained that there would be, subject to planning permission, a space for events or exhibitions for the duration of the project.  This would be in place for the first community sales in 2018.  The development would be for people currently living in Watford to move into Riverwell and use the facilities; it would not be aimed at commuters.  There would be fitness routes running throughout the site for walking or running clubs and the design teams for the different areas of the site were working closely together.

 

The Mayor explained that councillors had been part of the discussions around changing the name.  The site had originally been called Health Campus as it was a strong signal to potential developers that the site was not just about regeneration but also the hospital.  Members had always envisaged changing the name as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Exclusion of press & Public

The Chair to move: that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of the item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Section 100(1) of the Act for the reasons stated below in terms of Schedule 12A.

 

Note: if approved, the Chair will ask members of the press and public to leave the meeting at this point.

Minutes:

The Legal and Democratic Section Head explained that at this point the meeting would be held in private as there were items to be discussed which were commercially sensitive.

 

RESOLVED

 

That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it is likely, in the view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of the item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Section 100(1) Schedule 12A of the Act for the reasons stated in the report.

7.

Watford Riverwell

Report of Regeneration and Property Section Head

 

This report is considered Part B in accordance with Paragraph 3, Part 1 Schedule 12A as it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council.

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Regeneration and Property Section Head.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Cabinet agrees the recommendations

8.

Property Investment Board Activity and Delegation Change request

Report of Property and Regeneration Section Head

 

This report is considered Part B in accordance with Paragraph 3, Part 1 Schedule 12A as it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council.

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Regeneration and Property Section Head.  Cabinet discussed the report and officers responded to questions.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Cabinet agrees the amended recommendations - a report regarding the delegation change request will be presented at Full Council.

 

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