Decision

The Executive agreed
the recommendations as outlined above namely:
 

1.    
To note the progress on the delivery of Central
Housing Regeneration programme.
 

2.    
To resolve as a matter of principle, that the
Council would be prepared to use its Compulsory Purchase powers
pursuant to section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act
1990 to acquire land within the area shown edged blue on the plan
at Appendix 2a to the Executive report, comprising Phase 1 of the
Project (“Phase 1 Area”), should other options be
exhausted.
 

3.    
To authorise the Director of Communications and
Regeneration to continue negotiations to acquire the land and
interests required within Phase 1 Area by private treaty and to
approve and enter into agreements with the owners and/or occupiers
of the land so as to facilitate its acquisition.
 

4.    
To authorise the Director of Communications and
Regeneration, as part of the ongoing land referencing exercise, to
issue requisitions for information under the Acquisition of Land
Act 1981 to identify persons who have a potential legal interest in
or who occupy the area in respect of which compulsory purchase
powers may be used.
 

5.    
To note that Compulsory Purchase Order Guidance will
be followed during negotiations. This reflects that the Council
may, as a last resort, carry out a Compulsory Purchase Order and
thus early adoption of the Compulsory Purchase Order Guidance is
fair and ensures transparency for all those within the Phase 1
Area
 

6.    
To authorise the Director of Communications and
Regeneration to:

•      
continue to undertake masterplanning, design and
environmental work;

•      
continue with community engagement and
consultation;

•      
undertake activity required to enable the submission
of one, or more, planning applications.
 

7.    
To resolve that any land acquired by the Council by
private treaty within the Phase 1 Area in order to facilitate Phase
1 of the Project shall be acquired for planning purposes pursuant
to section 227 Town and Country Planning Act 1990
 

8.    
To note that Officers will be required to bring
further reports to the Executive to authorise the preparing and
subsequent making of a Compulsory Purchase Order should such powers
be required.