Purpose

Purpose of the Report
To seek approval for the development of the Coombe Hill site to include a new Fire and Rescue Service training facility, highways depot, care home, and residential housing.

Decision

Cllr Colin Hay sought Cabinet approval for the development of the Coombe Hill site to include a new Fire and Rescue Service training facility, highways depot, care home, and residential housing.

Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

(a)Approve the return of 27 acres of GCC-owned land from the current farm tenant at Coombe Hill adjacent to the A4019 to the County Council.

(b)Approve (subject to planning permission) for the development of the land for use as a Fire Training Centre, Highways Depot, Care Home and Housing Development (of approx. 25 homes). Appendix 4 provides a location plan showing location and red line for the development land.

(c)Approve submission of a planning application for the development then, subject to approval of that application, commits up to £46.7 million of capital investment to build a new Fire and Rescue Training Centre, Highways Depot and Care Home and for the enhancement of five satellite Fire Stations.

(d) Approve the re-allocation of £3 million capital expenditure budget within the total £46.7 million, which was originally allocated to cover the cost of purchasing land for the Care Home, to be used as an overall project contingency fund.

(e) Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets & Transformation to:

i.               Appoint professional construction services, who will manage the procurement and delivery of the project.

ii.              Negotiate the surrender of the land from the tenant and agree appropriate compensation. If this is not possible, to serve notice under the agricultural tenancy/agricultural holding and, where appropriate, to pay statutory compensation.

iii.             Conduct a mini competition process, that adheres with conditions under the Framework Agreement; Contractor Partnering Framework Agreement: Major Construction Works 2024.

iv.            Upon conclusion of the mini competition, to enter into the above-mentioned pre-construction design and, one or more contracts for the construction works with the preferred contractor(s) evaluated as offering the Council best value for money.