Purpose

Cabinet will be asked to consider the
Compulsory Purchase Report and delegate authority to the relevant
Cabinet Member/Officers to make the compulsory purchase order for
the Bridge Close regeneration scheme at the appropriate time.

Decision

Report Title: Bridge Close – Proposed
Making of the Planning Compulsory Purchase Order
 
Presented by: Councillor Graham Williamson,
Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration
 
Cabinet:
 
1. Agreed to the Council making
Compulsory Purchase Order(s) (CPO) pursuant to the statutory powers
contained in section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
(as amended), and section 13 of the Local Government
(Miscellaneous. Provisions) Act 1976 and all other necessary powers
to facilitate acquisition of all property and other proprietary
interests on the land, including where
appropriate new rights, located within the outline on the CPO Order
Plan at Appendix B, for the purpose of securing the comprehensive
regeneration of Bridge Close, Romford (“Order
Land”).
 
2. Agreed that the Strategic Director
of Place after consultation with the Leader of the Council,the Strategic Director of Resources and
Deputy Director of Legal Services be authorised
to;
a) Make the CPO to
enable the acquisition of land, interest and rights within the CPO
Map of the Order Land as attached to this report at Appendix B;
b) Appoint
surveyors, barristers and any other professionals required to
promote the CPO and to facilitate the vacant possession of
interests located within the CPO Order Plan;
c) Settle the final
form and content of the CPO and associated documentation to include
the:
 Draft Map of the Order
Land, see Appendix B
 Draft Schedule Freehold
and Leasehold Interests, see Appendix C
 Draft Statement of
Reasons, see Appendix D
 Draft Equalities Impact
Assessment, see Appendix E
 Draft Statement of
Community Involvement, see Appendix F
d) Take all
necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and
implementation of the CPO, including issuing notices on land owners
and stakeholders with a view to obtaining information to facilitate
deduction of title under section 16 Local Government (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1976, publication and service of CPO notices,
addressing any objections to the CPO, presentation of the
Council’s case at Public Inquiry, or Court should such
representation be necessary and entering into agreements with
objectors/stakeholders;
e) Take such
actions so as to facilitate Bridge Close LLP acquiring properties
and proprietary interests within the CPO Map of the Order Land by
agreement, such actions to include; the relocation of businesses,
residents and statutory undertakers apparatus or Communication Code
Operators; and any other interests and setting out the terms for
the withdrawal of objections to the CPO; and
f) Amend the number
of properties and leasehold acquisitions within the CPO Map of the
Order Land at Appendix B and including the extension and revision
of the blue line, should such amendments be required to deliver the
overall comprehensive regeneration of Bridge Close.
g) Undertake any
further actions and matters incidental to progressing the CPO and
facilitating the acquisition of the Order Land.
 
3. Agreed that the Strategic Director
of Place after consultation with the Leader of the Council, the
Strategic Director of Resources and Deputy Director Legal Services
be authorised following the confirmation of the CPO by the
Secretary of State to secure vacant possession of all properties
and proprietary interests located within the confirmed CPO Blue
Line land to include:
a) to take all
necessary actions to secure the making and service of a General
Vesting Declaration (GVD) or multiple GVD’s under the
Compulsory Purchase and (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 and /or to
serve Notices to Treat and Entry (if required); and
b) to appropriate
to planning / or housing purposes any parcel of land within the CPO
Order Plan; and
c) to; transfer, or
grant a license over, all properties and proprietary interests
acquired pursuant to the CPO to the relevant development or
contractor partner; and
d) if necessary,
make representation of the Council’s case such as at the
Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) or court should such representation
be necessary.
 
4. Agreed that in the event that the
Cabinet approves recommendations 2 and 3 above, and upon the Deputy
Director of Legal Services being satisfied that further information
and all the Equalities Impact Assessment recommendations have been
considered to not require reference back to Cabinet, that the
Deputy Director of Legal Services be authorised to affix the common
Seal of the Council to the CPO, GVD(s), maps and elsewhere and to
take all steps as necessary, such as to issue notices and sign
certificates to attain the resolutions above.