Purpose

To exercise the delegation to Assistant
Director Property & Facilities acting as Property Officer
(delegated by Assistant Director Planning, Regeneration &
Transport) in consultation with the Council’s S151 Officer
and the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to
open negotiations and agree terms allowing the Council to acquire
property at Laughton Road, Dinnington.
 

Decision

 

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION
 

Date of Decision:

07/10/2025
 

Title:

Acquisition and disposal of land and buildings
at Laughton Road, Dinnington
 

Decision Maker
(Including Job Title)

Kevin Fisher, Assistant Director of Property
& Facilities Services

Details of Specific Delegation
 

7 August 2023 Cabinet Meeting
 
‘Resolved: That Cabinet:
 
4. Approved that the Assistant Director for
Planning, Regeneration and Transport be authorised to negotiate and
agree the acquisition by agreement of the property interests at
exempt Appendix 1, in consultation with the Council’s Section
151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local
Economy.’
 
Minute 39 refers.
 
Due to a change in structures, the Assistant
Director Property and Facilities is now the Designated Property
Officer (through delegation). All items previously delegated and
authorised to the Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and
Transport, in relation to property and land transactions, now sits
with the Assistant Director Property and Facilities Services.
 
Both the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local
Economy and Cabinet Member for Finance and Community Safety have
been consulted due to a change in Cabinet Portfolios.
 

Decision:

To negotiate and agree terms for the
purchase/acquisition (including purchase) of the following
properties to facilitate the Dinnington Project, namely the
following properties:

50 Laughton Road, Dinnington
headlease and underlease
Land to the rear of Laughton Road
(outdoor market)
32a & 34 Laughton Road

Reasons for the Decision:

To enable the purchase of all property
required to facilitate the implementation of the Council’s
Dinnington Regeneration project which will see improvements to the
high street including a new market provision, 6 new retail units,
refurbished units and public realm fronting Laughton Road

Details of alternative options considered and
rejected:

Option 1: Do
nothing.
A ‘do nothing’
option would result in the properties remaining in private sector
ownership thus preventing the delivery of the scheme including
demolition, refurbishment and re build in line with the Cabinet
approval in August 2023 and the secured funding. This option is
therefore not recommended.
 
Option 2: Compulsory
Purchase Order
The Council made a Compulsory
Purchase Order in January 2025 and attended a Public Inquiry in
July 2025. Prior to the inquiry terms were agreed on these
outstanding interests.
 
The Council awaits the decision
of the Public Inquiry which is expected in September 2025. The
Council could choose to wait for this decision before completing on
property acquisitions. However, given terms have been agreed and
progress can be made ahead of the outcome this option is not
recommended.
 
Option 3:
Acquisition by Negotiation
The Council will always seek to acquire
properties by negotiation. Terms have now been agreed between the
parties which will allow the scheme to progress. This option is
therefore recommended.
 

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet
Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the
decision:

None declared

Dispensations Granted:
(If any)

NA
 

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision
Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an
outside body which relates to the decision:

None declared

Dispensations Granted:
(If any)

NA
 

Reports or parts of reports considered

External reports and valuations from Gately
Hamer (exempt from publication)

 
I certify that this
is a true record of the executive decision to:
 
To negotiate and agree terms for the
purchase/acquisition (including purchase) of the following
properties to facilitate the Dinnington Project, namely the
following properties:

50 Laughton Road, Dinnington
headlease and underlease
Land to the rear of Laughton Road
(outdoor market)

32a & 34 Laughton Road
 
I confirm that in
making this decision, due regard was given to the seven principles
of public life.
 
Signed by the
Decision Maker:
 
 

 
Dated:         
07/10/2025
 
Name:         
Kevin Fisher.                    
Job Title:     Assistant Director
Property and facilities Services.