Agenda item

A Decision made by the Cabinet on 27 August 2015 in respect of the following report was called in by the Chairman of Scrutiny for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Tiverton Town Centre Update, specifically recommendation 2:

That authority be delegated to the Head of Housing & Property Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Development, to agree disposal to Premier Inn for 125 years of part of the multi-storey car park for the provision of a hotel.

The reason for the call in is:-

The decision made commits the council to a long term commitment without the evidence base being presented. There was no evidence of a business case or consultation with appropriate bodies or that Members had been fully informed of this important proposal.

Attached is the original report to Cabinet and a briefing paper from the Head of Housing and Property Services

The Chairman informed the Committee that he had called in a decision made by the Cabinet on 27 August 2015 regarding the Tiverton Town Centre update, for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. The decision was as follows:

Tiverton Town Centre Update, specifically recommendation 2:

That authority be delegated to the Head of Housing & Property Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Development, to agree disposal to Premier Inn for 125 years of part of the multi-storey car park for the provision of a hotel.

The Chairman explained his reasons for the call in, informing the Committee that he considered that the decision made committed the council to a long term development without the evidence base being presented. There was no evidence of a business case or consultation with appropriate bodies or that Members had been fully informed of this important proposal.

He stated that the decision involved the sale of a council asset with implications for local businesses and tourism.  The report * failed to address recommendation 2 and supporting evidence was not in place. Information was inadequate and the recommendation gave the officer power to dispose of property. At the time of the report valuation advice was still being sought. 

He continued by stating that with inadequate information to base a decision on the wording implied a ‘fait acomplis’, a done deal,  with no financial case given or made,  no impact statement on the town, local business, traders or employment. Consultation appeared to have been minimal. He compared the level of consultation to that carried out regarding the closure of public toilets, which had been far greater. Local Members had not been briefed, the Town Council had not been consulted and local businesses had not been consulted.  He also queried the procurement process and whether all possible tenders had been invited. No pictorial information had been provided to help Members to visualise the proposed development.

The Chairman emphasised that he was aware of the need to maximise assets but considered that the authority must also maximise assets to the community.

Discussion took place regarding:-

·         The Town Centre Exercise;

·         Decisions being taken in isolation;

·         The removal of parking places despite plans to increase visitors to the town;

·         The need for some decisions to be made quickly;

·         Tiverton Town Centre regeneration;

·         Members finding out information from the local press;

·         Briefings and updates that had been put in place;

·         The need to consult with local businesses and the Town Council;

·         The availability of Cabinet papers to all Members;

·         The development was subject to planning permission;

·         The need for sufficient information within reports to allow Members to make decisions.

In answer to a question in Public Question Time from Mr Roberts, the Head of Communities and Governance confirmed that a Tourism Strategy had been drafted and that the Mid Devon Attractions Group had been working with the authority. They would review the draft when they met again in the autumn.  The Policy would be going out to public consultation and relevant projects would be taken forward after this.  The aim was to boost the town centres, the rural areas, and the local economy and to increase the number of visitors to the District as well as to encourage them to stay within the District.

It was RESOLVED that Members were satisfied with the information that had been provided and that the decision of the Cabinet taken in relation to this issue on 29^th August 2015 should stand.

(Proposed by Cllr R Evans and seconded by Cllr Mrs H Bainbridge)

Notes:- i)  Cllr R M Deed declared a personal interest as he knew the Town Clerk

ii) Cllr Mrs H Bainbridge declared a personal interest as she had received correspondence from the developer.

              iii) * Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes.

  iv) A proposal that the decision be referred back to the Cabinet to ensure that a decision was made in accordance with the Constitution was not supported.