To consider the submitted report on the above.

Further to the decision of the Council on 18 October 2018, members received a report on the disposal of the Council’s freehold interest in land at Little Blagdon Farm, Collaton St Mary and at Preston Down Road, Paignton through a development agreement with a private sector housing delivery partner.  It was noted the Council was awarded £3,076,000 of Land Release Fund grant aid by the Government for securing early release of the land at Blagdon Farm and Preston Down Road for residential development.  A Cabinet proposed motion was circulated prior to the meeting.

Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded the motion as set out below:

(i)         that the disposal of the freehold interest at Collaton St Mary and Preston Down Road (identified in Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report), be approved and the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to agree and finalise any Heads of Terms in consultation with the Cabinet, Group Leaders and the Section 151 Officer.  Any future capital receipts from the disposals will in the first instance be used to offset the £2.4 million cost for acquiring the sites, with any surplus being used to support capital projects linked to priorities around employment, town centre regeneration and heritage assets;

(ii)        that delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet and Group Leaders, to select and then enter into a development agreement with a development partner for the effective delivery of the Scheme;

(iii)       that in furtherance of (i) above, the Chief Executive be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet and Group Leaders, to negotiate and agree terms for the acquisition by agreement of any land, interests or rights as may be required for delivery of the Scheme;  and

(iv)       that the Chief Executive invite the Torbay Community Partnership Company to appoint a community representative to assist in identifying the selection criteria of the procurement of a development partner and to sit on the selection panel for the development partner.

During the debate Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor John Thomas seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

This report be deferred until such time as the community engagement that was due to be undertaken in the Autumn of 2018 (as confirmed in the Council’s bid letter to government) is undertaken. This administration promised a real meaningful dialogue to take place with the community, not a rushed report that members have only had sight of for 2 clear working days.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

Councillor Long’s and Councillor Cowell’s original motion was then considered by the Council which was agreed, as set out below:

(i)         that the disposal of the freehold interest at Collaton St Mary and Preston Down Road (identified in Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report), be approved and the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to agree and finalise any Heads of Terms in consultation with the Cabinet, Group Leaders and the Section 151 Officer.  Any future capital receipts from the disposals will in the first instance be used to offset the £2.4 million cost for acquiring the sites, with any surplus being used to support capital projects linked to priorities around employment, town centre regeneration and heritage assets;

(ii)        that delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet and Group Leaders, to select and then enter into a development agreement with a development partner for the effective delivery of the Scheme;

(iii)       that in furtherance of (i) above, the Chief Executive be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet and Group Leaders, to negotiate and agree terms for the acquisition by agreement of any land, interests or rights as may be required for delivery of the Scheme;  and

(iv)      that the Chief Executive invite the Torbay Community Partnership Company to appoint a community representative to assist in identifying the selection criteria of the procurement of a development partner and to sit on the selection panel for the development partner.