Issue - meetings

Councillor Sue Fennimore subsequently declared a significant interest in respect of this item, as she was a member of the board of OnSide Youth Zone. As she had joined the meeting virtually via Zoom, she did not participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

Councillor Andrew Jones stated that this report and the next one on the agenda – Investing in White City – where part of a substantial development that would bring significant benefits to the local economy, including 132 new homes, which would be 100% affordable, and to create a new mixed used education hub to include a high-quality primary school, new and expanded nursery for 75 children, new adult education facilities, new youth zone facilities and a new office for educational charities. The development would contribute to the borough’s ambitions to maintain, improve, and further accelerate standards for education in the borough, which was one of the aims of the Industrial Strategy.

The Leader thanked Councillor Jones for his excellent work and added that the Industrial Strategy aimed to promote a model of inclusive growth which recognised the key role of schools in equipping residents with the skills and capability to benefit from the dynamism of the local economy.  Learning spaces that facilitate the borough’s children acquiring the skills necessary to compete successfully in the future knowledge economy would be critical.

Councillor Connell acknowledged the enormous benefit this scheme would bring to the community.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT:

1.    To note that Appendix 2 is exempt from disclosure on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information) under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

2.    To resolve that the areas of land at the Education City development referred to in this report and shown edged red on the plans at Appendix 1 (“the Land”) are no longer required for the mixed education and health purposes for which they are currently held.

3.    To approve the appropriation of the Land pursuant to section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972for the planning purposes of facilitating redevelopment for residential and other uses pursuant to section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

4.    To approve the use of powers to override easements and other rights in respect of the land pursuant to section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.