To consider a report and the recommendations of Cabinet, that seek to release land at Garfield Road to, and delivery of a scheme by, a development partner.

Members received the recommendations of the Cabinet and the submitted report on proposals to release land on Garfield Road, Paignton, for redevelopment by a development partner.  It was noted the land was currently occupied by one of the two multi-storey car parks at the Victoria Centre and the redevelopment was supported by the Local Plan, Neighbourhood Plan, Paignton Town Centre Masterplan and the Council’s Transformation Strategy for Town Centres.  Land Release Funding of £900,000 had been secured to enable the site be used for housing related development.

Members noted an officer addendum to the report on land supply circulated on 21 October 2019 and further updated as appended to these minutes.

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

that the Cabinet recommend to Council:

(i)         that the disposal of the freehold interest of land at Garfield Road, Paignton (identified in Appendix 1 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 Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing and the Section 151 Officer;

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

(iii)       alternatively if (i) above is not achieved within timescales required for the Land Release Fund, the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to dispose of the site at Garfield Road on the open market, as a straightforward freehold sale.

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

(iv)       that any surplus monies from this development be reinvested into the town of Paignton to help support the infrastructure projects that could include, but is not limited to, Paignton Geo Play Park and Station Square street enhancement.  (Surplus is intended to reference the value of any capital receipt, less any relevant costs.)

The amendment was put to the vote and declared carried (unanimously).

The amended (substantive) motion was then considered by members, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as follows:

(i)         that the disposal of the freehold interest of land at Garfield Road, Paignton (identified in Appendix 1 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 Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing and the Section 151 Officer;

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

(iii)       alternatively if (i) above is not achieved within timescales required for the Land Release Fund, the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to dispose of the site at Garfield Road on the open market, as a straightforward freehold sale;  and

(iv)      that any surplus monies from this development be reinvested into the town of Paignton to help support the infrastructure projects that could include, but is not limited to Paignton Geo Play Park and Station Square street enhancement.  (Surplus is intended to reference the value of any capital receipt, less any relevant costs.)