Issue - meetings

          The Board considered a report from the Executive Director – Environment and Regeneration, which provided an update on progress relating to Halton’s Freeport.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    approval is given to allow officers to continue with due diligence with a view to preparing a formal offer to purchase the Port of Weston using Freeport Seed Funding;

2)    Officers provide update reports to Members, as appropriate, as the project progresses;

3)    Officers work with the Combined Authority and the Freeport Board, to seek approval from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to reallocate remaining Freeport Seed Funds for the planning and construction of an access road onto Port of Weston and to purchase the Port of Weston and fund remediation works, contingency and negotiate above the initial purchase offer; and

4)    delegated authority is given to the Executive Director Environment and Regeneration and the Director Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to draw up a collaborative agreement with prospective stakeholders as outlined in section 3.12 of the report.