Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd July 2006, having been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

This report was agreed by the Executive Board on 21^st September 2006 and has been included on this agenda for information only. A copy of the Statement of Consultation referred to within the report is available on the Council’s Website.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Environment, the recommendations of which had previously been agreed by the Executive Board on 21^st September 2006.

The report had sought approval for the adoption of the final versions of the Halebank Regeneration Action Area Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and the Ditton Strategic Railfreight Park SPD, subject to any further minor editorial or technical amendments required. It was noted that the SPDs were not yet adopted as the authority first had to produce an adoption status report in line with statutory guidance.

The Board considered the potential implications for the SPD of the recent application for registration of a Village Green. It was advised that this would be considered by officers and a report would be submitted to a future meeting.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Environment providing an update on the progress of the application to European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for Mersey Multi-Modal Gateway (3MG).

It was noted that ERDF was one of the key funding sources identified in the 3MG Masterplan and, following advice, two applications had been submitted:

(1)               for connection with A5300/A562 Ditton Road Environmental Improvements, Halebank HGV Access – Priority 3 for £1,750,000; and

(2)               for Business Enterprise Grants – Priority 1.5 for £250,000.

Subsequently, £2m had been secured towards these Projects.

RESOLVED: That the progression of the ERDF funded projects as contained in the report be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Environment seeking approval of the initial concept of the Ditton Road Environmental Improvements and approval to progress with the consultation, detailed design, any required planning permissions and implementation of the scheme.

It was noted that, whilst comprehensive redevelopment of land adjacent to Ditton Road was not proposed as part of the core programme, incremental redevelopment of land and property on and along Ditton Road for uses benefiting from the adjacent rail infrastructure was expected to be brought forward by the private sector. In order to encourage this investment and to brand the location as part of the programme initiative, advance public realm environmental works were being proposed. The scheme would incorporate landscaping and highways works.

The concept plan for the scheme had been drawn up and was shown on the plan attached to the report. The Board noted that the scheme would cost approximately £985,000.

RESOLVED: That the Strategic Director – Environment, in consultation with the Executive Board Member for Planning, Transportation, Regeneration and Renewal, be authorised to submit relevant planning applications and implement the scheme in accordance with Standing Orders relating to Contracts.

The Sub-Board considered:

(1)            whether Members of the press and public should be excluded from the meeting of the Board during consideration of the following item of business in accordance with sub-section 4 of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 because it was likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be considered, exempt information would be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100(1) and paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972; and

(2)            whether the disclosure of the information was in the public interest, whether any relevant exceptions were applicable, and whether, when applying the public interest tests and exemptions, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed that in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED: That as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business in accordance with Sub-Section 4 of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 because it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business, exempt information will be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy outlining the terms upon which the acquisition of land at Hale Road, Widnes had taken place.

The Board congratulated the officers involved in this successful project.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

MINUTES ISSUED: 26^th October 2006

CALL IN: 2^nd November 2006

Any matter decided by the Executive (Transmodal Implementation) Sub-Board may be called in no later than 2^nd November 2006