Agenda and minutes

The Worshipful The Mayor of Test Valley expressed his pleasure at being able to attend the Council meeting following his recent injury. The Mayor thanked Councillors Baverstock, Celia Dowden, Mark Cooper and Hatley for their support for the Mayoralty over recent months when he had been unable to attend events and in particular thanked the Deputy Mayor Councillor Philip Lashbrook for his support in covering mayoral engagements.  

Reverend McClelland was unable to attend the meeting however she had written prayers which the Chief Executive read.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Lashbrook, G Bailey, D Coole, N Daas, C Donnelly, D Drew, C Ecclestone, L Lashbrook, R Meyer, K North, C Thom and A Ward

There was no public participation.

There were no declarations of interest.

The following item is confidential.

Resolved:

That, pursuant Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following report on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following Paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended, indicated below. The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the Public interest in disclosing the information for the reason given below:

Strategic Land Purchase  Paragraph 3

It is considered that this report contains exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended in that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  It is further considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider a Strategic Land Purchase.

Consideration was given to a report which dealt with contractual matters.

Resolved:

1.  That authority be given to the Head of Property & Asset Management in consultation with the Finance & Resources Portfolio Holder, the Head of Legal & Democratic Services and the Head of Finance & Revenues to submit a bid for the site identified in annex 1 to the report, subject to a maximum value as set out in paragraph 8.2 to the report.

2.  That, if the bid is successful:

·  the purchase of the property be added to the Council’s Capital Programme, to be funded from the New Homes Bonus Reserve and

·  the ongoing running costs, as set out in paragraphs 8.5 and 8.6 to the report, be added to the revenue budget.

3.  That on acceptance of the bid and subject to the completion of satisfactory due diligence, the Head of Property and Asset Management, in consultation with the Head of Finance & Revenues, the Head of Legal & Democratic Services and the Finance & Resources Portfolio Holder, be authorised to undertake all necessary work to complete the purchase of the site including settling terms of purchase.