Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive submitted a report advising Council of the options open to it in relation to the existing Development Agreement for the Canal Corridor North and the ongoing requirement for regeneration of the site. 

Members asked a number of questions relating to the legal advice in Appendix 3 of the report which was exempt from publication, which the Chief Officer (Governance) responded to. When all questions regarding the exempt appendix had been asked, the Mayor lifted the exclusion and members of the press and public were invited back into the Council Chamber.

(Members of the press and public were invited back into the Council Chamber at this point.)

(During the course of the following discussions, Councillor Wilkinson declared an interest as a student landlord who also managed properties for other people.)

Questions continued on the public part of the report, which the Chief Officer (Regeneration and Planning) responded to.

Councillor Hamilton-Cox, seconded by Councillor Kay proposed:

That:

(1)             The city council withdraws from the development agreement with British Land (BL);

(2)             The city council expresses its willingness to continue working with BL on the basis of the 2002 development brief bearing in mind that the existing land and building ownerships of BL make BL the obvious partner; but that the city council also responds positively to third parties in respect of all or part of the city council's landholdings in, and adjacent to, the Canal Corridor which promotes development broadly consistent with the 2002 development brief;

(3)             Officers enter into negotiations with the Grand and Dukes theatres and the Musicians' Co-op in order to assist with the delivery of their respective aspirations and to draw up proposals for cabinet approval which will provide the land and/or buildings on such terms as realistically progress the aspirations of these cultural hubs;

(4)             Officers bring forward a report to either full council or cabinet (as appropriate) on city centre car parking capacity ahead of the opening of the HM6L 'park and ride' scheme at J34, with particular reference to its impact on parking capacity on sites in the Canal Corridor, but also on other city centre car parking capacity.

By way of amendment, Councillor Hanson, seconded by Councillor Clifford, proposed:

“That Members note the options available to the Council contained in this report, and instruct officers to continue to work with British Land and Lancaster University with the aim of scoping a deliverable project for the redevelopment of the Canal Corridor North which must take into account:-

(1)      The updated evidence of need for retail/leisure and cultural uses available to the City Council and informing the preparation of the Lancaster District Local Plan.

(2)      Further legal advice which the Council will obtain arising from the legal implications linked to the options in this report.

(3)      The need to address the regeneration needs of the Grand and Dukes Theatres and other cultural operations within the Canal Corridor North.

That a further report be brought to Council to consider the outcome of the above work, in order for Council to determine the way forward for the Canal Corridor North site. That for the avoidance of any doubt, British Land be advised that any work they undertake in scoping the project will be at their own expense.”

In the course of discussions, Councillor Wilkinson and other Members questioned why housing use was not included in the proposition and Councillors Blamire and Clifford accepted a friendly amendment, that:

“The wording of (1) be amended to include ‘residential uses’.”

After debate on the amendment, the Mayor called for a vote and a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.

The votes were recorded as follows:

For the amendment:

Councillors Ashworth, Askew, Atkinson, Bateson, Biddulph, Blamire, Brayshaw, Brown, Bryning, Charles, Clifford, Cooper, Cozler, Denwood, Devey, Edwards, Goodrich, Guilding, Hall, Hanson, Hartley, Helme, Hughes, Kershaw, Leyshon, Leytham, Mann, Metcalfe, Newman-Thompson, Pattison, Redfern, Rogerson, Sands, Scott, Smith, Sykes, Thomas, Warriner, Wild, Whitaker, Woodruff, Yates, Peter Williamson and Phillippa Williamson (44).

Against the amendment:

Councillors Barry, Kay and Novell (3).

Abstentions:

Councillors Armstrong, Brookes, Gardiner, Hamilton-Cox, Mace, Mills and Wilkinson (7).

The Mayor explained that the amendment had now become the substantive motion, and a further vote was required. The vote on the substantive motion was clearly carried.

Resolved:

That Members note the options available to the Council contained in this report, and instruct officers to continue to work with British Land and Lancaster University with the aim of scoping a deliverable project for the redevelopment of the Canal Corridor North which must take into account:-

(1)          The updated evidence of need for retail/leisure, cultural and residential uses available to the City Council and informing the preparation of the Lancaster District Local Plan.

(2)          Further legal advice which the Council will obtain arising from the legal implications linked to the options in this report.

(3)          The need to address the regeneration needs of the Grand and Dukes Theatres and other cultural operations within the Canal Corridor North.

That a further report be brought to Council to consider the outcome of the above work, in order for Council to determine the way forward for the Canal Corridor North site. That for the avoidance of any doubt, British Land be advised that any work they undertake in scoping the project will be at their own expense.