Agenda and minutes

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Councillor Warwick declared a disclosable pecuniary interest a County Councillor and Movement Strategy Board Member.  However, as there was no material conflict of interest, she participated in the meeting and voted on items as below, under the dispensation granted by the Standards Committee.

Councillor Burns declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest as she lived near the Cattlemarket site.  She remained in the room and spoke on items as below. 

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held 12 July 2018 be approved and adopted.

– to receive and note questions asked and statements made from members of the public on issues relating to the responsibility of this Committee (see note below).

John Hearn (City of Winchester Trust) addressed the meeting as summarised under the minute below.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Gottlieb addressed the Committee as summarised below:

·         He believed that the Council should not be spending additional monies on the project without approval of a proper business plan.  He did not know how much had been spent to date but estimated it to be in the region of £2m, possibly rising to £3m. 

·         He requested further information be supplied for Councillors on expected tenants, in the form of a confidential report if necessary. 

·         He asked that no further action be taken until firm commitments had been received from possible tenants and a full business plan agreed.

John Hearn (City of Winchester Trust) spoke during public participation and in summary made the following points:

·         Concern regarding the change to the position of the access from Sussex Street to Gladstone Street.  This would result in all vehicles going to the Carfax site travelling via Upper High Street, Newburgh Street and Gladstone Street resulting in a number of negative implications, including on traffic volumes and proposals for improved pedestrian access.

·         The revised access proposals could also impact on proposals for changes to the one-way system, improvements to the City Road junction and public realm improvements in Sussex Street.

·         The Trust considered the provision of 150 car parking spaces was incorrect: planning policy allowed no office car parking on the Carfax site due to its sustainable location.

·         There did not appear to be any priority for public realm improvements beyond the immediate Carfax site area.

The Chairman stated that the County Council had raised technical and safety issues regarding access from Sussex Street.  Other matters raised, including any changes to the one-way system were being considered as part of the Movement Strategy.  A meeting had recently been held with the Trust to explain the current situation.  The Strategic Director: Place suggested further discussions could take place if required.

The Head of Programme introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to key elements.  He noted a correction to paragraph 7.2 of the report as there were currently 223 car parking spaces across the whole of the Carfax site (108 public and 115 leased to HCC/Police).  The scheme proposed a maximum of 150 spaces.

Paragraph 11.6 of the report outlined the background to the approval of the strategic business case for the development in March 2017 which remained valid.  The scheme was progressing in line with acknowledged good practice as summarised in the report.

The Head of Programme confirmed that discussions were ongoing with Network Rail/SW Railway as landowner and key stakeholder with a further meeting due to take place the following week.

The Head of Programme emphasised that possible further future public realm improvements would not be frustrated or constrained by the scheme’s progress.  Similarly, the scheme would be “future-proofed” to allow future changes and developments following publication of the Movement Strategy.

During questions from Members’, a number of queries were raised and responded to by the Head of Programme and Strategic Director as summarised below:

·         The site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.