Agenda item

1.      That all areas of public open space within the Kings Barton development that fall within the boundary of Headbourne Worthy parish (the area marked A in appendix 1 of report CAB3418) are transferred directly from Cala Homes to HWPC, or its successor together with the appropriate proportion of the commuted sum to meet the costs of future management and maintenance of the areas of open space.  This includes land ready now and which will become available in later phases.

2.      That all areas of public open space within the Kings Barton development that fall within the boundary of St Barnabas ward (the area marked B in appendix 1 of the report) are transferred from Cala Homes to Winchester City Council, together with the appropriate proportion of the commuted sum to meet the costs of future management and maintenance of the areas of open space, and allocated to the Town Account.  This includes land ready now and which will become available in later phases.

3.      That £75k costs incurred by Cala Homes in establishing the Barton Meadows nature reserve are met by reducing the overall commuted sum payable for management of public open space at Kings Barton.

4.      That the commuted sums for the future maintenance of all public open space within the Kings Barton development will be calculated as follows:

a.      Phase 1a = 43,233m² @ £11.79/m² = £509,717.07, less £25k = £484,717.07

b.      Phase 1b = 26,279m² @ £11.79/m² = £309,829.41, less £25k = £284,829.41

c.      Phase 2a = 12,652m² @ £11.79/m² = £149,167.08, less £25k = £124,167.08

d.      For all subsequent phases, using the council’s standard rate for public open space maintenance at the date of transfer (which currently stands at £13.77/m²)

5.      All of the rates above apply as at the date of this approval and will be subject to inflation at the point of transfer from the developer.

6.      That, the Service Leads Legal and Built Environment be authorised to enter into all necessary legal agreements in order to formalise the commuted maintenance payments, the future management of the open space within St Barnabas ward on behalf of the city council by HWPC and any other consequential amendments arising from the approved recommendations

Councillor Becker introduced the report which set out details for the future management and maintenance of open spaces at Kings Barton and the associated commuted sums of money.  

Councillor Iredale (Headbourne Worthy Parish Council) spoke during public participation as summarised briefly below.

The parish council was disappointed to learn that £75,000 had been deducted from CALA’s commuted sum and had not had the opportunity to take part in this negotiation. There would be a net effect of an increase in the parish council’s precept.  She also referred to two pieces of land at the southern entrance to Kings Barton that were likely to be more expensive to maintain.

The Service Lead – Community responded to the points raised by Councillor Iredale and advised that it had been recognised that although the actual sum achieved had not been the preferred outcome of the parish council, it had been accepted by them so to ensure that the open space was transferred to the most appropriate body.  The land that did require more intensive maintenance was balanced by most of the open space that required less work and so the total sum was appropriate for the open space across the whole development.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.                 That all areas of public open space within the Kings Barton development that fall within the boundary of Headbourne Worthy parish (the area marked A in appendix 1 of report CAB3418) are transferred directly from Cala Homes to HWPC, or its successor together with the appropriate proportion of the commuted sum to meet the costs of future management and maintenance of the areas of open space.  This includes land ready now and which will become available in later phases.

2.                 That all areas of public open space within the Kings Barton development that fall within the boundary of St Barnabas ward (the area marked B in appendix 1 of the report) are transferred from Cala Homes to Winchester City Council, together with the appropriate proportion of the commuted sum to meet the costs of future management and maintenance of the areas of open space, and allocated to the Town Account.  This includes land ready now and which will become available in later phases.

3.                 That £75k costs incurred by Cala Homes in establishing the Barton Meadows nature reserve are met by reducing the overall commuted sum payable for management of public open space at Kings Barton.

4.                 That the commuted sums for the future maintenance of all public open space within the Kings Barton development will be calculated as follows:

a.                 Phase 1a = 43,233m² @ £11.79/m² = £509,717.07, less £25k = £484,717.07

b.                 Phase 1b = 26,279m² @ £11.79/m² = £309,829.41, less £25k = £284,829.41

c.                  Phase 2a = 12,652m² @ £11.79/m² = £149,167.08, less £25k = £124,167.08

d.                      For all subsequent phases, using the council’s standard rate for public open space maintenance at the date of transfer (which currently stands at £13.77/m²)

5.                 That, all of the rates above apply as at the date of this approval and will be subject to inflation at the point of transfer from the developer.

6.                 That, the Service Leads Legal and Built Environment be authorised to enter into all necessary legal agreements in order to formalise the commuted maintenance payments, the future management of the open space within St Barnabas ward on behalf of the city council by HWPC and any other consequential amendments arising from the approved recommendations.