Agenda item

E.62/18          

Members were presented with a report that sought approval of eight projects that met the objectives of the Commercial Property Strategy as approved by full Council in September 2018 (Minute 30/18 refers). 

Members had a full discussion on this report, and each of the development proposal areas was discussed in turn.

During discussion, the following points were raised:

(a)   The Leader advised that the proposals were designed to support the economy in the South Hams, and all but one of the proposals would need planning permission;

(b)   Some Members, whilst supportive of the projects in principle, raised concerns over the figures and projections contained within the presented agenda report and stated that the proposals should be subject to thorough scrutiny, and an exit strategy should be in place for each proposal.  In response, the Head of Paid Service confirmed that Commercial Development was one of the areas that the Internal Auditors had been asked to include on their Audit workplan for the following year;

(c)    Members were generally supportive of the proposal in Kingsbridge;

(d)   Members were supportive of the proposal in Totnes;

(e)   Members supported the proposal for Sherford, and accepted that this was a longer term proposal;

(f)     Members discussed the proposal for Beesands, and were advised that the local parish council had withdrawn support for the scheme once it had been made clear that responsibility for the public conveniences would fall with the parish council. 

The importance of public conveniences in a beach location was noted, and Members were supportive of the scheme, whilst accepting that further negotiation would need to take place with the parish council;

(g)   Members supported the proposal at Shadycombe Car Park in Salcombe;

(h)   Members had a lengthy debate on the proposal for Ivybridge.  Local Ward Members had raised concerns over the potential loss of car parking, and these concerns had been echoed by the Town Council.  Other Members accepted these concerns, but felt that the proposal would bring footfall into the town, which would be of benefit to the economy of the town as a whole.  The Leader advised that he would propose deferral of this proposal pending further information.  Members supported deferral, but in doing so noted that, if the proposal did not progress quickly, then there was a chance that the opportunity would be lost and the risk that an alternative location, away from the town centre, would be found.  This would have an even more detrimental effect on the economy of Ivybridge.  Finally, there was discussion around revisiting the car parking strategy to ensure that it supported Ivybridge effectively;

(i)     Members supported the proposal for the Salcombe Harbour Workshop at Batson, although the Chairman of the Harbour Board raised concerns over the annual rental cots;

(j)     Members supported the proposal for the employment units at Batson, Salcombe and a local Ward Member confirmed that there was significant interest locally in this proposal;

(k)    Members discussed the urgent item, Dartmouth Health and Wellbeing Hub, and were generally supportive of the proposal being progressed.  Members also recognised the benefits not only to Dartmouth, but to the surrounding villages too.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1) a:  That the following projects (capital investment of £14.25m as per Exempt Appendix H), including the granting of leases in excess of 15 years where applicable, subject to Recommendation 2 being approved by Full Council on 17th January 2019, be approved:

i.          Kingsbridge, Rope Walk Resource Centre development;

ii.         Totnes, Steamer Quay office development;

iii.        Sherford, commercial land acquisition;

iv.        Beesands, beach huts;

v.         Salcombe, Shadycombe Car Park capacity increase;

vi.        Workshop for Salcombe Harbour at Batson (subject to consultation with the Salcombe Harbour Board); and

vii.      Employment Units, Batson; and

1) b: That the Ivybridge, Leonard’s Rd Car Park supermarket proposal be deferred to a meeting of the Executive in early 2019, with an update being provided to the meeting on 7 February 2019; and

1) c: That, in respect of the urgent item – Dartmouth Health and Wellbeing Hub, that the principle of the scheme as set out in the briefing note, which will be subject to a detailed business case being presented to Executive Members once full financial details are known, be approved and officers instructed to move to the next stage of the project so as to start design work.

[NOTE. that, in line with the Executive Procedure Rules, preventing Members of the Executive from voting on matters within their own ward, please note the following abstentions in relation to recommendation 1 a: above:

i)Cllrs Gilbert and Wingate abstained from this vote; and

v), vii) and viii)   Cllr Wright abstained from these votes]

(NOTE: THESE DECISIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF E.55/18, E.56/18, E.58/18 (2), and E.62/18 (2) WHICH WERE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 17 JANUARY 2019, WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM 5.00PM ON MONDAY 24 DECEMBER 2018 UNLESS CALLED IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULE 18).