Issue - meetings

Property Acquisition Land at North Walsham

Meeting: 23/02/2021 - Cabinet (Item 36)

36 Property Acquisition Land at North Walsham pdf icon PDF 145 KB

 

Summary:

 

 

 

 

Options considered:

The report outlines a proposal to acquire land at a key gateway to North Walsham Town Centre to support the North Walsham Heritage Action Zone place making initiative.

 

The proposed option is to acquire the land to support the programme by improving the access to the town centre via the adjacent Loke.  The alternative option, not to acquire the land, would miss the potential opportunity of further grant funding.

 

 

 

Conclusions:

 

 

 

The Council has the opportunity to acquire land adjacent to its existing landholding (Bank Loke Car Park) that would support the objectives of the North Walsham Heritage Action Zone place making project and offer scope for improvement that could further enhance the locality and services provided by the Council. The total budget required for the acquisition, associated legal costs and immediate costs involved in securing the site, once acquired are expected not to exceed £100,000.

 

 

 

Recommendations:

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons for

Recommendations:

 

It is recommended that Cabinet resolve to acquire the land, and instruct the Director for Resources to do so at his discretion, in consultation with the NWHSHAZ Working Party, subject to all reasonable due diligence and legal advice. 

 

To augment the High Street HAZ place making project in North Walsham.

 

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr Eric Seward

Cllr Richard Kershaw

 

Ward(s) affected North Walsham

Contact Officer, telephone number and email: Renata Garfoot, Asset Strategy Manager, 01263 516086, Renata.Garfoot@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

 

Decision:

Decision:

 

RESOLVED

 

To acquire the land, and instruct the Director for Resources to do so at his discretion, in consultation with the NWHSHAZ Working Party, subject to all reasonable due diligence and legal advice.

 

Reasons for the decision:

 

To augment the High Street HAZ place making project in North Walsham

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Sustainability, Cllr R Kershaw, introduced this item. He explained that an opportunity had arisen to acquire land at a key gateway to North Walsham town centre, which would support the North Walsham Heritage Action Zone place-making scheme.

 

He said that purchase of the land would improve access  to the town centre via the adjacent loke. The Council already owned the adjacent site (Bank Loke car park) and this purchase would offer scope for improvement that could enhance the locality and services provided by the Council.

 

Cllr V Gay said that she was fully supportive of the proposals. One of the key objectives of the HAZ project was to improve the entry ways into the market place and this entrance was currently unattractive and could be improved considerably. She seconded the proposal.

 

Cllr A Fitch- Tillett said that she supported the proposals but sought reassurance that there would be an opportunity for the Council to get some funds back if possible.

 

Cllr R Kershaw replied that this proposal was to just for to purchase the land for the Heritage Action Zone scheme and any other proposals would have to come back to Cabinet for consideration.

 

It was proposed by Cllr R Kershaw, seconded by Cllr V Gay and

 

RESOLVED

 

To acquire the land, and instruct the Director for Resources to do so at his discretion, in consultation with the NWHSHAZ Working Party, subject to all reasonable due diligence and legal advice.

 

Reasons for the decision:

 

To augment the High Street HAZ place making project in North Walsham