Issue - meetings

The report of the Executive Manager – Operations and Transformation is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

The relocation of Streetwise Environmental Ltd from the Abbey Road site to part of a unit and land owned by the Council at Chapel Lane, Bingham, under a market rate lease for a period of 3 years be endorsed.

The Portfolio Holder for Business and Transformation presented the report of the Executive Manager – Transformation, providing an update on relocation options for Streetwise Environmental Ltd.       

The Portfolio Holder for Business and Transformation advised that Streetwise would be moving out of the Abbey Road depot, fulfilling a long held desire to progress the redevelopment of the site for a purpose commensurate with its surroundings.  The report outlined the steps undertaken to identify a suitable location for Streetwise, and having considered a number of options, it was recommended that it be relocated to Chapel Lane, Bingham, on a short-term lease.  The short-term lease would allow Streetwise the flexibility to review its location, should other properties become available. 

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Inglis stated that the proposed relocation complemented the recent relocation of recycling and waste services and would release land for residential development, resulting in a positive effect for neighbouring housing.  If circumstances changed, the three-year lease would allow flexibility and it was noted that other potential sites had been considered but not found suitable.

Councillor Robinson reiterated that the site had the potential to provide essential housing; in particular, social housing to West Bridgford and it was necessary to find a suitable site for Streetwise to ensure the continued delivery of essential services.

Councillor Upton confirmed that alternative locations had been considered and a three-year lease seemed appropriate. It should be noted that if the Abbey Road site was not vacated by March 2020, the Council would be liable to loose £300,000 of land release funding which could be used for investment.  It was encouraging that an outline planning application for the Abbey Road site had been submitted and would be considered at the next Planning Committee.   

Councillor Mason stated that the site would provide an excellent interim solution, with considerable work having been undertaken to identify possible sites for relocation. 

It was RESOLVED that:

The relocation of Streetwise Environmental Ltd from the Abbey Road site to part of a unit and land owned by the Council at Chapel Lane, Bingham, under a market rate lease for a period of three years be endorsed.

Reasons for Decision

a)    The Council has a long-held ambition to vacate the Abbey Road depot site in West Bridgford, which is in a residential area, in order to develop the site for housing.

b)    Following an extensive search for a suitable location, the site at Chapel Lane, Bingham has been identified as suitable for Streetwise Environmental Ltd (SEL).

c)    The short term length of the lease will enable SEL to continue to review the property market and if an opportunity should come along which better complements its business requirements, it might relocate to another location.