Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to make amendments to the original agreements between the Council and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust in relation to the Derwenthorpe site, to enable the sale of land to go ahead and the development to proceed.

RESOLVED: That Option 3 be approved, as set out in paragraph 5 of the report, and the necessary amendments be made to the ‘Agreement for Sale’ and the ‘Framework Agreement’ between the Council and Joseph Rowntree Trust.

REASON:      In order to make progress on this important project.

Members considered a report which sought approval to make amendments to the original agreements between the Council and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) in relation to the sale and development of the Derwenthorpe site.

A number of issues had arisen over the period since these agreements were signed in October 2002, resulting in the need make amendments.  It was proposed that this be done by way of supplemental agreements.  These would effect the changes requested by JHRT to deal with the Village Green issue and enable JRHT to ‘self develop’ individual development phases, as well as those sought by the Council to revise the structure of the overage provisions and oblige JRHT to seek to maximise profits from the development.  It was confirmed that this ‘profit’ clause was a proposal generated by the District Auditor, who required the Council to obtain ‘best value’ when selling any of its assets and was designed to protect the interests of tax payers.

Options available to Members included:

Option 1 – to seek different amendments to those proposed, subject to further discussion and negotiation with JRHT. This was not considered necessary, as the proposed amendments addressed all the issues raised.

Option 2 – not to amend the agreements.  This was not recommended as it would jeopardise the arrangements with JRHT.

Option 3 – to agree the amendments as proposed.  This was the recommended option.

Having considered the comments of the Shadow Executive and the supplementary information provided by Officers in response to the Shadow Executive’s questions on some technical aspects of the report, it was

RESOLVED: That Option 3 be approved, as set out in paragraph 5 of the report, and the necessary amendments be made to the ‘Agreement for Sale’ and the ‘Framework Agreement’ between the Council and Joseph Rowntree Trust.¹

REASON:      In order to make progress on this important project.