Agenda and minutes

At this point, members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

No interests were declared.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is Tuesday 20 November 2007 at 5.00 pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report sets out a timetable for work and suggested officer involvement for the scrutiny review to investigate the arrangements surrounding the sale of the Barbican site and identify key lessons for the future in the event of developments of a similar nature or scope being proposed.

Members received a report which set out a timetable for work and suggested officer involvement for the scrutiny review to investigate the arrangements surrounding the sale of the Barbican site and identify key lessons for the future in the event of developments of a similar nature or scope being proposed.

Members discussed the objectives for the review which had been agreed by Scrutiny Management Committee:

a)     To understand why the contract in relation to the sale of the Barbican site was not signed, sealed and delivered until after May 2003;

b)     To understand the public consultation process which took place and the resulting decisions;

c)      To understand the changes in land values with a view to establishing whether best value was actually achieved in this case;

d)     To assess whether decisions taken in relation to the sale resulted in a loss of capital to the Council.

In relation to objective a), Members highlighted the need for information on the deal for the sale of the Barbican that had been agreed by the Executive in or around April 2003 and on the process by which this had been reviewed and a revised deal agreed after May 2003.  They also requested information on the land involved in both the original and revised deals.

With regards to objective b), Members requested that information on the outcomes of the consultation processes should be provided and also reference made to consultation prior to May 2003 to set subsequent processes in context.

Members also commented on the need to explore the partnership and tendering process to investigate how the Council linked up with its developer partner.  They requested copies of the District Auditor’s report to provide some information in this regard.

Members then put together the following timetable for the next stages of the review:

• Provision of a briefing pack providing all of the necessary background material, including information on the original and revised deals, consultation processes and outcomes, and the District Auditor’s report, with any further information being requested via the Chair;
• Informal discussions with the Assistant Director (Lifelong Learning & Leisure), Head of Property Services and appropriate officers from Finance to advise on contractual matters, to be held in January 2008, with notice of questions being provided in advance;
• A formal meeting in January or February 2008 to decide how to take the review forward, including whether to hold discussions with external organisations.

RESOLVED:That the timetable and officer involvement set out above be agreed.

REASON:      To ensure compliance with scrutiny procedures, protocols and workplans.