Agenda item

The Chairman has agreed to take this as an urgent item in order to comply with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution.

The Chairman introduced the Call-In requested by four councillors of the second part of the Executive’s decision I030320, concerning the implementation of the Older Persons Accommodation and Support Services Strategy, relating only to the Binfield Nursery Site, which was agreed at its meeting on 6 September 2011.

An additional map of the Binfield Nursery Site and adjoining area was circulated to members of the Commission. It was noted that the map showed a concept plan which was indicative of a possible development proposal for the site. It was noted that the map had been circulated to Ward Members prior to the Executive briefing on 23 August. 

Councillors who had requested the Call-In of the Executive decision made it clear that they welcomed what the Older Persons Accommodation and Support Services Strategy was trying to achieve and were not concerned with the basic aims of what the decision was trying to achieve.

However, the Members who had requested the Call-In expressed their concerns relating to the Binfield Nursery Site which were that the site did not adequately define important parameters of any proposed scheme in relation to; density of housing, protection and future use of the preserved wall area, an indication of a suggested percentage of affordable housing or extra care units, reference to provision to relocate the loss of existing nursery provision or funding of the proposed new GP surgery.

Members felt that, notwithstanding the role and remit of the Planning Committee,  further guidance and should be given to developers and assurance of their commitment for the provision of services should be secured to ensure that best use of the land was made. Members also sought confirmation about whether the land had been disposed of and the basis for the numbers of housing units in the Executive report.

Vincent Paliczka, The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities said that Members’ concerns were understood, and assured Members that no decision had been made to dispose of the land at the Binfield Nursery Site. The Director stated that the Executive’s decision I030320 was an ‘in principal’ decision, the decision to dispose of the land would be subject to further research by officers and subsequent decisions by the Executive. The Decision to dispose of the land would require a decision by the whole of the Executive in addition to a decision by the Executive Member for Environment that the land was surplus to requirement which would require her to be satisfied that there was a viable alternative solution to the nursery available.

It was highlighted that any proposals submitted by any developers would be subject to the Council’s planning policies which included guidance relating to issues of density and preservation of local character. It was stated that the wall outside of Binfield House was not listed.

The Council were bound by law to obtain best consideration of the land. The Director stated that at this early stage it would be counter productive to place constraints on the site as it would become less attractive to developers, restrict the options available to the Council, and potentially mean the Council would not receive best consideration.

The Commission noted that the land for the GP Surgery was not owned by BFC and that proposals for a new surgery were for negotiation between the GP, PCT and developers. Whilst the Council would not be part of these discussions, planning policies were in place to ensure continued health provision. It was noted that the Council could not provide an assurance that there would be a new GP surgery on the site however, if a proposal was put forward without a surgery it was unlikely that it would be granted planning consent.

Officers were currently undertaking work to look at a range of options that could be put in place to meet the service provided to the Council’s landscaping service from the nursery. In response to a question from a Member concerning the employment issues raised by the possible disposal of the Binfield Nursery site, the Director said that these might arise and if so, would be dealt with when consideration was given to the various options for replacing the Nursery services.

Councillor Birch, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, thanked Members for their support of the Older Persons Accommodation and Support Services Strategy. Councillor Birch referred to earlier briefings for Ward Members, he assured Members of the Commission that he was keen to see that all concerns raised were answered at the appropriate stage and reiterated that the Executive’s Decision was a provisional one and that no decision had been made to dispose of the land to date. Councillor Birch also stated that views of the public would be taken in to account and Ward Members would be consulted at an early stage of any development proposal.

It was noted that if a developer entered pre-planning application then the scheme would be subject to the Council’s planning policies and available for comment to the public and Councillors who would have the opportunity to make representations. The Executive Member was confident in the Council’s planning process and believed that any development of the site would be appropriate and not beyond the Council’s control.

Simon Hendey, Chief Officer: Housing, reported that the figure for Extra Care Housing, which provided accommodation for older people as they became progressively more frail, had been calculated based on projections of the current number of annual local authority placements to residential care in Bracknell Forest.

Existing tenure in the Borough had been taken in to consideration when looking at the balance of affordable housing and private ownership. It was noted that, as with any private development, the Council would not be able to control whether the housing was purchased by residents from within the Borough. Officers had consulted with residents on market need and developed the strategy based on what local people felt they needed.

The Executive Member assured Members that he intended to press for the very best local facilities possible with regard to any development on the site and that Ward Members would be consulted before a final decision was made.

Members had an opportunity to ask questions about the nature of the decision and the background and context to it, the various options considered by the Executive and the implications of these. In response to Members’ questions:

• Prospective developers had invested time and money in formulating proposals for the site, but no disposal had been agreed, to date.
• Officers were working on the detailed scheme, which was likely to be presented to the Executive for its consideration within the next few months,
• It was confirmed that the reference to both sites in paragraph 3.6 of the Executive report was in relation to the Garth area only.
• The term older persons related to people over the age of 50

At the Chairman’s invitation, the Chief Executive commented that the Executive decision was ‘in principle’. The final decision would be dependent on what could be negotiated, and this would have to comply with planning and national policies. Any sale would probably be contingent on planning consent. Having considered the evidence presented by officers and discussed the issue in detail, the following motion was proposed and seconded:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Commission has the following concerns with the second part of the Executive’s decision I030320, to agree in principle the Binfield Nursery Site being developed, and refers the decision back to the Executive for their reconsideration. The Overview and Scrutiny Commission recommends that prior to the proposed disposal of the land the Executive gives the following guidance to any potential developer:

1. Any proposed housing density does not exceed that of adjacent areas
2. That any listed structure, or structures with current preservation orders, be retained and/or enhanced
3. Gives guidance as to the percentage of the total housing development on the site that should be affordable housing
4. That before the sale the Executive determines where the ‘lost’ nursery land should be sited and/or what alternative arrangement should be put in place
5. That a clear commitment be obtained from the PCT or other relevant health body or organisation, that funding is, or will be, in place to fund a new surgery contingent on the demolition of the existing one.

The Commission believes that these matters fall within the overall Environmental and sustainability strategies of the Council.

RESOLVED that the second part of the Executive’s proposed decision I030320, to agree in principle the Binfield Nursery Site being developed, be referred back to the Executive for their reconsideration in light of the above points that were agreed by the Commission.