Issue - meetings

This report summarises the procurement process undertaken by the Council to procure a developer partner to redevelop the Willesden Green Library Centre site and requests delegation to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with the Director of Legal & Procurement to award and enter into a Development Agreement with the preferred developer partner.  It also summarises the structure of the development agreement to be entered into with the preferred developer partner and requests delegation to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services to approve the detailed design and detailed cost for the “Council Works”.

(i)        that the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with Director of Legal & Procurement be authorised to award and enter into a Development Agreement with Galliford Try Plc in respect of the Willesden Green Library Centre site as shown crossed hatched black in the plan A at Appendix 1; such agreement to provide for the acquisition of the land as shown edged blue and green in the plan B at Appendix 1 and the development of a new cultural centre within the land as shown edged orange in the plan B at Appendix 1;

(ii)       that the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects be authorised to dispose of the land at Chambers Lane Willesden Green shown crossed hatched black on Plan C at Appendix 1 to Galliford Try Plc to form part of the Willesden Green Library Centre site as shown crossed hatched black in the plan A at Appendix 1;

(iii)    that the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects (where the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in conjunction with the Director of Legal and Procurement consider applicable) be authorised to take the necessary steps to override or where requisite extinguish rights and interests in the land which might otherwise act to constrain the development by:-

(a) appropriating the land shown crossed hatched black in the plan A at Appendix 1 for planning purposes when it is no longer required for the purposes for which it is currently held

(b) taking any other legal steps as may be necessary to achieve this objective;

(iv)      that authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services to authorise the detailed design and detailed costs for the “Council Works” as detailed in Section 5.2, 7.5 and 7.6;

(v)       that the proposed interim service delivery strategy as detailed in paragraphs 6.4 -6.36 below for the services currently provided at the Willesden Green Library Centre be endorsed;

(vi)      that the detailed Impact Needs/Requirements Assessment in Appendix 15 and the detailed Equality Strand Analysis, key issues and proposed mitigation in Annex 15.1 be noted;

(vii)    that the proposed consultation strategy outlined in Appendix 2 be endorsed.

Councillor Crane (Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects) introduced the report which followed on from the report in February 2011 that had approved proposals to redevelop the Willesden Green site.  The previous report had indicated that the building was generally in poor condition, whilst a poor customer experience of the museum had also been identified.  Furthermore, the excessively high cost to refurbish the building meant that this was not an option, however the redevelopment of the site would be at zero cost to the council.  It had been agreed to temporarily close the Willesden Green site whilst it was being redeveloped and to operate an interim service delivery during this period. 

Councillor Crane advised that the report for this meeting provided recommendations with regard to awarding a contractor to redevelop the site and further details concerning the proposed interim service delivery strategy.  The Executive noted that the building had a wide variety of uses and was a major civic building in south Brent.  Consultation with residents, residents’ groups and councillors had contributed to a visionary statement for the future of the site.  Willesden Book Shop and BIAS would be assisted by the council in identifying alternative sites.  Councillor Crane confirmed than an Environmental Impact Assessment had been undertaken and the contractor proposed was committed to Community Engagement Strategy.  The building presently occupied by BIAS had listed building status, however all three tenderers had indicated that it would not be viable to preserve the building in their schemes.  Members were informed that the proposals would also require planning permission.  It was intended to not only ensure the site was a major hub for the south of the Borough but also to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the Willesden Green area.  Funds from the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund were also being used for the “New Windows for Willesden” scheme.

Councillor Powney (Lead Member for Environment and Neighbourhoods) added that the issue of study spaces was covered in paragraphs 6.2-6.22 of the report.  A number of options were being explored in providing study spaces and it was possible that the total number of spaces could even increase.

The Chair sought clarification with regard to statutory consultation during the planning application and whether the bookshop was aware that the council would assist in identifying an alternative site for them.  In reply, Councillor Crane confirmed that there would be consultation on a number of levels with users and residents and that this would be followed by the statutory planning consultation.  There were a number of vacant properties in the Willesden Green area and the bookshop would be approached for assistance in finding alternative accommodation.

RESOLVED:-

(i)        that the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with Director of Legal & Procurement be authorised to award and enter into a Development Agreement with Galliford Try Plc in respect of the Willesden Green Library Centre site as shown crossed hatched black in the plan A at Appendix 1; such agreement to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5

This report summarises the procurement process undertaken by the Council to procure a developer partner to redevelop the Willesden Green Library Centre site and requests delegation to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement to award and enter into a Development Agreement with the preferred developer partner.

Consideration deferred.

Consideration of this item was deferred.