Acquisition Of Land Adjacent To Huntingdon Road Crematorium

Decision of:

Councillor Robertson, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

Reference:

16/URGENCY/SR/10

Date of decision:                  

16/09/16

Recorded on:

23/09/16

Decision Type: 

Non-Key Decisions

Matter for Decision:

Acquisition of land adjacent to Huntingdon Road Crematorium

Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):

As specified under Part 4C 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 of the Councils Constitution, It was not deemed practical to convene a quorate meeting of Council to take these decisions.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

Authorised the acquisition of land adjacent to Huntingdon Road Crematorium.

Reasons for the decision:

The Executive Councillor approved that:

a) The land is acquired; and

b) The acquisition is funded from the Bereavement Services Trading Account Reserve.

Subject to:

1. planning permission being obtained to put a road across the land being purchased

2. agreement with Highways England for them to build the first part of the new access road and provide us with a right of way along that road from the new local

distributor road

3. more information about the use to which the larger area of land coloured dark green on plan B (of the Officer’s report which NOT FOR PUBLICATION) will be put by the Highways England ie we need assurance that it will be complementary to the access road to the crematorium and not detrimental.

As stated in Part 4C section 6.1 of the Councils Constitution, individual members of the Executive ‘may take a decision which is contrary or not wholly in accordance with the budget approved by the full Council if the decision is a matter of urgency’.

The next available Full Council meeting is the 20 October 2016 therefore due to the time critical need to purchase the land it was deemed not practical to convene a quorate meeting of Council to take these decisions.

Scrutiny consideration:

The Vice-Chair (as Chair was unavailable) and Spokesperson of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.  The Executive Councillor for City Centre and Public Places was consulted on the use of funding for the purchase of the land from her portfolio.

The Vice-Chair of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee agreed the decision was a matter of urgency as required under paragraph 6, Part 4C Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules.

Report:

A report detailing the background and financial considerations is not attached as this is confidential by virtue of Schedule 12A Part 3. (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) of the Local Government Act 1972

Conflicts of interest:

None

Comments:

This urgent decision will be reported back to the next Full Council meeting on 20 October 2016.