Agenda item

The Chairman introduced the Brent Cross Cricklewood update report, which provided an update on the progress across the programme since the last committee meeting on the 24^th November 2020, with particular regard to the updated Brent Cross West delivery programme, the acquisition of Brent Cross Retail Park, delivery strategy of the replacement homes for Part 1 of the Whitefield Estate and land assembly strategy.

Members asked officers to review the engagement strategy with residents. Members also requested Ward Councillors automatically be invited to the working group, in addition to the Administration and Opposition leads. Members and officers agreed to further discuss the best way to involve interested parties in the forum, outside of the committee meeting.

Members enquired as to whether the Donoghue site could be moved at the same time as the waste management site. The Brent Cross Programme Director advised that meetings with Donoghue were taking place, and an update would be provided in due course.

Following discussion of the item the Chairman moved to the vote on the officer’s recommendations.

The votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1)    Noted the updated Brent Cross West programme to reflect the agreed rail possessions with Network Rail and that the station contract with Volker Fitzpatrick has been updated to align with this programme as set out in paragraph 1.7;

2)    Approved the council entering into contract with Network Certification Body (NCB) to undertake the role of Assessment Body (AsBo) to provide assessment with regard to CSM-RA; the services of a Notified Body (NoBo) and Designated Body (DeBo) under the Railways Interoperability Regulations for GRIP 5-6 of the Brent Cross West Station project (paragraph 1.8);

3)    Delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive to procure in accordance with all lawful requirements, including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended or as appropriate replaced) and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules the necessary resources to maintain the BX programme and manage the Brent Cross South Retail Park and extend the existing contracts in place as required in accordance with the Council’s procurement rules on the contract as set out in paragraph 1.16 and 1.53 of this report.

4)    Noted that the legal documentation for the student accommodation block on plot 25 as set out in this report is being progressed with a target date end of January and delegated authority to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee to finalise legal agreements and to authorise that the Council enters into contract with BXT JVLP and Vita in relation to plot 25 and completes any other related contractual documentation including agreements relating to Station; the form of lease and development matters; and change of use of the ground floor and, a side letter relating to the operation of particular clauses in the project agreement and approval of the forms of documents restricting competing development on neighbouring sites, and relating to failure to satisfy the funding condition (paragraph 1.19);

5)    With respect to the relocation of Part 1 of the Whitefield Estate to Plots 53 and 54 on Brent Terrace, approved that officers progress the mitigation strategy to commence works on site as set out in in paragraphs 1.40-1.41 of this report and delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee to finalise that strategy, make the required consequential changes required to the Funding Development Agreement with L&Q to implement the strategy and authorise the commencement of works and to complete any documentation required to give effect to the same (paragraphs 1.40-1.41);

6)    Noted that the Brent Cross South Business Plan was updated in November 2020 to reflect the consequential changes resulting from the approval of the First Phase Proposal, the completion of the Homes England Loan Facility and the acquisition of the Toys R Us site (paragraphs 1.23-1.26);

7)    Noted that the Urgency Committee held on 5 January 2021 approved the Heads of Terms with Hammerson and Aberdeen Standard appended to the Exempt report to the Committee for the council to acquire the Brent Cross South Retail Park and delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of the Housing and Growth Committee and Director of Finance to a) finalise and execute the sale contract and any associated and required documentation on behalf of the council to enable completion of the acquisition by 29 January 2021; and b) to make the required changes to the Capital Financing Requirement and associated indicators to enable the Chief Finance Officer to drawdown the required borrowing to facilitate the purchase from the Public Works’ Loans Board (paragraphs 1.48-1.53) ;

8)    Noted the expiry dates for the confirmed Compulsory Purchase Orders within paragraph 1.54 of this report and delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of this Committee to finalise the land acquisition strategy to deliver comprehensive development and to authorise serving any notices required to implement the Compulsory Purchase Orders or to effect the acquisition of all interests and estates in the relevant part of the site including any required Notice to Treat or to Enter, or General Vesting Declaration/s notices as identified in the land acquisition strategy in line with the programme (paragraphs 1.54-1.58);

9)    Noted that the governance arrangements for the BX programme have been reviewed to ensure that they remain fit for purpose and approved that the remit for the BX South Shareholder Working Group be widened as set out in paragraph 1.70 of this report (paragraphs 1.65-1.72).