Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Jon Collins as Chair for the 2014/15 municipal year.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Graham Chapman as Vice-Chair for the 2014/15 municipal year.

Councillor Alex Ball (other Council Business)

None.

To note without discussion

RESOLVED to note the Committee’s Terms of reference without discussion.

To consider meeting on the following dates and times:

*(at rising of Executive Board)

2014        2015

16 September*        20 January*

21 October*        24 February at 3pm

17 November at 1pm      24 March at 3pm

16 December at 3pm

RESOLVED to agree to meet on the following dates and times:

*(at the rising of Executive Board)

2014  2015

16 September*  20 January*

21 October*  24 February at 3pm

17 November at 1pm  24 March at 3pm

16 December at 3pm

Report of Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools

The Committee considered the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools’ report to support the expansion of Nottingham’s successful bio-science sector through funding the appointment of external specialists, Willmott Dixon, via the SCAPE framework, to develop initial design concepts and cost estimates for a new bio-science facility.

The report also sought approval to progress to the planning submission stage, to finalise the funding arrangement for the facility once the design is finalised and to start the procurement process to secure an operator for the facility.

The City Council is undertaking a separate options appraisal exercise to identify the most appropriate site for the facility.

RESOLVED

(1)  to approve the appointment of Willmott Dixon via the SCAPE national framework to be employed to complete the design of the proposed BioScience building, subject to successfully securing an appropriate site;

(2)  subject to successfully securing an appropriate site, approve expenditure of £466,000 to progress the project to the planning submission stage, covering the costs of Willmott Dixon and its design team (including, Architect, M&E consultants, Cost consultants) via the SCAPE National framework and the appointment of an internal project team supported by external technical advisors to represent the Council and appointed via the SCAPE Framework or similar compliant procurement route where required;

(3)   to finalise the funding arrangement for the new BioScience facility;

(4)   to commence an OJEU compliant procurement process to secure an Operator for the proposed BioScience facility;

(5)  to delegate authority to award any contract following completion of the process to the Deputy Chief Executive/Corporate Director of Development and Growth.

Reasons for Decisions

The bio-science expansion project is a strategically important economic development and regeneration initiative for Nottingham.

The City Council plans to have the facility occupied in early 2016 and to meet this target the proposed design work needs completing before a planning application is submitted in Autumn 2014.

Other options considered

Not progressing the project was rejected as having no new space for the bio-science industry will act as a barrier to growth in Nottingham.

Progressing a larger-scale project was rejected because of the occupation risk to operators, and the financial risk to the City Council if it had to take on the occupation risk itself.

Not appointing an operator was rejected as an independent operator is needed to meet external funding requirements.

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining item(s) in accordance with Section 100a(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

RESOLVED to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining agenda items in accordance with Section 1004(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regards to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee considered the exempt appendices to the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools’ report.

RESOLVED to note the information contained within the report.

Reasons for decisions

As minute 7 above.

Other options considered

As minute 7 above.