Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That

1.  The works costs for Heather House and the Pavilion building sites be approved, in accordance with the approved planning application;

2.  The Head of Mid Kent Legal Services, in consultation with the Lead Member, be authorised to negotiate and complete all necessary deeds and agreements arising from or ancillary to the application for planning permission;

3.  The Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement, be given delegated authority, to appoint a contractor to carry out the necessary building works for the community centre and residential units; and

4.  The Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Members for Leisure and Arts and Communities and Public Engagement, to approve the tender exercise for the procurement and appointment of an operator of the new community centre.

(See Record of Decision)

The Lead Member for Housing and Health introduced the report and stated that a successful planning application had been granted for the redevelopment of the site, which included Heather House and the Pavilion building. Additionally, the site would deliver a new community centre on the Heather House site and new build residential scheme which would include eleven dwellings on the pavilion building site.

It was stated that the project would significantly improve the image, visual appearance and public perception of the community centre and contribute to towards the regeneration of the area. The scheme would see the delivery of a new modern multi-purpose community facility within the existing footprint of Heather House. Officers were also seeking approval to proceed with a tender exercise to procure a management provider for the proposed new community centre.

The Committee expressed that they were pleased to see the proposals progression as it had been a longstanding issue. . The Committee also stated that they hoped that the community centre would be used as a community a hub and create a community cohesion area to help deal with any anti-social elements.

The Officers were thanked for the work undertaken on the proposal. 

RESOLVED:  That the Executive be recommended to:

1. Approve works costs for Heather House and the Pavilion building sites be approved, in accordance with the approved planning application.

2. Authorise the Head of Mid Kent Legal Services, in consultation with the Lead Member, to negotiate and complete all necessary deeds and agreements arising from or ancillary to the application for planning permission.

3. Delegate authority to the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement, to appoint a contractor to carry out the necessary building works for the community centre and residential units; and

4. Delegate authority to the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement, to approve the tender exercise for the procurement and appointment of an operator of the new community centre.