Agenda item

London Road Coach, Lorry and Car Park [Exempt - Paragraph 3 - The Supply of Goods and Services]

Meeting of Cabinet, Monday 21st September 2020 5.00 pm (Item 220.)

Cabinet resolved on 23 July 2018 to market the disposal of freehold land at London Road, Bognor Regis for redevelopment to include student accommodation, whilst retaining public car parking. In accordance with the Cabinet resolution, the site was marketed and a preferred bidder was selected. A revision was made to the authorisation by Cabinet on 10 February 2020.

The report updates on progress and considers the options available to the Council.

Decision:

The Cabinet

RESOLVED – That

(1) The rejection of the current offer for purchase of the site for a development of student accommodation be approved;

(2) Delegated authority be approved for the Director of Place, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, the Cabinet Member for Technical Services and the Cabinet Member for Commercial and Business Development to:

(a) Open discussions with Sussex Police on whether there is an opportunity for a joint venture involving the adjacent Police Station site;

(b) Identify a wider range of alternative future uses of the site; and

(c) Consider an alternative way forward for delivery and return to Cabinet with a recommendation on the proposed delivery options for how to obtain best consideration for the site

(3) Agreement be given that these decisions replace all previous decisions related to this site.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Commercial and Business Development introduced this item explaining that at Cabinet on 23 July 2018, it had been agreed to market the disposal of freehold land at London Road, Bognor Regis for redevelopment to include student accommodation, whilst retaining public car parking. In accordance with that Cabinet resolution, the site had been marketed and a preferred bidder selected. A revision was made to the authorisation by Cabinet on 10 February 2020 to include public convenience provision. The report before Cabinet, provided an update on progress and it considered the options available to the Council.

It was outlined that since the last report to Cabinet, the market had changed considerably resulting in the preferred bidder withdrawing its offer, although a reduced offer had been submitted citing a variety of reasons which were explained to the meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Commercial and Business Development explained his preference for undertaking further investigation or alternative uses for the site, as well as alternatives to disposal, in an attempt to provide greater certainty that the Council was obtaining best consideration for its interest in the site.

Following some debate, the Cabinet