Agenda and minutes

To defer the signing of the Minutes arising from the meeting held on 16 March 2004 until the next ordinary Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2004 be deferred until the next ordinary meeting of the Cabinet.

To receive declaration of interest (if any) from Members of the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:  To note that no interests were declared.

To confirm whether the item now listed in Part II of the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded under paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:  That the substantive item of business for this special meeting be considered with the press and public excluded for the reasons set out below:-

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no petitions submitted to this meeting.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

(Note:  Paragraph 15 of the Executive Procedure Rules stipulates that questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and that there be a time limit of 15 minutes.)

(A question may only be asked if notice of the question has been given two clear days before the day of the meeting. By virtue of the fact that this agenda was not published until 6 April 2004 and the two days notice expired on 5 April, there are no public questions which have met the Constitutional deadline.)

RESOLVED:  To note that in the circumstances of the short notice given for the convening of this special meeting there were no public questions under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 15.

Report of Executive Director (Urban Living)

The Special Meeting received a confidential report from the Chief Planning Officer in this matter, further to Minute 473 of the Cabinet meeting held on 16 March 2004.

Arising from the decision then reached it had become necessary to report back to the Cabinet urgently on recent information appertaining to a particular site in the Town Centre and on the options available to the Council in seeking to secure the original development objectives.

The meeting evaluated the options, taking into account the expert advice and the implications related to each.

RESOLVED:  (1)  That it be agreed not to pursue the acquisition of the site at the present time (as an update to Minute 473);

(2)  that advice on the timing and appropriateness of a Compulsory Purchase Order in the current situation be noted, while the Cabinet would strongly recommend such action if progress has not been made towards a successful development ;

(3)  that it be agreed, at the present time, that the Council’s objectives would be best served by developing partnerships with landowners to implement the emerging master plan.

Reason for Decision:  To progress the Council’s stated objective of promoting Harrow Town Centre. 

The incidence of anti-social behaviour associated with the vacated building on the particular site in the Town centre was noted.

RESOLVED: That officers be requested to verify the structural safety of the vacated building and to seek the agreement of the relevant site owners to an early demolition on grounds of health and safety.