Public consultation: Friday 13 March 2015 between 2pm and 8pm and Saturday 14 March 2015 between 10am and 3pm. Barnet Council Offices Training Room 7 Building 2 North London Business Park Oakleigh Road South N11 1NP It is important that we residents demand to see the planning application BEFORE they submit to please do not forget to tell the council officers that during the consultation. Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee Agenda item s for 16 March 2015 Item 10: Depot Relocation Project QUESTIONS IN BOLD LETTERS from the RAAD Committee - Approval has not been confirmed as the Labour Cllrs have questioned the decision and Cllr Cornelius has dismissed it during the CGRA open meeting on January 15th 2015. What is the appeal procedure and why the public has not been informed? - Who are the Chief Operating Officer and the Chairman of the Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee and whether their credentials and professional experience allow them to decide for our quality of life? Is there a panel of experts that advises the council and who are they? - 1.7 Oakleigh Road South heads of terms have been agreed in principle for a freehold purchase and a draft contract has been developed accordingly: We request a copy of the draft contract within the Freedom of information act to be given to us during the meeting on the 16th March 2015. - 1.8 Pre-application discussions have taken place with the planning department and design work progresses with an anticipated planning submission in summer 2015. As far as we know a decision has not been reached Why waste yet more taxpayers money on both pre application discussion and design work, in advance ofan anticipated planning submission in summer 2015 when the application has not even been submitted? - 1.9 There is a risk that the site (Oakleigh Road) will be impacted by Crossrail 2 and the site is subject to a safeguarding direction. The Council has formally responded to the Crossrail 2 consultation confirming their interest in the site and desire to enter into collaboration and dialogue. Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed that the Council will be able to use this site up to 2025 at the earliest, at which point there is a risk that it will be required for Crossrail 2 You state that crossrail 2 may impact on the site and that TFL have confirmed that the council may be able to use the site up to 2025 at the earliest- Does that mean that should the railway plans go ahead they would not start before 2025? What is the cost of that as well as what will the taxpayer will have to pay for the relocation? - 1.11 Whilst undertaking a review of relocation sites within the Borough, it became apparent that the Waste Operation lease was potentially available. Following discussions with the tenant’s appointed agent, heads of terms have been agreed in principle and the details are set out on paragraph 5.1 below and the Exempt report. 2 : RAAD requests a copy of the Exempt report to be given to us at on the 16th March or earlier. Also copies of any other draft contracts currently discussed? While reviewing the relocation sites, Cllr Rutter is also talking about a survey costing yet more tax payers money. How can this survey which has been fronted by Cllr Rutter and Theresa Villiers be truly accurate when as indicated in their leaflet as it only refers to winters. Why does it not include the other companies in the site? Their employees, visitors, suppliers as well as the Barnet community Transport that is proposed that will move in with the waste depot along with the other services currently offered in Mill Hill? Why was Winters chosen between all the companies operating in the site? What is the rationally behind such a desicion? Does Winters have any contracts with Barnet Council? 2. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The waste operation lease is being secured to assist with the delivery of the overall relocation of the Mill Hill East depot and will specifically: - Alleviate the movement of heavy vehicles along Oakleigh Road South; and contribute to a net reduction (considering both Council Depot and existing vehicles) of circa 100 heavy vehicle movements per day: What about the other two companies that operate on the site? Private cars, suppliers, company staff, other services like high way maintenance, fuel tanks? Bulking lorries and facilities? - Address complaints from the general public with regards to the operation and nuisance factors; When will the general public to be informed about required regulations pertaining to such waste plants, details of operation procedures, health and safety aspects? - What are the strategic objectives of the Borough and how the Abbots Depot will contribute towards them? - 3. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND NOT RECOMMENDED - 3.1 The Council has undertaken a detailed site search over a number of months, and where required carried out an option appraisal considering financial, operational and planning implications for these sites. - In our meeting with Cllr Rutter on March 6th, she admitted that there were initially 6 sites for consideration to become a waste depot for Barnet Council: Which are these sites, their costs, feasibility reports or studies and reasons for their rejection. Can we have a copy of all the above on the 16th March or earlier? - What is the width of the Mill Hill road outside the depot and what is the width of our Oakleigh Rd South? 4. POST DECISION IMPLEMENTATION - 4.1 If this report is agreed, contracts will be finalised for the assignment of the lease of the site and the decision to proceed with the assignment of the lease will be taken by the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Deputy Leader - The residents of the area do not agree to this proposal going forward. What is the appeal procedure? - 5.2.1 The freehold interest in the site is owned by Network Rail and is leased out to a Waste Operation. Is it Winters that will be compensated? - A Premium payment which reflects the value of the existing business and is detailed in the Exempt report: As requested above we would like a copy of the report on the 16th March or earlier. - Assignment of the existing lease with a rent passing of £81,500 per annum exclusive. Property Services consider this sum to be a fair estimation of the current rental value: Are you buying, renting or both spending yet more taxpayers money? - 5.2.2 A contract has been drafted by the Vendor’s solicitors and this has been reviewed by HB Public Law: we request a copy of the contract to be handed to us on the 16th March or earlier. - 5.2.3 The Waste Designation cannot be easily amended, therefore, the site will be utilised by the Council for waste purposes. - In the meeting of January 12th, the Coppies Grove residents association was told that the Abbots Depot is already designated as a private sector waste site. Based on what reports and who took this decision? Copy of the feasibility reports and all relevant information to be handed to us on the 16th March or earlier. - 5.2.4 There is an existing budget of £19.9m in the capital programme for the relocation of the depot from Mill Hill. Funds will be allocated from this budget for the acquisition of the lease: can we have a detailed breakdown of the costs, names of contractors, facilities that will be built? Compensation to companies having to relocate? Lease? The whole financials of the project. - 5.2.5 The Mill Hill East development has generated £6m of income for Barnet Council to date, and this income is currently allocated to the infrastructure reserve. The total income from the development is expected to be in excess of £40m based on the current business plan. Even after taking into account the funding required for the relocation of the depot, the Council will make a substantial return on the Mill Hill East development How will the ORS residents will benefit from this? Exemption from council tax for the duration the site will be in Abbots Depot? Compensation? What? Can we have a copy of the business plan on the 16th March or earlier? Below are the questions we have posed to the council for the Regeneration meeting on Monday 16th.