Agenda and decisions

To consider the Minutes of the previous meeting.

That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 4 February, 2025 be agreed as a correct record.

That the contents of the update report be noted.

(i)    That the development of a Countryside Park on land at Keele, be approved.

(ii)   That the action detailed in the report to progress the project, be implemented.

(iii)That the the Portfolio holder for Sustainable Environment work with Officers on those actions and report back to Cabinet.

(i)    That the inclusion of collecting flexible plastics (film wrappers, bags) and cartons into the Councils existing kerbside recycling collection service, be agreed. 

(ii)   That the Council works in partnership with Stafford Borough Council (subject to its Cabinet approval) and Veolia to communicate to residents on the inclusion of these additional materials with the existing dry recycling collection service.

(i)               That the progress made to date by Capital&Centric on the Ryecroft project in

Newcastle Town Centre, be noted.

(ii)              That it be recommend that Council:

a.               Approve expenditure of up to (£34,444,256 or £33,131,668 minus

costs already approved) to complete the Ryecroft scheme to practical completion in readiness for occupation;

b.               Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the

Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships to progress legal agreements, subject to planning approval, to enable the appointment of Capital&Centric under a Development Services Agreements (DSA) for the development of the scheme through a direct award under the Pagabo Development Management Framework;

c.               Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the

Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships to progress the legal agreement for the ‘buy back’ of the schemes by Capital&Centric upon completion of the developments.

d.              Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth to progress legal agreements to enable the sale of a portion of the Ryecroft site to Aspire Housing for their development on the site which they will be undertaking directly with Capital&Centric.

e.              Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth to progress the legal agreements with Homes England to accept a grant as a subsidy for the development and become the accountable body for the grant, subject to Homes England approving the grant.

(i)              That the progress made to date by Capital&Centric on the partially demolished Astley Place project in Newcastle Town Centre.

(ii)             That it be recommended that Council:

a.     Approve expenditure of up to (either £18,213,758 in total or £16,111,895 minus costs already approved) to complete the Astley Place scheme to practical completion in readiness for occupation;

b.     Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships to progress legal agreements, subject to planning approval, to enable the appointment of Capital&Centric under a Development Services Agreements (DSA) for the development of the scheme through a direct award under the Pagabo Development Management Framework;

c.     Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships to progress the legal agreement for the ‘buy back’ of the schemes by Capital&Centric upon completion of the developments.

d.     Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth to progress the legal agreements with Homes England to accept a grant as a subsidy for the development and become the accountable body for the grant, subject to Homes England approving the grant.

(i)               That the progress made to date by Capital&Centric on the now closed Midway Car Park project in Newcastle Town Centre, be noted.

(ii)              That it be recommended that Council:

a.     Approve expenditure of up to (either £37,518,885 or £35,954,885 minus costs already approved) to complete the Midway scheme to practical completion in readiness for occupation;

b.     Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships to progress legal agreements, subject to planning approval, to enable the appointment of Capital&Centric under a Development Services Agreements (DSA) for the development of the scheme through a direct award under the Pagabo Development Management Framework;

c.     Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships to progress the legal agreement for the ‘buy back’ of the schemes by Capital&Centric upon completion of the developments.

d.     Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth to progress the legal agreements with Homes England to accept a grant as a subsidy for the development and become the accountable body for the grant, subject to Homes England approving the grant.

(i)              That the delivery of the SPF programme be noted and that the Deputy Chief Executive in conjunction with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - Finance, Town Centres and Growth is authorised to approve any under spend within the funding available.

(ii)             That any funding allocated as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025/26 as the accountable body, be accepted.

(iii)           That the Newcastle SPF Board continue to be supported and the delivery of interventions in line with the national SPF programme and investment plan also be supported.

(iv)           That the Deputy Chief Executive in conjunction with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - Finance, Town Centres and Growth, be authorised to:

a.     Enter into any Grant Funding Agreements with the Government

as required for the programme

b.     Deliver with any amendments as necessary, the projects as required to meet the interventions;

c.     Award contracts or Funding Agreements to deliver the range of projects to meet the interventions required

(v)             That further updates be received on the availability of future SPF or future investment  programmes as announced by Government.

That the Forward Plan be received and noted.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following reports, because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972.

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration if the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs contained within Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

That the recommendation, as set out in the confidential report be agreed.