Agenda and decisions

To receive apologies for absence from Cabinet Members who are unable to attend this meeting.

To approve the Minutes of the Meetings of the Cabinet held on 10 September 2024 and 8 October 2024.

Most agenda items take place in public. This only changes where there is a need to consider exempt information, as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. You will be informed at this point which items are to be recommended for exclusion and to be resolved by the Committee.

Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items.

The Cabinet will receive any petitions and/or deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting.

To receive any public questions.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, the period for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Any questions must be submitted in writing at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting.

Cabinet will receive any questions from Elected Members.

In accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 2.3 (2.3.1.6) a period of up to 30 minutes will be allocated.

To consider the future of Dewsbury Sports Centre.

Wards affected: Dewsbury East, Dewsbury South and Dewsbury West

Contact: Adele Poppleton – Service Director for Culture and Visitor Economy

Consideration must be given to whether the public and press should be excluded from the meeting prior to the determination of the matter to enable the exempt information to be discussed by passing the following resolution: -

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to permanently close Dewsbury Sports Centre and declare the existing buildings surplus to the Council’s requirements.

2)    That, subject to the approval of capital funding in the Council’s revised Capital Plan at Council on 5th March 2025, approval be given to demolish the wet side facility.

3)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place to initiate negotiations with the Landlord of the dry side building regarding the existing lease and the potential future redevelopment of the building and wider site.

4)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning to enter into and execute any necessary documentation or instruments in relation to the above matters.

5)    That authority be given to write off KAL’s outstanding borrowing costs of £126k for 2024/25 and a total cost of £697k until 2035 and that the adjustment be made to the Treasury Management budget to accommodate the change.

6)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Public Health and Corporate Resources to: -

(i)             work with partners, including funders such as Sport England and sporting governing bodies, to secure external investment enabling a programme of physical activity opportunities to be delivered in Dewsbury, and

(ii)            begin a promotional campaign to highlight existing activities in the area, with proposals aiming to deliver a new style of provision to enhance health and wellbeing outcomes.

7)    That authority be given to commission a strategic needs assessment to explore approaches to effectively address the health, well-being and social needs of the Dewsbury population.

8)    That the Integrated Impact Assessment which was appended to the considered report be noted.

To consider a compulsory purchase order to enable the remodelling of Buxton House.

Wards affected: Newsome

Contact: Helen Martland, Service Manager – Development

Consideration must be given to whether the public and press should be excluded from the meeting prior to the determination of the matter to enable the exempt information to be discussed by passing the following resolution: -

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED –

1)    That authority be given to the making of a CPO of the land shown coloured pink and edged red (“the Order Land”) on the plan considered at Appendix 3 under section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the reasons set out in the Statement of Reasons (Appendix 1) and because: -

(i)             the acquisition would facilitate the development, redevelopment, or improvement (including regeneration) on or in relation to the Order Land; and

(ii)            the development, redevelopment or improvement was likely to contribute to the achievement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of the Council’s area.

2)    That the purchase of the ALB Group headlease will engage section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and allow the Council to override rights to facilitate the temporary closure of the Albion Street Car Park to provide a site compound and safe working space be noted.

3)    That it be noted compensation may be payable under section 204 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to those whose rights are interfered with from the project budget.

4)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning to: -

(i)             take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO, including, making further amendments by way of finalising the draft Statement of Reason the publication and service of all relevant notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any future local public inquiry;

(ii)            take all necessary steps to resolve any compulsory purchase compensation claims, including, if necessary, by way of making (or responding to) a reference to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber);

(iii)          negotiate agreements to temporarily amend rights over the Albion Street Car Park: and

(iv)          make payment of any compensation due under section 204 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

5)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director Legal Governance and Commissioning to finalise and enter into all appropriate contracts, deeds and documents required.

To consider the George Hotel project and proposed way forward.

Wards affected: Newsome

Contact: Joanne Bartholomew – Service Director for Development

Consideration must be given to whether the public and press should be excluded from the meeting prior to the determination of the matter to enable the exempt information to be discussed by passing the following resolution: -

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to the continued redevelopment of the George site as a hotel as a key part of the Huddersfield Blueprint.

2)    That further to the approved £20.2million in the Capital Plan, approval be given to the reprofiling of £9.8million from future phases of the Our Cultural Heart budget within the Capital Plan to the George site project to provide a total budget of £30million.

3)    That authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Director for Place, Service Director for Finance, and Service Director for Legal, Governance and Commissioning to: -

(i)             approve any further increase in costs up to a maximum of 5% of the total project cost, accommodated through further reprofiling of the Capital Plan;

(ii)            explore cost reduction and grant funding opportunities;

(iii)          approve the final design; and

(iv)          award the building contract subject to necessary consents.

4)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, and Service Director for Legal, Governance and Commissioning to: -

(i)             negotiate and enter into a variation to the Hotel Management Agreement within the limits of resolutions (2) and (3); and

(ii)            negotiate and enter into License/Licenses and formal agreements with Network Rail to facilitate necessary access and egress.