Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Development Cabinet Advisory Committee held on 19 October 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Huw Mowbray

Huw Mowbray, Property Development Manager provided a verbal update on the process of acquisition and demolition in relation to the Oceana site.  He stated that he was not present to answer any technical questions, which would need to be answered by individual experts.

He outlined the background in relation to the Swansea City Centre Strategic Framework Review in relation to the two key regeneration hubs, one being the creation of a Central Business District / Employment Hub within the Kingsway.  In January 2015 Cabinet approved the principle of a programme of strategic property acquisitions at the Kingsway being developed to support the delivery of an employment hub, one of which was the acquisition of the former Oceana building.

He went on to provide details of the purchase and demolition works together with information regarding the company commissioned to undertake the full refurbishment survey / demolition asbestos survey prior to the final tender stage of the main demolition contract.

Details regarding the additional asbestos located and increased costs were also outlined together with information regarding The Authority attempting to recover the additional costs incurred.  

Members asked various questions which the officer responded accordingly.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The update be noted;

2.       A Task & Finish Group be set up and;

3.       Technical officers be invited to future meetings;

4.       The following documents be provided:

Ø  Asbestos reports (External & CCS);

Ø  Audit Report on the project;

Ø  FPR7;

Ø  Health & Safety survey;

Ø  Relevant Cabinet Reports;

5.       Legal advice be sought in relation to public / closed sessions for the Task & Finish Group meetings.

Alan Webster, Landscape Assistant (Arboriculturalist) attended to provide an overview of his role in relation to Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s).

He outlined the 3 main reasons why TPO’s would be on trees on our land:

1.       We had purchased land with TPO’s already on the trees on that land;

2.       We had adopted the land eg in a new development there might be a requirement for certain trees on that land to be protected during construction, prior to adoption;

3.       Where we intentionally do it to protect certain trees.

He advised that guidance in relation to applying for work to be carried out on a tree with a TPO could be found on our website via the following link: http://www.swansea.gov.uk/tpo.

The Committee asked various questions of the officer who responded accordingly.

Martin Bignell would attend the next meeting to progress work on the Tree Policy.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

The Chair reported the following:

1.       The Open Space Strategy would be reported to Corporate Briefing in January 2017.

2.       A joint meeting to discuss an Energy Strategy would need to be convened between members of the Communities CAC and the Development CAC. 

The Chair presented the Work Plan for 2016-2017.

RESOLVED that the Work Plan be noted.