Agenda item

Use of Westminster City Council's Powers to Override Rights to Light to facilitate the Development of Land to Facilitate an Education Facility and Residential Development on the site at Sutherland Street (See Report of the Head of Development, Growth, Planning and Housing)

Report of Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing.

Minutes:

7.1     Councillor Chalkley withdrew for the consideration of this report.

 

7.2     Members of the Cabinet indicated that they only had questions or which to receive advice from the Head of Major Projects relating to the exempt elements of the report.  Accordingly, it was

 

          Resolved:

 

          That under Section 100 (A) (4) and Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) the public and press be excluded from the meeting for consideration of this item of business because it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information on the grounds shown below and it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information:

 

          Grounds                                                                                      

 

          Information relating to the financial and business affairs of an individual including the authority holding the information and Legal advice.

 

7.3     Cabinet Members asked several questions relating to the valuation process and legal position regarding compensation payments to tenants as these had not been considered previously and including how these differed from other injured parties, for example property owners.

 

7.4     Cabinet Members were concerned that any compensation payments should be based on a robust formula which was fair to all types of parties.  The Cabinet was advised that it was open in cases of dispute for injured parties to appeal to the valuation tribunal, which gave a form of mediation.

 

7.5     The Cabinet wished to consider policy options setting out a process for agreeing compensation payments for tenants in view of the precedent being set by the decisions sought particularly as there was no industry standard for tenants on which to base its decision.  The proposed policy to be submitted with confirmation that it is in line with legal advice and with clear financial implications and anything else which may impact on the determination.

 

Resolved:

 

That a decision be deferred pending consideration of a further report addressing the issues raised be submitted to a special meeting of the Cabinet to be held on Monday 11 January 2016.

Supporting documents: