To seek authority to acquire by negotiation the land, properties, easements and rights of access over land needed for the construction of the Link Road between Edgar Street and Commercial Road, Hereford, and for in principle approval for the making of   Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and Side Roads Order (SRO)  if required, for the same purpose.

The Cabinet Member Education and Infrastructure presented the report of the Economic Development Manager.  The following points were made in discussion:

• The Cabinet Member emphasised that the report was about the development of some community facilities and a health facility and not the link road, which had initially been agreed by the Planning Committee in March 2010. 
• The intention is to reach agreement with landowners, however, there was an expectation that Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) would be required.
• The intention was to deliver the link road in a timely manner and the side road would be necessary to allow access.  Any raising of CPOs would require detailed reasons, which would be brought before Cabinet in a separate report.
• Reference was made to a transport hub, which it was believed had been integral to the original scheme.  It was stated that public meetings had been held and a prime consideration was the impact and increase of vehicle flow around the Aylestone Hill area.  In response to the comments Cabinet was informed that a transport hub at the railway station still remained an aspiration of the development.
• It was noted that there was a substantial increase in cost, however, it was felt the redevelopment was important for the City and the County as a whole.
• Reference was made to the housing estates which have been built around the county and that these developments had paid for any road links and did not require the Council to fund them.
• Concern was raised over the estimated figure over the number of businesses and employees affected by the building of a link road as it was felt these figures should be more accurate.
• In response to a question on funding for the link road, Cabinet was reminded that the Council needed to evidence that funding was available, however, the use of grant and other external funding was still being pursued.

RESOLVED

               THAT CABINET:

a)    authorises the Chief Officer Finance and Commercial, in consultation with the Director for Places and Communities, to proceed with acquisitions through negotiations with the possible affected landowners, as regards the acquisition of all necessary land interests, and all other necessary steps in this matter; and

b)    agrees that in order to secure any land and new rights required for the Link road, the use of the Council’s statutory powers of compulsory acquisition in making a Compulsory Purchase order, and the use of the Council’s statutory powers to make a Side Roads Order be approved, in principle, subject to a further report to Cabinet to more specifically identify the land interests to be acquired and further explain the necessity for a CPO in a statement of reasons.