To approve the selection of the preferred strategic partner for the Edgar Street Grid Urban Village and authorise detailed negotiations with that supplier prior to consideration of a full Development Agreement.

THAT:

a)         Cabinet agrees the recommendation of the ESG Board as to the preferred Urban Village Strategic Partner and;

b)         authorises officers to agree a Heads of Terms agreement with the preferred partner and commence negotiations on a development agreement which will be subject to a further report to cabinet.  

The Urban Village will the next phase of the Edgar Street Grid (ESG) redevelopment to come forward after the initial Retail Quarter redevelopment.  A strategic partner is required to assist ESG Herefordshire Ltd secure the necessary land and property acquisitions throughout the designated Urban Village area.

The preferred partner selection process requires Herefordshire Council to approve the selection of the preferred strategic partner for the Urban Village.  The ESG Herefordshire Ltd Board and Advantage West Midlands (AWM) have been involved in the selection process supported by external specialist consultants.

This report sets out the process that has been followed in the procurement of a strategic partner for the Urban Village. The process demonstrates that it has been robust and independent; and that the preferred strategic partner has been selected on technical and financial merits that justify preferred status.  Once selected, negotiations must be undertaken with the preferred partner to establish the detail of the future scheme to be incorporated in a Development Agreement. This will be the subject of a future report to Cabinet.

To appoint an alternative strategic partner; or not appoint either of the two short listed partners. 

Either would have implications for the role and integrity of the ESG Herefordshire Ltd Board and would go against a procurement process which has already been assessed as technically robust and that follows an approved OJEU methodology. 

Additionally, a decision not to progress the proposal would result both in damage to the reputation of the authority and loss of significant resources to support the regeneration of the city.

Not applicable