Issue - meetings

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Leader agreed to an urgent item of business at the meeting of Executive on 10th February 2020, in accordance with Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, as follows:

Disposal of a parcel of land off St Martin's Walk at Hodthorpe.

This item of business was exempt from publication under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, therefore the exclusion of the public was also added to the agenda.

Reason for Urgency: The Council had been in negotiations with Keepmoat Homes Limited over the access / disposal of this piece of land since 2015.  Keepmoat Homes Limited were bound by a Grampian Condition as part of their planning application for the development in Hodthorpe, which required the confirmed access over the aforementioned land prior to commencement of any works on site.  The urgency was necessary to ensure that the negotiated price was accepted and there was no room for Keepmoat to reduce the price due to a delay. They had set a deadline for agreement of the week commencing 10^th February 2020. By considering the matter on 10th February, the Council could continue to progress the matter with Keepmoat Homes Limited’s solicitor and complete the matter promptly.  This was also to enable Keepmoat to commence with the development of the land.

The Chair of Growth Scrutiny Committee had consented to the use of the Special Urgency Procedure as the requirements to give notice of 28 clear days of a key decision and the private meeting had not been met.