Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the minutes from the meeting of Cabinet on 12^th June 2018

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting on 12^th June 2018 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Further to Minute 6/18 headed ‘The Burges Conservation Area Regeneration’ the Cabinet noted that the report was withdrawn at Council on 10^th July 2018 as the funding application had been unsuccessful.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet agrees to exclude the press and public under Sections 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 relating to the following private reports on the grounds that the reports involve the likely disclosure of information defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as they contain information relating to the financial affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all circumstances of the cases, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information:

Minute No.  Report title

  24  Coventry Station Masterplan Programme Update

  25  Grant of Lease of Car Park C, Ricoh Arena

  26  Commercial Waste Expansion Plan

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that had also been considered by the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) at their meeting on 11^th July 2018 (their minute 5/18 referred), on the development of a Local Air Quality Action Plan for Coventry. A briefing note was tabled setting out the recommendations of the Scrutiny Board, for the Cabinet’s consideration.

In July 2017, the Government published the “United Kingdom Plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations”, and Coventry was named as one of 22 towns and cities within the UK where NO₂ levels were forecast to exceed legal limits by 2020. The Government had established a Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) to work with the relevant local authorities to achieve the legal limits for NO₂ in the shortest possible time within the identified towns and cities.

To meet JAQU requirements, the City Council needed to develop a Local Air Quality Action Plan (LAQAP) setting out how the Council would achieve the legal limits for NO₂ in the shortest possible time. This LAQAP, supported by a Full Business Case identifying the resources required to implement it, needed to be submitted to JAQU by the end of 2018. 

An initial Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for the LAQAP was submitted to JAQU in March 2018, outlining the range of measures under consideration for inclusion in the LAQAP, as outlined in Paragraph 2.1 of the report. The SOC would form the basis for the further development of the LAQAP.  Further work was underway to investigate possible routes to achieve compliance including promoting the use of electric vehicles and utilising the latest technology to maximize the efficiency of the road network and to promote changes in travel behaviour.

In the meantime the City Council had been successful in obtaining funding to help reduce NO₂ including:

1. £2.021m ‘early measures’ funding which will be targeted at the A4600 corridor (Ball Hill)
2. £1.5m ‘clean bus technology’ fund for retrofitting over 100 National Express buses to make them Euro 6 compliant
3. £300,000 for the introduction of residential on-street electric vehicle charging.

Cabinet approval was sought to add these to the capital programme.

The Government had also published details of the latest round of the Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (ULEBS) whilst Innovate UK was also currently calling for bids , to be submitted by the end of June, to its Research and Development Fund for on-street and wireless charging technologies for electric vehicles.  Both of these offered opportunities for the City Council to develop further bids for funding that would support the operation of electric-powered buses within the City, initially through a pilot project based on the Walsgrave Road corridor.  This would clearly contribute towards achieving NO₂ compliance within the City as part of the Air Quality Action Plan.

The Government published the draft National Clean Air Strategy for consultation on 22^nd May 2018  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Report of Councillor J McNicholas, Chair of the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3).

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that set out the recommendations from the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) – Canal Basin Task and Finish Group that had been established to  facilitate improvements to and better use of the Canal and Canal Basin.

The Council held a 99 year long leasehold interest from 1^st February 1995 in the Canal Basin, St Nicholas Street from the Canal and River Trust under the terms of two head leases both dated 20^th January 1999 and in turn was responsible for the day to day management and operation of the Canal Basin.  

At their meeting on 20^th September 2017 (their minute 17/17 referred), following a referral from Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) considered an item on the Canal and Canal Basin. Members heard from representatives of the Coventry Canal Society, the Coventry Canal Basin Trust and The Tin Music and Arts (based at Workshops 1-4 Canal Basin). At that meeting it was resolved that the Board request that a Task and Finish Group be arranged to facilitate improvements to and better use of the Canal and Canal Basin.

The Task and Finish Group met with stakeholders and Cabinet Members and visited the Canal Basin and the Canal, this enabled them to identify recommendations which were accepted by the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) at their meeting on 15^th May 2018 (their minute 50/17 referred) for consideration by Cabinet.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet agrees the recommendations of the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) that:

1)  Coventry City Council work closely with the Canal and River Trust to review the use of the Canal and Canal Basin to create a clear vision and aspiration for the increased use of the Canal and Canal Basin in Coventry.

a)  The review should recognise the cultural and heritage contribution the canal has and can in future make to the City.

b)  The review should maximise the public health potential and contribution the area makes as a lung of the City, which is recognised as part of the Council’s Green Space Strategy.

c)  The review should assess the current use of all of the buildings at the Canal Basin to ensure that they are appropriate to the renewed vision and aspiration for the Canal and Canal Basin in Coventry.

d)  The review should involve all partners and organisations with an interest in the Canal and Canal Basin.

e)  The review should consider transport connectivity between the Canal Basin and the City Centre.

2)  Cabinet Members should meet with representatives of the universities, and other health and sports related organisations in the City to maximise the contribution to improved health outcomes the Canal can make.

3)  Coventry City Council consider “quick wins”, such as changing the long stay car park at Leicester Row to a short stay, improved signage to the Canal Basin, improved lighting, and the removal of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), that would also be considered by Council on 4^th September 2018, that requested that the Cabinet make a recommendation to Council noting the use of the urgency provision, as set out in Paragraph 6 of Part 3C of the Council’s Constitution, by the Leader, following consultation with the Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, to take a decision approving additional capital funding to deliver the Upper Precinct Public Realm scheme.

In March 2018, the Cabinet approved the ‘Public Realm Phase 5’ programme which identified priority public realm and streetscape schemes to be delivered across the city centre (their minute 139/17). The report noted the significant investment in public realm in the city centre since 2011 and how this investment had played a key role in attracting the private sector, including Shearer Property Group’s (SPG) investment in the Cathedral Lanes scheme, to invest in the city and support our vision for transforming the city centre as a place for business, leisure and shopping.

The March 2018 Cabinet report also identified the fantastic opportunity the award of UK City of Culture provides to further enhance the city centre ahead of 2021 and as a lasting legacy for residents and businesses. To this end, the report identified a priority order for the schemes, based on location and likely footfall, that would maximise the impact on the city centre. The number one priority was the proposal to bring forward the transformation of the Upper Precinct through public realm enhancements to create a high quality public space. 

To maximise the transformation to this part of the city centre, the Upper Precinct public realm scheme had been developed in partnership with JP Morgan (as asset advisors to the owners of the Upper Precinct retail parade) and their retail advisors SPG. As well as high quality paving, lighting, columns and balustrades, the scheme also provided a once in a generation opportunity to remove some of the lower quality elements of the Upper Precinct which were not in keeping with either the historic nature of the city centre nor a fit for purpose, 21^st century retail environment, including the removal of the escalator and the bridge links across the precinct. These elements would be delivered as part of the first phase of improvements. The second phase of the scheme would involve removal of the Council owned retail unit (which was currently leased to Ernest Jones) adjacent to the ramp connecting the Upper Precinct to Broadgate. This aspiration, which would restore the Upper Precinct to its former glory,was still subject to acquisition and funding. A bid had been submitted to the West Midlands Combined Authority as part of the wider Public Realm Phase 5 package, seeking the additional funds to deliver this element which could enable completion ahead of 2021. If this was unsuccessful the ambition was to make this part of a later phase, after 2021.

Since the scheme was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that sought the approval of updates to the Coventry Station Masterplan Programme.

The Coventry Station Masterplan was approved by the Cabinet in March 2015 (minute 126/15 referred). It aimed to meet the needs of a fast growing City and create a fitting gateway to the City. An updated masterplan was approved by the Cabinet on 24^th January, 2017 (minute 101/17 referred), with further approvals granted for the proposed procurement strategy on 28^th November, 2017 (minute 80/17 referred) and land acquisition on 13^th February, 2018 (minute 119/17 referred).

The Coventry Station Masterplan would deliver a new footbridge, extended canopies, bay platform, a new station entrance onto Warwick Road with shops, a multi-storey car park, bus interchange and new highway infrastructure. Following the award of City of Culture 2021, the project programme had been reviewed with a view to accelerate completion from summer 2021 to autumn 2020 to ensure the new station was ready to welcome visitors during 2021.

The recent tendering exercise for the footbridge and canopies had demonstrated significant inflation in the rail sector. In response to this an exercise had been undertaken to review the cost estimates for the rest of the programme, with a focus on scrutinising construction costs to benchmark against current market rates in order to provide an updated and robust cost overview. The report included the proposed measures to manage cost and de-risk the programme to ensure the masterplan could be delivered within the approved £82m funding envelope.

The change in programme would result in 385 rail parking spaces being taken out of use during construction of the car park and bus interchange.  To reduce the compensation claim from the car park operator, Virgin Trains, for loss of revenue, a temporary car park with 196 spaces was proposed south of Westminster Road. Cabinet approval was sought to add this car park to the Council’s off street car parking order and to approve the proposal for reimbursing Virgin Trains for loss of revenue. The car park could be delivered within the £82m funding envelope and would provide an opportunity to generate income to reduce cost risk.

In order to further de-risk the project, the southern section of the proposed western link road connecting Central Six Retail Park to the Ring Road had been omitted from the scheme. This removed the risk of potential objections to the planning application from key stakeholders, a lengthy Compulsory Purchase Order process and a potentially significant compensation claim, which would be outside of the available project budget. The link road would be completed in a future phase of the Friargate Masterplan.

Cabinet approval was sought for the addition to the masterplan programme of the extension of the pedestrian boulevard up to the front of the existing station entrance, which could potentially be funded from the contingency budget if funds allowed, or alternatively additional funds would be sought.

Other value engineering options were being explored: the Bus Interchange  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that sought approval of the grant of a new long lease over Car Park C, Ricoh Arena, in order to facilitate the development of a hotel.

The development of a new hotel on Car Park C at the Ricoh Arena had been a long term ambition of the Council. It was recognised that additional hotel accommodation would support events and conferencing at the Ricoh Arena but more importantly across the City as a whole.

Car park C remained in Council ownership. It was located opposite the Ricoh Arena and Arena Park developments on the western side of the A444. The site extended to approximately 3.5 ha (8.6 acres) and was mainly used for events parking for cars and coaches associated with the Ricoh Arena and was accessed directly from the A444.

Wasps Holdings Ltd (WHL) had recently approached the Council to request the grant of a new long lease over Car Park C in order to facilitate the development of an up to 150 bed hotel. The report set out the proposed terms of the lease, and the protections to be put in place to secure the Council’s position. 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Approves the grant of an initial licence over Car Park C, shown edged red on Plan 1 attached as Appendix 1 to the report, to WHL on income sharing terms to expire no later than 30^th November 2019.

2)  Approves the grant of a long lease of the area shown edged red on Plan 1 attached as Appendix 1 to the report, to WHL which shall be co-terminus with the lease on the remainder of Ricoh Arena, to facilitate the development of the new hotel subject to planning consent for the development of a hotel being granted. 

3)  Approves the grant of a car parking licence to WHL over the Leisure Land, shown edged red on Plan 2 attached as Appendix 1 to the report, in order to provide additional car parking to support the Ricoh Arena and to provide replacement car parking during the construction of the hotel.

4)  Delegates authority to the Director of Project Management and Property Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, to finalise the terms of the licence and lease, subject to this report and for any subsequent variation in terms. 

5)  Delegates authority to the Head of Legal Services to execute all the necessary documentation for the initial licence, option and lease referred to in the report.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

There were no other items of public business.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), which would also be considered by Council on 4^th September 2018, which sought approval to conclude negotiations with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC) to deliver domestic recycling collections to the residents of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough.

A corresponding private report detailing confidential aspects of the proposals was also submitted to the meeting for consideration (Minute 26 below refers)

Coventry City Council’s Commercial Waste Team continued to deliver a gross income of c.£5.7m per annum. Over the last five years a proportion of this income had been achieved by successfully providing a Commercial Waste service on behalf of NBBC.

Building on this successful relationship with NBBC the City Council’s Commercial Waste Team had explored further areas for joint working between the two authorities.

The report sought delegated approval from Cabinet to conclude negotiations with NBBC, and to enter into an agency agreement with them to deliver domestic recycling collections to the residents of the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough. Further approval was also sought from Council to include the cost of purchasing five split bodied vehicles in the 2018/2019 capital programme, to service this arrangement.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Approves in principle the Agency Agreement with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council to allow the City Council to act as an agent to service the operation of their domestic recycling collection.

2)  Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for City Services, to give final approval to the Agency Agreement including the TUPE transfer of the existing operational team to the City Council.

3)  Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to undertake all necessary due diligence and steps required to enter into the relevant legal agreements and associated documents necessary to complete the transaction.

4)  Recommends that Council approves that the sum identified within the private element of the report is added to the Council’s 2018/2019 capital programme, funded from the on-going revenues of NBBC agency agreement, for the acquisition of 5 new vehicles to be used to service the arrangement set out in this report.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

(Listing Officer: C Knight, tel: 024 7683 4001)

Further to Minute 19 above, the Cabinet considered a private report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that set out confidential aspects of proposals for updates to the Coventry Station Masterplan Programme.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet: 

1)  Notes the award of a contract to Buckingham Contracting Ltd for the delivery of the new footbridge at a contract value of £9.3m with a contingency amount in the sum now stated allocated within the overall £82m funding envelope already approved.

2)  Approves that the delivery of a section of the link road into Central Six Retail Park (as shown in Appendix 2 to the report) has been removed from the Coventry Station Masterplan programme of works for the purposes of de-risking the project.

3)  Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, to finalise a revised scope within the Coventry Station Masterplan Programme scheme which delivers a revised Highway layout (illustrated in Appendix 2 to the report), an extension to the pedestrian boulevard (illustrated in Appendix 3 to the report), and potentially a reduction in scope of the bus interchange to keep the overall programme within the £82m funding envelope.

4)  Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), in consultation with Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration and the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, to manage the scheme and funding element as a whole programme, reallocating funds, including contingency between each work package to assist in programme delivery timescales.

5)  Approves the undertaking of the necessary procedure to allow Westminster Road temporary car park (as shown in Appendix 4 to the report) to be added to the Council’s Off-street Parking Places Order.

6)  Approves that Westminster Road temporary car park is managed and operated by the Council as a pay and display car park and that the tariff structure introduced at Westminster Road car park is consistent with the charging structure at the nearby Grosvenor Road public car park and other long stay Council car parks in the city centre.

7)  Approves within existing budgets the proposal to reimburse Virgin Trains for loss of revenue from rail car parking provisions during the construction phase and delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), in consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, to agree the appropriate mechanism for paying Virgin Trains compensation due via the statutory Station Change process.

8)  Approves freehold transfer of the piece of land (edged red on the plan shown in Appendix 1 to the report) to Network Rail which is to be included in the new proposed taxi rank and within the operational station lease area to enable taxi permits to be issued.

9)  Approves in principle (following the construction of the bus interchange) the completion of a legally binding agreement, if required, between the City Council and West Midland Combined Authority (Transport for West Midland) on a revenue cost neutral basis to the City Council and Transport for West Midlands for the operational  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

(Listing Officer: R Moon, tel: 024 7683 2350)

Further to Minute 20 above, the Cabinet considered a private report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that set out confidential aspects of proposals for the grant of a new long lease over Car Park C, Ricoh Arena, in order to facilitate the development of a hotel.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet: 

1)  Approves the grant of an initial licence over Car Park C, shown edged red on Plan 1 attached as Appendix 1 to the report, to WHL on income sharing terms to expire no later than 30th November 2019.

2)  Approves the grant of a long lease of the area, shown edged red on Plan 1 attached as Appendix 1 to the report, to WHL which shall be co-terminus with the lease on the remainder of Ricoh Arena, to facilitate the development of the new hotel subject to planning consent for the development of a hotel being granted. 

3)  Approves the grant of a car parking licence to WHL over the Leisure Land, shown edged red on Plan 2 attached as Appendix 1 to the report, in order to provide additional car parking to support the Ricoh Arena and to provide replacement car parking during the construction of the hotel.

4)  Delegates authority to the Director of Project Management and Property Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, to finalise the terms of the licence and lease, subject to this report and for any subsequent variation in terms. 

5)  Delegates authority to the Head of Legal Services to execute all the necessary documentation for the initial licence, option and lease referred to in this report.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

(Listing Officer: A Walster, Tel: 024 7683 2621)

Further to Minute 23 above, the Cabinet considered a private report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), that would also be considered by Council on 4^th September 2018, that set out confidential aspects of proposals to conclude negotiations with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council for the delivery of domestic recycling collections to the residents of the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough, and the inclusion of the cost of purchasing five split bodied refuse vehicles in the 2018/2019 Capital Programme, to service this arrangement.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Approves in principle the Agency Agreement with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council to allow the City Council to act as an agent to service the operation of their domestic recycling collection.

2)  Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for City Services, to give final approval to the Agency Agreement including the TUPE transfer of the existing operational team to the City Council.

3)  Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to undertake all necessary due diligence and steps required to enter into the relevant legal agreements and associated documents necessary to complete the transaction.

4)  Recommends that Council approves that the sum now indicated is added to the Council’s 2018/2019 capital programme, funded from the on-going revenues of the NBBC agency agreement, for the acquisition of 5 new vehicles to be used to service the arrangements set out in this report. 

There were no other items of private business.