Decision details

Further to the decision in principle made on 27^th September 2021, this report seeks a further decision to enter into the lease with Northampton Partnership Homes for office and depot accommodation at the Council’s Westbridge site (see Appendix A).

The report also seeks support for the development of the office and depot accommodation for Northampton Partnership Homes to ensure it is fit for purpose and enables the organisation to deliver the requirements of the management agreement between the Council and Northampton Partnership Homes. For the avoidance of doubt, this also includes approval of a capital budget for the redevelopment of the CEDOS block into a Tenant Engagement Centre and associated additional works as described within this report.

The report also notes the delegation to the Assistant Director Assets and Environment to agree the terms of the lease and enter into any documentation required to deliver the decision.

That the Leader:

Agreed that the Council should finalise and enter into the leases with Northampton Partnership Homes based upon the Heads of Terms as set out in Appendix B to the accompanying report.

Agreed a General Fund capital budget of £1.2 million is created to take forward the demolition and the commitments in the Heads of Terms.

Noted the delegated authority to the Assistant Director Assets and Environment to take forward the development of the site.

Please note this decision is subject to special urgency and cannot be called in.

The recommendations of this report provide NPH with accommodation that enables them to operate effectively and deliver against the management agreement with Council.

The proposal provides a rental income for the Council which offsets the cost of providing the accommodation to NPH. 

The decision in principle required that Cabinet make a further detailed decision in relation to the Heads of Terms.   This decision meets that requirement but as there is insufficient time for this to wait until the next meeting of Cabinet this is being taken by the Leader. 

As part of the negotiation on accommodation the Council worked with NPH to consider a range of sites with the Council’s estate. These include the elements of the Guildhall and County Hall in Northampton. However, after consideration of each site, NPH’s board identified the Westbridge proposal detailed in this report as the most appropriate in the context of their organisational requirements.

None.