Agenda item

To receive a report seeking to gain full approval to allow delegated authority to Senior Officers to fully execute the leases for the land adjacent to the current nature reserve allowing for an extension of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve following the completion of gravel extraction operations and agreed restoration works. 

The report also seeks to set out the current legal position as supplied by 3C Legal Shared Services and to provide Council the full confidence in which full approval for this scheme and delegated authority can be given to Senior Officers to proceed with this matter.

The report also seeks approval for the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment and associated teams in principle to explore wider opportunities to develop existing and new sites across the Council’s parks and open spaces to support wildlife and conservation, health and wellbeing, physical activity and commercial sustainability opportunities

Executive Councillor: J Kerr

The Cabinet

·  approved and gave delegated authority to fully execute the leases for the land adjacent to the current nature reserve allowing for an extension of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve following the completion of gravel extraction operations and agreed restoration works;

·  agreed and approved the feedback from 3C Legal Shared Services outlined in Section 10 which provided confidence and clarity to the Council in moving forward with the extension of leases;

·  supported the principle of officers engaging in efforts to acquire land and buildings in connection with the principle of exploring wider opportunities to not only develop existing sites across the Council’s parks and open spaces but also new sites and spaces to support wildlife and conservation, health and wellbeing, physical activity and commercial sustainability opportunities.

A report by the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which sought approval to allow delegated authority to Senior Officer’s to fully execute the leases for the land adjacent to the current nature reserve allowing for an extension of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve following the completion of gravel extraction operations and agreed restoration works. 

The report also set out the current legal position as supplied by 3C Legal Shared Services and provided the full confidence in which full approval for this scheme and delegated authority could be given to Senior Officers to proceed with this matter.

Furthermore, the report sought to gain approval for the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment and associated teams in principle to explore wider opportunities to develop existing and new sites across the Council’s parks and open spaces to support wildlife and conservation, health and wellbeing, physical activity and commercial sustainability opportunities.

The Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene set out the report, with the aid of the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment - Gregg Holland, and the Parks & Countryside Development Coordinator - Kirstien Drew, who delivered a presentation.

The Head of Leisure, Health & Environment - Gregg Holland, in response to questions from the Cabinet, explained that the lease incorporated the conditions between all three parties. As the site was Special Scientific Interest it needed to be managed in accordance to a specific site management plan. At the conclusion of the lease, whoever had ownership would have to manage the site in the same way.

The Cabinet noted that the reserve was a fantastic facility and a great asset to Little Paxton. It also had excellent link-up benefits to other Towns and had been a long time coming. The comments from the Overview & Scrutiny (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) Panel were noted, particularly around the ongoing cost to the Council, which were comprehensively answered to the satisfaction of the Scrutiny Panel.

The Head of Health, Leisure & Environment – Gregg Holland, advised that financially officers were comfortable with what was set out in the report. In terms of highway management, the Council would work with the appropriate other authorities to develop the site and ensure the highways were accessible for all and safe for visitors attending the site.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet

·  approved and gave delegated authority to fully execute the leases for the land adjacent to the current nature reserve allowing for an extension of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve following the completion of gravel extraction operations and agreed restoration works;

·  agreed and approved the feedback from 3C Legal Shared Services outlined in Section 10 which provided confidence and clarity to the Council in moving forward with the extension of leases;

·  supported the principle of officers engaging in efforts to acquire land and buildings in connection with the principle of exploring wider opportunities to not only develop existing sites across the Council’s parks and open spaces but also new sites and spaces to support wildlife and conservation, health and wellbeing, physical activity and commercial sustainability opportunities