Minutes

Councillor David Fouweather asked:

I understand that the council has purchased the Kingsway car park.

1 Would the cabinet member confirm that this is the case and the cost of the purchase.

2 Could the cabinet member inform me when this purchase was agreed.

3 Could the cabinet confirm that this purchase was placed before a scrutiny Committee.

4 If a scrutiny committee was not consulted could the cabinet member explain why.

5 could the cabinet member confirm who took the decision to purchase the car park and also why there has not been any consultation with elected members.

6 Could the cabinet member confirm if it his plan to increase charges at the carpark.

7 Has the council been approached to purchase the Kingsway shopping complex.

The Deputy Leader responded:

1 The council has acquired a 36 year lease of the car park at a rent of £215K pa index linked. This was agreed by full Cabinet on 17 July 2019.

2 Full details of the agreed terms of the acquisition were included in the published minutes of the meeting and the decision schedule.

3 Matters of this nature regarding confidential investment and property transactions are not referred to Scrutiny as that is not part of their remit.

4 Scrutiny Committee are only consulted on policy or performance matters.

5 Fees and charges for car parking are set annually with the council budget. Fees for Kingsway were part of the fees and charges schedule that was presented as part of the 2020-21 budget proposals.

6 The completion of the lease was impacted by delays due to COVID. As such alignment of charges will not occur until the new financial year.

7 The council has not been approached to purchase the Kingsway Centre.