Cabinet Member: Councillor Lowry.

The City Council will be asked to consider the Cabinet recommendation and the report of the Director for Place submitted to Cabinet. 

Minute 7a (of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 May 2013) refers.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) presented the Cabinet recommendation and Councillor Evans (Council Leader) seconded the proposal (Cabinet minute 7a referred).   

Following concerns expressed by ward councillors with regard to current parking issues, Councillor Lowry undertook to ensure that appropriate travel plans would be in place in relation to future developments and that car parking provision would be made where appropriate.

Agreed to amend the capital programme to include £2.5m for a scheme to provide 2,787 square feet of industrial workspace at Langage.

The Director for Place will submit a report asking Cabinet to approve a scheme to provide 2,787 square metres of industrial workspace at Langage and seeking to amend the council’s capital programme to include the £2.5m scheme.

Cabinet will also be asked to approve a tender exercise using a two stage design and build procurement process for the delivery of the direct development commercial employment scheme of high quality, sustainable accommodation resulting in 80 full time jobs and to delegate to the Cabinet Member for Finance the authority to make the key decision to award the building contract, following the tender exercise.

A background paper to this report can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/ Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/bdqgk2r

The Director for Place submitted a report on a proposed scheme to provide 2,787 square metres of industrial workspace at Langage at an estimated cost of £2.5m.

The direct development commercial employment scheme would comprise high quality, sustainable accommodation for small and medium sized businesses on council owned land at Langage Science Park, Plympton, and up to 80 full time jobs would be created or supported.  

A detailed demand and supply report had concluded that there was a shortage of high quality, modern employment space facilities, which the private sector had been unable to provide.

David Draffan (Assistant Director for Economic Development), James Watt (Head of Land and Property) and Paul Palmer (Principal Surveyor (Corporate Estates)) attended the meeting for this item and Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) presented the proposals. 

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed, subject to approval of minute 7a below, to –