The Labour Cabinet
has pressed ahead with renegotiating the agreement with the Royal Sands
developer, ignoring a request for further information from the Overview and
Scrutiny Panel (OSP) which called the decision in.
Although no further
information has been provided to OSP members, Cabinet minutes state that: ‘As
all the concerns expressed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel have now been
addressed, Cabinet confirms its decision taken on 26 July 2012.’
The developer has
requested several material changes to the existing agreement, including early
transfer of the site’s freehold, despite not having fulfilled key elements of
the existing agreement. At the
extraordinary meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 16 August,
members asked for substantial additional information, including:
- Details of due diligence to be sought.
- Details of disposal clause in existing or
future agreement.
- What attempt had been made to renegotiate
overage levels for the council, including a possible ‘windfall’ element in the
event that sales prices exceed those envisaged in 2006?
- What assurances does the council have that
the developer will now complete the project under the new agreement,
particularly after handing over the freehold?
- What are the milestones for the project
implementation process?
- What consideration has been given to
terminating the agreement and seeking a new development partner?
- Does the council have a moral, if not a
legal, duty of public safety to conduct a flood risk assessment on the site?
Conservative Group
Leader, Cllr Bob Bayford, commented: ‘The cross party OSP raised many important
issues regarding any renegotiation of this agreement. These concerns have been summarily dismissed by the Labour
Cabinet. We all wish to see the former Pleasurama site successfully developed
but, given the importance of this project to Ramsgate, I am disappointed and
concerned that the Cabinet have taken such a cavalier attitude to scrutiny of
their decision.’
And people wonder why the site has been derelict for over 14 years! More irrelevant questions from local politicians just looking desperately for ANY passing bandwagon to jump onto!
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