Decision details

Councillors D Brickhill, P Mason, D Brown and F Keegan had all declared personal interests in this item.

Consideration was given to the recommendations from the Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting on 14 September 2009.  A copy of these were circulated at the meeting.  At that meeting the Committee had resolved:

(a)               That in view of uncertainty identified by this Committee concerning the future release for sale of land at Hulley Road Macclesfield by the owners, inaccuracies in the plan submitted, and concerns about the impact on the economic viability of the existing Hurdsfield Industrial Estate, it be recommended to Cabinet that Minute 79 dated 11 August 2009 be deferred and consequently, the purchase of a site at Hulley Road Macclesfield for use as a Waste Transfer Station in connection with the Waste Treatment PFI contract be not proceeded with, until such time as a full consultation exercise has been undertaken with local businesses, local residents and Hurdsfield Primary School.

(b)               That in tandem with the consultation exercise recommended in (a) above:

(i)                 A thorough investigation be carried out into alternative sites to locate a Waste Transfer facility and the results be presented to Corporate Scrutiny Committee for comment before any further action is taken to acquire land for the Waste Treatment PFI project.

(ii)               A Full Economic and Environmental Impact Study of the proposed scheme be carried out.

(c)               That clarification be sought with the with Waste PFI Project Director and Joint Team Manager in relation to the ownership, status and joint access of land between Sunrise House and the proposed site which was included within the plan appended to the report submitted to the Committee, but is not part of the proposed scheme.

In addition, the Chairman of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee attended the meeting and raised some additional issues e.g. costs associated with alternative methods of operation and the proposed approach to the purchase of the site. 

The Cabinet gave consideration to the recommendations of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee and to the points raised by speakers at the meeting.  The Portfolio Holder for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services, and the Portfolio Holder for Environment, responded to the particular concerns set out by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee and to those raised by speakers at the meeting. 

It was reported that the alleged uncertainties about the extent of the land appeared to be unfounded (the plan had only been intended to show the location of the site and was not a definitive boundary plan).  It was noted that a full consultation exercise would be carried out at the planning application stage.  It was pointed out that the building would be of modern specifications to include integral noise, dust and odour mitigation measures.  It was not considered that the vehicle movements and the size of vehicles to be used would be significant in relation to those already using the adjoining roads.  

An update was given on the current position regarding the negotiations for the Waste Treatment PFI Project and the implications for that contract of any delay in it being finalised.  Work had been carried out over a considerable period of time to identify a suitable site, the detail of which could be found in the Appendix found at item 7 of the agenda. 

Members then passed the resolution at minute 104 and debated the matter as noted in minute 105 and then, by passing a resolution, reconvened in part 1.

The Cabinet resolved to reconfirm it decision of 11 August 2009 and to request that a further report on alternative site options be considered at its meeting on 3 November 2009. 

RESOLVED

Following separate consideration of the Part 2 item at minute 105 and for the reasons set out in the report: -

1. That the purchase of a site at Hulley Road be approved in order to enable a Waste Transfer Station in Macclesfield to be included within the scope of the Waste Treatment PFI Contract.

2. That the alternative site options continue to be explored with a view to ensuring that a Waste Transfer Station at Hulley Road provides best value.

3. That further information in relation to alternative site options be reported to the Cabinet at its meeting on 3 November 2009.