Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director (Place)

DECISION TAKEN:

a)    Standard contract procedures are waived and pursuant to Contract Procedure Rule 33.2 (g) Cabinet agrees a report from an Executive Director or the Chief Executive detailing a case where it is to the advantage of the Council that these rules should be waived.

b)    Cabinet approves the direct award of contract to Land Use Consultants Ltd to continue the Green Belt Review (Stage 4) which forms part of the evidence base for the Local Plan Review

REASON FOR DECISION

As part of providing the necessary evidence base for the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan, a Green Belt Review was undertaken. The study consisted of three stages. The Local Plan Inspector was satisfied that the three stages of the study taken together represented adequate and proportionate evidence on the Green Belt (para 256; Report on the Examination of the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan (2016), Sept 2023). Stage 4 of the Green Belt Study will build on the previous three studies as a continuing piece of work.

Cabinet received a report on the Green Belt Stage 4 Assessment seeking to directly appoint Land Use Consultants (LUC) to undertake the Stage 4 Green Belt review, having undertaken the Stage 3 works previously. The process is considered to be iterative, and as such LUC are best placed to carry out the latest assessment given their historic involvement. A verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Planning revealed that Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has received £70,000 from the Government as a contribution towards the cost of the Greenbelt review.

RESOLVED

DECISION TAKEN:

a)    Standard contract procedures are waived and pursuant to Contract Procedure Rule 33.2 (g) Cabinet agrees a report from an Executive Director or the Chief Executive detailing a case where it is to the advantage of the Council that these rules should be waived.

b)    Cabinet approves the direct award of contract to Land Use Consultants Ltd to continue the Green Belt Review (Stage 4) which forms part of the evidence base for the Local Plan Review

REASON FOR DECISION

As part of providing the necessary evidence base for the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan, a Green Belt Review was undertaken. The study consisted of three stages. The Local Plan Inspector was satisfied that the three stages of the study taken together represented adequate and proportionate evidence on the Green Belt (para 256; Report on the Examination of the Welwyn Hatfield