Issue - meetings

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14, Part 4, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended).

Consideration was given to report of the Managing Director which presented the findings of the due diligence activity commissioned in relation to the Waste Transfer Station and Household Waste Recycling Centre.

The Managing Director spoke to the report and highlighted points contained therein.  The report sought approval to move to the next stage in the process as outlined in the preferred option at section 3.6 of the report.

A discussion ensued when the Managing Director clarified points raised by a Member regarding the financial implications outlined at section 2.15 of the report. 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report which contained information relating to the business/financial affairs of persons other than the Authority be accepted, and Option 1 be supported, namely:

       i.          Take forward Option One and carry out soft market testing to better understand the opportunity to achieve a public sector collaboration;

     ii.          Should there not be sufficient interest from the public sector to take forward the preferred option, Scrutiny be requested to endorse a proposal for Officers to develop a contingency plan for the delivery of services;

   iii.          To mitigate against the risks associated with depleting the general reserves that should be retained to cover the costs associated with the aftercare liabilities of the site, it is proposed that the Council explores options for securing sufficient reserves to meet the assessed costs and liabilities up to 2076.