Meeting documents

Venue: The Paralympic Room, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF

Contact: Craig Saunders, Email: csaunders@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chairman for the meeting

Minutes:

In the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, it was

 

RESOLVED –

 

That Councillor Poll be elected Chairman for the meeting.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2019.

Minutes:

RESOLVED –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 September, 2019, be approved as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of the following additional bullet point at the end of Minute 4:-

 

·         The environmental performance of AVE in relation to the portfolio within the context of the climate emergency.

 

 

3.

Aylesbury Vale Estates Business Plan 2020-2023 pdf icon PDF 14 KB

To consider the attached report.

 

Contact Officer:  Teresa Lane (01296) 585006

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report, also submitted to Cabinet on 17 December, 2019, explaining what would happen to Aylesbury Vale Estates (AVE) on 1 April, 2020 when the new Buckinghamshire Council came into being, and setting out a high level summary of AVE’s Business Plan covering the period 2020 to 2023.  A full copy of the Business Plan was submitted as part of the confidential agenda.  Consideration of the detail of the Plan required the Committee to resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Paragraph 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 having regard to the commercially sensitive information included therein.

 

The Minutes of Cabinet were also submitted from which it was noted that:-

 

·         Cabinet had noted that the AVDC shareholding in AVE LLP would transfer to the new Buckinghamshire Council on1 April, 2020.

 

·         Subject to any views this Committee might have, Cabinet had felt that the draft Business Plan could be approved.

 

Representatives of the Asset Managers, Akeman Partnership, attended the meeting to  give a brief overview of the Business Plan and answer specific questions from Members. The Asset Managers explained the rationale behind the formulation of a base financial planning scenario and an enhanced scenario, taking into account the future residential/commercial development of land at Rabans Lane.  The overall aim was to produce a self-sufficient portfolio financed by revenue and not reliant on asset sales.  Members asked about/commented on a number of issues, including:-

 

·         The sizing of commercial units on the Rabans Lane site.  The Asset Managers advised that they were looking to provide a wide range of units according to market demand.

 

·         The debt repayment arrangements.  The Asset Managers gave an explanation of the structure of their loans and repayment schedule.

 

·         Maintaining an attractive retail offer at Hale Leys.  It was indicated that in common with the experience of shopping centres across the country, maintaining an attractive and viable retail offer was proving to be very challenging in the current market trading conditions.  However, a concerted effort had been made to attract more imaginative outlets.  This was demonstrated by roof top food outlet and the walk-in crèche/nursery, also with refreshment facilities.  The Asset Managers were cognisant of the successes at other major retail locations and endeavoured, where financially viable to implement best practice.  Care needed however to be taken to avoid "clashes" with other uses within the town centre.  It was indicated that whilst  rents had been kept as low as commercially acceptable, the level of business rates remained high and this impacted upon AVE’s desire to attract a more diverse range of businesses.

 

·         Environmental issues.  The Asset Managers indicated that potential clients were looking for modern fuel efficient premises and efforts were being made to achieve this, whilst maintaining a commercially viable operation.  Reference was made to the £1m refurbishment of industrial units which had taken account of the need for fuel efficiencies and keeping these overhead costs to an acceptable level for tenants.  They  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Vote of thanks

Minutes:

Members noted that this was the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee before vesting day and

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the best thanks of the Committee be extended to Members and officers for their support of the work of the Committee since its inception.