Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth.

Strategic Partnership - Willmott Dixon, in partnership with Milligan

That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Assets, Property and Economic Development and Corporate Director Finance & Commercial (Interim s151 Officer) to:

(i)      Assess the potential added value of a long-term Strategic Regeneration Partnership with Willmott Dixon, in partnership with Milligan.

(ii)    Finalise the assessment of the use of the Pagabo Developer Led Framework and decide on whether to appoint Wilmott Dixon directly or run a further competition in accordance with the Framework terms.

(iii)   Award a contract to undertake the commercial masterplan, high level feasibility studies and strategic business plan for 6 key initial Council-owned development sites up to a value of £250k (plus VAT) with Willmott Dixon or other supplier, with an option to extend the contract for further development works if desired.

(iv)   Negotiate the fee structure for the Partnership and next stages; and

(v)    Implement the necessary governance arrangements to support the Partnership.

Reason for the decision

The decision allows the Council to clarify the partnership structure, fee model, and deliverables to determine whether this collaboration offers added value beyond existing plans and whether it aligns with the Council’s governance and procurement frameworks. It also provided the Council with a commercial masterplan, high level feasibility studies and strategic business plan to start the process of unlocking public and private sector investment.

Cabinet considered a report outlining proposals to establish a long-term Strategic Regeneration Partnership between Dorset Council and Willmott Dixon, in partnership with Milligan.  The partnership aimed to accelerate the regeneration of Weymouth through a commercially led masterplan, feasibility studies or key Council-owned sites, and a strategic business plan to attract public and private investment.

Responding to questions, the Cabinet Member advised that to succeed it was important to acknowledge the potential benefits of leveraging external expertise to deliver sustainable regeneration and inward investment for Weymouth. The Leader of the Council emphasised that the Council was not a developer for this project, but it did have the responsibility to ensure the right people was in place to turn plans into action. 

It was proposed by Cllr R Biggs and seconded by Cllr N Ireland.

Decision (Unanimous)

Strategic Partnership - Willmott Dixon, in partnership with Milligan

That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Assets, Property and Economic Development and Corporate Director Finance & Commercial (Interim s151 Officer) to:

(i)      Assess the potential added value of a long-term Strategic Regeneration Partnership with Willmott Dixon, in partnership with Milligan.

(ii)    Finalise the assessment of the use of the Pagabo Developer Led Framework and decide on whether to appoint Wilmott Dixon directly or run a further competition in accordance with the Framework terms.

(iii)   Award a contract to undertake the commercial masterplan, high level feasibility studies and strategic business plan for 6 key initial Council-owned development sites up to a value of £250k (plus VAT) with Willmott Dixon or other supplier, with an option to extend the contract for further development works if desired.

(iv)   Negotiate the fee structure for the Partnership and next stages; and

(v)    Implement the necessary governance arrangements to support the Partnership.

Reason for the decision

The decision allows the Council to clarify the partnership structure, fee model, and deliverables to determine whether this collaboration offers added value beyond existing plans and whether it aligns with the Council’s governance and procurement frameworks. It also provided the Council with a commercial masterplan, high level feasibility studies and strategic business plan to start the process of unlocking public and private sector investment.