The Assistant Director of Property & Facilities Management has decided to purchase the freehold interest of 40 Laughton Road, Dinnington as part of the Dinnington Regeneration project.

URL: https://moderngov.rotherham.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1964

Decision Maker: Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: To exercise the delegation to Assistant Director Property & Facilities acting as Property Officer (delegated by Assistant Director Planning, Regeneration & Transport) in consultation with the Council’s S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to exercise the powers delegated at Cabinet in August 2023 (minute no. 39/4) to open negotiations and agree terms allowing the Council to acquire the property interests within the Dinnington Regeneration scheme. Specifically, this report refers to the headlease interests at plot numbers 14 & 15 as shown in Appendix 1, No.40 Laughton Road, Dinnington.

Content: To exercise the delegation to Assistant Director Property & Facilities acting as Property Officer (delegated by Assistant Director Planning, Regeneration & Transport) in consultation with the Council’s S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to exercise the powers delegated at Cabinet in August 2023 (minute no. 39/4) to open negotiations and agree terms allowing the Council to acquire the property interests within the Dinnington Regeneration scheme. Specifically, this report refers to the headlease interests at plot numbers 14 & 15 as shown in Appendix 1, No.40 Laughton Road, Dinnington.   ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL   RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION   Date of Decision: 03/07/2025   Title: Acquisition of property interests at No.40 Laughton Road, Dinnington.   Decision Maker: (Including Job Title) Kevin Fisher, Assistant Director, Property & Facilities Management.   Details of Specific Delegation   Cabinet Meeting 07/08/2023 – Minute 39 refers.  Recommendation 4 – Approved that the Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Transport be authorised to negotiate and agree the acquisition by agreement of the property interests at exempt Appendix 1, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy.   Decision: To purchase the freehold interest of 40 Laughton Road, Dinnington through the delegation afforded in the Cabinet Report of 07/08/2023.   Reasons for the Decision: To enable the purchase of all property required to facilitate the implementation of the Council’s Dinnington Regeneration project which will see improvements to the high street including a new market provision, 6 new retail units, refurbished units and public realm fronting Laughton Road   Details of alternative options considered and rejected: Option 1: Do nothing. A ‘do nothing’ option would result in the continued fragmented ownership of the site and prevent the demolition of the block from being undertaken, thus preventing the development of the proposed comprehensive scheme that was approved by Cabinet in August 2023 and has secured the central government ‘Levelling-Up’ investment from the previous Government’s Department of Levelling Up and Communities (DLUHC). This option was discounted.   Option 2: Compulsory Purchase Order It is always the council's intention to acquire by negotiation. However, in the event of no agreement of terms, the Council is currently pursuing Compulsory Purchase powers to acquire outstanding interests. Whilst this was considered, negotiations were positive, resulting in non-application of this route.   Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision: None declared Dispensations Granted: (If any) N/A   Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which relates to the decision: None Dispensations Granted: (If any) None   Reports or parts of reports considered N/A   I certify that this is a true record of the executive decision to:   Purchase the freehold interest of 40 Laughton Road, Dinnington through the delegation afforded in the Cabinet Report of 07/08/2023.   I confirm that in making this decision, due regard was given to the seven principles of public life.   Signed by the Decision Maker: Dated:          03/07/2025   Name:          Kevin Fisher.                              Job Title:     Assistant Director Property and Facilities Services  

Date of Decision: July 3, 2025