Report Title: Comments from Place Overview & Scrutiny on MLH and Business Plans

Presented by: Councillor David Taylor – Chair of Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Mercury Land Holdings Business Plan - Recommendations

1.         An explicit commitment should be given in the MLH Business Plan that MLH will not sell units direct to another Council. RESPONSE: The Leader rejected the rumour that MLH was selling units to other councils.

·                     A press release had been signed off that week to publicly refute it.

·                     Emphasised that the Council has never engaged in this practice.

2.         Further information should be provided to Members on the impact of MLH developments on lowering the demand for temporary accommodation. The Sub-Committee supports the intention of officers to develop a dashboard to illustrate this. RESPONSE: The new dashboard will include a greater emphasis on housing demand figures  and will be a dynamic system which can be adapted to the requirements/requests  from members.

3.         The commitment of MLH to support the Council’s Social Values Strategy

should be stated more explicitly in the MLH Business Plan. RESPONSE: the cabinet confirmed that there is  broad agreement on all recommendations, including Social Values statements.

All Business Plans - Recommendations

4.         Given their length and complexity, the Sub-Committee requests that the

Business Plans are in future brought for scrutiny at an earlier stage with drafts presented in December if possible. The Subcommittee appreciates however the pressures on officers and that elements of this timescale may be outside of officers’ control. RESPONSE: Senior Officers will endeavour to produce future reports as early as possible. Noting earlier submissions of plans is an aspiration that officers will work towards.

Report Title: Comments from Place Overview & Scrutiny on MLH and Business Plans

Presented by: Councillor David Taylor – Chair of Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Summary:

Places Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee – Comments to Cabinet following pre-decision scrutiny of Mercury Land Holdings (MLH) and Regeneration Business Plans, 27 January 2026

The Place Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee  submitted the following comments for response by Cabinet at its meeting on 28 January 2026:

Mercury Land Holdings Business Plan - Recommendations

1.         An explicit commitment should be given in the MLH Business Plan that MLH will not sell units direct to another Council. RESPONSE: The Leader rejected the rumour that MLH was selling units to other councils.

·                     A press release had been signed off that week to publicly refute it.

·                     Emphasised that the Council has never engaged in this practice.

2.         Further information should be provided to Members on the impact of MLH developments on lowering the demand for temporary accommodation. The Sub-Committee supports the intention of officers to develop a dashboard to illustrate this. RESPONSE: The new dashboard will include a greater emphasis on housing demand figures  and will be a dynamic system which can be adapted to the requirements/requests  from members.

3.         The commitment of MLH to support the Council’s Social Values Strategy

should be stated more explicitly in the MLH Business Plan. RESPONSE: the cabinet confirmed that there is  broad agreement on all recommendations, including Social Values statements.

All Business Plans - Recommendations

4.         Given their length and complexity, the Sub-Committee requests that the

Business Plans are in future brought for scrutiny at an earlier stage with drafts presented in December if possible. The Subcommittee appreciates however the pressures on officers and that elements of this timescale may be outside of officers’ control. RESPONSE: Senior Officers will endeavour to produce future reports as early as possible. Noting earlier submissions of plans is an aspiration that officers will work towards.