Agenda item

      (Copy herewith)

Cabinet:

2.1     Delegated authority to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise to agree the terms and conditions and complete the transfers of the following property and land:-

2.1.1     Farmclose Road, Land adjacent to Cemetery

o   The site continues to be maintained by the Council (currently under a landscape maintenance contract June 2028) and this contract for grass cutting and associated services will continue once the site has transferred subject to the ongoing collection of special expenses for these services. 

o   The Parish Councils will take on all other responsibilities for the land and centres at completion of the community asset transfer.

o   The Council to retain a right of pre-emption should the Parish Council no longer require the land or centres for permitted use.

o   The market valuation will consider the financial benefit of the grass cutting contract, the management and maintenance costs, the restrictive covenant, and where relevant, the council tax charges collected on behalf of the Parishes for services provided in the Parish Council areas.  A net market value will be determined, and the transfer price will be agreed considering any value for money savings that will be achieved by the transfer.

o   Each party will bear their own professional fees including legal and estates costs.

o   The community assets are held on the council asset register with a nominal capital value, reflecting the exiting use. To ensure the transfers achieve value for money a market valuation will be completed and Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, Chief Finance Officer.

2.1.2     Beckets Park Pavilion

o   To market the site as a Community Asset Transfer inviting expressions of interest from Third Party Sector organisations as identified in paragraph 3.3.7 of the report. 

o   A qualifying process will then follow, and a panel of Officers and Members will review the applications and report back to Cabinet with a recommendation identifying the preferred organisation and include the outline terms of the transfer and adherence to the requirement to achieve value for money.

2.1.3     Land at Blackthorn Bridge Court

·       To sell the land by private treaty to the Blackthorn pharmacy operator at market value as determined by a RICS registered valuer.

2.1.4     Land abutting 11a Eastfield Road

·       To sell the land by private treaty to the owner of 11a Eastfield Road at market value as determined by a RICS registered valuer.

2.1.5   The transfer of all the above will be subject to advertisement to adhere to statutory requirements to allow members of the public opportunity to comment. These comments will be reviewed by the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise and should there be no objections to the proposed disposal received the matter will complete. If there are any objections received to the proposed disposal then in accordance with statutory procedure the matter will be brought back to Cabinet for consideration.

Councillor Hadland, as the relevant Cabinet Member, presented the report which sought Cabinet approval for the disposal of land at Farmclose Road, Beckets Park, Blackthorn Bride Court and adjacent to 11a Eastfield Road.

Councillor Birch commented that she was pleased the Pavilion at Beckets Park would remain in community use and asked what the Council’s policy was on the disposal of retail units.

Councillor Hadland advised that regarding neighbourhood shops that provided a mainly local service, there was generally a desire from the tenant to invest and improve the shop so the Council would aim to dispose of them to tenants. Other shops, such as those in the town centre, were held as income producers and would be retained in the portfolio.

RESOLVED:

Cabinet:

2.1      Delegated authority to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise to agree the terms and conditions and complete the transfers of the following property and land:-

2.1.1    Farmclose Road, Land adjacent to Cemetery

·         The site continues to be maintained by the Council (currently under a landscape maintenance contract June 2028) and this contract for grass cutting and associated services will continue once the site has transferred subject to the ongoing collection of special expenses for these services. 

·         The Parish Councils will take on all other responsibilities for the land and centres at completion of the community asset transfer.

·         The Council to retain a right of pre-emption should the Parish Council no longer require the land or centres for permitted use.

·         The market valuation will consider the financial benefit of the grass cutting contract, the management and maintenance costs, the restrictive covenant, and where relevant, the council tax charges collected on behalf of the Parishes for services provided in the Parish Council areas.  A net market value will be determined, and the transfer price will be agreed considering any value for money savings that will be achieved by the transfer.

·         Each party will bear their own professional fees including legal and estates costs.

·         The community assets are held on the council asset register with a nominal capital value, reflecting the exiting use. To ensure the transfers achieve value for money a market valuation will be completed and Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, Chief Finance Officer.

2.1.2    Beckets Park Pavilion

·         To market the site as a Community Asset Transfer inviting expressions of interest from Third Party Sector organisations as identified in paragraph 3.3.7 of the report. 

·         A qualifying process will then follow, and a panel of Officers and Members will review the applications and report back to Cabinet with a recommendation identifying the preferred organisation and include the outline terms of the transfer and adherence to the requirement to achieve value for money.

2.1.3    Land at Blackthorn Bridge Court

·         To sell the land by private treaty to the Blackthorn pharmacy operator at market value as determined by a RICS registered valuer.

2.1.4    Land abutting 11a Eastfield Road

·         To sell the land by private treaty to the owner of 11a Eastfield Road at market value as determined by a RICS registered valuer.

2.1.5   The transfer of all the above will be subject to advertisement to adhere to statutory requirements to allow members of the public opportunity to comment. These comments will be reviewed by the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise and should there be no objections to the proposed disposal received the matter will complete. If there are any objections received to the proposed disposal then in accordance with statutory procedure the matter will be brought back to Cabinet for consideration.