Decision details

Cabinet considered the recommendations contained in the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee came out of its review of the following decision taken by Cabinet on 24 March 2021:

Transfer of properties from Spelthorne Borough Council to Knowle Green Estates Ltd.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Leighton, informed the Cabinet that the Committee had the scrutinised the above Cabinet decision in detail and concluded that they were supportive of the Cabinet’s decision, but that the Cabinet must have the appropriate policy documentation in place before making such decisions going forward.

Resolved that:

1.    Cabinet instruct officers to draw up the following documents:

              i.        A “Term Sheet” to set out the basis of developments and supporting policy.  A Term sheet should be required for each Spelthorne Borough Council residential development and will be created prior to planning application submission monitored and adjusted as required thereafter.

            ii.        A policy for valuation and transfers of developments.

           iii.        An interest rate policy.

           iv.        Documentation of Knowle Green Estates (KGE) depreciation policy.

2.    A Term sheet template and draft policy documents are to be presented for

approval by the Policy and Resources Committee and KGE Board as soon as

possible and no later than the end of July 2021.

3.    That Cabinet confirms that no residential housing units will be sold unless a policy to do so is formally approved by the Council.

Reason for decision:

The Cabinet has listened to the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and agrees that it is important that the Cabinet take decisions that have been clearly defined, with the right policies and that agenda reports are clearly set out with the appropriate level of detail so members are able to look back and see that all the relevant facts had been considered.