114 Council Land and Property Disposals PDF 183 KB
This item will be considered by the Business, Infrastructure and Growth Committee on Thursday, 5 December 2024. and the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee on 09 December 2024.
This report will be published after its consideration by both Committees.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Council resolved to:
1. Approve the progress of an assets disposals programme of Council owned land and property in order to generate capital receipts; and
2. Not approve the disposal of Ashford Victory Place in Ashford to the preferred bidders as per the recommendation from the Business, Infrastructure and Growth Committee.
148 Council Land and Property Disposals PDF 631 KB
Committee will be asked to consider a recommendation to Council to approve progression of an assets disposals programme of Council owned land and property in order to generate capital receipts
This report will be published after its consideration by that Committee.
Additional documents:
Decision:
The Committee resolved to recommend to Council that it approves progressions of an assets disposal programme of Council owned land and property in order to generate capital receipts.
Minutes:
The Committee were advised by the Group Head of Assets that this report was seeking approval to progress the Assets Disposal Programme. The Committee were advised that the majority of Local Authorities do have a disposal programme to ensure that they are achieving best value on all council owned sites.
Members were advised that the list of potential sites as outlined in Appendix 1 was only an indicative list and not final. Due diligence would be undertaken on each site and that a report would be brought before this committee with all the available options including detailed information on what part of the site could be sold if not all of the site and the positives and negatives for each option for individual sites. The Committee would then make a recommendation to Council if any site was identified as one that would be best disposed of.
The Committee resolved to recommend to Council that it approves the progression of an Assets Disposal Programme of Council owned land and property in order to generate capital receipts.
25 Council Land and Property Disposals PDF 631 KB
To consider and make a recommendation to Council in relation to the proposed initial disposal of the Freehold Interest of Ashford Victory Place, Ashford
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee considered a report from the Group Head – Assets on disposal options for Ashford Victory Place. Under Standing Order 35, the Chair allowed Group Leaders to attend and take part in the debate but not vote.
The Group Head – Assets advised the Committee that the recommendation to dispose of the Ashford Victory Place site had arisen over the past 12 – 15 months as part of the Development Delivery Strategy which set out timescales and the rationale for prioritisation. A full marketing exercise had been carried out and the offers received had been scored in line with the Development Delivery Strategy criteria to identify the preferred bidder. The proposal from the preferred bidder would be to proceed with the existing planning permission, for 127 units, with 22 of those being affordable.
The Committee queried how the proposed disposal of Ashford Victory Place and Thameside House aligned with the Local Plan and were advised that both sites were in the Local Plan Housing Trajectory for years 1 – 5, as such the proposals were in alignment.
The Committee expressed doubt that any affordable units would be included in the final development. Councillor Boughtflower suggested that any Community Infrastructure Levy funds from the development be ringfenced for projects in Stanwell. The Group Head Place, Protection and Prosperity advised that CIL funds should be spent where the development took place however decisions could only be made on the bids submitted.
The Committee requested that after any property sale a post-sale report is produced which would include a ‘lessons learnt’ section.
The Committee expressed disappointment over the limited amount of affordable units and queried if there was any way to progress the site with either more affordable or key worker units. The Group Head – Assets advised that two bids had been received which offered key worker housing or 100% affordable but both had conditions attached which made them unsuitable and neither offers had been able to secure a Registered Provider to partner with.
It was proposed by Councillor Boughtflower, seconded by Councillor Bateson and resolved to exclude the public and press for the following agenda items, in accordance with paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in being able to undertake even-handed negotiations and finalising acceptable contract terms.
The meeting was adjourned at 20:27
The meeting reconvened at 20:37
It was proposed by Councillor Bateson, seconded by Councillor Boughtflower and resolved to suspend Standing Order 38.3 to continue the meeting beyond three hours.
The Committee returned to open session.
Councillor Boughtflower requested a recorded vote. The Chair advised the Committee that ... view the full minutes text for item 25