Agenda item

Urgent Item - Ashford Victory Place Disposal

Council is asked to consider a recommendation from the Business, Infrastructure and Growth Committee regarding the preferred bidder for the disposal of the development site known as Ashford Victory Place.

 

This item is to be considered at the Business, Infrastructure and Growth Committee to be held on Thursday 13 March 2025 so therefore may be subject to amendments.

 

The appendices of this report contain exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006:

 

Paragraph 3 – 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 any lease, contract, or other type of negotiation with the tenant or developer, who could then know the position of the Council.

 

Minutes:

Council considered the disposal of the development site known as Ashford Victory Place in Ashford.

 

Proposed by: Councillor Boughtflower

Seconded by: Councillor Clarke

 

Under Standing Order 17 (K), to adjourn the meeting so that a decision on the sale of Ashford Victory Place could be deferred until the Government had confirmed that they would be appointing a Commissioner and they had started working with the Council.

 

Councillor Boughtflower asked for a recorded vote.

 

For

Councillors Attewell, Boughtflower, Clarke, Lee, Mathur, Mooney, Weerasinghe, Woodward – 8 votes

Against

Councillors Buck, J Doran, Bateson, Beatty, Beecher, Boparai, Burrell, Button, Caplin, S Doran, Dunn, Geraci, Gibson, Grant, Nichols, Rutherford, Sexton, Turner, Williams – 19 votes

Abstain

No votes

 

 

The motion FELL

 

 

A recorded vote was requested by Councillor Williams

 

For

Councillors Buck, J Doran, Bateson, Beatty, Beecher, Boparai, Burrell, Button, Caplin, S Doran, Dunn, Geraci, Gibson, Grant, Rutherford, Sexton, Turner, Williams – 18 votes

Against

Councillors Attewell, Boughtflower, Clarke, Lee, Mathur, Mooney, Weerasinghe, Woodward – 8 votes

Abstain

Councillor Nichols – 1 vote

 

Council resolved to:

 

a)    Approve bidder A and the disposal of the development site known as Ashford victory Place in Ashford as set out in the appendices,

 

b)    Delegate authority to the Group Head of Assets in consultation with the Chair and Vice chair of the Business, Infrastructure & Growth Committee to agree detailed Heads of Terms in respect of the disposal of Ashford victory Place with the preferred bidder and;

 

c)    Delegate authority to the Group Head of corporate Governance to enter into a transfer and any ancillary legal documentation required in relation to the disposal of Ashford victory Place to bidder A.

Supporting documents: