Issue - meetings

 Report by Corporate Director, Alistair Cunningham.

Councillor Toby Sturgis presented the report which asked Cabinet to declare that freehold interest in 3 assets referred to in Appendix 1 of the report can be sold by the Council.

The Cabinet noted that the Council continually reviewed and rationalised its assets portfolio in order to identify assets where freehold interest can be considered for sale. The 3 assets referred to in the report were considered to be surplus to the Council’s operational requirements and recommended that they are added to the disposals list and progressed to sale in support of the council’s wider capital programme.

In response to questions raised by Councillor Allison Bucknell, the Director for Economic Development and Planning confirmed that there would be an opportunity to market the Manor House, Royal Wootton Bassett for community uses; that engagement with the current tenants had not commenced as there were a number of outstanding issues to be resolved and that Members would be kept informed of developments with current tenants.

In response to a question raised by the Leader, Councillor Sturgis explained that any change of use would be subject to planning approval and conditions could be attached to any planning approval to encourage community use.

Councillor John Hubbard declared that he was the local member for 56a Spa Road, Melksham and also the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Canberra Youth Centre and a Trustee for the Canberra Children’s Centre, both located adjacent to the site. He suggested that the future use of this premises should be compatible with the current uses of the Youth Centre and Children’s Centre.  

Resolved

i)             To confirm that the freehold interest of the 3 assets, detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, can be sold by the Council.

ii)            To note the continuing approach to disposals set out in paragraph 8 of the report.

iii)          To authorise the Director for Housing and Commercial Development to dispose of the freehold interest in the assets or in his or her absence the Corporate Director for Growth, Investment and Place.

Reason for Decision:

To confirm the freehold interest in the assets can be sold in order to generate

capital receipts in support of the Council’s capital programme.