Issue - meetings

Report by Alistair Cunningham, Corporate Director

Councillor Toby Sturgis presented the report which asked Cabinet to declare that freehold interest of the 5 assets identified in the report could be sold by the Council.

Matters highlighted in the course of the presentation and discussion included: the process following any declaration of an asset as surplus; and how local views are taken into account.

Councillor Tony Deane, Division Member for Tisbury, raised concerns that the views of the community and the issues highlighted in the Neighbourhood Plan should be given greater primacy in considering the future of the Former Sports Centre. Councillor Toby Sturgis stated, in response, that he did not believe the item should not be removed from the list of assets for possible disposal, as he could not justify the continued spend on a redundant building and that the needs of the community, and specifically the education, would be taken into account. He emphasised that he would continue to work with the local member as plans progress.

The Leader proposed that education needs be included in the matters to be considered as one of the conditions of sale on the Former Sports Centre.

Councillor Sturgis, in response to a query from Councillor Ian Thorn, stated that in his opinion Core Policy 49 referred to rural communities, that building in question was considered a ‘service centre’, and therefore the policy did not apply.

Resolved

1.    To confirm that freehold interest of the following assets can be sold by the Council as follows:

a)    Site 1 – Nomansland (near Salisbury) – Land at School Road - That the freehold interest be sold on the open market.

b)   Site 2 - Trowbridge – Land at Frampton Court - That the freehold interest be sold to the owner of the new dwellings to the south.

c)    Site 3 - Warminster – Chapmanslade – Land to the rear of 102 High Street – To obtain an outline planning permission for residential development and dispose of the site on the open market.

d)   Site 4 - Corsham – Martingate Centre - To proceed with sale to Martingate Centre Limited, subject to the conditions outlined in the report.

e)    Site 5 - Tisbury – Former Sports Centre - That the freehold interest be sold, subject to the ecology planning obligations and education matters being resolved / satisfied.

2.    To note the continuing approach set out in paragraph 8;

3.    To authorise the Associate Director for People and Business to dispose of freehold interest of the assets.

Reasons for Decision:

To confirm the freehold interests of the assets can be sold in order to generate capital receipts in support of the Council’s capital programme.