Decision details

This is a Portfolio Holder Decision to:

• Declare the sites set out in this report surplus.
• Where applicable, notify any tenant or licensee occupying any land declared surplus of the Council’s intention to secure vacant possession and dispose of sites set out.
• Where applicable, secure vacant possession of the sites set out in this report.
• Work with any existing tenants/licensees of the sites referred to in this report to relocate should the opportunity be available.
• Publish any and all statutory notices required in relation to the potential disposal of any land that could be deemed ‘public open space’.
• Appoint an agent to offer the sites to the market for freehold disposal, long lease or short tenancy.
• Delegate authority to the Strategic and Operational Property Manager to negotiate any offers received and, following consultation and sanction of the Portfolio Holder, accept any offer certified by a Registered Valuer as representing market value and best consideration in accordance with section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972.
• Delegate authority to the Strategic and Operational Property Manager to include any and all relevant and necessary covenants or clauses into any resulting conveyances, leases or licences.
• Notify all applicants on the Council’s Self-build and Custom Housebuilding that the Council will be marketing the land and property assets set out in this report for freehold or leasehold disposal or short tenancy.

In the event any representations are made in relation to the potential disposal of public open space, such representation will be formally considered by the Cabinet before any decision to dispose can or will be made.

The Portfolio Holder reserves the right to withdraw any site from the market at any time.

The cumulative value likely to be returned as a consequence of this decision makes it a ‘key decision’.

The adopted capital project priorities of South Holland District Council need, in part, be sustainably resourced by raising capital receipts and/or generating new revenue streams to otherwise fund those priorities; the timeframe for delivery of those priorities means the time for getting the land and property assets set out in this report to the market is of the essence, making this an urgent decision; it is therefore reasonable, justified and proportionate that the decision takes effect five days after it is published.

Assets can be declared surplus and/or disposed of for a number of reasons…including but not being limited to when:

·         they make no contribution to the delivery of services

·         their retention is not economically viable

·         they afford no strategic or value opportunity, or when;

·         an alternative has been identified which would be more cost effective.

The land and property assets referred to in this report are considered to be surplus for one or more of the reasons above.

In addition, the Council is developing a sustainable resourcing strategy to support its capital programme, with any capital receipts/revenue income generated from asset transactions forming part of its funding strategy.  It is therefore necessary to move at pace in getting the assets set out in this report to the market.

1.    Do nothing in respect of the land and property assets set out within this report – retention of the sites would retain all current cost and risk pressures the sites present, and, in the absence of any sustainable business case for investment in the sites for their alternative use is not recommended.

2.    Invest in all of the land and property assets set out in this report to improve their visual amenity and overall condition, accepting that there will be limited or no return on any investment as no sustainable business case has been able to be developed – not recommended.

None