Decision details

That the Queen Stage PH (previously The Sir Douglas Haig Public House), The Street, Effingham, Leatherhead, KT24 5LU be added to the list of land of community value.

A validation exercise to determine if the nomination was valid has been completed and the nomination meets the requirements of the Localism Act 2011

Any decision as to the site’s assets of community value status falls to be considered under section 88(1) of the Localism Act 2011. This requires a determination to be made as to (i) whether there is an actual use of the building or other land that is not an ancillary use which furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community and (ii) whether it is realistic to think that there can continue to be non-ancillary use of the building or other land which will further (whether or not in the same way) the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.

(i) is satisfied - the public house operates every day during normal working hours. There is precedent for public houses being assets of community value, and it is reasonable to consider that a public house used by the local community is of value to the local community.

(ii) is also satisfied - there has been a public house at the site for over 100 years and it has recently been refurbished. There is no evidence provided that suggests the public house will not continue to be used or that it is unviable to continue running the public house.

There is an obligation under the Localism Act 2011 section 89 for the Council to consider community nominations to list a building or land within the district as an asset of community value in accordance with the statutory criteria.

Constitution, Part 3 – Delegation to Officers paragraph 13 delegates to the Legal Services Manager, in consultation with a small panel comprising the relevant lead councillor and local ward councillor(s), authority to consider and determine applications under Localism Act 2011 for buildings and other land to be listed as land of community value.