Issue - meetings

Decision:

That, in line with the Land and Property Disposal Policy, the Executive authorises The Joint Executive Head, Assets and Property to negotiate terms for a disposal at best consideration and to subsequently enter into all relevant legal documentation required to complete the transaction of the Council owned land comprising Land West of Winds Ridge, Send Hill in return for a capital receipt.

Reason(s):

1.      To facilitate the building of new homes in compliance with the local plan designation.

2.      To generate Income (a capital receipt) and reduce revenue costs.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

1.      Do nothing – We can retain the land, keep it as amenity land and protect the biodiversity of the site. The council will continue to have revenue costs associated with maintenance and security. There is a risk of possible future claims if the made ground is disturbed. In addition, the council would have to comply with the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 for members of the public using the land.

2.      Pursue a joint development – This option has already been reviewed by senior officers and rejected due to a lack of in-house resources available and costs that the council would need to bear for remediation. The site is also not considered suitable for development by the HRA. The Council’s future development options will be extremely limited due to access issues.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

The Executive considered a report recommending that the council-owned land known as Send Hill Disused Sandpit, be disposed of at best consideration. The land was an old landfill site that was surplus amenity and was used for the purposes of public recreation. It was identified in the Local Plan as development land for housing. The site was not considered appropriate for development by the council’s Housing Revenue Account due to remediation costs and resource implications.

The Lead Councillor for Finance and Property introduced the report and advised that Executive authority was required for the disposal to proceed due to the size of the site and the anticipated value of the sale. It was noted that the matter had been before the Executive on a previous occasion when authority was given to undertake a contaminated land survey.

The Executive noted that the public comments set out in the report were generally opposed to the sale of the land. Public feedback questioned if the land would be suitable for development, suggested a potential impact for wildlife and that it was valued as a recreational area for local dog walkers.  The Executive observed that any loss of amenity would be a matter for the Planning Committee and planning policy should any future application be submitted. A Right of Way immediately behind the site was noted and that public accessibility could be a consideration for any future planning application. It was commented that the Send Neighbourhood Plan had not, apparently, sought to designate the site as Green Space.

Whilst there was sympathy for those local residents opposing the sale, the site had been removed from the Green Belt and been listed for development in the Local Plan. The capital receipt received from the sale would be positively utilised by the council to protect and deliver services. Consequently, the Executive,

RESOLVED:

That, in line with the Land and Property Disposal Policy, the Joint Executive Head, Assets and Property be authorised to negotiate terms for a disposal at best consideration and to subsequently enter into all relevant legal documentation required to complete the transaction of the Council owned land comprising Land West of Winds Ridge, Send Hill in return for a capital receipt.

Reasons:

1.        To facilitate the building of new homes in compliance with the local plan designation.

2.        To generate income (a capital receipt) and reduce revenue costs.