Issue - meetings

Decision:

That the sale of land and the diversion of a footpath to the rear of Guildford Rowing Club, Shalford Road, Guildford, to Guildford Rowing Club on terms set out in the report submitted to the Executive, at below market value, be approved.

Reasons:

·        To secure the sale of land, which will release a capital receipt,

·        To improve the facilities offered by Guildford Rowing Club.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None

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

None

The Executive considered a report, which sought approval of the sale of land and the diversion of a footpath to the rear of Guildford Rowing Club, Shalford Road, Guildford, to Guildford Rowing Club on terms set out in the report, at below market value.

In February 2012, the Council had previously sold off the land where the current Rowing Club was located.  Since then, the Club had grown and now wished to build a new modern facility on this site and expand on to adjacent Council-owned land. 

The new Clubhouse was needed as there were currently no accessible toilets or changing facilities or suitable training areas.  The Club’s existing fleet of boats, including their lottery-granted specialist adaptive (disabled) boats, had outgrown the Clubhouse and were stored outside.  The new facility would provide up to date indoor training facilities, accessible changing rooms and toilets, indoor storage for specialist equipment and a site designed for inclusive access with gentle gradients, extra turning space and safe surfaces.  The Rowing Club planned to develop the new Clubhouse bringing its facilities up-to-date and creating a sports club accessible to all, and benefiting the local community. 

Planning permission for a replacement Clubhouse building had been granted in September 2016.   

A small section of footpath ran across the land that the Club wished to acquire which would need to be relocated to allow the construction of the new facility. It was noted in the report that the footpath was not a public right of way and the relocation of it could be dealt with as part of the sale of the site to the Club.

It was proposed that the footpath relocation works along with tree and fencing works be carried out by the Council with the estimated cost of £8,000 plus VAT being met by the Rowing Club.     

The land had been independently valued at £12,000 for a one off premium, by a professional valuer.  The report had recommended that the premium be reduced to £8,000 on the basis of the social economic and environmental benefit that the new facility would bring.  As this did not represent best consideration under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, the Executive had to decide whether to agree to sell the land at this proposed undervalue.

Currently, the land was achieving no income and was a maintenance liability for the Council.  Agreeing to sell the land to Guildford Rowing Club would release a capital receipt and further help contribute to the offering provided by the Rowing Club.

Having considered the report, the Executive

RESOLVED: That the sale of land and the diversion of a footpath to the rear of Guildford Rowing Club, Shalford Road, Guildford, to Guildford Rowing Club on terms set out in the report submitted to the Executive, at below market value, be approved.

Reasons:

·        To secure the sale of land, which will release a capital receipt,

·        To improve the facilities offered by Guildford Rowing Club.