Issue - meetings

Decision:

(1)   That the Council enters into a deed of release of the restrictive covenant, a variation of the user covenant and grant of additional rights for the land known as the Former Pond Meadows Training Centre.

(2)   That the transaction be completed for nil consideration.

(3)   That the Head of Asset Management be authorised, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, and the Lead Councillor for Finance and Assets, to agree the terms for the deed of release; in accordance with the draft heads of terms set out in Appendix 1 to the report

Reason:

To allow Surrey County Council to re-develop the subject site to provide a 50-bed extra care facility within the Borough.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

·       Demand that SCC pay £207,500, and ensure the Council obtains best value.

·       Discount the above figure by an amount that is proportionate to the potential service provision savings or benefit to the community.

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

None.

Surrey County Council had proposed the re-development of the ‘Former Pond Meadows Training Centre’ site to provide a 50-bed extra care facility. However, the site was subject to a user covenant, to which Guildford Borough Council was the beneficiary. In order to move forward with the proposal a deed of release and variation of the user covenant was required. There was also a need to improve the Borough Council-owned access road to the site to facilitate the redevelopment.  An independent valuation had been obtained and the costs payable to the Borough Council in return for the deed of release, variation of the user covenant and the additional rights would be £207,500. Surrey County Council had offered to meet those costs and agreed to the wording of a new covenant that would restrict the use of the site to a residential/nursing home. It was noted that the County Council would have to put the proposal through the usual Planning process in due course.

The Executive considered a report proposing that costs should be waived to Surrey County Council in this instance due to the community benefit of the proposals and to agree the variation of the user covenant and the grant of additional rights for nil consideration.

The Lead Councillor for Resources spoke in favour of the recommendation which found support from other members of the Executive. It was noted that the site was an important landmark in the community and proposals for the use of the site were of interest to local residents who, it was hoped would benefit from the future provision. The local Ward Councillor also spoke in favour of the recommendations.

Therefore, the Executive

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Council enters into a deed of release of the restrictive covenant, a variation of the user covenant and grant of additional rights for the land known as the Former Pond Meadows Training Centre.

(2)   That the transaction be completed for nil consideration.

(3)   That the Head of Asset Management be authorised, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, and the Lead Councillor for Finance and Assets, to agree the terms for the deed of release; in accordance with the draft heads of terms set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive.

Reason:

To allow Surrey County Council to re-develop the site to provide a 50-bed extra care facility within the Borough.