Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report that recommended approval of the renewal of the lease between Halfords Limited and the Council for the property at 380 Bath Road, Slough.

The Council had purchased the property in July 2016 under the Strategic Acquisitions Programme.  The lease was within the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, therefore the tenant was entitled to a lease renewal based on the terms of the previous lease.  The terms were set out in Appendix 1 in Part II of the agenda.  The Committee considered the appendix in the public part of the meeting without disclosing any of the exempt information.

Members discussed the procedures for lease renewals under the 1954 Act and the process that would have to be undertaken if parties could not agree terms of a renewed lease.  Agreement of terms had been reached with the tenant which would avoid such a process being required.

The Committee asked whether a robust procedure was in place to track and review other lease agreements.  The Executive Director of Housing & Property stated that a more systematic approach would need to be put in place and this would be a key task for the new Associate Director of Property.

Lease renewals were matters within the functions of the Committee, therefore the decision could be made without the requirement for a recommendation on to Cabinet.

The recommendation to renew the lease was approved.

Resolved –  That the renewal of the lease between Halfords Limited and the Council at 380 Bath Road, Slough be approved and to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Housing and Property, in consultation with the S151 and subject to legal advice negotiate and enter into a lease with Halfords Limited consistent with the terms detailed in Appendix 1 – Lease Report.