Agenda item

(a)  Declare the site as surplus to housing requirements.

(b)  Agree to the Council sale of the site referred to in Appendix 1 and known as the Former Police Station, High Street Langley to the bidder named in Appendix 1.

(c)  Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Property, Planning and Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Oversight and Council Assets and the Executive Director of Finance and Commercial, to negotiate the terms of and enter into the contract and any associated documentation in connection with the disposal consistent with the disposal report and Heads of Terms appended at Confidential Appendix 1.

The Lead Member for Finance, Council Assets, Procurement and Revenues & Benefits introduced a report that sought approval for the disposal of a vacant site – the former Police Station, High Street, Langley.  The site was held as a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) asset.

The Cabinet considered the Part II appendix that set out details of the disposal during Part I of the meeting without disclosing any of the exempt information.

The site was considered to be surplus to housing requirements and by disposing of the site the cost of maintenance of the land would no longer fall to the HRA and a capital receipt would be generated.  Due diligence had taken place and the proposed sale reflected best consideration reasonably obtainable for the asset.  The site history was summarised and it was noted that whilst the Cabinet had received reports several years ago about potential uses of the site for housing and community facilities it was noted that the current, approved HRA Capital Programme did not include any redevelopment costs for the site.

The Cabinet noted the process undertaken to market and dispose of the site.  The preferred bidder was buying the property as a development led opportunity and was likely to seek residential led options for the site.  A Lead Member commented that the future development needed to properly address any residents concerns about parking and waste issues and it was responded that these issues would be matters for the planning process. 

After due consideration, the recommendations were agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the site be declared as surplus to housing requirements.

(b)  Agree to the Council sale of the site referred to in Appendix 1 and known as the Former Police Station, High Street Langley to the bidder named in Appendix 1.

(c)  Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Property, Planning and Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Oversight and Council Assets and the Executive Director of Finance and Commercial, to negotiate the terms of and enter into the contract and any associated documentation in connection with the disposal consistent with the disposal report and Heads of Terms appended at Confidential Appendix 1.