Agenda item

Mr Mark Cheverton (Head of Real Estate Services), Mr Daniel Parkes (Principal Surveyor) and Ms Rachel Paton (Surveyor) were in attendance for this item.

Local Member, Mr Richard Streatfeild, was present for this item.

1.      Mr Collins and Mrs Rebecca Spore, Director of Infrastructure, introduced the report regarding the proposed disposal of Sevenoaks Adult Education Centre.

2.      Further to questions and comments from Members the discussion included the following:

•        Marketing advice had been received from three agents. A freehold sale was being sought albeit on an all enquiries basis meaning bids could be made leasehold or freehold.

•        Some Members expressed their concern that a town like Sevenoaks would not have an Adult Education Centre.

•        Key decision 24/00046 detailed the previous administration’s decision to alter the Community Learning and Skills delivery model. This decision delegated authority to the Director of Infrastructure to progress work on the proposed decision.

3.      The Local Member, Mr Richard Streatfeild, provided a verbal statement. He explained that the previous Administration had taken the decision that education would focus on basic skills courses and not leisure and pleasure, which Sevenoaks Adult Education Centre provided. There was considerable disappointment amongst Sevenoaks residents that the Adult Education Centre (AEC) would close. Residents over 65 in Sevenoaks, in particular, wanted to do leisure and pleasure courses, locations for which were not available in Sevenoaks or close by.  Mr Streatfeild expressed his view that the decision be delayed and reconsidered based on the following points:

•        Sevenoaks had a requirement for basic skills courses (which was recently determined at Sevenoaks District Council) and locations for such had not been identified. The AEC remained the most likely place where those courses could be run.

•        Sevenoaks was one of the few places in Kent that didn’t have a site for special educational needs education and pupils with special education needs were therefore transported out of the district at considerable expense.

•        Regarding potential Local Government Reorganisation the site would be an asset to a potential unitary authority to deliver courses in the future.

4.      Mrs Spore reassured the committee that prior to a disposal property being put forward there was a detailed process to identify whether the property was required by any KCC services. Colleagues within education had been consulted and it was not currently required as part of educational plans. The Community Learning and Skills Team planned to align courses to government funding and this was driving their current approach. The service had been exploring options at Sevenoaks Library as well as other community venues in the Sevenoaks area for basic skills provision.

5.      Mr Hood proposed, and Mr Rayner seconded, that the Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee recommends to the Deputy Leader that the decision be delayed until proper consideration can be given to the points raised by Mr Streatfeild in paragraph 3 above and that the outcome of reconsideration be reported to a future Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee prior to decision. The Chairman put the motion to the vote and the motion was lost.

6.      RESOLVED that the Cabinet Committee, by majority, endorses the proposed decision to:

1.      the disposal of Sevenoaks Adult Education Centre, Hatton House, Bradbourne Road, TN13 3QN; and

2.      delegate authority to The Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to finalise the terms of the disposal and execute all necessary or desirable documentation required to implement the above.

7.      In accordance with paragraph 16.31 of the Constitution, Mr Alister Brady, Mr Mark Hood, Mr Antony Hook, and Mr Harry Rayner wished for it to be recorded in the minutes that they voted against endorsing the decision.