Proposed decision:
To agree to the disposal of the property, the former Halfway Houses Primary School site, Southdown Road, Halfway, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3BE and delegate authority to:
1. The Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services, to finalise the terms of the disposal; and
2. The Director of Infrastructure to authorise the execution of all necessary or desirable documentation required to implement the above.
Reason for Decision:
The property is surplus to the Council’s operational requirements and due to the projected value, a key decision is required as per Kent County Council’s constitution.
Background Information:
The site is a former school building and playing field. It has been declared surplus by the Council as it is no longer required for operational purposes. The school was relocated to a new purpose-built facility on another site.
The Council intends to progress with the disposal of the site in line with its adopted Freehold Asset Disposal Policy. Initial advice provided from agents regarding anticipated values, indicates that a key decision is required.
Consent has been gained from the Secretary of State for Education, allowing Kent County Council to progress with a disposal, given the former education use of the site.
A decision is sought to authorise the disposal of the site and to delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure to finalise the terms, subject to consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member.
Options:
The Council has an overarching duty under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 to secure not less than best consideration in respect of property disposals. It also has a fiduciary duty to the residents of Kent.
The property is not required for the Council’s operational purposes and has been considered surplus to education needs following the relocation of the school to the new site. Since vacation of the school site, alternative service needs were considered, and none have been identified. A disposal provides an opportunity to reinvest capital in agreed priorities, as set out in the Council’s Capital programme.
How the proposed decision supports the County Council’s Strategic Plan:
By securing a capital receipt to fund the Capital programme and to streamline the Council’s property portfolio to achieve financial and efficiency benefits in line with appropriate policy.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Sheppey;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 15/11/2023
Anticipated restriction: Part exempt -
Decision due: Not before 14th Dec 2023 by Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services
Reason: To allow 28 day notice period required under Exeuctive Decision regulations
Lead member: Deputy Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services
Lead director: Rebecca Spore
Department: Strategic & Corporate Services
Contact: Hugh D'Alton, Programme Manager (Strategic Programmes) Email: Hugh.D’Alton@kent.gov.uk or 03000 41 88 35 Email: Hugh.D'Alton@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
The proposed decision was considered and endorsed at the Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee on 22 November 2023.
Financial implications: The sale of the property will result in a capital receipt which will be reinvested back into the Council’s Capital programme. The disposal of the Property will remove holding costs associated with the property in the region of £75K per annum, easing pressure on revenue budgets.
Legal implications: External legal advisors will be appointed in consultation with General Council
Equalities implications: Equalities implications: An Equalities impact assessment (EQIA) was undertaken by the Service Directorate in 2014 and identified no impact to any groups with protected characteristics in relation to the proposed decision to dispose. Data Protection implications: As part of this approval process and in the handling of marketing and conveyancing of the site data protection regulations will be observed.