Issue - meetings

To consider the disposal of properties and sites deemed surplus to requirement in line with the Policy for the Disposal of Property.

Please note: this report contains both exempt and non-exempt information.

To discuss the exempt information contained in the appendices to the published report, consideration must first be given to whether the public should be excluded from the meeting by passing the following resolution: -

In accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the public to be excluded from the meeting for this item of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 A to the Act, and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, sought approval of the Schedule of Disposals proposed to meet the three year ‘Meeting the Challenge 3’ capital receipt target of £33 million covering the period 2018/19 to 2020/21. 

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals and the reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and, in line with the council’s Policy for the Disposal of Property: 

RESOLVED to: 

1)    Confirm that those sites described at Appendix A (Exempt) which had previously been declared surplus by Cabinet in October 2018 and not yet disposed of, continue to be declared surplus to requirements and

2)    Declare the sites listed on the proposed Schedule of Disposals Appendix B (Exempt) surplus to the Council’s land and property requirements,

and in relation to both of these schedules, delegate authority to the Head of Property Services to dispose of the sites in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change.

Prior to the discussion, members were advised that, should Cabinet wish to discuss the contents of the exempt information reported at Appendix A and Appendix B of the report, consideration would need to be given as to whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Cabinet agreed to consider the item without having to refer to the exempt information.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, asked Cabinet to approve two proposed Schedule of Disposals: -

1. Sites not yet disposed of but surplus to requirements - Appendix A (Exempt information)

2. New proposals recommended by the Property Board as being surplus to requirements - Appendix B (Exempt information)

Approval of the schedules and declaration of the sites as surplus to requirement were proposed to deliver Meeting the Challenge 3 capital receipt targets. (The council’s Asset Management and Property Services are currently working towards achieving a three year Meeting the Challenge 3 capital receipt target of £33 million for the period 2018/19 to 2020/21).

Capital receipts received and sales agreed at the time of the meeting for 2018/19 totalled £7.978 million.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals and the reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and, in line with the council’s Policy for the Disposal of Property: 

RESOLVED in line with the Policy for the Disposal of Property, to: 

1)  Confirm that those sites described at Appendix A (Exempt) and had previously been declared surplus by Cabinet in January 2018, (and not yet disposed of), continue to be declared surplus to requirements; and

2)  Declare the sites listed on the proposed Schedule of Disposals Appendix B (Exempt) surplus to the Council’s land and property requirements,

and in relation to both of these schedules, delegate authority to the Head of Property Services to dispose of the sites in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change.

Prior to the discussion, members were advised that, should Cabinet wish to discuss the contents of the exempt information reported at Appendix A and Appendix B of the decision report, consideration would need to be given as to whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Cabinet agreed to consider the item without reference to the exempt information.

Announcement from Cllr Ray Theodoulou

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, Cllr Ray Theodoulou, announced he would be standing down from the council’s Cabinet in May 2019. 

Having completed 14 years in post, Cllr Theodoulou is the longest serving cabinet member, having taken on the role in 2005. Cllr Theodoulou was first elected in 2001 and will continue to represent the people of East Cotswolds as their local county councillor, and to chair the Pensions Committee.

Cabinet Member Cllr Lynden Stowe will take on responsibility for the council’s finances from May 2019. A new Deputy Leader to be announced at a later date.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, and cabinet colleagues, thanked Cllr Theodoulou for his commitment and dedication to his role as cabinet member.