Agenda item
Disposal of Two Former Park Keeper Properties on Barham Park
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item providing details of what options are being requested.
The lead officer has also been invited to the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.
Minutes:
Richard Barrett (Head of Property and Asset Management, Finance and Corporate Resources) introduced the briefing note and confirmed that the Notting Hill Housing Association had indicated that they were no longer interested in pursuing the development. The Council was now considering whether to use the existing properties on the site for other uses or consider the sale of the units on the open market, subject to planning permission. It was anticipated that the report would be considered by the Executive on 14 September 2010. It was noted that the approval of the Charity Commission to dispose of the site was yet to be obtained.
During discussion, Councillor Lorber commented that the site, on the very edge of Barham Park, was a neglected one, however there were insufficient funds for the Council to develop the site. The Parks Service had suggested submitting a bid for lottery funding and another consideration was that Barham Park had recently acquired green flag status, however it was in danger of losing this if there was no investment coming in. Councillor Lorber stated that residents also wished that there be investment for Barham Park and he enquired on the likelihood was of this happening. He suggested that the existing cottages on the site could be sold to raise funds, especially as the Council presently continued to pay maintenance costs. In noting that the site was held in Trust, Councillor Lorber enquired as to what concerns the Charity Commission would have regarding disposal of the site in view that the Council did not have funds to invest in the site.
Councillor Van Kalwala enquired about the prospects of disposing of the site at a good price in view of the present property market and whether selling below the market price would represent a shortfall for the Council.
In reply, Richard Barrett advised that the site was held in a Trust and not actually owned by the Council which was why the Charity Commission’s consent to dispose was required. He confirmed that there was no end date specified under the terms of the Trust. Richard Barrett explained that the Charity Commission would have an interest in maintaining the site for public amenity use, however the Council would assert that the properties needed to be disposed of in order to obtain funds to maintain Barham Park’s Green Flag status. Members heard that it was unlikely that the valuation of £630,000 of the site from last year could be achieved if the site was disposed of now, although every effort would be made to ensure that the best possible price was obtained. Richard Barrett continued that it was anticipated that the site would be put on the external market subject to the required approvals, however the situation would be re-assessed if the economy plunged back into recession. The Select Committee was also advised that a disposal of the site would represent a windfall for the Council and therefore there would be no financial loss.
RESOLVED:-
that the briefing note on Disposal of Two Former Park Keeper Properties on Barham Park be noted.
Supporting documents: