Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Managing Director – Resources.

(Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for Resources, was in attendance for this item).

The Chairman informed Members of the events that had led to this item being submitted to the Panel for consideration. By means of a report by the Managing Director (Resources) (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) the Executive Councillor for Resources then summarised the options that the Council had previously considered for Castle Hill House, High Street, Huntingdon, and the factors that would need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to accept an offer for the property.

The Managing Director (Resources) explained the financial implications for the Council and the Medium Term Plan of the offer. He also referred to the consequences of selling the building in future years and the price that would need to be obtained to match the current offer and the costs of pursuing other options.

Mr A Matthews of Barker Storey Matthews, whom the Panel had been permitted to remain in the meeting to provide expert advice, informed Members of his assessment of the offer and of the local property market and the prospects for change.

During their deliberations on the report, the Panel discussed the need for “due diligence” to be carried out on the purchaser, the terms of the offer, changes in property values, the cost of refurbishing the building, the extent of the curtilage, the difference between the offer and the figures included in the MTP for the sale of Castle Hill House and the adjacent area of land, the timing of the decision to put the building on the market and the marketing strategy. Having also considered other uses of the building, on the grounds that it would be used constructively and that it would encourage the local economy, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to accept the offer for Castle Hill House, Main Street, Huntingdon on the terms set out in the report now submitted.

To consider a report by the Managing Director - Resources.

Requested the Managing Director (Resources) to instruct the Council’s Agents to contact the potential purchaser referred to in the report now submitted and to advise them that an offer of £625,000 for Castle Hill House would be acceptable but that this excludes the hardstanding hatched area shown in Annex A of the report; agreed that the Council’s Agents be advised to continue to market Castle Hill House with a view to attracting potential interest locally and from outside the area; and requested the Managing Director (Resources) to instruct another agent to market the property as a residential dwelling.

Further to Minute No 11/93 and having observed the earlier meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being), the Cabinet considered a report by the Managing Director (Resources) (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) outlining a range of options for the future of Castle Hill House, Huntingdon.

Having considered details of an offer received for the building, the potential to market for residential use, development options for an area of land east of the property and the marketing methods employed by the Agent, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Managing Director (Resources) be requested to instruct the Council’s Agents to contact the potential purchaser referred to in the report now submitted and to advise them that an offer of £625,000 for Castle Hill House would be acceptable but that this excludes the hardstanding hatched area shown in Annex A of the report;

(b)  that the Council’s Agents be advised to continue to market Castle Hill House with a view to attracting potential interest locally and from outside the area; and

(c)  that the Managing Director (Resources) be requested to instruct another agent to market the property as a residential dwelling.

To consider a report by the Corporate Team Manager and Facilities and Administration Manager – to follow.

Requested further information and agreed to defer the matter to a special meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) and of Cabinet to be held on 28^th February 2012.

(During discussion of this item, the Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships and Projects) left the meeting)

Further to Minute No 09/37, the Cabinet considered a joint report by the Corporate Team Manager and Facilities & Administration Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) detailing progress to date in relation to the marketing of Castle Hill House, Huntingdon.

In considering the contents of the report, Members were disappointed that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) had not been given an opportunity to consider details of an offer received for the former Council offices. Having requested further information on the options available to the Council, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the matter be deferred to a special meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) and of Cabinet to be held on 28^th February 2012.