Agenda item

To receive a report regarding the thresholds included in the Disposals and Acquisitions Policy: Land and Property.

The Committee received a report by the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to review the thresholds included in the Disposal and Acquisition Policy.

It was explained that having considered the relatively slow use of the Policy over the past 12 months, it was proposed that the current thresholds remained unaltered. 

It was noted that since the Cabinet had approved the Disposal and Acquisition Policy and the Commercial Investment Strategy, the Council had invested in two commercial properties, one below the threshold that required Cabinet approval, the other being above.

The Committee were referred to an additional recommendation tabled at the meeting regarding a revision to the Policy, proposed in order to support Parishes, that

‘When land is disposed of within a Parish Council area, where there is no likelihood of any consequential development funding returning to the Parish Council (e.g. Community Infrastructure Levy or S.106), that following disposal the Parish Council receives 10% of any capital receipt received by the Council, subject to agreement by the Cabinet’.

It was explained that in some Parishes there were parcels of land that were too small to enable the Parish Council to benefit from development funding.  Therefore, where the District Council opted to dispose of development land for commercial gain, the proposal enabled the respective Parish Council to receive 10% of any capital receipt.

It was confirmed that the proposed Policy amendment would apply to any Parish or Town Council if they were not able to benefit from development funding such as Community Infrastructure Levy or S106 money. If they were then they would not be eligible.

It was suggested that there would need to be some criteria to ensure that the capital receipt was allocated specifically for infrastructure and not for items such as new furniture for village halls.

In response to a question it was explained that Parish and Town Councils were not notified of small disposals of land and often provided input regarding areas of land that the District Council maintained.  There were currently ten potential sites where the amended Policy could apply and the respective Parish or Town Council would be notified of this as appropriate.

It was noted that there was a useful map on the Cambridgeshire County Council website which identified its assets, which would be useful to replicate on the District Council website.

Having agreed that the current thresholds remain unaltered and that the Council had to progress opportunities of disposals and acquisitions expediently, the Committee,

RESOLVED:

i.  to note the report;

ii.  that the Disposals and Acquisition Policy thresholds be reviewed in 12 months’ time; and

RECOMMENDED:

iii.  that the Cabinet approve the following amendment to the Disposals and Acquisition Policy:

‘When land is disposed of within a Parish Council area, where there is no likelihood of any consequential development funding returning to the Parish Council (e.g. Community Infrastructure Levy or S.106), that following disposal the Parish Council receives 10% of any capital receipt received by the Council, subject to agreement by the Cabinet’.