Issue - meetings

Councillor Russell Holland, the Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills, along with the Director of Housing presented a joint report to transfer property to the Swindon Housing Company.

The Leader invited Members to agree that Appendix Two be treated as an exempt item and, should Members wish to refer to it, he had been advised that the meeting would have to resolve to exclude the press and public. Councillor Holland introduced the joint report and requested that the document be corrected to show that the proposal affects the Penhill and Upper Stratton ward rather than St Margaret and South Marston.  Councillor Holland pointed out how the proposal would preserve an historical building albeit at a lower return to the Council.

Resolved: (1) That Appendix Two to the report be treated as an exempt item as it contained commercially sensitive information under Paragraph 3, Schedule 12A, Local Government Act 1972.

(2) That the Head of Property Assets in consultation with the Director of Housing be authorised to dispose of the freehold of the land at Clays Close, Swindon shown edged red on the plan attached as Appendix 1 (‘the Site’) to Swindon Housing Company Ltd at a value of 75,000. This disposal to be on such detailed terms and conditions as are determined by the Head of Property Assets in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer and as are considered necessary in order to protect the Council’s interests.

(3) That it be agreed to a disposal at an undervalue of between £325k and £375k in order to secure wider benefits of retaining the Victorian building.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

(Councillor Gary Sumner, Cabinet Member for Strategic Infrastructure, Transport and Planning made a personal and prejudicial declaration of interest as a Director of the Swindon Housing Company and left the meeting at before the start of this item.)