Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

The Committee considered (a) the report of the Director of Corporate Services, which set out the decision of the Cabinet regarding the acceptance of a tender in relation to the disposal of the former Birkdale Library, Liverpool Road, Southport and the reasons why the decision was called-in; and (b) the report of the Director of Built Environment that was considered by Cabinet in relation to this matter.

The decision taken by the Cabinet on 3 July 2015 in relation to this matter was as follows:-

Decision

“The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which provided details of the tenders received as a result of the marketing exercise for the sale of the Council’s freehold interest in the former Birkdale Library Liverpool Road, Birkdale.

Decision Made:

That:

          (1)      subject to the receipt of planning permission, approval being given            to the Council to dispose of its freehold interest in the former                          Birkdale Library to the tenderer submitting the most                                     advantageous bid, as detailed in Appendix 1, on the terms set                   out in the report; and

          (2)      the Head of Regulation and Compliance be authorised to                          prepare the necessary legal documentation on the terms and                  conditions detailed in the tender documents, by way of a                       Building Lease followed by Conveyance of the freehold interest,                or an appropriate alternative means of Transfer, if required.

Reasons for Decision:

Birkdale Library was declared surplus to operational requirements and the premises closed in December 2013. The premises were included in the Council’s Asset Disposal Programme for 2015/16. Disposal would bring the premises into productive use and relieve the Council of an ongoing liability. The premises were registered as an Asset of Community Value so the obligations contained in the Localism Act legislation need to be followed by the Council.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Council could retain the premises and continue to incur the holding costs.”

The Chair of the Committee, Councillor Robinson, reported on the procedure for consideration of the call-in.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer, Mr. Paul Fraser, reported on the validity of the call-in and highlighted that the call in requisition:-

·       had been received within the specified call-in period in accordance with Chapter 6, paragraph 37 of the Constitution;

·       had been signed by three Members of the Council who were not Members of the Cabinet, in accordance with the provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rules in Chapter 6, Paragraph 38 of the Council’s Constitution; and

·       referred to a specific decision made by the Cabinet and provided a reason in accordance with Chapter 6, paragraph 40 of the Constitution.

The Committee considered the comments of Mr. David Street, Service Manager – Property & Building Services, on the background to this matter and Councillor Maher, Leader of the Council and Councillor Lappin, Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, addressed the Committee in relation to the decision taken.

Councillor Hands, on behalf of Councillors Brodie-Browne and Shaw, outlined and amplified the following reasons for the call-in:-

To seek  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which provided details of the tenders received as a result of the marketing exercise for the sale of the Council’s freehold interest in the former Birkdale Library Liverpool Road, Birkdale.

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       subject to the receipt of planning permission, approval be given to the Council disposing of its freehold interest in the former Birkdale Library to the tenderer submitting the most advantageous bid, as detailed in Appendix 1, on the terms set out in the report; and

(2)       the Head of Regulation and Compliance be authorised to prepare the necessary legal documentation on the terms and conditions detailed in the tender documents, by way of a Building Lease followed by Conveyance of the freehold interest, or an appropriate alternative means of Transfer, if required.

Reasons for Decision:

Birkdale Library was declared surplus to operational requirements and the premises closed in December 2013. The premises were included in the Council’s Asset Disposal Programme for 2015/16. Disposal would bring the premises into productive use and relieve the Council of an ongoing liability. The premises were registered as an Asset of Community Value so the obligations contained in the Localism Act legislation need to be followed by the Council.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Council could retain the premises and continue to incur the holding costs.