Decision details

(Mr Barrow left the meeting)

Referring to minute 691 of 4 December 2014, the Cabinet considered the report and appendices circulated with the agenda, together with an update on one of the offers circulated on the day before the meeting.

Mrs Keegan introduced the report. She reminded the Cabinet that in December 2014 the Cabinet had agreed to the disposal of the whole of its 1.94 acre site at Ellis Square, Selsey. In April 2016, 0.5 acres of the site had been sold at market value to an adjoining business. Two offers had now been received in respect of the remaining 1.42 acres:-

1)    An offer from the directors of Vetted Ltd (trading as Checkatrade) for 1 acre of the site for a restricted car parking use at a reduced valuation for that use.

2)    An offer for the whole 1.42 acre site from the developer Contaframe at market value for a B1/B8 industrial scheme on this site.

In considering the options, the Cabinet received advice from the Economic Development Manager on the respective employment generation prospects of the two businesses, from the Strategic Asset Management Surveyor on the valuation of the land, and representations from Mr John Connor on behalf of local residents about the parking and road safety issues in Manor Road. The Cabinet also noted that the Checkatrade offer would leave the Council with a surplus 0.42 acres of land.

The Cabinet received legal advice that, in considering the disposal of land, the Council could only dispose of land for the best consideration that can be reasonably obtained in the market, except with the express consent of the Secretary of State (section 123(1), Local Government Act 1972). 

Having considered all matters in the written material and oral advice presented to them, the Cabinet:

RESOLVED

(1)  That the sale or lease of the land in Ellis Square, Selsey (1.42 acres) to Contaframe for B1/B8 planning use on the terms set out in Appendix 3 (and summarised in paragraph 6of this report) was the best consideration which Cabinet considered could reasonably be obtained in the market and was therefore approved.

(2)  That the Head of Commercial Services be authorised to approve the final terms of this disposal.

(3)  That, in the absence of Selsey Town Council applying for a Traffic Regulation Order, the Head of Commercial Services be authorised to apply for a Traffic Regulation Order for this area.