Purpose

To agree the proposed offer and Heads of Terms
for the Devolution of three sites under long term leases to
Aylesbury Town Council

Content

Cabinet received a report
detailing that, in line with the
Council’s Service Devolution and Asset Transfer Policy, it
was proposed to progress with an offer of terms to transfer the
leases of 3 Council owned community centres to Aylesbury Town
Council from 1 April 2024. The proposed devolution included the
Quarrendon and Meadowcroft Community Centre, the Haydon Hill
Community Centre and the Aylesbury Multicultural Centre.
 
If approved, Aylesbury Town
Council would be offered 25-year full repairing and insuring (FRI)
leases and become the ‘head landlords’ of the centres.
Buckinghamshire Council would therefore retain overall ownership of
the assets.
Buckinghamshire Council would
retain authority as a ‘superior landlord’ meaning any
impactful decision Aylesbury Town Council (ATC) might wish to make
regarding development of sites would have to first be approved by
Buckinghamshire Council.
 
Under the proposal the 3
existing Community Associations who currently occupied and utilised
the centres would be offered internal repairing insuring (IRI)
Iease renewals of 10 years which would ensure their continued use
and access to the facilities.
 
The Cabinet Member for
Communities suggested an amendment to the recommendation that the
Town Council required a 10 year lease for bowlers field rather than
a short term two year lease mentioned in the report. This was
because the field needed some investment as it had a flooding issue
so a longer term lease was more practical. There were also changing
rooms.
 
Because of the way Special
Expenses funding worked through the MTFP, the only Revenue saving
for the Council would be on Aylesbury Multicultural Centre
(£20k), as this was not part of the Special Expenses
arrangement.
 
RESOLVED –
 

(1)              
That the proposed offer and Heads of Terms for
the devolution of three sites under long term leases to Aylesbury
Town Council, including that the offer of a short term lease on
Bowlers Field will be for 10 years and not 2 years, be
AGREED.
 

(2)              
That the Revenue Budget changes
to remove the Special Expenses budget of £41,372
within the Communities portfolio, and a new Revenue
Saving of £20,000 per
year in the Accessible Housing & Resources
portfolio, be AGREED.