Purpose

Proposed decision:

 
To agree to the
disposal of the property, the former Halfway Houses Primary School
site, Southdown Road, Halfway, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3BE and
delegate authority to:
 

1.      
The Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with
the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and
Traded Services, to finalise the terms of the disposal;
and
 

2.      
The Director of Infrastructure to authorise the
execution of all necessary or desirable documentation required to
implement the above.
 
 
Reason for
Decision:
 
The property is
surplus to the Council’s operational requirements and due to
the projected value, a key decision is required as per Kent County
Council’s constitution.
 
Background Information:
 
The site is a former
school building and playing field. It has been declared surplus by
the Council as it is no longer required for operational purposes.
The school was relocated to a new purpose-built facility on another
site.
 
The Council intends to
progress with the disposal of the site in line with its adopted
Freehold Asset Disposal Policy. Initial advice provided from agents
regarding anticipated values, indicates that a key decision is
required.
 
Consent has been
gained from the Secretary of State for Education, allowing Kent
County Council to progress with a disposal, given the former
education use of the site.
 
A decision is sought
to authorise the disposal of the site and to delegate authority to
the Director of Infrastructure to finalise the terms, subject to
consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member.
 
Options:

 
The Council has an
overarching duty under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972
to secure not less than best consideration in respect of property
disposals. It also has a fiduciary duty to the residents of
Kent.
 
The property is not
required for the Council’s operational purposes and has been
considered surplus to education needs following the relocation of
the school to the new site.  Since
vacation of the school site, alternative service needs were
considered, and none have been identified. A disposal provides an
opportunity to reinvest capital in agreed priorities, as set out in
the Council’s Capital programme.
 
How
the proposed decision supports the County Council’s Strategic
Plan:
 
By securing a capital
receipt to fund the Capital programme and to streamline the
Council’s property portfolio to achieve financial and
efficiency benefits in line with appropriate policy.
 
 
 
 
 

Decision

As the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for
Finance, Corporate and Traded Services, I agree to the Disposal of
former Halfway Houses Primary School site, Southdown Road, Halfway,
Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3BE and delegate authority to:

1.   
The Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Deputy
Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded
Services, to finalise the terms of the disposal; and

2.   
The Director of Infrastructure to authorise the execution of all
necessary or desirable documentation required to implement the
above.