Purpose

Proposed
decision:
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for
Finance, Corporate and Traded Services to agree to:
 

1.   
authorise the granting of a Lease for a term in excess of 20 years
to UK Power Networks for occupation and use of a new Electricity
Sub Station to be located within the grounds of the school; and
 

2.   
delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in
consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance,
Corporate and Traded Services to take necessary actions, including
but not limited to entering into relevant contracts or other legal
agreements, as required to implement this.
 
 
Reason for the
Decision:
The granting of a Formal Lease in excess of 20
years requires a Decision from the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member
for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services in accordance with the
County Council’s Property Management Protocol.
 
Background:
UK Power Networks is currently planning an
infrastructure improvement project in the local area.  An existing substation is sited on the edge of the
school playing field on land leased by Kent County Council (KCC) to
the (former) Southern Eastern Electricity Board with approximately
43 years unexpired on the term of the Lease. The current location
of the substation is now considered unsuitable by the school due to
its proximity to a school building which the school wish to expand.
It is proposed that a new substation is installed in a more
appropriate location within the school site and housed in a glass
reinforced plastic unit, rather than a transformer in a compound.
The new substation will supersede the existing substation which
will then be removed upon completion of the project and the
remainder of the existing Lease surrendered afterwards.
 
For consistency with other leases granted on
operational school sites to UK Power Networks and similar Statutory
Undertakers, a lease of 99 years will need to be granted for the
provision and operation of the new substation.
 
Options
Considered: 
KCC has an option not to grant what is
effectively a surrender and regrant of the utility lease. Not doing
so will mean that the current substation would remain in situ for
the remaining 43 year lease term (which will impact on the
school’s ability to expand its building) and prevent the
substation from being re-provided to a modern specification).
 
Since the substation is required to provide
electricity to the school and ensure it remains operational
agreeing a relocation utilising a surrender and regrant under
standard utility lease terms is the preferred option.  This relocation will also enable an existing
school building to be extended to provide enhanced facilities to
users of the school.    
 
How the proposed
decision supports the Framing Kent's Future - Our Council Strategy
2022-2026:
This decision supports Framing Kent’s
Future – Our Council Strategy 2022-2026 as the decision
ensures the school remains operational and enhances facilities,
supporting KCC's commitment to maintaining its strategic role in
supporting schools in Kent to deliver accessible, high –
quality provision. Communities will be maintained from the new
substation to all the properties served by the existing substation,
using modern materials and technologies associated with prevailing
substation design and construction and protected for long term use
by the presence of a long lease. 
Environmental Step Change objectives will also be achieved, as the
proposed lease will compel the operator to use sustainable
materials and reduce any carbon emissions compared to the existing
substation, which will help the County Council achieve its Net Zero
targets.

Decision

The Deputy Leader
and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services
agrees to:

1.   
the granting of a Lease for a term in excess of 20 years to UK
Power Networks for occupation and use of a new Electricity Sub
Station to be located within the grounds of the school; and

2.   
delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in
consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance,
Corporate and Traded Services to take necessary actions, including
but not limited to entering into relevant contracts or other legal
agreements, as required to implement this.