Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: July 16, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: Cabinet:   1.     Authorised the Assistant Director Assets & Environment in consultation with the Executive Director Resources and Finance Portfolio Holder to dispose of, register, or acquire each of the following sites, in each case with the ability to enter into any documents or agreements required to facilitate or enable the proposed transaction:   a)              Disposal of land at the Southfields School (former), Brackley. b)              Disposal of land at Heartlands, Daventry. c)               Transfer of Cracks Hill, Crick to Crick Parish Council – for less than best consideration (nil value transfer), including the authority to consider any objections to the disposal of open space and take a decision whether or not to proceed in light of them. d)              Transfer of Land at High Street, Wootton to Wootton Parish Council – for less than best consideration (nil value transfer), including the authority to consider any objections to the disposal of open space and take a decision whether or not to proceed in light of them. e)              Registration or acquisition of land off Green Lane, Northampton – including, if necessary, acquisition of land under compulsory purchase powers. f)                Registration or acquisition of land off Old A45, Northampton – including, if necessary, acquisition of land under compulsory purchase powers.   2.     Authorised, as a replacement in whole or part for 3.1.1(a), the Assistant Director Assets & Environment in consultation with the Executive Director Resources and the Finance Portfolio Holder to transfer the land proposed for sale at the former Southfields School site, Brackley, to the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for development of social housing on the basis that a viable council housing scheme has been identified. 3.     Created a capital budget of £0.5 million from receipts from the sales of estate shops for the acquisition of properties which (taken together) would result in net income to the Council. 4.     Noted that as the Council’s estate is reviewed, further sales of commercial properties which do not have a strategic significance and which are not financially worthwhile retaining may be proposed, to be approved, depending on their scale, under delegated authority or under further Cabinet decisions. 5.     Noted that further proposals may come forward to use capital receipts from sales to acquire or develop replacement assets. 6.     Approved the exclusion from sale of the ‘Theatre’ building at the former Southfield School site, Brackley, and, subject to the results of the family hubs consultation, its allocation for community uses including as a Family Hub ‘spoke’, together with as much land as is reasonably required to enable it to operate (including for parking). 7.     Noted the urgent decision taken by the Leader to approve the grant of a change of use at the Abbey Retail Park, Daventry.     REASONS RESOLVED: Specific reasons for each decision in relation to each site are given in the relevant appendices.   ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: The issues and choices in relation to each site are set out in the relevant appendices.