The Trusts and Charities Committee are scheduled to meet on Monday 22 September 2025. The agenda includes a property update report on the Bridge Estate, as well as the confirmation of minutes from a previous meeting. Some items, including an appendix to the property update report and the minutes relating to it, may be discussed in a closed session, excluding the public.

Bridge Estate Property Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the Bridge Estate, a portfolio of investment properties held to provide income for charitable objectives. The report includes details of key property events that have taken place or are proposed since the last meeting.

The committee will be asked to note the updates in the report and its appendix relating to the individual Bridge Estate properties. They will also be asked to approve recommended actions outlined in the exempt appendix to the report.

The Bridge Estate property schedule includes updates on the following properties:

• 38 Lister Gate, where the premises are under offer for lease with a prospective tenant and solicitors have been instructed. Completion is expected to take effect shortly. > Once lease position known, budget will be amended accordingly.
• 24-30 Castle Gate, where the sale of the property was completed on 20 June 2025. > Options in relation to application of capital receipts to be considered once receipt secured.
• Governor's House & Judges Retiring Rooms, High Pavement, where the premises remain under offer with a lease to the prospective tenant expected to complete by the end of the year. > Once lease position known, budget will be amended accordingly.
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd Floor Premises, Century House, 8 – 18 Chapel Bar, office premises being marketed to let by HEB Surveyors.
• Former Eon Offices, Building 1, Woolsthorpe Close, Woolsthorpe Depot, premises remain on the market available 'To Let' with Innes England.
• 5 Castle Bridge Office Village, Lawrence Way, where the whole premises is marketed available to let and sale by HEB Surveyors.
• John Folman Business Centre, 31 Hungerhill Road, where vacant suites are being marketed by the letting agent FHP Property Consultants.

The report notes that Charity Committee guidance states that the Trust may purchase and lease property to enable the Charity to generate income to meet its purposes, but Trustees must make sure that it is in the Charity's best interests. Trustees are responsible for protecting the Charity's money and assets and should ensure the property is suitable for its needs, the price is fair, and they understand any legal obligations relating to the land.

Exclusion of the Public

The Committee will consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of some items. This is in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, because the agenda includes an exempt appendix which contains:

information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding the information), having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. It is not in the public interest to disclose this information because publication may result in commercially sensitive information being revealed which could impact detrimentally on negotiations

Minutes

The committee will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2025. The minutes show that at the previous meeting, Councillor Zafran Nawaz Khan, Chair, was in attendance, along with Councillor Salma Mumtaz, Vice Chair, Councillor Faith Gakanje-Ajala, Councillor Fozia Mubashar, Councillor Steve Battlemuch, Councillor Farzanna Mahmood, Councillor Sana Nasir, Councillor Sarita-Marie Rehman-Wall, and Councillor Andrew Rule. Also present were James Christian, Senior Solicitor, Conveyancing, Andy Nuttall, Senior Estates Surveyor, Ayanna Warner, Graduate Estates Surveyor, and Phil Wye, Governance Officer. During that meeting, Councillor Salma Mumtaz, Vice Chair, was appointed as Vice-Chair for the 2025-26 municipal year.