Lewes Town Council members have met with members of Lewes District Council to talk about transfers of ownership between the Councils. Some extracts from the notes of the meeting with headings added by me: (Skip to end of post for the list of possible sites for transfer) LTC = Lewes Town Council LDC = Lewes District Council Discussion of whether LDC could take money from LTC in the future if a transferred site made money: Cllr Page (LDC) stated that transfers of ownership to parishes would necessarily include caveats that any future profit due to disposal or development would be shared with LDC. There was lengthy discussion on the context and meaning of profit and how it might arise. It was contended that local assets had transferred to LDC on its creation in 1974 with no such condition and the principle was not sound. Conflicting viewpoints were expressed, and the present circumstances were acknowledged to be different, although it was agreed that each asset would need careful scrutiny in this regard. It was generally agreed that a practical and acceptable criterion to trigger such an event would be an future application for change of use under the Planning regime and that there should be tapering benefit clauses to prevent onerous liabilities extending beyond a reasonable duration. LTC members stated that their intention was to maintain existing use, and reminded LDC that the discussion had originally been initiated, three years earlier, to determine where assets or services might be transferred for the benefit of local communities. LTC had no plans to capitalise on assets and was seeking to protect the interests of its constituents, recognising that local taxation was inevitable one way or another and ensuring local control. Discussion of whether car parks could be transferred from LDC to LTC: LTC members were interested to discuss the transfer of other assets, such as off-street car parks, which had the potential to generate income to offset the cost impact. It was acknowledged that these were outside the scope of Special Expenses, but LTC was keen to explore the possibility and considered that there was ample scope for local ownership. LDC were not prepared to transfer ownership, but after wide-ranging discussion it was suggested that they would consider an agreement to share with LTC up to 50% of the surplus income from the towns car parks. Proposal to take over sites by LTC: LTC members proposed that they were happy to seek ratification from the Town Council as a whole for the acceptance of ownership of a list of assets (below) subject to detailed agreement on each site and the phasing or programming of a timetable for the transfers. It was stated that LDC had estimated their own legal costs for such transfers as averaging approximately £1,000 per site, and the Town Clerk confirmed that, in the knowledge that LTC had already provided for appropriate reserved funds for the past two financial years. List of sites: The sites proposed are: All recreation areas and open spaces which the District Council retains within its General Fund, and including Southover Grange Gardens and the 50% of Landport Bottom including the Highdown Allotments owned by LDC. Recreational areas which the District Council retains within its Housing Revenue Account, e.g. Landport Recreation Ground and Nevill Recreation Ground. Stanley Turner Recreation Ground Trust. Mountfield Pleasure Ground Trust (includes Convent Field) Office building at 2 Fisher Street. Market Tower. Former Public Convenience, Cliffe High Street (leased to Nutty Wizard) Landport Youth Centre St Marys Social Centre, Christie Road Agreement: It was agreed that, subject to both Councils ratification, a Memorandum of Understanding would be drafted and signed, to allow a project plan for the transitions to be expedited and detailed work to begin.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:42:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015