Issue - meetings

PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of Appendices 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or 7 it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into exempt session. If applicable, the following resolution should be moved:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.”

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the disposal of the council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust on such terms to be approved by the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Mike Cox, presented the report on the disposal of land at Wessex Fields and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

In addition to the report the Portfolio Holder drew members attention to the supplementary papers which had been published in relation to this item providing members with an additional confidential briefing note.

Comprehensive discussion took place on the item before Council moved to the vote.

RESOLVED that Council approved the disposal of the council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust on such terms to be approved by the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Voting: Voting: For:58, Against:6

Councillor Bobbie Dove requested her vote against the recommendation be recorded.

(Councillors Hazel Allen and Paul Hilliard declared an interest in this item and left the room for the discussion and voting thereon).

This report presents a proposal to dispose of council owned land at Wessex Fields, Riverside Avenue, Bournemouth BH7 7EE, on the open market, or through direct sale, at an agreed RICS Red Book Valuation, to the University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report presented a proposal to dispose of council owned land at Wessex Fields, Riverside Avenue, Bournemouth BH7 7EE, on the open market, or through direct sale, at an agreed RICS Red Book Valuation, to the University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

The Leader invited the University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust to show a short video as part of their presentation, the video is available on the following link https://youtu.be/A21heSdLqqE.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Bartlett addressed the Cabinet advising that the Board at their recent meeting had provided in-depth and probing scrutiny on this item following which the Board had been largely in favour of the disposal of the land to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust and had proposed the following recommendation for consideration by Cabinet: -

1. Approve the disposal of the council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust on such terms to be approved by the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

(Majority Decision)

The Cabinet thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for their robust scrutiny following which a number of other Members addressed the Cabinet in support of the recommendation to dispose of the land to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

Cabinet stressed the importance of the active travel and of the key worker housing, which they were further advised would be open to all NHS staff with the aspiration of providing high-quality longer-term homes to retain newly qualified staff.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

Approve the disposal of the council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust on such terms to be approved by the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

To obtain approval for the disposal of land at the Wessex Fields site located at Riverside Avenue:

·     The sale will generate a capital receipt to support the funding of the Council’s Transformation Investment Programme.

·     The council could achieve specific socio-economic benefits as the purchase by the hospital could unlock substantial health benefits for the wider area.

·     Disposal of the site to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust could evidence best value in financial terms, as the capital receipt would be determined in accordance with a RICS Red Book Valuation.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report presented a proposal to dispose of council owned land at Wessex Fields, Riverside Avenue, Bournemouth BH7 7EE, on the open market, or through direct sale, at an agreed RICS Red Book Valuation, to the University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

The Leader invited the University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust to show a short video as part of their presentation, the video is available on the following link https://youtu.be/A21heSdLqqE.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Bartlett addressed the Cabinet advising that the Board at their recent meeting had provided in-depth and probing scrutiny on this item following which the Board had been largely in favour of the disposal of the land to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust and had proposed the following recommendation for consideration by Cabinet: -

1. Approve the disposal of the council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust on such terms to be approved by the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

(Majority Decision)

The Cabinet thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for their robust scrutiny following which a number of other Members addressed the Cabinet in support of the recommendation to dispose of the land to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

Cabinet stressed the importance of the active travel and of the key worker housing, which they were further advised would be open to all NHS staff with the aspiration of providing high-quality longer-term homes to retain newly qualified staff.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

Approve the disposal of the council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust on such terms to be approved by the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

To obtain approval for the disposal of land at the Wessex Fields site located at Riverside Avenue:

·     The sale will generate a capital receipt to support the funding of the Council’s Transformation Investment Programme.

·     The council could achieve specific socio-economic benefits as the purchase by the hospital could unlock substantial health benefits for the wider area.

·     Disposal of the site to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust could evidence best value in financial terms, as the capital receipt would be determined in accordance with a RICS Red Book Valuation.