Agenda item

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 'A' to these minutes in the Minute Book.

The Board was informed 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.

In relation to this the Board was advised that the disposal of land at the Wessex Fields site would generate a capital receipt to support the funding of the Council’s Transformation Investment Programme, and that the Council could achieve specific socio-economic benefits as the purchase by the hospital could unlock substantial health benefits for the wider area and that 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.

A number of points were raised by the Board including:

·        An acknowledgement that the concerns raised by the Asset Disposal Working Group had been alleviated.

·        Questions were raised around support from stakeholders where it was confirmed that letters of support had been received from other stakeholders, and that these would be circulated to Members prior to Council once received.

·        Assurances being sought that there would be sufficient opportunity to ask questions.

A request was made that the University Hospitals Dorset be permitted to display their presentation, the Chairman in consultation with the members agreed to receive the presentation and the meeting adjourned briefly to set this up.

Meeting adjourned at 6.45pm and reconvened at 6.52pm

The Chairman of the University Hospitals Dorset, NHS FT, Rob Whiteman provided the Board with a short presentation following which a number of points were raised including:

·         Assurances were requested with regards to there being a solid transport plan in place, and in relation to this the University Hospitals Dorset advised that there was a really significant programme to reduce car use look at road access, encourage the use of public transport and cycling to ensure a balanced mix. In relation to this UHD advised that they were happy to work with local councillors on this.

·         A member questioned the probity which had been used to determine the plans were achievable and assurances that the plans were deliverable. In relation to this UHD advised that the Heads of Terms had been set out and agreed between the two parties and assurances had been obtained that this could be delivered.

·         A member stressed the importance of transparency and emphasised that the open market was the only way to guarantee best value, supporting the original recommendation of the Asset Working Group.

Councillor Canavan proposed the following recommendation as per the recommendation from the Asset Working Group that:

If Cabinet is so minded to dispose of the site, that it does so by way of an open process, marketing the site on the open market for a 2-3 month period of time, with the expectation that the highest offer being the preferred preference of disposal. In addition, the Group felt strongly that the aspiration of the site as per the local plan be demonstrated by the accepted bidder.

This proposal was seconded by Councillor Dove.

Comprehensive discussion then took place on the proposition with the following points being raised:

·         The value attached to the site is not only monetary but also the social value and the investment.

·         It was confirmed that there was no suggestion that the land was being transferred at below market value.

·         A member advised that the reason the Asset Working Group initially made that recommendation was that they had different information at that time and had taken a cautious approach, in relation to this they advised that things had moved on, further information was now available which would have alleviated the working groups concerns.

·         Concern was expressed by a member questioning the proposal, and the obtaining of an additional red book valuation.

·         The criteria around the valuation were also questioned by a member who felt that in order to determine whether this is best value much would depend on the planning use.

·         The Leader highlighted that the site was in the Local Plan for a very specific use which this fulfils.

·         Further questions were raised around the separated junction.

The proposed recommendation fell with voting 3 for and 9 against.

Councillor Dove requested her vote in favour of the proposal be recorded.

Councillor Salmon proposed recommendation 1. as set out within the report, this was seconded by Councillor Dedman.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommend that Council: -

1.       Approve the disposal of the council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust on such items 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: For 9: Against 2 (1 abstention)

(Councillor Dove requested her vote against the proposal be recorded)