Agenda item

Acknowledging the length of time that has expired since the Council decision, this report requests Cabinet to reaffirm the disposal of council owned land at Wessex Fields, Riverside Avenue Bournemouth, BH7 7EE based on the confidential Heads of Terms as set out in confidential Appendix B.

Cabinet should note that UHD would not be under an obligation to provide a link road connecting to Deansleigh Road

PROVIDED THAT decisions under this Cabinet Report are made strictly in the council’s capacity as landowner and nothing in this Cabinet Report (nor any decision thereunder) shall prejudice or affect any statutory right, power, obligation or duty vested in the council in its capacity as local planning authority, rating authority or local highway authority or any other capacity.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

Authorise the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to implement the previous decision of Council to dispose of council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (“UHD”) on the terms set out in this report subject to any financial amendments.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

To authorise the Director of Finance and Finance Portfolio Holder to implement the previous decision of Council to disposal of land at the Wessex Fields site located at Riverside Avenue to:

1.      Achieve the socio-economic benefits as the purchase by the hospital would unlock substantial health benefits for the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole and the wider area.

2.      Disposal of the site to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in line with its best value duties as determined in accordance with a RICS Red Book Valuation.

3.      Generate a capital receipt to support the funding of the Council’s various transformation programmes.

To ensure the terms of the disposal are set out in an open and transparent manner for member consideration.

Please note that UHD would not be under an obligation to provide a link road connecting to Deansleigh Road PROVIDED THAT decisions under this Cabinet Report are made strictly in the council’s capacity as landowner and nothing in this Cabinet Report (nor any decision thereunder) shall prejudice or affect any statutory right, power, obligation or duty vested in the council in its capacity as local planning authority, rating authority or local highway authority or any other capacity.

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 'K' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that acknowledging the length of time that has expired since the Council decision, the report requested Cabinet reaffirm the disposal of council owned land at Wessex Fields, Riverside Avenue Bournemouth, BH7 7EE based on the confidential Heads of Terms as set out in confidential Appendix B.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised to note that UHD would not be under an obligation to provide a link road connecting to Deansleigh Road.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that provided that decisions under this Cabinet Report were made strictly in the council’s capacity as landowner and nothing in the Cabinet Report (nor any decision thereunder) shall prejudice or affect any statutory right, power, obligation or duty vested in the council in its capacity as local planning authority, rating authority or local highway authority or any other capacity.

Councillor Philip Broadhead addressed the Cabinet expressing concern with regards to the decision which he felt was contrary to the Council decision.

In response to this the Monitoring Officer asked members to refer to paragraph one of the report which clearly set out the previous decision of the council which had resolved: -

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.

Cabinet members spoke in support of the recommendation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

Authorise the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to implement the previous decision of Council to dispose of council owned land at Wessex Fields to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (“UHD”) on the terms set out in this report subject to any financial amendments.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

To authorise the Director of Finance and Finance Portfolio Holder to implement the previous decision of Council to disposal of land at the Wessex Fields site located at Riverside Avenue to:

1.      Achieve the socio-economic benefits as the purchase by the hospital would unlock substantial health benefits for the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole and the wider area.

2.      Disposal of the site to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in line with its best value duties as determined in accordance with a RICS Red Book Valuation.

3.      Generate a capital receipt to support the funding of the Council’s various transformation programmes.

To ensure the terms of the disposal are set out in an open and transparent manner for member consideration.

Please note that UHD would not be under an obligation to provide a link road connecting to Deansleigh Road PROVIDED THAT decisions under this Cabinet Report are made strictly in the council’s capacity as landowner and nothing in this Cabinet Report (nor any decision thereunder) shall prejudice or affect any statutory right, power, obligation or duty vested in the council in its capacity as local planning authority, rating authority or local highway authority or any other capacity.