Decision details

Kate Wilson, Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance introduced the report.  She noted that the Council has a long standing policy of supporting the provision of good quality, accessible community buildings across the district.

The building works at Court Bushes had been completed and the Parish Council committed to managing the building for the benefit of the community in line with the proposed heads of terms.  She confirmed that there had been no objections to the advertisement in the local newspapers outlining the proposal to lease the land, a requirement of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Deputy Leader noted that the Council had worked hard to have the building ready for public use.

            The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance queried how the rate of affordable rent had been agreed.  The Business Unit Leader advised that the rent was negotiated.

            The Head of Corporate Resources confirmed that £54,000 of Section 106 money had been spent on Community Facilities as detailed in the Cabinet report.  He also confirmed that a lease of 35 years had been agreed through negotiation with the Parish Council.  The Head of Regulatory Services noted that a lease of at least 28 years was necessary to apply for grants.

            The Deputy Leader noted that no other Members wished to speak so took them to the recommendation contained in the report, which was agreed unanimously.

            RESOLVED

Cabinet resolved to:

a)     authorise the Head of Corporate Resources and the Head of Regulatory Services to grant a lease of the land and building at Court Bushes, Hurstpierpoint (shown edged in red on the plan in Appendix A) to Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council for purposes of operating the Property as a Community Building on the terms set out in paragraph 4 of this report and upon such other terms as the Head of Regulatory Services considers appropriate.

b)     award Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council a Revenue Grant of up to £6,200 per annum for the first three years of operation toward the overhead costs.

The Deputy Leader and Councillor Binks left the Chamber at this stage and Councillor Webster acted as Chairman for the following items.