Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves the disposal of its freehold interest in the land as shown edged in red at Appendix 1.

2.    The Assistant Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport negotiates the terms and conditions of the disposal and that the Assistant Director of Legal Services completes the necessary documentation.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval to dispose of the Council’s freehold interest in the land at Doncaster Gate. The Council acquired the freehold of the entire site of the former Doncaster Gate Hospital and grounds in 2009 to facilitate the then Civic Core regeneration and to provide temporary accommodation for Council staff prior to the completion of Riverside House.

The majority of the land at Doncaster Gate had been leased or sub-leased to different parties since the Council had acquired it. The University College Rotherham (UCR) had been developed on part of the site and a further plot of land was sold to facilitate potential future expansion of the UCR.

The remaining land was surplus to operational requirements of the Council and there was no benefit to holding the interest. The disposal of the asset would produce a capital receipt and contribute towards the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy. The sale would also alleviate the Council from managing the service charge provision as this would be passed to the new owner to manage. The Council would engage appropriate specialist property agents to manage the disposal process to ensure best value, should Cabinet agree to the proposals.

Appendix 1 to the report was a plan that showed the freehold interest in the site edged in red. Appendix 2 was a restricted document that contained the financial information relating to the disposal.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet approve the disposal of its freehold interest in the land as shown edged in red at Appendix 1.

2.    That Cabinet agree that the Assistant Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport negotiates the terms and conditions of the disposal and that the Assistant Director of Legal Services completes the necessary documentation.